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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm pretty historically illiterate and overall a dumb guy; I did not do well in school and my parents were/are immigrants who don't really care about shit like the Kennedy assassination, so going into this, I barely knew what the Bay of Pigs was, what JFK's vibe was, or basically any of the controversy surrounding his assassination. I just knew that it was purported to be a conspiracy led by the CIA and I pretty much accepted that without any sort of further research. The notion that the CIA would murder a democratically-elected leader of a sovereign nation for political reasons doesn't really conflict with my understanding of the world, so it's not hard for me to shrug my shoulders and say "sure" to most plausible conspiracy theories, and then go about my day.
I was recommended Libra by a friend of mine after I finished [b:Mao II|402|Mao II|Don DeLillo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388194999l/402._SY75_.jpg|2456942]. I thought Mao II sort of dragged and it was hard to get into it. Libra had none of that.
Libra is the compelling story of the conspiracy of the assassination of JFK made into a coherent narrative. You will get sucked into this book. I think my favorite aspect of this novel was how naturally DeLillo conveyed Oswald as a complicated figure. Born into poverty, little to no stability, ostracized as kid, but also growing up to be a narcissistic dickhead. I had sympathy for him despite his actions and behaviors towards his mother, his wife, his kids. He had little regard for the people that loved him, but it was also hard to ignore the difficulties he faced growing up. He also was strange in the way he was willing to cut everything/everyone out of his life to move to Russia and devote his life to the Revolution, but then give up after a few years and sell it out just to move back to the US for the sake of his own comfort. He's kind of an example of someone who might not have had serious commitments to any ideological project but instead saw himself as a hero, and that's all he wanted.
Anyway, I'm not going to write too much about this novel. I just wanted to talk about how I felt about it a little bit. I'm not sure why I didn't give it higher than a 4/5. It's good, I liked it, I feel like I learned a lot about US history from it and the sheer revulsion American conservatives had for JFK at the time, as well as his sunny charisma and the attention and glam surrounding him. I think the most touching aspect of it was the perspective of his mother, Marguerite, and that's what made it personal. Exciting thriller with several multifaceted characters. That's another thing: his characters. His way with building and developing characters rocks. I'm probably going to give this book another read. Watch the Zapruder film and the assassination of Oswald by Jack Ruby when it's the time. Also feel free to look things up. Good stuff. Might get me a Stetson.
I was recommended Libra by a friend of mine after I finished [b:Mao II|402|Mao II|Don DeLillo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388194999l/402._SY75_.jpg|2456942]. I thought Mao II sort of dragged and it was hard to get into it. Libra had none of that.
Libra is the compelling story of the conspiracy of the assassination of JFK made into a coherent narrative. You will get sucked into this book. I think my favorite aspect of this novel was how naturally DeLillo conveyed Oswald as a complicated figure. Born into poverty, little to no stability, ostracized as kid, but also growing up to be a narcissistic dickhead. I had sympathy for him despite his actions and behaviors towards his mother, his wife, his kids. He had little regard for the people that loved him, but it was also hard to ignore the difficulties he faced growing up. He also was strange in the way he was willing to cut everything/everyone out of his life to move to Russia and devote his life to the Revolution, but then give up after a few years and sell it out just to move back to the US for the sake of his own comfort. He's kind of an example of someone who might not have had serious commitments to any ideological project but instead saw himself as a hero, and that's all he wanted.
Anyway, I'm not going to write too much about this novel. I just wanted to talk about how I felt about it a little bit. I'm not sure why I didn't give it higher than a 4/5. It's good, I liked it, I feel like I learned a lot about US history from it and the sheer revulsion American conservatives had for JFK at the time, as well as his sunny charisma and the attention and glam surrounding him. I think the most touching aspect of it was the perspective of his mother, Marguerite, and that's what made it personal. Exciting thriller with several multifaceted characters. That's another thing: his characters. His way with building and developing characters rocks. I'm probably going to give this book another read. Watch the Zapruder film and the assassination of Oswald by Jack Ruby when it's the time. Also feel free to look things up. Good stuff. Might get me a Stetson.
A really interesting way to present the Lee Harvey Oswald case. Makes you question what is fact and what is fiction and whether it is fact, fiction or a mixture of both that makes up history.
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
There is no coincidence. The universe conspires against us, and we roll towards our inevitable fate, making little decisions, convinced of our sense of control, clutching a wheel attached to no rudder. The plotters as insignificant as the pawns, following grooves etched at the beginning of time. All things carrying their own set momentum to its conclusion. The very earth moves under our feet. Pity to him who begins to awaken to this purpose, who watches through the television as reality itself bends around him, as all the forces of man and nature conspire to rend his flesh and feeling from the bone and leave history behind. No different than the sea carving out the shoreline. Keep your eyes open, your ears to the ground, and always keep cool while crossing the street.
challenging
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes