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taj58's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
morning_room's review against another edition
3.0
i've only watched about two seasons of 'Mad Men' but I assume this is the route it takes.
davidaguilarrodriguez's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
An interesting first novel. There’s a lot going on, but in a way that’s kind of all over the place. Reminds me of Pynchon’s Vineland crossed with American Psycho, but kind of crude and way less polished.
wcmills55's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lynn63's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting to read the early work of a great writer - somewhat adolescent and self-conscious - then more and more polished, sophisticated and stylish as it progresses. It seems to me he represents the male psyche much as Elena Ferrante epitomizes the female.
senoyreve's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
overwritten, and the plot suffers at the hand of the need of delillo to spread a certain philosophy. the book has beautiful poetic prose but often it prattles on for pages too long. stretches of this book read as completely different stories; and none of the characters felt fleshed out properly, they felt like names in a word problem.
misterzed6's review against another edition
1.0
One star deserves a comment or two. Underworld and White Noise were both reasonably entertaining if in the former's case slightly ultimately underwhelming. This is De Lillo first book and I'm surprised that it was published and that he got a book deal. There are some entertaining passages but sadly very few. The main character is self absorbed unpleasant and obnoxious but that doesn't mean much after all there are plenty of excellent books with vile lead characters. The problem for me is that there are long tedious passages of little interest and no relevance. This novel is filled with unnecessary, pretentious passages of pure drivel. I was so glad to get to the end and by then I'd ceased caring about any of the characters or plot. The one good thing is that this was a purchase from a charity shop where I will gladly return this awful piece of writing.
dee9401's review against another edition
1.0
A little too cool for school.
To me, this is a good example of where some writing, esp. "literature," went in the 70s and beyond. A little too much focus on form and less on content. Style over substance. A blueprint for where the MFA in writing crowd would be headed in the 80s-00s.
One thing missing from pieces like this is the substance underneath. I love Picasso and I love how he played with form, presentation and light. But, there remains, underneath the cool new tools/techniques he used, real emotion and content. I think that Americana is all flourish, that shows that Mr. DeLillo has chops, but that he doesn't have a good story to tell nor does he tell it in a way that I would label good.
Others will surely feel differently about this book and about his more recent works that have won more acclaim. I like to start with an author's first book to see where they came from and where they might be headed before the onslaught of reviews, editors, fans and detractors arrive.
To me, this is a good example of where some writing, esp. "literature," went in the 70s and beyond. A little too much focus on form and less on content. Style over substance. A blueprint for where the MFA in writing crowd would be headed in the 80s-00s.
One thing missing from pieces like this is the substance underneath. I love Picasso and I love how he played with form, presentation and light. But, there remains, underneath the cool new tools/techniques he used, real emotion and content. I think that Americana is all flourish, that shows that Mr. DeLillo has chops, but that he doesn't have a good story to tell nor does he tell it in a way that I would label good.
Others will surely feel differently about this book and about his more recent works that have won more acclaim. I like to start with an author's first book to see where they came from and where they might be headed before the onslaught of reviews, editors, fans and detractors arrive.
madscha's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
smtornio's review against another edition
3.0
Reading a writer’s first novel, especially one which has been more or less forgotten in larger conversations, is a lesson in craft and anti-craft. You see what they’re trying to do, where they’ve definitely succeeded, and then where it’s hard to tell. Could be pretentious nonsense or something more. This is the “soft white underbelly”—unsettling and demiurgic.