So all I have heard about this guy is that he is a really good writer and a really big jerk*. I cannot confirm or deny either, though the first bit is looking good. That being said, this is my favorite thing I’ve read in a while:
(In discussing the relative insignificance of our little lives, a boy talks to his father …)
… I asked if he could think of a solution to that problem. “Which problem?” “The problem of how relatively insignificant we are.” He said, “Well, what would happen if a plane dropped you in the middle of the Sahara Desert and you picked up a single grain of sand with tweezers and moved it one millimeter?” … I said, “I dunno, what?” He said, “Think about it.” I thought about it. “I guess I would have moved a grain of sand.” “Which would mean?” “Which would mean I moved a grain of sand?” “Which would mean you changed the Sahara.” “So?” “So? So the Sahara is a vast desert. And it has existed for millions of years. And you changed it!” “That’s true,” I said, sitting up. “I changed the Sahara! … I’m not talking about painting the Mona Lisa or curing cancer. I’m just talking about moving that one grain of sand one millimeter. ” … I stood on the bed, pointed my fingers at the fake stars, and screamed: I changed the universe!” “You did!” “I’m God!” “You’re an atheist.” “I don’t exist!” I fell back onto the bed, into his arms, and we cracked up together.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer
Please don't sue me, Mr. Foer. I'm spreading your good words. And, I credited you.
Also, this is cute and makes me happy.
(In discussing the relative insignificance of our little lives, a boy talks to his father …)
… I asked if he could think of a solution to that problem. “Which problem?” “The problem of how relatively insignificant we are.” He said, “Well, what would happen if a plane dropped you in the middle of the Sahara Desert and you picked up a single grain of sand with tweezers and moved it one millimeter?” … I said, “I dunno, what?” He said, “Think about it.” I thought about it. “I guess I would have moved a grain of sand.” “Which would mean?” “Which would mean I moved a grain of sand?” “Which would mean you changed the Sahara.” “So?” “So? So the Sahara is a vast desert. And it has existed for millions of years. And you changed it!” “That’s true,” I said, sitting up. “I changed the Sahara! … I’m not talking about painting the Mona Lisa or curing cancer. I’m just talking about moving that one grain of sand one millimeter. ” … I stood on the bed, pointed my fingers at the fake stars, and screamed: I changed the universe!” “You did!” “I’m God!” “You’re an atheist.” “I don’t exist!” I fell back onto the bed, into his arms, and we cracked up together.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer
Please don't sue me, Mr. Foer. I'm spreading your good words. And, I credited you.
Also, this is cute and makes me happy.
 |
* I know so little about Jonathan Safran Foer that I got him confused with Jonathan Franzen, who is the alleged jerk. My apologies.
RSS Feed
