"Everything Is Illuminated" by Jonathan Safran Foer explores themes of memory, history, and identity through the lens of a journey to uncover the past. The protagonist, Jonathan, travels to Ukraine to find the woman who saved his grandfather during World War II. Throughout his quest, he grapples with the complexities of remembrance and the emotional weight of history, revealing how personal experiences shape our understanding of the past.

The quote "What does it remember like?" encapsulates the essence of the narrative, highlighting how memory can be both a fragile and a powerful construct. It suggests a deep reflection on what it means to remember and how recollections are influenced by feelings, perspective, and time. This inquiry into memory serves as a pivotal theme in Foer's work, prompting readers to consider their own relationships with memory and its impact on identity.