Don DeLillo: White Noise: (Penguin Orange Collection) (2016, Penguin Classics)
320 pages
Published Oct. 18, 2016 by Penguin Classics.
White Noise is the eighth novel by Don DeLillo, published by Viking Press in 1985. It won the U.S. National Book Award for Fiction.White Noise is an example of postmodern literature. It is widely considered DeLillo's "breakout" work and brought him to the attention of a much larger audience. Time included the novel in its list of "Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005". DeLillo originally wanted to call the book Panasonic, but the Panasonic Corporation objected.
I recently re-read this book in anticipation of the movie being released on Netflix, and I found I enjoyed it even more than the first time I read it (as an undergrad English major) 30 years ago. With the advent of the internet and social media, it's even more timely now than it was when it was written.
When one of my friends recommended this book, he told me "you don't really read it for any plot; moreso the vibes." I second his advice: approach this book with a mind open to absurdity and humor. You might like where it takes you. Being a New Yorker, one quote in particular that I thoroughly enjoyed was:
The art of getting ahead in New York was based on learning how to express dissatisfaction in an interesting way.
All too real.
Overall would highly recommend.
