This book impacted me pretty strongly--I felt really strange afterwards. Sad and happy and very thoughtful. How did you feel when you finished? Also feel free to use this space to share any other questions, thoughts, or feelings you have.
About the key. At first I was frustrated that the key didn't open something that would help Oscar learn more about his father. It was kind of a wild goose chase for a really big letdown. But I loved that his mother said that his dad would have been proud of him for searching so desperately for clues and for being so determined. I love more that his mom called ahead of time to alert the strangers that Oscar would be coming, though still not a safe thing for Manhattan... who knows who could have opened those doors...
But I think it was a nice tie-in that all along, though not knowing it, Oscar was helping William Black with his search for the key. Clever.
I feel the same way about the key--how devastating for Oskar! At the same time, though, I think it is accurate and realistic. There aren't simple solutions for situations like Oskar's. Finding the lock wasn't going to help Oskar get over losing his Dad and wasn't going to help him be healthy. Like you said, Taylor, and like his Mom points out, it was the process that was important, the searching is what really counted for something because it showed Oskar's determination and love.
I SO wanted Oskar to find a secret trunk filled with stuff from his dad that would show him how much his dad loved him. I was hoping all along that, given what we know about Oskar's dad, it wasn't so unrealistic for me to hope that for Oskar. When the book ended I felt mostly sad. It seemed like all that time he spent looking for clues was a huge waste. But the more I thought about it, it wasn't a waste.
Even though the key turned out to be a dead-end, it was such a cool journey for Oskar to go on - he met so many people and learned about them, and even though they couldn't help him with the key, they became friends with him. I love that he met Mr. Black (the old guy) and they became such good friends, and that so many of the Blacks that he met came to his plays. It was rewarding for Oskar in different ways than he originally had hoped for.
By the time I finished the book I was in tears. I know, I know, I'm a little overboard. But I felt so sad! I wanted him to find something really miraculous at the end of his search. Something big that could bring Oskar closer to his Dad. But I was also so touched that Oskar's Mom had been in on the whole thing. It added a new dimension to their relationship that wasn't there before. It made it more complete. You realize how much she was a part of her son's life even though we couldn't always see or feel that.
But I did like that the key was one more opportunity for Oskar to do something for someone else. It's so cliche' but that's what life is about. Making it through life's challenges but looking outside of yourself. It's never anything big or grandiose. And while Oskar wasn't aware that that is what he was doing, what a beautiful lesson and process to go through. I think that's what the Grandmpa had been missing all along...
First thought: I liked the stories about 9/11. Because I was on my mission when it happened, I missed most of it (no TVs and no Newspapers). So much of what I saw was about 6 months after the fact. Naturally, I didn't feel a part of it. But this book was great in giving me the feeling of being a part of that tragedy, and I was grateful for it.
Second thought: It kind of bothered me that there were a lot of loose ends that went untied (at least as far as I could tell). Like the first game that Oscar and his dad played, how Oscar spent so much time looking for what his dad hid in Central Park, and then circled the words 'don't stop looking'. I was hoping that he would go back and find what his dad left for him. Maybe he has a sequel in mind?
Don't worry, Marci, I cried too. I officially lost it when Oskar told William Black (the man the key belonged to), about not answering the phone when his Dad called and I never quite regained composure for the rest of the book.
I feel the same way you do too, Adam, as far as connecting with 9/11. I was on my mission too and didn't really hear much about it at all. I knew it had happened, but wasn't around for the national reaction, mourning, etc. This book helped me connect a little bit with the tragedy of what happened in a personal way. I think that's one of the things I really appreciate about this book too, is that it takes a huge event that's difficult to comprehend and reduces it to a single family so we can see the actual effects of 9/11 on individuals.
How did the flip book at the end make you feel? Interesting that he actually ended the book with pictures.
Perhaps what Oskar's "journey" ended up being seeing that he was not isolated in his pain and learning how other people coped with their own baggage. He also was able to help them in some ways (like getting Mr. Black out into the world again), which maybe helped him through his own problems.
About the flip book, Loren: the picture of the person jumping was really hard for me to look at throughout the book because that was one of the images from the actual 9/11 events that really disturbed me (for Adam and Loren: they had similar images plastered all over TV and newspapers after the events). I like the idea, though, of Oskar sort of rewinding the horrible image back into a positive moment in his life.
The flip book...I think it helped lift my spirits a bit. I lost it at the same point you did Loren and cried to the end. But rewinding time and starting over at the beginning felt happier somehow, a little more at peace with the still tragic ending. I finsihed the book feeling somber but more resolved since Oskar had connected with his Mom again. I was so grateful for that.
Everybody has commented on Oskar's story, and I mostly agree with what everyone said. Loren and Adam, I feel the same about the 9/11 thing. I felt that Oskar's hard work had had some sort of meaning and closure at the end, even if the key had no value to him. Plus, he was a funny little kid that made me smile a lot.
However, I felt like the grandparents story was the most depressing thing in the world. A little ways into the book, I decided that this was the most depressing book I had read since Slaughterhouse 5, and then I keep reading and they are both about Dresden being bombed. I thought that was interesting.
