The very modern tale of a young man and the search for his past. Foer plumbs the humor and tragedy of the young American protagonist (like the author, named Jonathan Safran), translator Alex, an old man -- and a very odd dog -- on a journey back to Ukraine, haunted by the spectre of WWII and the Nazis. This accomplished -- and complex -- first novel has been very well received.  (RUS168, $13.95)