White Noise

White Noise
By Don Delillo
Penguin Books, 2009 (c1984). 310 pages. Fiction.


In this dark satire of American society, Jack Gladney is a professor and chairman of the department of Hitler studies at "College-on-the-Hill." Jack is married to Babette who brought several children to the marriage from previous relationships. In the story a tank car containing a toxic substance is derailed releasing Nyodene Derivative into the air. This is at first a "feathery plume," shortly thereafter it's a "black billowing cloud," and ultimately referred to as the "airborne toxic event."

Delillo turns his wicked wit on American society, consumer culture, and academia. Ultimately the novel is about death--references and images of death are replete throughout the text--in fact, the title itself is a reference to death. Despite the oddness of these characters and some of the storyline, I found the descriptions, dialogue, and Jack's stream-of-consciousness all very natural and genuine. Fascinating like a slow-motion train wreck.

SML