Like most self-proclaimed serious readers, I maintain loosely-codified mental lists of books I feel I should read and those I actually want to. Then there are those volumes that bridge both categories, but that I’ve avoided because of their intimidating page counts. I feel certain that I’ll eventually get around to reading Middlemarch and Underworld (I’m less sure about In Search of Lost Time), but as of this week I’m joining an array of readers across the Internet who are braving David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest.
The plan calls for reading an entirely feasible seventy-five pages per week, meaning an approximate end date of September 22. The Infinite Summer website offers several tips which range from the absolutely necessary to the seemingly dubious, as well as testimonials from participants like the blogger Jason Kottke and The Decemberists’ frontman Colin Meloy. I’ve never been one for book clubs, but the site’s discussion forum may well prove to be interesting.
If you haven’t read much of Wallace’s writing, the prospect of cutting your teeth on a 1,079-page novel may seem especially daunting. Starting with his shorter (though by no means short) magazine articles might be a better idea. Even detractors of Wallace’s novels and short stories tend to praise this brilliant non-fiction work. Fortunately, many of these pieces can be read for free online. Among the most popular are those he wrote for Harper’s, including the seminal “Shipping Out” (a longer, re-titled version is the eponymous essay in his collection A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again). Other highlights include his meditation on the morality of cooking lobsters alive, his appreciation of tennis great Roger Federer, and his profile of right-wing radio host John Ziegler. His 2005 commencement address at Kenyon College is also well-worth your time.
And if that’s not enough to keep you sated, delve into the Walrus archives. Charles Foran discussed Wallace’s Oblivion and Consider The Lobster, along with books by Jonathan Franzen, Rick Moody, and Jonathan Lethem, in the March 2007 issue. More recently, Mark Kingwell’s May 2009 cover story about Barack Obama repeatedly referenced Wallace, though not by name. As Kingwell explained at last month’s Walrus Underground event, the essay deals as much with his feelings about Wallace’s suicide as it does his thoughts on the new American president.
If you’ve already read all of Wallace’s published work, perhaps it’s time to give Infinite Jest a second look while waiting for next year’s release of his unfinished novel The Pale King. Or maybe it’s time to crack another brick-thick tome, whether you feel you should read it or just want to. In any case, I’ll see you in September.
best seo forums: Thanks for sharing such an brilliant post. I make sure to visit this post regularly. keep sharing more and more..
Seenloitering: The “gender analysis” in this article is upside down. Marie Calloway is a threat to the status quo because she threatens the myth that women are morally superior, above...
Jefry: I do not really like to read a story like a novel or a real story but I think this is very interesting and need to be read
Legong: I know I am replying to this pathetic, racist statement a little late and the whole ignorant rant probably doesn’t even deserve a reply. Wanhenglo, if we were all to generalise about...
Legong: I know I am replying to this pathetic, racist statement a little late and the whole ignorant rant probably doesn’t even deserve a reply. Wanhenglo, if we were all to generalise about...
Sky Goodden: This is startling, refreshing, overdue, and damn good. Thank you, Shary.
Mark: It’s not just in Canada, it seems all over artists don’t get the local recogtnition they should. I was in Malaga where Picasso was born and it is much different, but then he is...
Guest: I didn’t want babies or a period any more. I KNEW without a doubt I did not want children so I had been asking for a hysterectomy since I was 19. I finally got it at 39. My...
Djzklj: Pretty interesting article, despite that I don’t wanna make a voyage there
Sanyo Seiki: I love this game! Very addicted! Sanyo Seiki