I don't know what's wrong with me, but this kind of conceptualization of a book is really painful for me.

There is nothing emotionally coherent about this book. There is no physicality or human-resembling figure for me to latch onto. It's literally as slippery as a fish.

Also, I attempted this novel during a time in my life when I didn't have an abundance of free time, namely finals week. Maybe this made me particularly short with it.

But then again, what kind of book demands that you drop all other tasks and only think about it for a while? I found this book minimally rewarding 70% of the time. The other 30% of the time, the language was very nice and thrilling enough to make up for the absolute absence of plot and some of the most inscrutable absurdities. I will never understand the angle roommate, the ugly ass dress, the sci-fi novels, etc. I understand on some level that these bits are like set pieces that further form the environment and, through form, further the theme. But they're also annoying as hell. Instead of an engaging secondary character, I get a weird alien type creature or a print screen hello world type program. Like, come on.

I think I'll reread this later this semester, but I'm still completely bamboozled. DeLillo better literally pay me for reading his SHITE.

Also, what happened to that winking dad humor narration of the pre-1900s? You know what I mean, like Dickens cracking the weakest jokes ever in text. And the jokes weren't particularly funny, just light-hearted. I keep remembering that one part in this book, or maybe it was another DeLillo book, where he describes some character as having an enormous head "without the benefit of a neck" and that moment of actual humanity stuck with me. It's truly among the weakest of jokes. But I loved it. This little slip-up stuck out to me because it was so strangely unique within the novel and also so old. I don't even think that huge heads without necks are that funny. It was the rhythm, delivery, diction, etc. Pure language wrung out a smile from me. It's really weird. Like seeing a grandma trying to convince you that she's "still got it" while shaking her flat behind. And this little thing disappeared as fast as it came. It was like cut from another book.

Loved re-reading this after about 25 years. Had almost no memory of it at all. I finished it the day after the first NBA playoff games, in mid-August, within a "bubble". The court and jerseys were emblazoned with social justice slogans, and all of this relates in a way to this unique, accessible, and totally enjoyable distillation of DeLillo's typical themes and approaches.

It's a systems novel centered around a collegiate football program, largely dealing with death, spirituality, manliness, language (and the unspeakable), and global thermonuclear war. It's dated to a certain extent, seeming very much from the late '60s or early '70s, yet still feels contemporary and relevant.

The characters are mostly known by their surnames, except for the narrator, his picnic-partner girlfriend, co-running back Taft Robinson, and a few other players, coaches, teachers, and a major in the ROTC, for example. It's hard to summarize beyond simply saying that to a degree it's sort of a perfect novel. Maybe it's a bit overlong by thirty pages, but the language is honed, surprising, meaningful, and beautiful yet not overly pretty or lyrical. The themes are always explicitly in play but never excessive or completely tied up.

The setting of a desolate West Texas campus is consistently reinforced and represented as a sort of blast zone. The characters are physical and palpable, even when it's a person reduced to number 77 on the opposing team's defense. It also has some good narrative drive as the Logos College Screaming Eagles gear up to take on Centrex, the first real challenge on their schedule after a series of initial easy games. The game itself is described play by play in detail over perhaps forty pages. And then it decays and resolves, with the last section climaxing in an extracurricular snow football game, a simulated nuclear war game, and a quiet conversation with the star running back, the sole black player on the team.

Later elaborated in Underworld with its focus on baseball and the bomb, this is the earlier incarnation, the proto-masterpiece. It's tighter than Americana or Ratner's Star but hits the same high points, and maybe even better for its concision and humor throughout. Definitely recommended as a DeLillo entryway or the second step after White Noise. Fans of Coover's The Universal Baseball Association, Inc., J. Henry Waugh, Prop. will love this too.

A slim ancestor of Infinite Jest, this work has a certain allure that leaves one with an odd ringing between the ears. It's a curious piece that lingers in the mind, yet it's unclear whether one will come back to it or not. There's a sense of mystery and ambiguity surrounding it. On one hand, the strange aftereffect it creates makes it somewhat captivating, as if there's more to discover beneath its slim exterior. On the other hand, the uncertainty of whether it's worth a second look adds to its enigma. Maybe time will tell if this ancestor of Infinite Jest will prove to be a hidden gem or just a passing curiosity. Who knows what the future holds for this particular work?

