Rating: Summary: The book offered theories to life's unsolved questions Review: I thought White Noise explored a lot with the topic of death. I liked how Murray offered us an explanation for massacres, killings and wars. His reason was people were trying to gain "extra life-credit". It had some interesting aspects. The book had underlying themes throughout it, which was very clever. The symbolism is endless. I would recomend this book if you like abstract and in-depth novels.
Rating: Summary: The book did not seem to flow logically Review: I was very confused throughout the entire first section of the book. Its style of writing was not carried through to the second and third sections. It actually was just a conglomeration of thoughts presented chronologically that never seemed to develop into a strong plot until the second and thrid sections. The second and thrid sections develop clear plots and only are connected to the first section by thier expansion on some ideas.
Rating: Summary: Bland at first, but better as the book progressed. Review: I had to read this book for my college English class. The first part of the book I found rather boring. To much detail with no plot, it was hard to get into the book. But as the book progressed the plot started to develop. The second and third parts were better. The book was very analytical which made it interesting. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a different style of writing, but not for entertainment.
Rating: Summary: alright already Review: I did not finish 'White Noise'. After about 60 or 100 pages I began hearing a little voice saying, "I think I get it". But hammering away at a not very complex point is only one of the book's annoying faults. The book makes the point that there's a lot of useless information that can take up space in our minds over and over and over. All the characters, incidentally, had virtually the same voice; the 14 year old used the same cadence and vocabulary as the college professor. The book seems to be targeted toward mental masochists that enjoy or are, perhaps, proud of the 'head-full-of-crap' condition. In this way the book is a condemnation of a certain kind of liberal arts education. If the condemnation is unintentional then I feel sorry for the author and the reader. If it is intentional - alright, already.
Rating: Summary: Another yes vote, for good measure Review: I never post reviews, but I must agree with the reader from Brooklyn. People who don't like White Noise clearly wouldn't know a beautiful sentence if it bit them in a very soft place that most people can't get a good view of without a mirror. Furthermore, to dismiss the novel as mere "paraphrased social critique" is to grasp only its most superficial aspect-- akin to dismissing Nathaniel Hawthorne as a colorful anthropologist of Puritan culture. DeLillo's writing is deadly because he draws characters that are frighteningly familiar (if you don't find pieces of yourself in his characters, you're lying to yourself). DeLillo engages the themes of love and death in a tone of simultaneous irony and sympathy that few can match; he walks a razor's edge between misanthropy and deeply abiding compassion. To top it off, the writing is incredibly funny and highly readable. Every living American should read this novel at least once.
Rating: Summary: morbidly wonderful Review: Delillo can summarize a generation with pop-culture references. The book has a disturbingly accurate stance on man's lust for blood and fear of death. I find myself watching burning houses in awe.
Rating: Summary: The last book I would want to read before I died. Review: If I was only allowed to bring one book with me to a deserted island...I would contemplate bringing either White Noise or the Websters Dictionary for a second but only a second. White Noise is and (will probably be) the BEST novel I have ever read. (and I read a great deal) I would however read all DeLillo's other novels and work your way to this one...it will be worth the wait. *****
Rating: Summary: Boring as hell. Review: Books like this (and for the most part, many works of Pynchon and Vonnegut) provide social commentary and overblown allegories of life in the modern age. White Noise is trying so hard to teach lessons and issue warnings that the message comes across as subtly as a teacher holding up multiplication table flash cards. Along with Breakfast of Champions and The Crying of Lot 49, this is the kind of book that I will no longer feel guilty about not liking. Boring and unrealistic, with a plot that wanders like a donkey lost in the desert, this self-important book provides me with absolutely no reading enjoyment. It's like listening to a 20 minute guitar solo by some bored jazz musician who turns his back to the audience. I've left the concert, see you at the bar. Read William Vollmann instead.
Rating: Summary: Great Writing style, but not much else Review: I loved the way DeLillo described scenes, although by the end of the book, this had worn into long-windedness. I did not find the book humorous; I found the idea that there might be people like this scary. At the same time, it I realized that alot of 'scary' traits were 'normal' traits that were exagerated (for effect I assume). It's an interesting peice of social commentary written in really great prose.
Rating: Summary: One of a kind, stand alone, truly original novel. Review: I normally don't participate in reviews, but the moronic comments from Chicago must not be the first words that meet the viewer of this page. This book is many things, not least of which is hilarious. Not many American writers make me laugh much. DeLillo did.But more importantly the book speaks to its time (and the future). The characters and events seem so strange but then why does it all seem so real? The "parts" of this book are great, but the "sum" is greater. It somehow resonated with me. So I'd say, read it and pass it on.
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