| | "Cosmopolis" was published the week of my presentation on Don
DeLillo (that I had to read, I think, 6 DeLillo novels for), but I
finally got around to reading it. I was interested in reading the
novel because DeLillo was halfway through writing it when 9/11
happened. Because DeLillo's novels usually operate with America on the
dissecting table, I was interested to read what, if anything, he had to
say after 9/11.
The entire novel centers around the uber-rich
28-year-old protagonist who wants to drive across New York City in a
limo to get a haircut. In the meantime, he risks losing his entire
empire because of the rising value of the Yen. As funny as it sounds
(sarcasm intended), it's not a happy novel. You really find yourself
hating the protagonist more and more as the story goes on...waiting and
waiting and waiting for his redemption. And even though the novel is
only 200 pages, I didn't think the asshole was ever going to get his
damn haircut.
With the pipelines of conspiracy and discontent
bubbling beneath the surface of the novel, it's easy to see that if
DeLillo had finished this novel before 9/11, it would have seemed
prophetic. You can't help but read the novel knowing that 9/11 is
coming, and the effect is that we get a not-so-nostalgaic look at the
booming late-90s.
It was an interesting read that seemed long
and arduous and yet short at the same time. If anyone is interested in
diving into some DeLillo, I'd recommend "White Noise," "Americana,"
"Underworld," or "The Body Artist" before taking a drive in
"Cosmopolis." |
| | Posted 8/9/2006 6:22 PM - 55 Views - 10 eProps - 5 comments
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