Comments on: Matt Bucher: Why Read Infinite Jest? http://infinitesummer.org/archives/148 Just another WordPress weblog Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:15:01 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: basilbias.com » Infinite Jest & Me http://infinitesummer.org/archives/148/comment-page-1#comment-986 basilbias.com » Infinite Jest & Me Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:54:10 +0000 http://infinitesummer.org/?p=148#comment-986 [...] of the Infinite Summer ‘guides’ was saying how he relates to this or that character, and it struck me that I couldn’t pick a character I relate to more than others. I identify [...] [...] of the Infinite Summer ‘guides’ was saying how he relates to this or that character, and it struck me that I couldn’t pick a character I relate to more than others. I identify [...]

]]> By: Tizzle http://infinitesummer.org/archives/148/comment-page-1#comment-571 Tizzle Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:47:09 +0000 http://infinitesummer.org/?p=148#comment-571 I haven't finished this book before, but read up to page 228, which is just after DFW prints a list of the years in chronological order. I'm glad I saw that page number (223) somewhere, probably on this site. I stopped for a while, partly because I realized with the year list that the first chapter was the end, and it seemed sad. Then life just got in the way. I decided to start over from the beginning, and I'm obsessively checking which year I'm in, so I can understand it maybe a bit better from the get-go. I have also read some reviews now, and am prepared for the sadness of the book. I haven’t finished this book before, but read up to page 228, which is just after DFW prints a list of the years in chronological order. I’m glad I saw that page number (223) somewhere, probably on this site.

I stopped for a while, partly because I realized with the year list that the first chapter was the end, and it seemed sad. Then life just got in the way.

I decided to start over from the beginning, and I’m obsessively checking which year I’m in, so I can understand it maybe a bit better from the get-go. I have also read some reviews now, and am prepared for the sadness of the book.

]]> By: Scott Supak http://infinitesummer.org/archives/148/comment-page-1#comment-358 Scott Supak Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:48:59 +0000 http://infinitesummer.org/?p=148#comment-358 SPOILER ALERT? [1] [spoiler]As someone who just finished the book, I highly recommend to everyone that, upon finishing the book, you immediately re-read the first chapter, which is chronologically the last.</spoiler> Now I'll be dealing with the image of John Wayne in a mask (?) watching over as Hal and Don Gately dig up the Mad Stork's head, and the failed entertainment, presumably... I would also like to point out that when you read this book, unless you're some kind of dictionary devourer like Hal, you will be simultaneously reading the dictionary. 1. Since these facts appear in the first chapter, Wallace actually has the ending first, and I, for one, believe that Hal's final condition is much like that of the poor soul (a soldier, I think?) on whom the DMZ was (reportedly) tested, and that the temporal fracturing of the book is like we're hearing Hal's mind tell the story. The use of Hal in first person at the beginning and the end support this... I think. Well, obviously I think it. There.[/spoiler] SPOILER ALERT? [1]

Show Spoiler▼

]]> By: charry http://infinitesummer.org/archives/148/comment-page-1#comment-349 charry Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:22:09 +0000 http://infinitesummer.org/?p=148#comment-349 pompous, self-important, why say something in small words when multi-syllables will do and who talks like that - some of the worst excuse for dialogue i've ever read - guess i'll keep reading though pompous, self-important, why say something in small words when multi-syllables will do and who talks like that – some of the worst excuse for dialogue i’ve ever read – guess i’ll keep reading though

]]> By: Matt Bucher » Blog Archive » David Foster Wallace and Infinite Jest http://infinitesummer.org/archives/148/comment-page-1#comment-283 Matt Bucher » Blog Archive » David Foster Wallace and Infinite Jest Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:23:05 +0000 http://infinitesummer.org/?p=148#comment-283 [...] Why Read Infinite Jest http://infinitesummer.org/archives/148 [...] [...] Why Read Infinite Jest http://infinitesummer.org/archives/148 [...]

]]> By: Infinite Summer » Blog Archive » How to Read Infinite Jest http://infinitesummer.org/archives/148/comment-page-1#comment-264 Infinite Summer » Blog Archive » How to Read Infinite Jest Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:12:27 +0000 http://infinitesummer.org/?p=148#comment-264 [...] following was written by Matt Bucher (maintainer of the wallace-l listserv and author of this post), and augmented by input from Nick Maniatis (administrator of The Howling Fantods, a site devoted [...] [...] following was written by Matt Bucher (maintainer of the wallace-l listserv and author of this post), and augmented by input from Nick Maniatis (administrator of The Howling Fantods, a site devoted [...]

]]> By: Sam http://infinitesummer.org/archives/148/comment-page-1#comment-257 Sam Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:25:15 +0000 http://infinitesummer.org/?p=148#comment-257 I remember the first time I read Infinite Jest - I went to a new High School in Chicago, and we had Seminars. One of them was about this book and this book alone, with discussion about other writers and such. I read the book to and from school and while I was supposed to be doing homework and studying for other classes for three weeks until I got through the entire thing, and then I picked it up after the end, at the same time sad/happy/sated/yearning, and started to read it again. I've only read it four times, and most of that is picking over it, but it's by far the most accomplished and beautiful - in short, the most 'good' - book I've ever read. I hope that in my lifetime I can write something that is 1/10 the book IJ is. I remember the first time I read Infinite Jest – I went to a new High School in Chicago, and we had Seminars. One of them was about this book and this book alone, with discussion about other writers and such. I read the book to and from school and while I was supposed to be doing homework and studying for other classes for three weeks until I got through the entire thing, and then I picked it up after the end, at the same time sad/happy/sated/yearning, and started to read it again.
I’ve only read it four times, and most of that is picking over it, but it’s by far the most accomplished and beautiful – in short, the most ‘good’ – book I’ve ever read. I hope that in my lifetime I can write something that is 1/10 the book IJ is.

]]> By: knayte http://infinitesummer.org/archives/148/comment-page-1#comment-232 knayte Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:51:40 +0000 http://infinitesummer.org/?p=148#comment-232 Very nice essay. I just started reading IJ for the second time, and those connections you talk about have already started flooding back in to my mind. I nearly teared up for no apparent reason at the first mention of "Enfield". This is going to be fun... Very nice essay. I just started reading IJ for the second time, and those connections you talk about have already started flooding back in to my mind. I nearly teared up for no apparent reason at the first mention of “Enfield”. This is going to be fun…

]]> By: gay incest vids http://infinitesummer.org/archives/148/comment-page-1#comment-225 gay incest vids Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:26:45 +0000 http://infinitesummer.org/?p=148#comment-225 hmm.. cognitively hmm.. cognitively

]]> By: felisa http://infinitesummer.org/archives/148/comment-page-1#comment-217 felisa Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:16:47 +0000 http://infinitesummer.org/?p=148#comment-217 hey everyone! i'm so happy i stumbled on this group. i've wanted to read this book for so long and promised myself i would after i finished my phd. well, now it's done so no going back. just have to finish love in the time of the cholera first... hey everyone!

i’m so happy i stumbled on this group. i’ve wanted to read this book for so long and promised myself i would after i finished my phd. well, now it’s done so no going back. just have to finish love in the time of the cholera first…

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