Underworld by Don DeLillo Readalong #ReadingBigBooks discussion

Let's discuss part 2 and part 3 of Underworld here.

Well, am I really lonely in this journey? :) I'm half in part 2 and gosh he is so irritatingly uneven. Chapter 3 of part 2, made me read it with my mouth open with a smile of delight, this was so good. Brian and Marvin's encounter was brilliant. Marvin is such a good character, crazy but with some very interesting observation. The language, the thoughts about the authorities, government, so interesting even if coming from an obsessed person.

Then chapter 4 could be easily deleted apart from one sentence that pushes plot a bit forward. 5 and 6 probably could be squeezed into 2 pages.

I'm still going to continue since when he is on point, he is so damn on point.

You're not alone :) I've just finished Part 2 Chapter 5.
I am really not enjoying the dialogue. Why are they all so testy with each other all the time? The interaction between Nick and his family is so forced and verges on antagonistic, it makes those sections very draining to read.

Somehow, though, it's keeping me engaged. It's sparked my interest, although I couldn't tell you what it is that's holding my attention. I dislike all the characters. Perhaps it's the baseball and the short length of the chapters.

Catching up fast, just started part 2

Not picking it up again but I'm stalking the comments nonetheless :P

I'm really enjoying this. Then I'm not enjoying this so much. Then I'm really enjoying it again. Some chapters are great, some not. For me the last chapter of part 1 then the first two chapters of part two were great. There is a moment in chapter 2 (I think) with the girl with the video camera filming the car behind. DeLillo writes about how everything seems charged when viewed through the lens of a video camera. It made me think that this is how everything in this book is. Every situation, every conversation, seems charged with something. Charged with what I don't know - with a sense of history, or nostalgia perhaps, or a history waiting to happen. It all starts with the baseball game - told in the present tense - it has this feeling, a sense of something happening, something indelible. It is history, but history looking forward, not backward. Hmm, I wonder if that makes sense.

Also, this book makes me think of Satin Island by Tom McCarthy. I wonder if McCarthy was deliberately referencing this book. It's interesting that both books feature the landfill site of Staten Island.

So much for everything being charged - I think it was just me that was super-charged the other day. It was a sunny day here in Scotland, the first since last July I think.

Just finished part 2. It's meandering, but it's good. I love the writing style. So many interesting characters. The problem is we only seem to get introduced. That last chapter - there I was thinking: not another character; then when I realised who the character was I was like: give me more, give me more. Then I finished the chapter (and part 2) and now we go back to 1978. There are lots of characters I want to find out more about.