Oskar tells some of the Blacks his email address. If you were to send Oskar an email, what would you tell him? Alternate option: if you were applying for J.S. Foer's NYU writing class, "Writing the Impossible," what would you tell him about your experience reading Extremely Loud?
My email to my slightly neurotic counterpart Oskar would look a little like this...
ReplyDeleteDear Oskar,
It seems to me that you are a very intelligent boy with a complex life story. As you search New York city for the answer to your problems, I admire your ability to piece together parts of a scattered puzzle. I must say, it was pretty clever of you to visit every Black in NY just by the name on the envelope you found in the blue vase. Also, by seeking comfort in those around you and questioning all aspects of life, you seem to have an undeniable curiosity which you must feed with knoledge. The only thing Oskar is please just stop giving yourself little bruises! You are a sweet kid! Although I know at times it can seem as if the world is giving up on you, rest assure there is always someone to talk to, including me! I have noticed that you have quite the need for hugs love and kisses so, if you ever need a hug come find me! Also Oskar, I know that you don't really like Rob all that much, but you really should give him a chance. I think he might just surprise you. While sure it may feel as if he is replacing your Dad, he may just become a good friend! I think you are a great kid Oskar with an amazing imagination.Never stop inventing.
Love,
Val
Ps: My favorite invention was the reservoir of tears.
Pss: The only reason I know all this is because I am a super secret cat.
Dear Oskar,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Molly Merkin. I live in San Diego, California. I have read a lot about you and I am excited and tickled by your inventions and ideas. I am wondering what your favorite invention is? My favorite must be the bracelet that leaves a yellow trail behind it so the person who wears it cannot get lost. That is very clever and very reassuring; do you have any other ideas like it?
My brother is a lot like you. He is super interested in inventions and figuring out how things work. He invents things with link in logs and legos that can throw footballs or catch flying cars. He is 8 years old, so close to your age. I was wondering what is your favorite thing to do? If it is inventing I was wondering if you could share a new invention with me. I think that your work is so creative.
I was also wondering what you think about your grandfather? Or otherwise known as the Renter. I know that you guys met and did not know each other, but do you like him? Or are you bitter because of him leaving your grandmother? Personally, I think that he is a good man. I know that he left abruptly and broke your grandmother heart, but I think he meant the best. He was an unhappy, glooming, and confused man at the time he left. But he left because he knew he would bring down your grandmother, and I think that by leaving he showed he was the better man. I am sure your grandmother understood this, because she seems like a lovely lady. I wish I could meet her. She has been through so much and she seems like the kindest most interesting lady. But now that he is back are you happy? And do you think your grandmother is happy?
I was also wondering who is your favorite Black? I know that you have met so many interesting blacks in your search for the key. Did you really enjoy the 103-year-old man? Or the woman you almost kissed? I thought they were all pretty sweet. I was upset when I found out that your mother called each persons house before you arrived. When you discovered this were you as upset? And what did you tell her?
This caused my mixed feelings about your mother. She seems like a good mother, and loving wife, don’t get my wrong. But you both do not seem too connected. You made it clear on your list of most import things that she was the fourth. This makes me sad. I know that Ron upset you, but I want to reassure you that he seems like a good man. He lost someone close to him as well, so I think you should cut him some slack. Your mother is just trying to be a good person to him, and to you.
I know that you told your mother she could fall in love again, and I think that that was a very mature step, but she will always love your father. Even if he is gone, she will never replace him. He will always be with her, just like he is with you. I know you don’t believe in that stuff, like heaven or hell, but I think you should believe that your father loved you. And his love is with you.
Additionally, I was wondering what your next big plan is. Now that the hamlet and the search for the lock is over are you planning on doing anything new? Trying a sport, or searching for clues from your father? I know may seem as though there is nothing to look forward to, but there is. You are bright and excited about learning and that will get you very far. Hopefully you respond to Stephen Hawkings last letter and visit him the observatory.
I wish you the best.
Your friend, Molly
Dear Oskar,
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to have had the opportunity to get to know you better. Your story made me laugh, cry and want to cherish the people around me. I know that you are having a hard time, but I was wondering how you are doing now, after you found out the story behind the key. Have you found closure? I know that it's hard when you never really had a chance to say good-bye and I hoped that this key search and ultimately you going to your dad's grave would help you begin to stop mourning your father's death but instead learn how to celebrate his life and legacy that is left with you.
Though other people have said that you are not a normal kid, I think you are just perfect. I think that your ability to invent such amazing things like the ambulance that tells your loved ones how you are really doing is just brilliant. Your compassion for other is admirable and I wish there were more children and adults like you in this world. Don't ever let someone tell you that you are crazy, you are far from it.
So because I think your awesome, here is some advice. One: Be careful traveling around such a big city alone; it can be dangerous. Two: As you expand, remember to keep those around you close, they are incredible people who want to love you. And three: Celebrate your dad's life through yours. You can do this by using my second piece of advice. Especially with your grandfather. By celebrating your father's life rather than mourning his death you are telling the story of his life to your grandfather.
So Oskar, unzip yourself out of your sleeping bag,stop giving yourself bruises and keep inventing. I promise you if you do that and celebrate your dad's life, you will feel like 100 bucks.
Love,
Asha
Dear Oskar,
ReplyDeleteBy going around New York City looking for people with the last name Black, you brought many people back into the world from their self-inflicted isolation. Though you may think that all you did was for nothing, it really wasn't. You helped people recover from past losses and start to branch out again. Now that you helped others do that, why don’t you try branching out a bit yourself? Try and talk to your classmates or some other kids your age. Rather than reaching out to complete strangers, talk to your mom or your grandmother for advice. They want to help you. So let them help you. You have helped many people in your search, and your dad would be very proud of you. Now it is time to spend a bit more time with your family and friends. I love your inventions, and you should never stop thinking of ideas.