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About the key. At first I was frustrated that the key didn't open something that would help Oscar learn more about his father. It was kind of a wild goose chase for a really big letdown. But I loved that his mother said that his dad would have been proud of him for searching so desperately for clues and for being so determined. I love more that his mom called ahead of time to alert the strangers that Oscar would be coming, though still not a safe thing for Manhattan... who knows who could have opened those doors...
But I think it was a nice tie-in that all along, though not knowing it, Oscar was helping William Black with his search for the key. Clever.
I feel the same way about the key--how devastating for Oskar! At the same time, though, I think it is accurate and realistic. There aren't simple solutions for situations like Oskar's. Finding the lock wasn't going to help Oskar get over losing his Dad and wasn't going to help him be healthy. Like you said, Taylor, and like his Mom points out, it was the process that was important, the searching is what really counted for something because it showed Oskar's determination and love.
I SO wanted Oskar to find a secret trunk filled with stuff from his dad that would show him how much his dad loved him. I was hoping all along that, given what we know about Oskar's dad, it wasn't so unrealistic for me to hope that for Oskar. When the book ended I felt mostly sad. It seemed like all that time he spent looking for clues was a huge waste. But the more I thought about it, it wasn't a waste.
Even though the key turned out to be a dead-end, it was such a cool journey for Oskar to go on - he met so many people and learned about them, and even though they couldn't help him with the key, they became friends with him. I love that he met Mr. Black (the old guy) and they became such good friends, and that so many of the Blacks that he met came to his plays. It was rewarding for Oskar in different ways than he originally had hoped for.
By the time I finished the book I was in tears. I know, I know, I'm a little overboard. But I felt so sad! I wanted him to find something really miraculous at the end of his search. Something big that could bring Oskar closer to his Dad. But I was also so touched that Oskar's Mom had been in on the whole thing. It added a new dimension to their relationship that wasn't there before. It made it more complete. You realize how much she was a part of her son's life even though we couldn't always see or feel that.
But I did like that the key was one more opportunity for Oskar to do something for someone else. It's so cliche' but that's what life is about. Making it through life's challenges but looking outside of yourself. It's never anything big or grandiose. And while Oskar wasn't aware that that is what he was doing, what a beautiful lesson and process to go through. I think that's what the Grandmpa had been missing all along...
First thought: I liked the stories about 9/11. Because I was on my mission when it happened, I missed most of it (no TVs and no Newspapers). So much of what I saw was about 6 months after the fact. Naturally, I didn't feel a part of it. But this book was great in giving me the feeling of being a part of that tragedy, and I was grateful for it.
Second thought: It kind of bothered me that there were a lot of loose ends that went untied (at least as far as I could tell). Like the first game that Oscar and his dad played, how Oscar spent so much time looking for what his dad hid in Central Park, and then circled the words 'don't stop looking'. I was hoping that he would go back and find what his dad left for him.
Maybe he has a sequel in mind?
As far as the key goes, I think Foer was following the old Zen philosophy: the goal is not found at the end of the journey, the goal is the journey.
Don't worry, Marci, I cried too. I officially lost it when Oskar told William Black (the man the key belonged to), about not answering the phone when his Dad called and I never quite regained composure for the rest of the book.
I feel the same way you do too, Adam, as far as connecting with 9/11. I was on my mission too and didn't really hear much about it at all. I knew it had happened, but wasn't around for the national reaction, mourning, etc. This book helped me connect a little bit with the tragedy of what happened in a personal way. I think that's one of the things I really appreciate about this book too, is that it takes a huge event that's difficult to comprehend and reduces it to a single family so we can see the actual effects of 9/11 on individuals.
How did the flip book at the end make you feel? Interesting that he actually ended the book with pictures.
Perhaps what Oskar's "journey" ended up being seeing that he was not isolated in his pain and learning how other people coped with their own baggage. He also was able to help them in some ways (like getting Mr. Black out into the world again), which maybe helped him through his own problems.
About the flip book, Loren: the picture of the person jumping was really hard for me to look at throughout the book because that was one of the images from the actual 9/11 events that really disturbed me (for Adam and Loren: they had similar images plastered all over TV and newspapers after the events). I like the idea, though, of Oskar sort of rewinding the horrible image back into a positive moment in his life.
The flip book...I think it helped lift my spirits a bit. I lost it at the same point you did Loren and cried to the end. But rewinding time and starting over at the beginning felt happier somehow, a little more at peace with the still tragic ending. I finsihed the book feeling somber but more resolved since Oskar had connected with his Mom again. I was so grateful for that.
Everybody has commented on Oskar's story, and I mostly agree with what everyone said. Loren and Adam, I feel the same about the 9/11 thing. I felt that Oskar's hard work had had some sort of meaning and closure at the end, even if the key had no value to him. Plus, he was a funny little kid that made me smile a lot.
However, I felt like the grandparents story was the most depressing thing in the world. A little ways into the book, I decided that this was the most depressing book I had read since Slaughterhouse 5, and then I keep reading and they are both about Dresden being bombed. I thought that was interesting.
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