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Jonathan Safran Foer

born: died: occupation: genre: influences:

21-Feb-1977 Alive Novelist Fiction, Contemporary Literature Isaac Bashevis Singer, Bruno Schulz, Salman Rushdie

Introduction:

Jonathan Safran Foer, born on 02/21/1977, is a celebrated American novelist known for his thought-provoking fiction and contemporary literary contributions. Influenced by literary figures such as Isaac Bashevis Singer, Bruno Schulz, and Salman Rushdie, Foer's works explore complex themes and challenge traditional narrative structures.

Early Life and Educational Background:

Foer was born in Washington, D.C., and demonstrated an early interest in literature. He graduated from Princeton University with a degree in philosophy and later pursued a Master's in Creative Writing at Hunter College.

Breakthrough with "Everything Is Illuminated":

Jonathan Safran Foer gained widespread acclaim with his debut novel, "Everything Is Illuminated" (2002). The novel, which combines history, humor, and magical realism, explores the impact of the Holocaust on a Jewish family and is praised for its inventive narrative style.

Exploration of Trauma and Identity:

Foer's works often delve into themes of trauma, identity, and the complexities of human relationships. "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" (2005) examines the aftermath of 9/11 through the eyes of a young boy dealing with the loss of his father.

Innovative Narrative Techniques:

Known for his innovative narrative techniques, Foer incorporates visual elements, unconventional formatting, and non-linear storytelling in his works. This experimental approach adds depth and complexity to his exploration of profound themes.

Environmental Activism:

In addition to his literary endeavors, Jonathan Safran Foer is an advocate for environmental issues. His non-fiction work, "Eating Animals" (2009), explores the ethical and environmental implications of factory farming, reflecting his commitment to social and environmental causes.

Legacy and Recognition:

Foer's contributions to contemporary literature have earned him critical acclaim and a dedicated readership. His ability to tackle challenging subjects with a unique blend of creativity and emotional resonance has solidified his place in the literary landscape.

Quotes.Network's Collection of Foer's Insights:

Quotes.Network proudly presents a curated collection of Jonathan Safran Foer's insightful quotes, capturing the essence of his literary brilliance and reflections on life, trauma, and the human experience. Explore his words to gain a deeper appreciation for the mind behind the inventive narratives.

" If we are not given the option to live without violence, we are given the choice to center our meals around harvest or slaughter, husbandry or war. We have chosen slaughter. We have chosen war. That's the truest version of our story of eating animals.Can we tell a new story? "

Jonathan Safran Foer

Cruelty

" ... we decided to create a Nothing Place in the living room, it seemed necessary, because there are times when one needs to disappear while in the living room, and sometimes one simply wants to disappear, we made this zone slightly larger so that one of us could lie down in it, it was a rule that you never would look at that rectangle of space, it didn't exist, and when you were in it, neither did you, for a while that was enough, but only for a while, we required more rules, on our second anniversary we marked off the entire guest room as a Nothing Place, it seemed like a good idea at the time, sometimes a small patch at the foot of the bed or a rectangle in the living room isn't enough privacy, the side of the door that faced the guest room was Nothing, the side that faced the hallway was Something, the knob that connected them was neither Something nor Nothing. The walls of the hallway were Nothing, even pictures need to disappear, especially pictures, but the hallway itself was Something, the bathtub was Nothing, the bathwater was Something, the hair on our bodies was Nothing, of course, but once it collected around the drain it was Something, we were trying to make our lives easier, trying, with all of our rules, to make life effortless. But a friction began to arise between Nothing and Something, in the morning the Nothing vase cast a Something shadow, like the memory of someone you've lost, what can you say about that, at night the Nothing light from the guest room spilled under the Nothing door and stained the Something hallway, there's nothing to say. It became difficult to navigate from Something to Something without accidentally walking through Nothing, and when Something‚Äîa key, a pen, a pocketwatch‚Äîwas accidentally left in a Nothing Place, it never could be retrieved, that was an unspoken rule, like nearly all of our rules have been. There came a point, a year or two ago, when our apartment was more Nothing than Something, that in itself didn't have to be a problem, it could have been a good thing, it could have saved us. We got worse. I was sitting on the sofa in the second bedroom one afternoon, thinking and thinking and thinking, when I realized I was on a Something island. "How did I get here," I wondered, surrounded by Nothing, "and how can I get back?" The longer your mother and I lived together, the more we took each other's assumptions for granted, the less was said, the more misunderstood, I'd often remember having designated a space as Nothing when she was sure we had agreed that it was Something, our unspoken agreements led to disagreements, to suffering, I started to undress right in front of her, this was just a few months ago, and she said, "Thomas! What are you doing!" and I gestured, "I thought this was Nothing," covering myself with one of my daybooks, and she said, "It's Something!" We took the blueprint of our apartment from the hallway closet and taped it to the inside of the front door, with an orange and a green marker we separated Something from Nothing. "This is Something," we decided. "This is Nothing." "Something." "Something." "Nothing." "Something." "Nothing." "Nothing." "Nothing." Everything was forever fixed, there would be only peace and happiness, it wasn't until last night, our last night together, that the inevitable question finally arose, I told her, "Something," by covering her face with my hands and then lifting them like a marriage veil. "We must be." But I knew, in the most protected part of my heart, the truth. "

Jonathan Safran Foer

Nothing , Something

" Thomas! What are you doing!" and I gestured, "I thought this was Nothing," covering myself with one of my daybooks ,and she said, "It's Something! "

Jonathan Safran Foer

Nothing