Jewish Book Club discussion

Join us for our September discussion of Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. This book won the poll for book turned into movie. As always, everyone is welcome to join in.

When is it and how do we join in? Thank you. I’m new and don’t know how it works.

We're reading this poll winner this month. You can join in anytime, with initial impressions or the like. Just don't give a plot spoiler. BTW, welcome, Beryl!

P.S. Check the little "notify" box so you'll know if anybody replies or comments.

Thank you!!

I'm on about p. 80 of Everything Is Illuminated, and I'm having difficulty identifying with the characters. I don't mind Alex's butchering of the English language (it is pretty funny at times), but as I read the book, I'm reminded why it is that I've never much liked postmodernist fiction: it generally isn't engaging.
There's a scene in Everything Is Illuminated in which Alex and the "Jonathan" character discuss the latter's writing career and Jonathan refers to his early short stories as apprentice pieces. Everything Is Illuminated itself feels like an apprentice piece. I think a lot of writers during the last twenty to thirty years have used the postmodernist/metafiction style as an out for writing traditional narrative, which is much more difficult to write. Why develop plot and character if you can avoid it and still get published?
I'm willing to give Everything Is Illuminated the benefit of the doubt, so I expect to keep reading. Hopefully I'll be pleasantly surprised and the narrative will focus more on Jonathan's research into his family history and less on the sophomoric antics of Alex and his dog.

Jason wrote: "I'm on about p. 80 of Everything Is Illuminated, and I'm having difficulty identifying with the characters. I don't mind Alex's butchering of the English language (it is pretty funny at times), but..."

Yikes--I read it so long ago that I can't comment, other than at the time it was compelling. Somebody else, please?

Jan wrote: "Yikes--I read it so long ago that I can't comment ..."
I read it when it first came out and remember it being quite hard to read but ultimately rewarding. I loved the film which was quite straightforward. It was Liev Schreiber's first go at directing and he also wrote the screenplay.

Thanks, Kerry!

Others: chime in, please!

The author of Everything Is Illuminated is the son of the author of I Want You To Know We Are Still Here. It will probably help to read the mother’s book first if you haven’t already because it’s about the family history. Everything is Illuminated about the son’s trip to try to find some of the locations of his family’s history, and it’s a comedy.

Kerry wrote: "The author of Everything Is Illuminated is the son of the author of I Want You To Know We Are Still Here. It will probably help to read the mother’s book first if you haven’t already because it’s a..."

Thank you Kerry. Very interesting- I had no idea.

Here's the discussion board for 2025/5 I Want You to Know We're Still Here, moderator's choice. No comments at the time but feel free to add!
Jan

I read “I want you to know we’re still here” this past year. I was engrossed and couldn’t put it down. I felt I was on the journey with her. I wished (and still do) that I could make this journey connected to my maternal and paternal family. Now for second time, since “Everything is Illuminated” came up in this group, I started reading it. I have tried reading and the audio version. The format, language and story line leave me unsettled and waiting to find out what is actually the point. I finally got to the point where the author has arrived. However, I cannot abide the narrator/translator ‘voice’. I rarely do not finish; there are so many books to read and so little time.

As Beryl suggests, if a book doesn't "say something" about the human condition--which is the point of storytelling--it's kind of a waste of paper.

Just remember that intelligent and educated people can -- you guessed it -- have differing opinions. (Duh!) It won awards and at the time was considered at the forefront of (Jewish?) writing. Or something like that. And come to think of it that was a while ago. Could it be somewhat dated? ...True, I don't remember too much except something about the ending. Was it overrated? Or even then were there disparate reactions. ...Guess I could go look at reviews!😜

Well, I did go look. Among my friends, only one four and mostly two star reviews. ...Well, those were the reviews. More of a mixed bag overall -- and a mixed bag in community reviews.

Another biographical detail: He was married for a decade to Nicole Krauss, although not yet when Everything Is Illuminated was published. And she wrote The History of Love, which is great. ...Hard to believe all these were published < 20 yrs ago.

Some people say the movie "Everything Is Illuminated" is better than the book. And this book is the winner for the "books to screens" poll! So there's an option!