This very early product emerging from the mind of DeLillo is sharp, brimming with the kind of ideas that DeLillo would pursue further, albeit not always with success.

His characters in this book possess a duality, being both base and philosophical. The narrator, Gary Harkness, is a complex individual who is deeply involved in the visceral thrills of football and the concept of world destruction, while also delving into the higher functions of meaning and love.

DeLillo skillfully combines the raw grunts of football with the war philosophy of Sun Tzu. This book sustains that level through short, precise bursts of thought and action.

While other books such as _The Names_ tend to predominantly discuss philosophy rather than vividly exemplify it, _End Zone_ is like a surgical airstrike in itself. It cuts through with precision and impact, making it well worth the read.

It offers a unique and engaging exploration of various themes, presenting a captivating blend of the physical and the intellectual.

The story unfolds in a way that keeps the reader hooked, eager to discover the next twist and turn in Gary Harkness's journey.

Overall, _End Zone_ is a remarkable work that showcases DeLillo's early talent and his ability to create a thought-provoking and entertaining narrative.

Infinite variables are constantly at play, interacting with even the slightest displacement, which has the power to alter trajectories, plans, and our ordered assumptions.

So, we have football, a sport that can be as intense as war, and the human search for meaning within it.

Regardless of the planned actions on the field, injurious results are often to be expected. However, they still leave the witnesses aghast.

Just like spit that was intended to hit the ground but instead lands on someone's pants, or a triply-converged tackle that ends up killing a footballer, or a set of pale legs sticking out from a wrecked auto. These effects churn the affected state. Are you the one being altered, or is it the course that is changing? Are you content with the intent or the result?

"What you see, in fact, is exactly what you think you see."

End Zone is like the Sermon on the Mount to Infinite Jest's The Gospels. Do you understand? (Is it hyperatavistic? An affirmation of humanity's reckless potential?)

COMRUS and AMAC are approaching a state of war.

"What's it like to weigh three hundred pounds?"

"It's like being an overwritten paragraph."

What is written and what is not written. What is spoken and what is not spoken.

"I died well and for this reason was killed quite often."

Bang, You're Dead.

This book is truly a great source of entertainment. It offers so much that it's hard to put it down.

Every page is filled with interesting stories and engaging content.

If this isn't the very book that Jon Bois used as the foundation for his entire style and vibe, then I'll be extremely surprised.

The way it's written and the ideas it presents are just so unique and captivating.

It's like a hidden treasure chest of fun and excitement waiting to be discovered.

Whether you're a fan of Jon Bois or just looking for a great read, this book is definitely worth checking out.

You'll be glad you did, as it's sure to bring a smile to your face and keep you entertained for hours on end.

So don't hesitate, pick up this book and let the adventure begin!

This is Delillo's second novel. I had to read it out of order as I couldn't locate my copy of the first one. Surprisingly, I'm glad I did. If I had read it in sequence, I might have been even more disappointed with Great Jones Street (as per my review on this site). End Zone is truly sublime.

End Zone is the novel that firmly established Delillo as a great writer. While Americana showed his talent, this novel proves he's a force to be reckoned with. What makes it wonderful for me is its subject - football, which I detest. I think it's a senseless sport. Yet, I was never bored while reading this book. I didn't skim over play-by-play descriptions or get annoyed with rule explanations. Instead, I was captivated by how well Delillo developed his main theme. He chose a theme, explored it thoroughly, and convinced us completely. The theme - football as a metaphor for war - isn't entirely original today, but considering the novel was first published in 1972, it was ahead of its time.

Coach Veech has assembled an outstanding college football team at Logos College in West Texas. The team's main assets are Taft Robinson, the college's first black student and a lightning-fast receiver, and Gary Harkness, a violent running back who has been expelled from many colleges. Harkness, who loves chaos, also serves as the novel's narrator and fully subscribes to Coach Veech's mantra of "Hit somebody Hit Somebody Hit Somebody."

