Libra

In this powerful, eerily convincing fictional speculation on the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Don DeLillo chronicles Lee Harvey Oswald’s odyssey from troubled teenager to a man of precarious stability who imagines himself an agent of history. When “history” presents itself in the form of two disgruntled CIA operatives who decide that an unsuccessful attempt on the life of the president will galvanize the nation against communism, the scales are irrevocably tipped.

A gripping, masterful blend of fact and fiction, alive with meticulously portrayed characters both real and created, Libra is a grave, haunting, and brilliant examination of an event that has become an indelible part of the American psyche.

Engaging story

Great story/writing. Lived up to my expectations. Narration was a bit stale in my opinion

Interesting Take on Oswald

He was a lot more like us than we'd like to think... at least I think that's what the book is trying to say. An engaging story that adds some humanity to the rote retelling of American mythology.

Well researched and imagined

As the book that inspired James Ellroy to write American Tabloid, Libra also serves as an excellent companion to that novel. While many of the events from Libra are well researched, DeLillo imaginatively fills in the gaps to create a seemingly plausible conspiracy behind the JFK assassination. Some reviewers have complained about Michael Pritchard's narration (too monotone) but I feel it goes perfectly with the novel's staccato style of sentence structure which at times also seems similar to Ellroy's, albeit with deeper observations of human interactions. The entire read was enjoyable.

michael pritchard rocks

I really like Michael Pritchard’s voice. The book is also a great approach to the subject matter and beautifully written

Fascinating story, annoying voice

The Walter Cronkite sounding voice is terrible, although I understand the reasoning and motif being created. Was really annoying to listen to after a while despite being an enthralling story by one of my favorite authors.