underworld – don delillo – 4 stars

underworld, for me, was a bit of a glitch. normally i go crazy for books with great writing, but only when it’s used to tell a great story. i’m a huge fan of style, but only when it’s used substantially. or at least in a way that propels you forward through a good plot.

the thing about this book, though, is that it isn’t exactly plot-driven at all. after the prologue, the point farthest back in time, the rest of the book is spent going back and back in time until you reach where you started. so it’s less of a plot line than a gradual uncovering of memories and nostalgias. and while this factors heavily into the meaning of the work — which i will refrain from writing a critical essay on here — the story’s theme wasn’t a huge factor in my opinion of the book.

but while i wouldn’t say the story was profound in any life-changing sense, i think the thing that made this 827 page paperback worth lugging around for a month was its truthfulness. no, it didn’t reveal to me as a whole some hidden meaning of life. but in every passage delillo describes honest living details that make each individual page worth reading, and then turning in favor of the next. it’s not so much a style of flourish and flashiness as it is a general skill at insight.

so if you asked me ‘what was that book about?’ it would take me a long time to craft a response, and even then it probably wouldn’t really entice you. instead, i would probably ask to answer the question, ‘what was that book like to read?’ and i would say ‘i’m not sure i fully get the big picture, but i enjoyed it all the way through.’ and if you like long, challenging but rewarding books i would also say you should read it so we can decode it together.