The Names by Don DeLillo
The Names, Don DeLillo's 1982 novel set in Greece, is today's review from Powells.com.
Something about setting a novel in modern Greece seems to do wonders for good novelists. Perhaps the ancient ruins or the stark, revealing light, contrasted with the modern culture and potent political history, makes for particularly rich material. The Chicago Sun-Times compared this novel to John Fowles's The Magus, and there's some truth to that, in the mystery, the patterns and coincidences, and layers of symbolism and meaning. The Names is a skillful, prescient book; its exploration of terrorism and political instability connected with the search for meaning in history and language seems particularly relevant today.
Read the rest here
Something about setting a novel in modern Greece seems to do wonders for good novelists. Perhaps the ancient ruins or the stark, revealing light, contrasted with the modern culture and potent political history, makes for particularly rich material. The Chicago Sun-Times compared this novel to John Fowles's The Magus, and there's some truth to that, in the mystery, the patterns and coincidences, and layers of symbolism and meaning. The Names is a skillful, prescient book; its exploration of terrorism and political instability connected with the search for meaning in history and language seems particularly relevant today.
Read the rest here
posted by kathryn at Saturday, November 19, 2005
1 Comments:
Ah, welcome from the world of Tom. We do hope you will stop by once again!
I know how to pick the arty-farty ones, don't I? Always did. Haven't read any DeLillo, but I may give this one a go. Someday. Soon. Naturally, I'm curious about novels set in Greece. I guess it doesn't compare to the Magus. As if anything could!
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