We here at the I.S.anctuary are happy to serve as the Infinite Summer hub. But we also know that the most interesting and insightful analysis will come from Out There, as participants provide updates on their own sites. Thus, for the duration of the event, we’ll be cheerfully providing links to any commentary that comes to our attention.
For now, here are some of the people and organizations who have publicly declared themselves “in”.
Alison Flood of The Guardian’s “Book Blog” says that Infinite Jest “has been on my reading pile for ages … This is exactly the sort of prompt I need.”
Sean of Discover Magazine’s “Cosmic Variance” blog wrote “I once read through Gravity’s Rainbow with a real-world reading group, and it added a lot to the experience … I’m going to give [Infinite Summer] a shot.”
Ezra Klein, a blogger for The Washington Post (on economic and domestic policy, no less), titled his declaration of intent A Supposedly Fun Thing I Plan to Do This Summer. Margaret Lyons did likewise over at Entertainment Weekly in her post To “Infinite” … and beyond!. (We’re pleased as punch for the press, though mildly irked that we didn’t think of those titles first.)
Two thousand people have joined the Facebook group. (Actually we’re three shy, at 1997 members. Don’t make us beg.) On Twitter, about a zillion tweets a day go by containing the hashtag #infsum.
Lauren created a LiveJournal Community. Sarah created a Infinite Summer Shelfari group. Ellen created a page on goodreads.
Deborah started a discussion on Ravelry, a website devoted to knit and crochet. “You have to be a member to participate,” she notes. “But we’d love to see you there!”
Over in the Twin Cities, a local group that enjoys both reading lit and getting lit is joining the fun. See the discussion over at Books and Bars.
And many of you are here today after Colin Meloy of The Decemberists publicized the event. “I’m going for it,” he wrote. “Who’s with me?”
Here’s a random sampling of additional participants:
- C. K. Sample of Sample the Web (“I’ll probably even talk at length about the book and the process of reading it on my literature podcast, Let’s Talk Lit!“).
- Eric of The Puget News.
- Nichole and Mike of esmon dot com.
- Karen of verbatim.
- Jason of The Strake (although he writes, “the reading starts on June 21st and the idea is to read 7 pages per day,” so he may be thinking of our sister event, “Infinite Lustrum”).
- Kirsten of Now or Never.
- Mary-Lynn of Rockin’ Poncho.
- Greg of Greg Brown.
- Joni of Boxing Octopus.
- Miriam will be blogging about Infinite Summer in Italian. Javier with be doing so in Spanish.
- Kat of Kat with a K.
- Jen of Corrodentia Weekly.
If you intend to join in the festivities, feel free to mention your site in the comments.
I’ve owned IJ for about a year, but I have yet to dedicate enough time to read it. I feel like the outsider amongst cool kids.
Let the reading begin ….
I’m in! Although I’m not promising I’ll finish…. Will be blogging about it at Beautiful Screaming Lady.
I’m! So! Glad! I’m! Not! Alone!
I started reading Infinte Jest when I heard news of Foster Wallace’s death, erm, in March. I’m on page 168 (+ end notes). It’s…tough. but I’m so totally enjoying the challenge, you know?
This might be the most unpleasant and scary summer of my life. A writing hell that is not self-inflicted in the usual ways but where I must write in order to continue to support my family. It’s all very dire and bla bla bla.
So reading some big ass novel might be just the thing!
Reading big ass novels is not entirely unconnected to my current dilemma. But not the main cause. Besides, reading something really good–besides distracting me horribly from my actual work and ruining my life in one way–keeps me alive in some other way.
Maybe that’s a large burden to put on a what is being described as an enjoyable summer reading project. But I should be honest: The novel doesn’t have to be that good. It only has to draw me in. A Daphne du Maurier collection actually did the trick once.
I wrote depressing personal story about my first and only attempt to read Infinite Jest that I’m going to make sure no one can read. So here’s another curious thing. Not only did IJ not draw me in the first time I read it but it is also connected to some very bad memories. I’m curious to see what happens this time, during this unpleasant period in my life, as I attempt to read Infinite Jest yet again.
I’m in.
Yes please! And I’ll try to rope in whoever I can.
We’re trying to encourage our wedding guests to join the challenge. After all, they have at least 3-9 hours on a plane to get to Alaska for the wedding. Added bonus, cocktail party/reception conversation!
I picked up the book about a month ago but this will give me the impetus to start plowing through the tome.
I started IJ about five months ago. It’s easy to put down but I will certainly continue reading it and will finish it. Last year I read Moby Dick in the same manner.
The book is like an intoxicating and frightening parallel universe. I always have a little trepidation before I go in, but I am so enchanted when I am there.
