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Powell's Q&A, Q&A | December 13, 2009

Powell's Q&A: Norberto Fuentes

0 comments By Norberto Fuentes

Describe your latest project. Norton has just published The Autobiography of Fidel Castro, a novel that took seven years of my life to complete as I... Continue »

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1. 
   $19.56 Sale Hardcover add to wish list

   The Autobiography of Fidel Castro

   Norberto Fuentes

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Ambrosia4All, January 4, 2009

On the surface "Everything Is Illuminated" is a simple story of a Jewish American, named for the author, who travels to the Ukraine in order to research his family's history. In fact, the book tells two intersecting stories: one of Foer's ancestors and one of his current travels with his travel guides, Alex, his grandfather, and their ridiculous dog. While the story begins as humorous, it quickly gets to the root of the issues and a mix begins to occur between the ridiculous and the moving. I saw this as a clever parallel on life itself: we hide emotions behind humor, but eventually everyone must confront themselves in order to move forward.

The story of this unlikely group's journey begins to become not just Jonathan's story, but Alex and his grandfather's as well. While Foer searches for his family and the mysterious Augustine, Alex unexpectedly confronts his own family history and his grandfather faces his past. It becomes a story of two families that parallel each other in strange and surprising ways.

On the reader's tour of the Ukraine, Foer takes the time to treat us to humorous interludes from the road, as well as fleshing out the quirky history of the hero's family. His creative use of language amazed, as well as drew me further into the story and connected me to his character's emotions. This novel is highly recommended, but a warning to readers looking for a funny book about a road trip: look elsewhere.

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