'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close' Author Jonathan Safran Foer

The new film "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" has been talked about as a possible Oscar contender. But before it was a movie, it was a highly acclaimed novel by Jonathan Safran Foer. We revisit our 2005 conversation with Jonathan Safran Foer.

"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" tells the story of Oskar Schell, a precocious 9-year-old whose father is killed in the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Jonathan tells us that when it comes to 9/11, that not only are we not as shocked by the event as we were, but we're not so fearful.

Foer adds our sadness about the event has changed. But when we strip away the all the layers of protection that we've built around ourselves, the pain is still there.  Jonathan says we can get closer to the events of that day by seeing it through the eyes of a 9-year-old, because we are seeing it through the eyes of someone vulnerable.