writing wisdom – Don DeLillo turned 70

All my sincerest well-wishes go out to the greatest living author of our time writing in the English language: American novelist and playwright Don DeLillo just turned a youthful 70 today, November 20th.

Congratulations!

No other single work of art impressed me more profoundly and influenced me in more lasting a fashion than “Underworld” did when I first read it. If you haven’t had the pleasure of discovering his unique language magic and the unfathomable depth of his linguistic fables and explorations yet, I would very much like to take this opportunity to point out his 1985 landmark achievement “White Noise” as probably the best entrance into DeLillo’s very particular universe.

If you happen to be even remotely interested in language dynamics and meta-textualism, you should read DeLillo. If you concern yourself with questions of world representation or perception, you have to read DeLillo. If you wonder about all the inherent cybernetics and patterns of ratiocination, then you’ll have plenty to discover in the works of Don DeLillo.

But first and foremost: if you enjoy being challenged in a multitude of ways by a work of literature, there certainly is every reason for you to have a go at his writing. Besides, it is actually a hell lot of fun to read, it is!

So, since it is understood that Don DeLillo is my most revered literary hero, you’ll hopefully not mind my coming back to this issue from time to time, highlighting quotations or sharing some thoughts on his work. Also, to get acquainted with the intricate universe of DeLillo's writing, to catch all the latest in news and reports, or simply to check some of your facts, there is probably no better place on the web to go than “Don DeLillo's America” (here) - proto-ymagon's very first friendly link! For now, I reckon it rather fitting that this day of all days should mark the official beginning of this blog

Meanwhile I exercise myself in patience for the “Falling Man” to arrive…

Hope you’ll join in!

(pic©N.N.)