Finished reading Don DeLillo's Underworl ...

Tuesday 07 January, 2003

# Finished reading Don DeLillo's Underworld last night. I finished the last page, closed the book and put it on my head, in the vain hope that some of its brilliance might leach down into my brain and lodge there.

I bought the book a few years ago, stashing it on my pile of stuff to read. Several of my comics-chums had copies and were raving about how good it was (although I subsequently discovered not all of them had actually read it). I kept putting it off though - it's 800+ page bulk is rather daunting. Later, my boss when I worked in Germany had a copy on his desk. When I asked what is was like, he didn't reply directly It's the kind of book you read at a particular time in your life. Now I've read it, I agree with him.

peteychap said I take it you mean me...

When I was raving about it I was reading it. I just stopped soon after. So there. You've made me think about picking it up again, though. For your next big book, might I suggest The Wind Up Bird Chronicle? If you do, I promise to read Underworld... [added 7th Jan 2003]

I don't just mean you - I suspect that John hasn't read it either, and I even have my doubts about Darren. I've got a couple of skinnier books lined up (Rich Hall's Things Snowball and then maybe a Carol Shields), then maybe I'll be ready for another big fat book.

The trouble with big fat books is that I don't want to spend a load of time reading it only to discover it wasn't really worth it. Mark Helprin's Winters Tale for instance - starts out cracking, turns poo. My brother describes Infinite Jest (which is almost infinitely long) as not as clever as it thinks it is - if you read the back cover blurb, it sounds just like Monty Python's funniest joke in the world sketch. 2 minute skit or 1000 page book? Tough call ... [added 7th Jan 2003]

drmook said Someone else I know just finished Underworld and described the last 3 pages as the worst they'd ever read. What did you reckon? And in fairness to Infinite Jest there was more to it than you suggest. Enough even to justify up to maybe 300 pages I reckon. I still wonder at the editor that let the self indulgent bastard get away with other 800 odd pages. Mind you, that's just one opinion, my friend Rach liked it so much she read it twice. [added 8th Jan 2003]

I do think the first half or so of Underworld is better than the second half, but that's partly because you're less familiar with characters. Underworld moves back in time, so when you get to the end you've already some idea of what has happened, if you see what I mean. The very end is a little iffy, but but by then it doesn't matter. Besides, I don't think those final few pages should be taken too literally - otherwise it really would be something of a blot on the book. [added 9th Jan 2003]