Despite my lack of interest in the subject matter, I found this novel highly readable. Delillo writes with a flair and finesse that few sports novels can match. There are two extended sequences that are particularly engaging. One is a play-by-play of a match with West Centrex Biotechnical Institute, an undefeated team known for its brutality. The other describes a scrimmage in a snowstorm, which becomes increasingly challenging as the storm worsens and new rules are added. These sequences are beautifully written and full of excitement.

However, the novel isn't just about football. Harkness is obsessed with violence and enrolls in ROTC classes to learn about nuclear weaponry. He also plays strange war games with a professor in hotel rooms. Another student breeds insects in his dorm and stages violent battles between them. End Zone is Delillo's first great book. I didn't give it five stars because I've read his later novels, which are even better. But this one is still excellent.

Great book! Five stars come easily. Just like DeLillo's other novels such as The Names and White Noise, this one is extremely intrigued by observing the impact of words and how languages function (or don't). There are "alien sounds", wall tappings, hilarious German language, talking mouths, oddities regarding vowel sounds, and perhaps most importantly, jargon. It涵盖了 science, military, and football. It's all really captivating. I'll be penning a more extensive piece about DeLillo once I complete White Noise.

This book is clearly a cornerstone for Wallace's Infinite Jest. In fact, the latter seems almost unimaginable without this precursor. They share similar concerns. The Eschaton stuff, for example.

This book truly borders on gibberish. We have football players engaging in discussions about intellectual topics that seem completely out of place and, quite frankly, like utter nonsense. There are long passages of crazy speeches delivered by people on the most random of topics. The university is presented as a kind of isolated island in the middle of nowhere. And居然有人通过阅读关于核战争的内容来放松。

What a great book! But why, one might ask? It makes no sense at all. There is really no discernible plot. I highly doubt that anyone can claim to have learned anything from it. Yet, it is witty and extremely weird. I found myself reading it with a genuine hunger for the words, unable to put it down.

It is almost impossible to describe this book accurately. It is mostly about the style, a kind of frantic and playful nihilism that pervades every page. I am a big fan of DeLillo, and I have read many of his books. This one, published in 1972, is one of his earlier works, and it is truly good.

There is just something about the idea of football players having surreal and pointless conversations that really won me over. It's a unique and captivating concept that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

Football is a sport that brings people together, fills stadiums with excitement, and unites fans from all over the world. It is a game of skill, strategy, and teamwork.

However, it is important to note that football is not warfare. Warfare is a violent and destructive act that results in the loss of lives and the destruction of property. It is a dark chapter in human history that has caused countless tragedies.

History, on the other hand, is the study of the past. It is the record of human events, achievements, and failures. It helps us understand where we came from and how we have evolved as a species.

In conclusion, while football may have its moments of intensity and competition, it should never be confused with warfare. We should respect the game for what it is and use it as a means to promote peace and unity. And we should always remember the lessons of history to ensure that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past.

A 5 star but with the acknowledgement that it's really not for everyone.

I truly wish I had a higher attention span because this book was absolutely hilarious in a supremely unique and somewhat scary way. The humor was like nothing I've ever encountered before, and it had me laughing out loud at times.

HOWEVER, every funny joke came at the expense of being supremely long winded and pretty boring through parts. There were sections that seemed to drag on and on, and I found myself losing interest. This is why I wish I had better attention paying skills.

Honestly, this book was like channeling the funny bits of Antkind into a more digestible length. I fully understand the comparison now. It had that same kind of offbeat, absurdist humor that made Antkind so popular, but in a more manageable package.

Vintage Delillo

This is a review of a work by Delillo. The reviewer has only deducted one star. The reason for this is that in the work, all the characters seem to have the same voice. It gives the impression that they lack distinctiveness in their speech and mannerisms. However, it should be noted that this is not a book that is primarily about football. Despite this, Part II of the book contains the best description of game-action that the reviewer has ever come across. It is so vivid and engaging that it really brings the action to life on the page. Even though the characters may have a similar sound, the quality of the game-action description in Part II is truly outstanding and makes the book worth reading for that section alone.

Overall, while there is a drawback in the similarity of the characters' voices, the excellence of the game-action description in Part II compensates to some extent and makes this a work that has its own unique merits.