I just finished this on Friday and whoa. I knocked the whole thing out in two days just because I loved it so much. It actually made me laugh out loud (which is unusual - not many books make me do that) & it also made me ball my eyes out. Like not a couple of lone tears. Like an actual crying jag on the couch while no one else was home.

What I want to know is how many of you guys have read it? Did you enjoy it? Is this guy famous overseas because I've never heard of him before in NZ but he seems like he should be famous. Who has read his other book Everything is Illuminated? Is it as horribley, heartbreakingly sad?

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I CARRIED A WATERMELON

i've heard alot of good things about him, seems a bit gimmicky though.

i've only read extremely loud & incredibley close but it didn't seem gimmicky at all to me.

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I CARRIED A WATERMELON

its only gimmicky in the sense that the pictures and weird structure might get people to read it. when you are reading it though, its just part of the story. it works so well and for the most part you agree that this kid is smart and this could all happen. just when you start to doubt it though, the explanation comes. i havent read his first book yet, but im going to.

I really enjoyed it yes