A review by fleeceknots
White Noise by Don DeLillo

mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This is a book with very in-your-face pretensions. 

It’s an exploration of consumer and media culture, middle class identity and the fear of death. That being said, it remains fairly grounded from the most part. While there’s a lot of lofty and strange stuff going on, much of the book feels surprisingly grounded.

The book has a strong satirical slant. The world of White Noise is the 90’s through a funhouse mirror. Characters and dialogue have an unrealness to them that was slightly off putting at first but eventually came to charm me. The central family in particular exemplifies this dynamic. It felt like no one ever talked to anyone else in a way a real person ever has, but at the same time their dynamic as a family felt very lived in and real. This is exactly how real families act. In a ridiculous world, the book’s beating heart is the family and it was easily the part that kept me coming back to it. Also, the writing. I really didn’t expect DeLilo, for all his loftiness, to write such straightforwardly beautiful prose.

It’s not a flawless book. The stuff focused on death in particular has a habit of becoming ephemeral from time to time. The plot all the charming characters live in is a bit lopsided. Still it’s very easy to overlook given its strengths. Not for everyone, but if you buy in I think you can get a lot out of it