Jonathan Safran Foer provided insight into his personal writing process during a reading hosted by the Brown Bookstore Friday evening. The critically acclaimed author of "Everything Is Illuminated" and "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" read selections from both novels and fielded questions from the audience, which exceeded Starr Auditorium's 300-person capacity.
"Everything is Illuminated" garnered the National Jewish Book Award for fiction in 2002 as well as numerous other distinctions, including the Book of the Year Award from the Los Angeles Times.
The book was also turned into a movie released by Focus Features in 2005, which provoked one of the night's first questions.
"I didn't have anything to do with the movie," Safran Foer said. "I never considered the compromises that would be involved. ... That said, I still would've done it." He added he does not believe a movie should necessarily be an accurate representation of a book's plot and characters, but should instead aim to flesh out a central idea.
Much of Safran Foer's work is based on the development of an idea rather than on the stylistic tools used to communicate that idea, he told The Herald in a Sept. 11 interview.
When asked Friday about his unique use of visual aids - such as photographs, artwork and typeset - Safran Foer responded that, as with his unusual characters, he included the images not to make a point but because they "feel like an accurate perception of what I wanted to say."
"A real drawback to literature is how conservative it's been," he added.
"I don't really aspire to write realistic characters," Safran Foer said when asked about Oskar Schell, the 9-year-old protagonist of "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close."
Safran Foer also noted, "Writing for me is very un-self-conscious."
"Very little in the book is something I did on purpose," Safran Foer said. He gave the example of a reader who once commented on an allusion to Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" in "Everything Is Illuminated." At the time, Safran Foer had not read the play, but he said he understands how someone familiar with the play could discern the allusion.
This potential interaction between a reader and a text can enhance a book's redeeming qualities, he said.
"Books get better as more people read them," Safran Foer said. "The best books are the ones open enough to have a lively co-authorship."
After Safran Foer fielded the final question, the crowd flowed into the lobby of Macmillan Hall for a book signing. Some students waited nearly two hours to get Safran Foer's autograph.
Jeff Martin '10 was wedged against the wall by students as he waited for a chance to get copies of both novels signed.
"I'll wait as long as it takes," Martin said. "You'll go back to certain lines a year after reading the book and they'll still mean something to you."
Andrew Tobolowsky '07 said he attended the reading in part because of his strong connection to both "Everything Is Illuminated" and "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close."
"His books are very contemporary. They speak to people our age," Tobolowky said.
Susan Schlesinger, interim supervisor for cashiering at the Brown Bookstore and coordinator of the event, noted, "The turnout was really good, really enthusiastic." She added that the bookstore provided copies of both novels at the event, and both sold very well.
"I was really surprised because both books have been out for a while," Schlesinger said.
Before the reading, Brown Hillel held a brief reception for Safran Foer, where observant Jews - whose religious obligations prevented them from attending the subsequent reading - could ask questions.
Safran Foer told The Herald after the book signing that he appreciated the audience's eagerness.
"It was great, so nice. Generous," he said.
