I remember really enjoying White Noise years ago. Some lines from that book are still stuck in my head, like when Jack’s father-in-law asks him, “Were people this dumb before television?” Substitute Internet and it could have been written today.
I’ve held off watching the new film because I can’t help thinking it should have been made twenty years ago. So much of what felt exaggerated in the novel for comic effect has come true in the intervening years, I wonder whether some of the satire feels a little tame now.
Great comment! I'll have to mull that over. If you do end up watching, I'd love to hear what you think! Like I (sorta) said, I think Baumbach understood the assignment and was the right guy for the job.
You've got a nice thing here, celebrating what you like. I came here from Read, Watch, Binge, also a nice way to approach disparate stuff, almost sounds like a way of life, right?
I watched the movie and wasn't impressed. It seemed to rely a lot on "shock value" with things like Hitler Studies. Like the idea of such a thing was the whole point. It fell sort of flat. However, I'm currently reading The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger which is about a Category 6 hurricane that destroys Florida AND Texas. It feels similar to White Noise, focusing on 1 family and having lots of social commentary. I was actually thinking of reading White Noise to see how it compares, since the plot and theme are so similar.
The Hitler studies thing is bizarre, especially the scene where Murray and Jack are trading Elvis and Hitler facts. But...it's in the book. From what I understand, DeLillo was commenting on how specialized higher education is getting. I'm not sure the inclusion in the movie can be attributed to shock value alone.
The Displacements sounds super interesting, I'll have to check that out!
Oh wow, I never realized that was the inciting incident for White Noise! Timely indeed. I have a copy sitting on my bookshelf -- I dropped it after page 4 or 5 and have been meaning to go back. I guess now's the time.
I remember really enjoying White Noise years ago. Some lines from that book are still stuck in my head, like when Jack’s father-in-law asks him, “Were people this dumb before television?” Substitute Internet and it could have been written today.
I’ve held off watching the new film because I can’t help thinking it should have been made twenty years ago. So much of what felt exaggerated in the novel for comic effect has come true in the intervening years, I wonder whether some of the satire feels a little tame now.
Great comment! I'll have to mull that over. If you do end up watching, I'd love to hear what you think! Like I (sorta) said, I think Baumbach understood the assignment and was the right guy for the job.
Will do.
You've got a nice thing here, celebrating what you like. I came here from Read, Watch, Binge, also a nice way to approach disparate stuff, almost sounds like a way of life, right?
Thanks Frank! I appreciate that.
Read, watch, binge could definitely be a mantra! Luiza crushed it with the name.
I watched the movie and wasn't impressed. It seemed to rely a lot on "shock value" with things like Hitler Studies. Like the idea of such a thing was the whole point. It fell sort of flat. However, I'm currently reading The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger which is about a Category 6 hurricane that destroys Florida AND Texas. It feels similar to White Noise, focusing on 1 family and having lots of social commentary. I was actually thinking of reading White Noise to see how it compares, since the plot and theme are so similar.
The Hitler studies thing is bizarre, especially the scene where Murray and Jack are trading Elvis and Hitler facts. But...it's in the book. From what I understand, DeLillo was commenting on how specialized higher education is getting. I'm not sure the inclusion in the movie can be attributed to shock value alone.
The Displacements sounds super interesting, I'll have to check that out!
Oh wow, I never realized that was the inciting incident for White Noise! Timely indeed. I have a copy sitting on my bookshelf -- I dropped it after page 4 or 5 and have been meaning to go back. I guess now's the time.
Do you remember why you dropped it? The style is consistent throughout so I worry if the beginning wasn't working for you, the rest may not either.
Oh I don’t think it was anything about the book itself. I just got distracted by life. :)