klangstudio

I thought this was an incredibly quirky and imaginative book. The main character, Oskar Schell, is a precocious 9 yr old by trying to deal with the death of his father in the 9/11 tragedy. Oskar's attempt to make sense of his fathers death, his struggle to keep his memory alive, his guilt over not taking his father's last phone call and his fear seem very real. I especially liked how Oskar constantly invented things. When he couldn't sleep, his mind operated in overdrive. His inventions helped him feel safe and in control. His lists of things he couldn't or wouldn't do made we want to wrap my arms around him to protect him. I thought this was an accurate portrayal of depression. The pictures in the book, which were images of Oskar's "Stuff That Happened To Me," helped to see things through Oskar's eyes. Oskar searched for meaning, where sometimes meaning can't be found. We can see things, but it doesn't mean there's an explanation for them. Juxtaposed throughout the story is the tragedy of Oskar's grandparents and their life after the senseless firebombing of Dresden. I felt for Oskar as he grasped for meaning and answers, and though his search didn't bring him to the conclusion he was hoping for; I think in the end it made his boots feel lighter. Bookmarks Issue: 17-July-Aug-2005

2022-08-31 01:14