Don Delillo
 

okay, I'm a voracious reader but I have not yet read any of Delillo's work...please tell me:

1) overrated?
2) brilliant?
3) which book should I start with?

Re: Don Delillo
 

white noise and underworld are the big two

white noise is considerably shorter, so maybe better to start with

Re: Don Delillo
 

i'd say somewhere between 1 and 2

Re: Don Delillo
 

Listen to econ_tim. I think Libra and Running Dog are very good as well. The intro to Underworld, which has since been republished as "Pafko at the Wall" is one of the best things I've read.

I don't know how to explain this except that I think that people who don't like jazz don't like Delillo.

Re: Don Delillo
 

White Noise was my favorite of his. Mao II isn't bad. Underwolrd I liked, but it's very long and several friends found it too slow.

I'd start with White Noise for sure.

Re: Don Delillo
 

I've read Ratner's Star and White Noise. I wasn't particularly impressed with either. DeLillo does seem technically skilled, and occasionally funny, but there's something about his work that I seem to have a hard time getting behind. I might still try Underworld at some point, but I kinda doubt it.

Re: Don Delillo
 

[ QUOTE ]
I don't know how to explain this except that I think that people who don't like jazz don't like Delillo.

[/ QUOTE ]

I like jazz and wasn't a big fan of white noise, but enough people I respect loved Underworld that I'm willing to give him another shot.

Re: Don Delillo
 

I read White Noise 15 or so years ago. A friend whose opinion I trusted recommended it highly. I didn't much care for it, struggling to get through it. I didn't try any others.

Re: Don Delillo
 

There was a period in my life when I thought I had a duty to read "important" literature and when I relied on other people (I would have denied this vehemently of course) to tell me what literature was important. It was around then that I read a few Don DeLillo novels.

Let's just say I'm happy that period of life is behind me.

Re: Don Delillo
 

I read white noise a couple of months ago and was very happy with it.