Infinite Summer

How do trite things get to be trite? pg 358 DFW begins talking about what is the truth about cliches much in the same manner as the THIS IS WATER TALK. I love how he describes the semial " little epiphanies you have in early AA as always
POLYESTERISHLY banal.. and later when Lyle tells Lamont his craving for fame is a delusion.. " fame is not the
exit from any cage....and going on to say THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE BUT NOT UNTIL IT IS FINISHED WITH YOU.
That one of you guys I forget who has as a quote.. so I have been waiting for it.
I find his- DFW- whole take on fame be it an athlete or a writer very comforting..
How my envy of of any super-person does not have a reciprocal.. that that person is not basking
in my envy... How the love of fame or publicity will in the end ruin your GIFT.

I think Lyle is telling Lemont it is delusion because it is part of samara, the cyclical existence. Where we chase things we think are important; but lead us to suffering. Desire, envy, anger, pride, and hatred lead to suffering in the world. If we want to overcome suffering we must recognize the futility of these behaviors.

In my experience, living mindfully leads to daily ephiphanies, reaffirming cliches. Cliches are cliches because they are true, you just need to have an open mind for them.

I love how he was about this so much. He was so undeceived about fame and "genius" though he did seek and want and understand those things, was very upfront with himself and us about the weirdness of being "known." His story about seeing a pretty girl reading his book on the train, and being rather thrilled but also nonplussed about that--where did he tell this story.

He and Franzen seemed to share the same kind of discomfort with "fame"--does anyone remember where Franzen discussed Wallace's feelings about it? Did they discuss it in the Charlie Rose interview?

p.s. If that is available on YouTube or Hulu or something, I highly, highly recommend it--both Franzen and Wallace interviewed by Charlie Rose.

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The dorks are saving the nation, and this book proves it.

Oooh, nice thread.
Yeah, I loved that conversation between Lamont and Lyle. It doesn't have to be all about fame either, rather anything you covet that keeps you distracted from where you are at this moment in your life. I mean, it's good to have 5 year, 10 year goals, but it's still important to enjoy the journey as well. If you're always looking ahead, you won't see the water, right?

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"The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you." DFW