Comments on: Infinite Jest http://b.rox.com/2008/05/15/infinite-jest/ Life in the Flood Zone Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:27:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Block http://b.rox.com/2008/05/15/infinite-jest/#comment-181023 Block Thu, 22 May 2008 07:13:07 +0000 http://b.rox.com/?p=1549#comment-181023 Good book, but not for a new parent. I read it, and then re-read it more thoroughly while incapacitated by a spinal injury... I just smoked pot and read Jest all day every day for weeks, and it was a real joy. As far as not finishing it goes, if it's any consolation, the (non)-ending is a frustrating letdown & the book's low point. Rather than conclude the narrative, Wallace just sort of gestures toward what the climax and resolution might be, and leaves them unwritten; not a satisfying payoff. If you find the book earnest and funny, as I did, it is a pleasure. If you find Wallace's tone and games annoying then I'd imagine the book would be legitimately unreadable. Proust, Joyce, and Sterne (to name a few) wrote long and sometimes obtuse works that inarguably reward the challenge of reading them. Wallace has potential, but Jest is not a great enough novel to be worth having to force oneself through it. I also agree with Konrath that Wallace's other work is inferior. Give him a decade or two... he may yet deliver. Good book, but not for a new parent. I read it, and then re-read it more thoroughly while incapacitated by a spinal injury… I just smoked pot and read Jest all day every day for weeks, and it was a real joy. As far as not finishing it goes, if it’s any consolation, the (non)-ending is a frustrating letdown & the book’s low point. Rather than conclude the narrative, Wallace just sort of gestures toward what the climax and resolution might be, and leaves them unwritten; not a satisfying payoff.

If you find the book earnest and funny, as I did, it is a pleasure. If you find Wallace’s tone and games annoying then I’d imagine the book would be legitimately unreadable.

Proust, Joyce, and Sterne (to name a few) wrote long and sometimes obtuse works that inarguably reward the challenge of reading them. Wallace has potential, but Jest is not a great enough novel to be worth having to force oneself through it. I also agree with Konrath that Wallace’s other work is inferior. Give him a decade or two… he may yet deliver.

]]> By: Jon Konrath http://b.rox.com/2008/05/15/infinite-jest/#comment-179977 Jon Konrath Tue, 20 May 2008 18:51:59 +0000 http://b.rox.com/?p=1549#comment-179977 Dude, I read that in the original hardcover, and the only weights I lift are twelve (fluid) ounces each. The secret is to get one of those plastic wrist braces bowlers use to hold the book up. It did take a lot of work, though. I had to force myself to read 50 pages a night. I probably couldn't do it a second time. And I haven't found any of his shorter work anywhere near as interesting. Dude, I read that in the original hardcover, and the only weights I lift are twelve (fluid) ounces each. The secret is to get one of those plastic wrist braces bowlers use to hold the book up.

It did take a lot of work, though. I had to force myself to read 50 pages a night. I probably couldn’t do it a second time. And I haven’t found any of his shorter work anywhere near as interesting.

]]> By: liprap http://b.rox.com/2008/05/15/infinite-jest/#comment-179057 liprap Fri, 16 May 2008 03:24:14 +0000 http://b.rox.com/?p=1549#comment-179057 If you're gonna go for a book you've got to bench press, I highly recommend Vikram Seth's "A Suitable Boy". I actually read the sucker twice, it's that good. If you’re gonna go for a book you’ve got to bench press, I highly recommend Vikram Seth’s “A Suitable Boy”. I actually read the sucker twice, it’s that good.

]]> By: Kami http://b.rox.com/2008/05/15/infinite-jest/#comment-179009 Kami Thu, 15 May 2008 23:20:29 +0000 http://b.rox.com/?p=1549#comment-179009 Hmm, I was considering starting it for my "annual summer giant book extravaganza" but maybe I should go for something easier, like Gravity's Rainbow. The picture is cute! Which weighs more, the book or the babe? Hmm, I was considering starting it for my “annual summer giant book extravaganza” but maybe I should go for something easier, like Gravity’s Rainbow.

The picture is cute! Which weighs more, the book or the babe?

]]> By: David http://b.rox.com/2008/05/15/infinite-jest/#comment-178998 David Thu, 15 May 2008 21:17:43 +0000 http://b.rox.com/?p=1549#comment-178998 Joke's on you! I got it for Christmas years ago and had the good sense (if I may say so myself) to never open it. Any piece of literature that looks like a phone book is not a good idea. And really, your criticisms could be applied to most literary fiction today. Joke’s on you! I got it for Christmas years ago and had the good sense (if I may say so myself) to never open it. Any piece of literature that looks like a phone book is not a good idea. And really, your criticisms could be applied to most literary fiction today.

]]> By: chrissieroux http://b.rox.com/2008/05/15/infinite-jest/#comment-178994 chrissieroux Thu, 15 May 2008 20:38:05 +0000 http://b.rox.com/?p=1549#comment-178994 I can relate. I lugged that damned book around for almost a year before quitting, about halfway through. I just couldn't take it anymore. I wanted to like it, for some reason, but just kept getting pissed off. I can relate. I lugged that damned book around for almost a year before quitting, about halfway through. I just couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted to like it, for some reason, but just kept getting pissed off.

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