Reviews

Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer

adka_088's review against another edition

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4.0

i love the way this book was written and found it very interesting and funny, even with the serious subject. although, the use of some specific language could have been much better...

rebecanunez's review against another edition

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2.0

Escuche un montón de cosas buenas de esta novela, pero a mí me aburrió. Leí trabajos de no ficción del autor y me resultaron buenos. Tal vez el tema es que es ficción, o que la clase de humor que maneja no es para mí. Sé que hasta hay una película de esta novela, la cual no vi. Mi segundo DNF de la vida entera. Con todos los libros que quiero leer, dejo este y veremos mas adelante si le doy una segunda chance. O no.

alittleoverdue's review against another edition

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2.0

I usually give books about 50 pages for me to try to get into it. I gave this book a shot. I couldn't get into it, didn't want to read further to find out.

nancyinoregon's review against another edition

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5.0

The description of this book is completely accurate. I loved the movie, and the book is just as good, only there's a whole other thread going on in the book. The fractured English is so hilarious, but also the timing is wonderful, the imagination is wonderful. And yes there is a very tragic part in it too. It brilliantly represents the best and worst of what life has to offer. The audio version is delightful, especially the Ukranian narrator.

francaramen's review against another edition

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5.0

L'ho trovato stupendo e molto, molto emozionante. Sono stata catapultata personalmente a Trachimbrod, quella antica e quela più nuova, e poi nell'appartamento di Odessa di Alex, nell'albergo, nella casa in mezzo al nulla. Questa è una di quelle letture che sa trasportarmi fisicamente e mentalmente nell'ambientazione. E' stata una scoperta lenta ma deliziosa. Il fatto che il linguaggio di Alex si modifichi ed evolva, partendo da un inglese (o italiano, se lo leggete tradotto) tiratissimo e scolastico (nonché scarsamente studiato, si direbbe :D) ad una lingua non perfetta ma sicuramente smussata, più complessa a livello di figure retoriche, fa pensare al percorso stesso che Alex affronta per conto di Safran, e per il nonno di Safran (e per tutti i parenti venuti prima, per tutte le storie, per tutte le anime vissute sulla Terra e per tutte quelle che un giorno ci vivranno).
L'ampio respiro del libro è riuscito a togliermi il fiato, strappandomi anche una lacrima di commozione e parecchie risate (una tra tante, quella sul racconto dei 120 matrimoni di Joseph e Sarah L). La tematica della violenza, del nazismo, è trattata molto marginalmente ed è appena accennata, ma come una pennellata nera su una tela bianca: c'è, e per quanto piccola è impossibile non notarla.

salliesanborn's review against another edition

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I really wanted to like this book because I saw so many good reviews for it, but I just couldn’t. I listened to it in audio, and maybe that played a roll in my feelings for it. I felt so distracted by the things I didn’t care for, that I felt when I  got to the “big reveals” I wasn’t moved and they had little impact on me. And I found the abundance of unexpected sex scenes and the idea of a kid sleeping with hundreds of women between the ages of 10-17 off putting.

jennajaner's review against another edition

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emotional funny mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

little_worm's review against another edition

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4.0

After reading and not-being-particularly-impressed by Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, I wasn't expecting much from this, but I have to admit that I was pleasently surprised; this has much more in the way of funny moments, touching moments, and story in general.

bobbyknndy's review against another edition

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5.0

Beautiful prose. One of the most original reinventions of narrative storytelling I've seen of late.

sophward's review against another edition

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5.0

just don't even talk to me about the things this man can do to words (and consequently my heart) (i am in pain)