A take of the JFK murders from a unique viewpoint - that of the upbringing and motives of Lee Harvey Oswald, told from a CIA-conspiracy point of view. Those more familiar with DeLillo's more recent, more surreal works might be surprised at the relatively deep grounding this book possesses; nonetheless, the theme of nurture trumping over nature is relatively well articulated throughout.
Much is made of Oswald's crucially unhappy upbringing, and twisted development; he is portrayed as a character whose hand was forced by fate and circumstances to become the monster he would be. Still, his monstrosities are less diabolic, being the social construct that they are, when put in comparison with those of the people who ultimately kill him in prison.
This book is a rather mesmerising gem of a thriller; it captivates the reader's attention by flitting between two character perspectives, piquing reader interest. A word of warning, though - the book is NOT for those who do not have at least a basic grounding in the facts behind the JFK assassination. Without an appropriate historical context, the book can be a laborious read.
Don DeLillo himself is not for the faint of heart; some detractors have described his prose as "vacuous" and "devoid of anything beyond verbal sophistry". To a certain extent, that is true; DeLillo's fiction can sometimes seem bare on plotline and big on detail.
But above all, you need a rather focused outlook to read his work; concepts and words dash all over the place.
Still, a wonderful tome for a holiday, thought not my idea of a Concise Introduction to DeLillo. That title is best bestowed on Cosmopolis.
I give it a 7 out of 10.
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