...I meant more than twenty years ago, which should have been ">" 😁

There's also sometimes a disparity between how a book is received by critics versus general readers. Shehan Karunatilaka's The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida won the Booker prize in 2022, but most of the Sri Lankans I know can't stand the book. It reads less like a novel than 300 pages of blog entries. It also contains so many obscure references to Sri Lankan politics, it's more or less inscrutable for anyone who hasn't lived in Sri Lanka for the past forty years. And nothing much in it is funny even though it's supposed to be a comedy. I suspect it won the Booker for political reasons, and then many general readers have given it a good review simply because it won the Booker.

Jason wrote: "There's also sometimes a disparity between how a book is received by critics versus general readers. Shehan Karunatilaka's The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida won the Booker prize in 2022, but most of..."

Yes, I know that's right -- the disparity between critical and popular reviews. I know I did read his next book, though. Then I was through. I remember my daughter read the 3rd one, too. 2nd was Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. I think this was way before I was online or doing reviews. I need to check & be sure, though.

Although I'm still struggling to identify with the characters in Everything Is Illuminated, I'm enjoying participating in the Club. I hope others who are currently reading the book will post comments about their experiences as well.

Jason wrote: "Although I'm still struggling to identify with the characters in Everything Is Illuminated, I'm enjoying participating in the Club. I hope others who are currently reading the book will post commen..."

Ditto that, Jason. Thanks!

I'm on about p. 200 in Everything Is Illuminated, and the book has improved somewhat with the Augustine "scenes." The improvement likely is because these sections are getting closer to approximating actual scenes, the general lack of which throughout the book is one of its shortcomings (in my view) and explains why it's so hard for the reader to connect with the characters. And the scenes that do exist in the book are more or less outlines of scenes. There's very little in the way of scene setting or a sense of place. That may be one of the reasons the author made Alex the primary narrator: Alex isn't a professional writer, and so he can narrate "scenes" with unconventional dialogue format and almost no stage directions. For all the reader knows, the main action could be taking place in Brooklyn instead of in Ukraine.

Just when I thought Everything Is Illuminated was improving, it deteriorates again. The author left out at least one sadness that I can think of: the sadness of having to continue reading a book you don't enjoy. ... Fortunately I had Michael Wex's Born to Kvetch waiting in the wings and so started it yesterday. It's right up my alley.

Jason wrote: "Just when I thought Everything Is Illuminated was improving, it deteriorates again. The author left out at least one sadness that I can think of: the sadness of having to continue reading a book yo..."

Jason, you are not destined for Everything is Illuminated, at least not at this time. You are a good sport to have stuck so long with it! Enjoy Born to Kvetch: Yiddish Language and Culture in All of Its Moods! And a sweet new year to you!

...and happy kvetching about Everything Is Illuminated! 🤣

Jan wrote: ... "And a sweet new year to you!"

Ditto.

Jason wrote: "Just when I thought Everything Is Illuminated was improving, it deteriorates again. The author left out at least one sadness that I can think of: the sadness of having to continue reading a book yo..."

Jason,
What a disappointment it is for readers when a book doesn't come through. I didn't read it, but thought the synopsis and storyline was terrific. I read your all your comments and have to say I would have closed the book long before if I felt the way you did. Ha, there have been countless books; many in a row that that I dnf that left me feeling extremely upset. Made me question my judgement calls.
So, Jan's comment is perfect and so true. Be happy it wasnt "required" reading :)
Have an easy fast.

I've just been wanting to participate in the Club for so long that I didn't feel I could stop reading Everything Is Illuminated. I also wanted to give the book a chance because Kerry said the ending of the book is rewarding. As Beryl indicated, though, "there are so many books to read and so little time."

Shanah Tovah, Stacey.

Jason wrote: "I've just been wanting to participate in the Club for so long that I didn't feel I could stop reading Everything Is Illuminated. I also wanted to give the book a chance because Kerry said the endin..."

Jason,
I understand-
You can participate anytime. We have a plethora of topics, and suggestions as well.
Have an easy fast and a sweet year.

If you could not get into the book, try the film that adapted from the book

Kerry, that makes such perfect sense, since Everything is Illuminated won in the books-to-movie category 🥰