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Summary: Genious! Great Layout, a good read for anyone.
Review: DeLillo does a remarkable job on this book. Takes place in Greece, Middle Eastern countries, and is just very informative and amazingly descriptive.
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Summary: Good primer for the later stuff
Review: Delillo would get better, but those later novels prove that these early novels weren't some kind of weird writing fluke, while the novels from this period prove that he didn't exactly come out of nowhere. All of the classic elements of Delillo are already in place, the razor sharp prose that forms intricate and effortless rhythms where you think the words were always supposed to fall together that way, while the dialogue snaps back and forth like a live wire, even when the characters are talking languidly, and the characters themselves, both sharply defined and vaguely drawn, studies in contrasts. The plot here has something to do with language and a cult that is killing people for reasons that might have to do with language, while "risk analyist" James Axton ponders being separated from his wife and what all this travelling really means. What does it mean? It means the reader get a very meditative novel, carried along mostly by shifting from character study to character study, from observation to observation. For the most part it's a joy just watching everyone interact, the cult plot for the most part never becomes more than secondary and in fact most of the plot is secondary, you get more of a sense that you're peeking in on the lives of real (and very flawed) people. If Delillo wasn't such a master at crafting prose then all of this would come across as highly boring but he can make the descriptions of even the most static scenes and the most mundane thoughts crackle with a strange kind of energy, where behind the flat events sparks a vital sort of life. Probably more experienced than actually read, and not something for people who are expecting an exotic suspense thriller along the lines of what's currently in the movies (though it is exotic and you do get a good feel for the countries that are visited) it's for those who admire charactization and insightful prose over deft plotting . . . Delillo would sharpen all of these traits even further later on but if you want to see where it all came from and how it all started, this novel is one of the places to begin to look.
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Summary: Are They Killing Americans There?
Review: First, let me ask you...how many languages do you speak? That question will take on a whole new meaning once you've read this book. The story (and there *is* one) centers around a group of American and British expatriates living and working in Greece (where DeLillo lived for a while before writing this novel). It was the last of his early novels...meaning the next one was WHITE NOISE, at which point DeLillo started to become famous. Yet, THE NAMES still remains one of my favorites. Yes, it was followed by three truly *excellent* novels (WHITE NOISE, LIBRA, and MAO II), and (after several years) by an undisputedly GREAT novel (UNDERWORLD). But, here we have DeLillo still paying his dues...and paying them remarkably well, too. In this one, he finally brought together the various disparate themes of his earlier works, and he solidified his "outsider in society" motif. It was the first of DeLillo's novels I read, and it made me an instant devotee.So...how many languages do you speak? These expatriates I mentioned come in contact with a bizarre language cult which is responsible for a series of ritual murders in the area. Our "hero" is James Axton, a "risk analyst" who isn't exactly sure himself just who he's working for (i.e., business insurance...or CIA?). In fact, he's pretty much detached from most things in his life...his ex-marriage, his friends, Greece itself, the cult (when he finally meets them)...you name it. The Outsider. Wishing he could be part of something...never able to get past the *analysis* of risk. His inaction leads to serious consequences. As always, DeLillo's intense use of language ultimately leads to something nonverbal. It's interesting to me that he seems to have most successfully achieved this in THE NAMES, which so persistently circles around issues related to language. DeLillo has said that he writes his works one sentence at a time, paying as much attention to the nonverbal elements as to the verbal. He hears the rhythm of the words, the prosody of sound, and he studies the shapes of the words on the page. If something's not right, he says, he'll change a word...even if it means changing the meaning of the sentence. Thus, language becomes the driving force of the story. Thus, DeLillo says, writing becomes a religious experience. If you don't know what he means by this, maybe THE NAMES will give you a clue. It's contemporary American writing at its best! And, by the way...how many languages do you speak? And where are you from? Are they killing Americans there?
Rating: 
Summary: A miss for me
Review: I eagerly began reading The Names, my first Delillo novel, assuming I would be adding him to my rotation of can't-miss authors. I agree with other posters, Delillo's characters are very well developed, complicated and believable, and Delillo demonstrates true skill as a writer. Unfortunately, as a coherent story, this book was a miss for me. I consider myself a sophisticated enough reader to handle most fiction but this novel was confusing - perhaps esoteric? It was hard at times to figure out who was speaking to whom and to remember characters that were introduced earlier in the novel. I plodded through hoping to find links that would pull the story together but they eluded me. I won't rule out giving Delillo another try, however, based on my experience with The Names, I'm in no rush.
Rating:
Summary: A miss for me
Review: I eagerly began reading The Names, my first Delillo novel, assuming I would be adding him to my rotation of can't-miss authors. I agree with other posters, Delillo's characters are very well developed, complicated and believable, and Delillo demonstrates true skill as a writer. Unfortunately, as a coherent story, this book was a miss for me. I consider myself a sophisticated enough reader to handle most fiction but this novel was confusing - perhaps esoteric? It was hard at times to figure out who was speaking to whom and to remember characters that were introduced earlier in the novel. I plodded through hoping to find links that would pull the story together but they eluded me. I won't rule out giving Delillo another try, however, based on my experience with The Names, I'm in no rush.
