White Noise (1985)
First, this is simply a very well constructed novel from start to finish. Maintaining a consistent tone and rhythm of language that meshes so well with the subject matter of the book. The constant descriptions of ads on the tv, of everyday clutter making up the periphery, perfect for a film discussing the increased consumerist trend of the mid '80s that seems so quaint and pails to contemporary late stage capitalism.
My gripes with the novel. Something that I find very hard to execute that I applaud Oscar Wilde for doing so splendidly is integrating characters that basically just go on very smart monologues, sometimes just acting as a vicarious cocoon to grow the author's thoughts. I think DeLillo does this with Murray & Heinrich but not in a fashion that I found particularly appealing. I think that goes as a whole for the course of the novel that if you're a reader who cherishes 'realistic' or 'simplistic' dialogue, this is not the book for you. The prose is often simplistic, the verse not so much.
Another aspect that didn't hit with me, is the kinda the whole point of the novel on the surface: Death. Not a huge fan, but who is? But at the same time, I'm also not scared of it and don't think about very often, if at all. This makes it hard for me to resonate with the motivations and actions of characters but oh well, that's what empathy in art is for.
In the end, it's a terrific piece that I'm happy I read and maybe will return to when I approach the societal implications and life experience of Jack Gladney. Also want to shout out a great piece on the Guardian that I read after finishing which helped me crystallize some thoughts on the book.
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/may/10/don-delillo-white-noise-a-novel-way-of-dismantling-consumerism
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