Everything Is Illuminated

Summary

Everything Is Illuminated is the story of a young American Jew, Jonathan Safran Foer, who travels to Ukraine in search of the woman who saved his grandfather during the Holocaust. On his journey, he meets a local guide, Alex, and his grandfather, who assist him in his quest. The narrative alternates between the tale of the journey and a fictional account of the Jewish shtetl Trochenbrod, from where Jonathan's ancestors hail. The book explores themes of memory, identity, and heritage, intertwining tragedy and comedy in a unique style.