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Summary: Great Gatsby goes to Athens
Review: I found The Names to be relatively intriguing. I was quite disappointed however, because the other reviews had prepared me to read something amazing. For some reason the parallel with the Great Gatsby kept coming back to me while I was reading it. Maybe because the main characters are similarly lost souls both emotionally and physically, being uprooted from the States to Greece. The plot line about the cult was a little out pf place and I do not think that it gave the reader any meaningful insight into the characters (if that was DeLillo's purpose). Don't let this discuourage you from reading the novel though--you will enjoy very realistic and true descriptions of life in Greece.
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Summary: Acquaint Yourself
Review: I had never read DeLillo before and a friend suggested that if I never read anyone else again, I should read something that Don DeLillo had written. Although The Names was not his first suggestion, the title intrigued me (yes, I judged the book by its cover) and off I went. The Names is a book with little plot, but what it lacks in any consistant action it more than makes up in DeLillo's absolutely superb prose and insight. There are many books that I have read where the author offers a thought or an idea that rings quite familiar in my life. But this book continually presents perspectives that I had never before considered or pondered. DeLillo's ideas are fresh and his expression is invigorating. I eagerly await the experience of reading his other work. Acquaint yourself with this author. You'll make no mistake in doing so.
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Summary: Serious, complicated and intriguing.
Review: I had read WHITE NOISE years ago and was surprised by the book's originality, depth and particularly the adeptness of the dialogue. Stumbling onto THE NAMES was an accident, but as Freud once said, "There are no accidents."; and found this book even more compelling and strange. Delillo is a master of description and dialogue, touching on epic themes from a slightly bent perspective. That's what makes him such a wonderful author - giving his readers the opportunity to see the world in all its mundaneness from new perspectives. As a 'postmodern' writer, he plays with form yet manages to maintain that so needed aspect of a novel - the story. Playing with the artifice is all fine and dandy, but it can get pretty annoying when the story is lost. Delillo has surpassed many modern writers with his originality and approach to the novel. THE NAMES is a gem. Excellent reading.
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Summary: A whirlwind travelogue, but not as "deep" as suggested
Review: The Names is indeed well-written, and a sensory delight, taking the reader on believable and quite scenic travels with an international bank executive who speaks in short, hyperintelligent sentences. The dialogue has the classic DeLillo wit and depth, and the DeLilloesque observations about the surroundings are so much better, because there are several sets of surroundings involved in this travel novel. Unfortunately, however, I did not think it was a deep "meditation on language," as some have suggested it is. Yes, DeLillo does try hard to weave in things about language and words and meaning, and he does have some intelligent observations about self-referentiality and tautologies, but these don't seem to be very tightly integrated into the plot. It almost seems as if the "names"-oriented aspect of the book was added afterwards; the book could function just as well without all the things about names and language. Still, this is a thrilling read, even if only as a travelogue and commentary by perhaps America's most astute social commentator. I'd recommend it to those who have read White Noise and want more DeLillo, but I wouldn't recommend it to someone wanting to just discover DeLillo. (I think White Noise or Mao II would be much better for that purpose)
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Summary: ON THE SAME LOFTY PORCH AS WHITE NOISE
Review: The Names was the book that gave rise to Delillo's progressive fame and is probably one of Delilo's finest and most unique books. While the majority of his novels are set in America, this one is set in the exotic premise of Greece and India, with referrals to the Middle East. This proves to be a very absorbing diversion. Overflowing with superbly crafted characters and a solidly structured plot scattered with witty and sharp insightful observations and possessing an almost irresistible writing-style, The Names deserved to be a best seller when it was released. The novel concerns Americans living abroad, America the Myth as perceived by the rest of the world, a series of chillingly brutal cult-murders, the elusive and haunting cult itself and the concept of separation from family and on-going conflict between modern day couples. The alphabet and the metamorphosis between converging languages is also an essential component in this novel. Gripping as well is the weighty yet expertly condensed history that makes appearances. James the protagonist is a risk analyst, separated from his wife, Kathryn, who digs at archaeological sites. Their son, Tap, writes novels. Stop there. I will not give away any more about the characters involved. These aspects provide intriguing reading material and Delillo fans will not be disappointed. For newcomers to Delillo, The Names is also a good introduction. Perhaps what is most worthy of praise is that the prose is incandescently ingenious and profound and that this novel highlights Delillo's ability to create multitudes of characters that possess very well formed individual identities. The dialogue is also thought-provocative, believable and occasionally startling. This raises the next point, the irrefutable fact that the book is half dialogue. This is highly unusual, as the proportion is much lower in other novels, let alone Delillo's. This, as I am delighted to say, is not a flaw but a virtue as it is endlessly interesting to peer into the sometimes-mysterious conversations the characters have. It is arguable, though, that The Names would have achieved more if more of it were concentrated on the development of the plot. Also evident is the ostensible lack of unity in The Names. As I mentioned, there are insightful paragraphs scattered about the novel. Why scattered? Although they all are based loosely a singular theme, it has to be put forth that if more work had gone into them, they could have been made to fit together more obviously, which would have been enough to grant this novel five stars. Initially, the plot plods along at a relatively slow pace then suddenly accelerates at a breakneck speed near the end to an intensely satisfying conclusion. A warning: this pace may not be to everyone's liking. I've said enough abut The Names. It thoroughly deserves to be ranked alongside delillo's more successful novels such as White Noise, Underworld and Mao II. Judging from the Amazon.com sales rank, the Names is not at all a popular of book, and for that reason, this review will be imparted to relatively few, but for those of you listening, The Names was not only a milestone in this great author's career, but also one of the most hauntingly told and important books of his generation.
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