Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

This past week I listened to "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer. I also read "Eating Animals," a non-fiction book about the treatment of factory farmed animals, by Foer earlier this year. Its hard to believe that he wrote both of those books which I suppose speaks volumes about his scope of talent. Anyway, the book is extremely incredible. Although it's sad, it's also a great mystery and story of a little boy searching to keep his Dad's memory alive. The book also gives a unique perspective from the side of the child about what it must have felt like to lose someone, the worst being a parent, to 9/11.

On Friday night, I saw the movie. It was definitely a tear jerker, but a pretty good adaption of this somewhat involved story. I cried, but I should have cried. Seeing how this beautiful city was once in a state of complete chaos and has now, for the most part, returned to normal was a credit to the strength of New Yorkers.

Finally, my favorite part of this whole book/movie experience of the last week was NYC. The story takes place mostly on the Upper West Side. Sure, plenty of movies take place in New York City, but this one took place in my neighborhood. It's so special to hear and see places in a movie that you have actually been to and pass all the time. In one scene of the movie, Oscar is laying down on the subway cars, and the hew of the tragically bright orange and yellow seats, that I do literally see everyday, gives you this kind of connection that one doesn't usually receive in a movie. It's hard to explain, but just imagine that you were watching a movie that took place in the ____ spot in ____ that you just passed yesterday on the way to ____. It's such a unique experience to me.

So, in conclusion, see the movie and/or read the book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. :)