23149014345613's review
5.0
DeLillo is a delight - funny, absurd, post-modern... Advertisements suffuse consciousness and become mantra, super markets become transcendent temples, Hitler and Elvis are deep fields of academic study with entire college departments and conferences. There's a Toxic Airborne Event, but just as you think the book is zigging into dystopian Stephen King stuff, it zags and the cloud disperses, and we're left wondering if the real toxin is in the air already, carried on TV static and radio towers and our death-fears and the secrets we keep in our American families.
delaygua's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
sumaiyachow's review against another edition
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
3.0
andrea_edwards's review
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
No plot, just vibes.
alfattack1115's review
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
thepaige_turner's review against another edition
2.0
I mean I guess it had some good commentary on consumerism...but again, the fact that I had to read this for school 100% clouded my judgement.
dee_claire_reads's review
challenging
slow-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
4.0
titobaker's review against another edition
3.0
impressive
There were aspects of White Noise so prescient that they verged on clairvoyant. Fascinating story given all we’ve been through the past few years with COVID. On the flipside, while I can understand Delillo's concern about mass consumption, consumerism, media and advertising in the 80s, we're so far gone in 2023 that all of these topics seem alarmist and hysterical to me.
That said, this one get a "me likey" from me. Will check out some more Delillo in the future.
There were aspects of White Noise so prescient that they verged on clairvoyant. Fascinating story given all we’ve been through the past few years with COVID. On the flipside, while I can understand Delillo's concern about mass consumption, consumerism, media and advertising in the 80s, we're so far gone in 2023 that all of these topics seem alarmist and hysterical to me.
That said, this one get a "me likey" from me. Will check out some more Delillo in the future.
markb2's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
4.0