Remembering 9/11

Jonathan Safran Foer's novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close has been chosen as Deerfield's One Book One Zip Code selection this year, in honor of the 10th anniversary of September 11th. I read this book when it came out a few years ago and remembered that I enjoyed it, but didn't remember too much about the details. Having to read it again for the book discussions I am leading reminded me that this was such a wonderful story and how in love I am with Oskar Schell. For those that aren't familiar with the story, Oskar Schell is a 9-year-old boy whose father died in the towers on September 11th. While looking through his father's closet, he finds a key in an envelope labled "Black." He decides that he will find out what this key is for and goes on a mission throughout New York City to track down its owner. This is such a heart-wrenching, touching, sweet, smart, unique novel and I think Oskar is probably one of my favorite fictional characters of all-time.

Since our morning book discussion group had already done ELAIC, I decided that we would read Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist because it provides another perspective of 9/11. Changez is a young Pakistani man who moves to America to attend Princeton. After he graduates, he accepts a job at a prestigious New York consulting firm. Changez has a bright future ahead of him and has found a girl he cares about. But when 9/11 occurs, something changes for Changez. People begin to look at him with suspicion, and he begins to question America's response to these attacks and whether America is the great country he thought it to be. Some people in the discussion felt very strongly about this novel. Changez makes some very critical remarks about America, which bothered some people. But I found it to be thought-provoking and a unique perspective on this event.