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Reviewed by Maria Beltran for Readers' Favorite
"Background Noise" is set in suburban America. The novel begins with Henry Walker, the narrator, describing his trip to the Bronx with his uncle where he feels like a fish out of water. The narrator then continues to describe his young life, with a sick mother and father who own a plumbing store. Henry's world is populated by characters who are not exactly extraordinary but this does not mean that they are not interesting. Orphaned early and bored with his life and unable to establish a relationship with the opposite sex, he seems to lead a boring life. And then again, this does not necessarily mean that his life story is uninteresting.
Peter de Marco's "Background Noise" is one man's journey in life and finding the meaning of one's existence. This is a universal theme that all of us can relate to. His main protagonist is not possessed of extraordinary intelligence or drive and as such, it is also easy to empathize with him. The narrative is told in no particular or chronological order so that as I go through it, I am sometimes confused about the time frame. In the end, however, I find this style quite effective in grabbing my attention. There is also a hint of sarcasm and humor in the way the story is told. Mr. de Marco's use of Henry's hair as a symbol is quite intriguing and this seems to tie the story together in a surprising way. In the end, it is Henry's efforts to give shape and shade to his boring environment that finally surfaces. It transforms the story into a quest for truth in a world that sorely lacks it. I absolutely like the author's unique and adept writing style.
