If I think about the whole story, it is incredibly sad. The characters are broken, ashamed, lonely, and devastated by the many tragic losses in their lives. I say this as I look back and think about the "whole story," but the young narrator's perspective made reading the novel not unbearably heavy. Oscar Schell has lost his father in the 9/11 tragedy. He and his father had an extraordinary relationship. Both are geniuses in their own right, and their relationship is fascinating and unique. Oscar takes his death incredibly hard and is having a difficult time moving forward.
When Oscar finds a mysterious key in an envelope with "Black" written on it, he goes on a quest to find the purpose of the key with hopes of finding out more about his dad. His plan is to visit each person in NYC whose last name is Black.
Each of his visits brought me closer to the amazing character of Oscar. His ability to flatter, listen, interpret, and relate to the various "Blacks" he encounters on his journey is amazing! He is truly a character - read the book and you'll see what I mean!
There is also an underlying story of Oscar's grandparents. Their story is sad and tragic in a way that IS heavy, painful, and ultimately frustrating. The grandfather's inability to move past his loss causes other people pain, and I can't forgive him for his selfishness. I think it is a good comment on Foer's writing that I'm actually so mad at one of his characters.
And Oscar!...I wish he was my neighbor! I love that he is a real person in my mind! I love that this book made me laugh and cry. I love that I now have the term "heavy boots" in my vocabulary!
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