I learned about this project in Time Magazine this morning. It will be just the thing to inspire me to finish this summer. And it’s great to share the experience.
Count me in! What a great idea – I’m fed up with everyone suggesting “chicklit” for summer reads, and it will be good to have something a little more challenging.
This is exciting, intriguing, intimidating, and just too tempting not to take part. This book has been on my shelf for years and I’ve always found a reason to put off reading it. I’m looking forward to the discussions and comments after each week’s reading.
I’m so excited to find this group/event/website. I’ve tried multiple times to read Infinite Jest, but without success (my own fault). I was planning to start again on Monday, so the timing is perfect. I’ll probably blog about it with occasional regularity.
I’m in! I’ve read so many of his essays, but I’ve always been a little afraid of a full book. Time to jump in.
Awesome. I randomly came across this while reading the latest Time. I bought this book last summer, but, I guess I got overwhelmed. This would give me something else to do this summer besides writing my thesis.
I’m in and will be blogging about it. I swear to god I independently came up with the “To Infinity And Beyond” title. I do not steal from Entertainment Weekly bloggers.
The wife and I are reading it together. Let’s do this thing!
We need 2-3 more blogger for the Infinite Zombies group blog. It’s part book club, part “Fight Club” — a lively discussion about “Infinite Jest” and the Infinite Summer project.
Although I “read” IJ two years ago, I didn’t have a dictionary with me, but I knew I’d be rereading it at some future time. And Infinite Summer is the perfect “get started” motivation. I cried when I heard of DFW’s death. We (civilization) needed him!
I’m in. I read it once this year and ever since I finished I’ve been wanting to start it over. I’ll be blogging about it ghost light.
I’ll be attempting to ride this particular dragon’s back, and writing about it at my blog:
http://outofthecradleendlesslyrocking.blogspot.com/
IS pushed me to start a blog. The idea is to post as I join the IS festivities, but also hope that it will lead to other writing. Please see “pura pinche agua (DFW and sailing)” at http://tlajous.wordpress.com/ . From my about: “I am in Mexico. I will spend the summer of 2009 reading Infinite Jest and sailing (on top of my day job). I needed an excuse to finally get a blog, and infinitesummer.org gave me one. So it’s all going to be about water, “just fucking water” (though “pura pinche agua” doesn’t quite translate well), because, well “this IS water”.”
This is Deborah from the Ravelry Group for Infinite Summer…I am thrilled to report that we now have 50 members, as of 6/17. I can’t believe it. Hey, thanks, guys, for coordinating this incredible reading effort. We are all very excited to begin!
I’m in!
Think I’ll give it a try. I’ve posted about it (and probably will continue to do so) at .
Best,
Jim H.
Yeah…not a bibliophile by any stretch…I’ve not read in ages. Don’t keep up with current goings-on in the world of contemporary literature, but I’d heard about this after the author’s death, and buried it in the back of my consciousness. Pulled out the title recently, found this site, bought the book today, and am onboard to go through with this thing.
If I’m allowed to double/triple/quadruple post at the message board I frequent (I don’t blog), I’ll be posting random thoughts throughout. It’s a community devoted to the Playstation 1/Playstation 2 RPG Maker games. Lots of literate, college-educated folks there (who have a firm grasp on the English language), so please make no assumptions just because it’s a website devoted mainly to video games.
Also, I’m scared.
We’re down. Or at least Kelly is. Kristina might be illiterate, it’s hard to tell.
Two Girls, One Site. That’s shooting the shit. Not eating it.
I wandered into a bookstore two days ago and without having premeditated it plunked down a 20 for the book, deciding then and there that I would finally read it. I was somehow _drawn_ to the book. Late that night I read in a weekly newspaper about this group!
Synchronicity! Karma-phala! Infinite Sumkarmicity!
Sorry- that was rude. I lost a job with an opera company because I confessed to have never read IJ- so I’m a bit bitter.
Of course, it may have been that I was unqualfied
started it last night. so far, Holden Caulfield crossed with Dickens (a lot easier than Ulysses)
I’m in!
TheBobbyMiller.com
OK, Snarky Amber at Mamapop.com raves about DFW. I never heard of him until after his death. My daughter’s summer reading list for pre-k is everything Eric Carle. I thought doing this would balance the summer out for me. Well, maybe tip the scales. I am hoping to spy others on the NYC subway with their dog-eared copies and dual bookmarks. Thanks for organizing!
I’ve owned it for ten years, and my husband read it finally last year. He’s going to read it again, and I’m in for the first time. We bought another used copy so we now have his n hers IJs. I’ll be blogging about it at Girl Detective