Here I Am | Jonathan Safran Foer

Here I Am by Jonathan Safran Foer is an expansive and emotionally ambitious novel that explores questions of identity, family, and modern Jewish-American life. Foer’s writing is undeniably intelligent and often beautifully crafted, filled with sharp observations and poignant moments.

That said, I found the story slow and at times over-indulgent, giving off a  slightly patronising tone. The narrative frequently meanders, and while some readers may appreciate the philosophical tangents and intricate character introspection, I felt they sometimes bogged down the pace and distracted from the core of the story. I often found myself lost and not understanding what was actually happening. 

Overall, Here I Am is a novel that asks some big questions and takes its time exploring them, without ever really reaching any conclusions. It tries to be impressive in scope, but the slow burn and dense style was off putting. As a fan of Safran Foer's Everything Is Illuminated and Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close, this book was quite a disappointment.