Matt
Oskar:
ReplyDeleteWhere to start? Let me tell you, you are an extremely impressive young man. Wise beyond your years, clearly, and you never cease to impress me. Your remarkable intellectual curiosity and drive to understand the unknown is incredibly captivating, and at times I forget that you are just a child. Let me proceed to my real purpose here though, I need not flatter you anymore.
In reading your account I learned a great deal about not only you as a person, but also about many of your inventions. You have a deep imagination and although some of your ideas are a bit, well idealistic, you have some concrete designs that I believe could make a solid profit. I would love to collaborate with you in making your inventions come to life. We would engineer, patent and market your designs and I believe with the publicity of the book, and a good campaign we could make a good profit. Please discuss with your mother or grandmother and let me know what you think.
I wanted to apologize for the loss of your father. I know you must hear this a lot, and it is a very difficult thing to deal with. Please stay strong and avoid giving yourself bruises. You are a good kid and I do not like seeing you hurt yourself.
I look forward to hearing from you and hopefully working with you in the near future.
Best Regards,
Liza
P.S.
When I was in the 4th grade I lost a gold locket in central park. It was my great grandmothers locket - very important to me. I was wondering if you have a chance if you could look through the various metal objects you found in the park. The initials G.L.K are engraved on the outside. It would mean the world to me to find. Thank you in advanced for your help.
Dear Oskar,
ReplyDeleteThank you for telling me all about your exciting, adventurous, and inventive life! It makes me happy to see how much you love your father, even though he isn’t physically with you anymore. Sometimes it’s hard to deal with losing someone – it feels like there is an empty space in your heart. Well, it WILL get better. That might be hard to tell on the rough days when you have heavy boots… like when Bring Your Son to Work day comes around and you only have one parent to go to work with… or when you see the father-son football league playing in the park by your house.
But there are lots of easy ways to lighten your boots! You can go and visit Stephen Hawking. (Please do! That’s quite the opportunity!) You can invent all kinds of things. You can hang out with your Grandma and the Renter. You can even play games with your mom and Ron. They understand you. Their laughter is not some sort of sign demonstrating that they have forgotten about the ones they love; they just realize that their loved ones would want them to be happy. I hope you’re happy. It’s what your dad would have wanted.
If you miss him too much, try looking in the mirror. You’re a part of his legacy of love and compassion for others. Be strong, Oskar. I believe in you. Your daddy does too.
Love,
Emily
Cher Oskar,
ReplyDeleteThat's french for "Dear Oskar," but I think you already know that. I wanted to thank you for visiting, because to be perfectly honest before you told me about your dad and how it effected you, I had only assumed that 9/11 was a big deal because everyone told me it was. You see, unlike you, 9/11 didn't really have a major effect on me. Here's why:
1) I was 7 years old living in Puerto Rico, and I was positive that the terrorists didn't even know that Puerto Rico existed.
2)My mom picked me up from school at the normal time, drove me home like usual, and didn't mention the terrorist attack until after i'd had my snack. Even then, she only showed me a brief glimpse of the news. I assumed that there was just a fire, and that a couple of firemen had died
3)It made traveling a hassle. Airport security took even looonnngggeerrr than it had before. I had to throw away my half-drunk bottle of chocolate milk. The floor was really cold without my shoes.
Your story helped fill in the missing pieces. It explained why people were so freaked out, and why to this day it's such a tender subject for those who were fully aware of the situation. You inspired me to do a little research. I watched buildings burning, planes crashing, people falling for 26 minutes and 32 seconds. It freaked me out.
So thank you, Oskar. Because of your story, I'm a little less naive, a little more aware, yet much more confused. But that's ok, because it's better confused than ignorant.
Sarah
Wow… where to begin? How exactly would I right a letter to the great Oskar Schell? Hmmmm…
ReplyDeleteIf I ever was given this great opportunity, I think my letter would start something like this:
Dear Oskar,
I’m sure you must get loads of fan mail now that you are rich and famous… but I just wanted to make sure that I took this time out of my life to let you l know how much your novel meant to me. Nowadays, it is so rare that someone writes a novel with the level of candid honesty that you wrote Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close with, and it is quite refreshing. Your honesty transports the reader to an emotional state where they now have the insight to look within themselves. It’s as if your writing gives the reader an instant confidence boost to be as honest with themselves as you were with them.
More than anything though, I appreciated the wit that came with your honesty in the novel. I don’t know if you know this but you’re hilarious. Especially when you use you original expletives like “succotash and dipshitake”. But, my all time favorite scene must have been in the very beginning with the limo driver.
In conclusion, I loved your novel, but I do have one thing to ask… where’s the sequel?
Your avid fan,
Katie Plaxe
Dear Oskar,
ReplyDeleteI am extremely sorry for the loss of your father. I understand how close you two were and I cannot imagine losing someone that I love so much. I just would like to say that you cannot let it drag you down forever. Such a tragic experience is alright to grieve over, but not for an extended period of time. You are an intelligent, creative, and curious boy who has so much potential, and I would hate to see it diminish. I believe your inventions will truly take you to new heights and provide you with success.
I also understand that as you are still grieving and recovering from your loss, you might have lost some of your passion. I urge you to continue with any creative endeavor that comes to your mind. Oskar, believe me; you must try to occupy your mind with other loves you have but still keeping the memories of your father. You must always love him and cherish the memories you share with him, but use this to push on with your life, not hold you back. Good luck with your endeavors and I wish to someday meet you.
Sincerely,
Adam