rex_tugwell's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
servemethesky's review against another edition
4.0
I really, really enjoyed this book. It's provocative and modern and compelling. It shows us just how fragmented and disconnected our lives and relationships are. The style fits this message perfectly.
My only complaints are:
1) What is going on with the Muslim sections?! I get that DeLillo is trying to humanize the suicide bombers, but what? Really? What? I don't understand how he can fabricate these kinds of perspectives- can any research he has done truly illuminate their thoughts moments before impact and in their training leading up to it? It seems to me more like he was writing what he wanted to believe suicide bombers were like to he can feel better about the attacks.
2) At times, the style/writing was a little too heavy handed, too over the top. It was like DeLillo was trying too hard to depict how our lives changed in the aftermath of 9/11.
Overall, though, this book really made me think about what happened 10 years ago and its reverberations in our culture and lives, and it made me examine how profoundly little I actually know about 9/11.
My only complaints are:
1) What is going on with the Muslim sections?! I get that DeLillo is trying to humanize the suicide bombers, but what? Really? What? I don't understand how he can fabricate these kinds of perspectives- can any research he has done truly illuminate their thoughts moments before impact and in their training leading up to it? It seems to me more like he was writing what he wanted to believe suicide bombers were like to he can feel better about the attacks.
2) At times, the style/writing was a little too heavy handed, too over the top. It was like DeLillo was trying too hard to depict how our lives changed in the aftermath of 9/11.
Overall, though, this book really made me think about what happened 10 years ago and its reverberations in our culture and lives, and it made me examine how profoundly little I actually know about 9/11.
jdsatori's review against another edition
2.0
i dunno. maybe "post-9/11 drama" is lost on new yorkers by now. i didn't really care about the characters here, and read their story the way i'd watch yet another episode of CSI -- passively.
chozzo's review against another edition
5.0
"L'unica luce che rimaneva era un residuo, la luce di ciò che viene dopo, trasportata dai resti della materia distrutta, dalle macerie incenerite di ciò che un tempo era stato vario e umano, sospeso nell'aria."
dwcofer's review against another edition
1.0
This is one of the worst books I have ever read in my life and I’ve read thousands of books. The writing is tedious and the entire book is poorly written. The characters are dull, poorly developed, and as one-dimensional as cardboard. The plot is likewise dull, boring, and all over the place, making it difficult to follow. Following the story line is difficult as knowing who is being referenced is not made clear. Much of the book is written in the second person and it is impossible to know who “you” is referring to. Other paragraphs are written in the third person and it switches back and forth in the same chapter. The plot line is not engaging or compelling at all and drags on and on, not saying or going anywhere. Extremely boring.
If this was not bad enough, the dialogue is stilted and unlike anyone I’ve ever heard speak. Most of the dialogue is untagged and it is impossible to know who is speaking. Don’t waste your time or money.
If this was not bad enough, the dialogue is stilted and unlike anyone I’ve ever heard speak. Most of the dialogue is untagged and it is impossible to know who is speaking. Don’t waste your time or money.
macfiar's review against another edition
2.0
After the initial wonder at why this is not about The Falling Man - Jonathon Bailey - I really tried to like this book. I had been avoiding reading this book since it came out because I was afraid that it be too emotional and I would be too angry and upset. But this book is not emotional, it is emotionless. It is about a divorced family coping with their new lives. But the tragedy of 9/11 is only background noise. I couldn't engage with any of the characters. And the writing style was too jarring and disjointed for my taste.
bookhouseboi's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-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
3.5