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With only a yellowing photograph in hand, a young man--also named Jonathan Safran Foer--sets out to find the woman who may or may not have saved his grandfather from the Nazis. Accompanied by an old man haunted by memories of the war; an amorous dog named Sammy Davis, Junior, Junior; and the unforgettable Alex, a young Ukranian translator who speaks in a sublimely butchered English, Jonathan is led on a quixotic journey over a devastated landscape and into an unexpected past.

As stated in the synopsis of the book, a young American (Jonathan) flies to the Ukraine in search of a woman who allegedly saved his grandfather from German soldiers. While in country he meets up with his translator (Alex) and driver (Alex's grandfather).

The book is laid out in what I understood to be three different formats. The first of which was Jonathan, the American's book which is a work of his family's history. There were some extraordinary happenings in his ancestry; many of them are then detailed on paper. The second style that at first glance may seem to be actual events as they occurred as if Alex were the main character recounting them; I interpreted as Alex's book. Both characters, then, are young authors. The third and final format (italicized) is Alex's letters to Jonathan.

The back and forth between the three different formats was annoying at first. The hardest part was Jonathan's family history. Before you realize it you are plunging generations into the past to a small village in Eastern Europe to follow the lives of characters that ultimately have little to do with the plot. Next you have Alex's narration and perspective both in his letters to Jonathan and also his telling of the story. Alex speaks English, though he struggles. Certain things he says, like many (in my experience) who are branching out into a language other than their primary, are too literal in their translation. This is funny at first as my American arrogance allows me to laugh at Alex, which is fine. I believe it was put in to be funny. After it was funny, it became tiresome. The gimmick of having someone who speaks broken English try to express himself as he tells tales of his sexual prowess only goes so far. It wore thin.

Like almost every other book, Everything is Illuminated has quotations of praise from "respectable" members of the media. There was some very high praise for author Foer. I had no problem with my expectations, they were not exalted due to the praise, but as I read I did remember the praise on the back and was disappointed...to a point. That point came with about 100 pages to go. When young Jonathan has reached his grandfather as he digs through layers of genealogy, specifically once his grandfather meets the gypsy girl, the book was transformed.

To be fair, I do need to circle back and discuss the relationship between Alex and Jonathan. The timeline of Alex's letters was: funny - tiresome - worthwhile. There is a turning point in his correspondence with our young protagonist that beyond which I viewed Alex in a new, significantly more positive, light.

(I am not positive which happened first, this specific happening or the introduction of Jonathan's grandfather to the gypsy girl. I apologize if Alex changed first, for my above comment about when the book "got good" is inaccurate.)

I had a slow time through the beginning of the book, but I was captivated towards the end. The remaining pages were though they were written by someone else. My thought was that the story was in that final 100 pages and what came before it was filler. The author had an idea and had to wrap it in story. When I saw author John Sandford speak he advised that, when writing, your last four chapters would be your best writing and it would take much editing so the level was that throughout. Maybe Sandford is right, maybe Foer just did not go back and edit. Who knows? At this point it does not matter. Foer earned his praise with Everything is Illuminated.

I was worried when I read that the book was about an incident that happened during the Nazi regime. I became apprehensive of a book that would then be too deeply rooted in the historical significance of the war. I did not want to read a book like that. As it turns out, I did not have to. The war is mentioned; but it comes to light in a way that made me wish for more.

The author set the hook and reeled me in. I recommend this book, but do ask that you be patient.

Buy Everything is Illuminated $11.16

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