I am always very skeptical when reading a book that will soon be turned into a movie, but I thoroughly enjoyed Jonathan Safran-Foer’s “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.” The book tells the tale of Oskar Schell, a young boy who lost his father in the September 11 terrorist attacks. With his tambourine in tow, Oskar travels through the boroughs of New York City on a quest to find the key to his father’s death.

In the novel, Oskar is described as an inventor of the impossible. With creations that, to most, seem senseless and not useful, the young man spends late-nights creating contraptions that he deems resourceful. After his father’s death, Oskar finds a mysterious key in his closet. Oskar’s mother is considered self-absorbed in the book, and does not pay close attention to her son as he roams throughout the city. He determines that this key, that has the name “BLACK” on it, belongs to a person that his father died with on that fateful day. Oskar searches the city, meeting plenty of interesting characters along the way.

With September 11 still being a very sensitive topic to most people, the book displayed a wonderful portrayal of someone who lost a parent in the tragic event. This makes the book extremely raw and emotional to those who remember exactly where they were that day.

Most of the book told in flashbacks, which takes the reader’s mind automatically back to that event in history.

The book, with its fantastic imagery of a young boy desperate to try and gain some closure from his father’s death, is relatable to many who read it. Many have lost a loved one and have reached for some sort of conclusion in their time of mourning. Oskar’s journey throughout the boroughs is exciting, sometimes sad, and extremely moving; much like someone’s journey through mourning a death. Oskar’s reference to the days where he’s sad is called “heavy boots,” which is a more physical description of what it’s like to lose someone you love.

Foer’s use of imagery throughout the novel is incredibly moving. He has a knack for making the reader feel completely involved within the book.

Only 28-years-old, Foer’s first book, “Everything is Illuminated” wowed critics with its turbulent tale of the Nazi era.

After having read this novel, I am nothing but hopeful for the way the movie is going to portray the heart-felt experiences Oskar goes through.