Illuminated Again

by Daisy Maryles -- Publishers Weekly, 3/28/2005

Second novels have proven a challenge to many authors, particularly those whose debuts are major successes. Doesn't seem to be the case with Jonathan Safran Foer, whose first fiction, Everything Is Illuminated, sold close to 100,000 copies and was published in 26 languages. His second novel, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, has gotten raves ("funny, tender, tragic, ingeniously imaginative," said Cynthia Ozick) and a cover review in the New York Times Book Review (as did his first book); sales could surpass book one. Houghton Mifflin planned a 125,000 first printing, but two trips back to press have brought copies in print to 160,000. There is a lot of national print and broadcast media planned for Foer, including a 14-city national tour next month. The tour will also feature visits to as many high schools and colleges as time allows, as Foer is passionate about getting young people to read. Both of his books will benefit from the August release of the movie Everything Is Illuminated, directed by Liev Schreiber and starring Elijah Wood. Warner Bros. and Paramount jointly acquired rights to the new book and Scott Rudin (The Hours) has signed on as producer.