Infinite Jest follows Hal Incandenza and a cast of many other characters in a non-linear plot exploring many deep questions about life in modern technological society. This book is a masterpiece in my opinion. I am not sure what else to say besides that it frightened me into another plane of reality. David Foster Wallace tragically killed himself in 2008 (an article describing his literary work in the context of his passing can be found here - https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/03/09/the-unfinished). The English language lost a giant, but we still have his works and they are as relevant and alive now as ever.
The novel Infinite Jest begins with the protagonist meeting several academic officials from a college to which he is potentially going to matriculate... although things do not go as planned.
"Three faces have resolved into place above summer-weight sportcoats and half-Windsors across a polished pine conference table shiny with the spidered light of an Arizona noon. These are three Deans -- of Administration, Academic Affairs, Athletic Affairs. I do not know which face belongs to whom." Inifinite Jest p.1.
Wallace has a distinct style that is not for everyone. This book is no light read. It is not easy entertainment - and that is intentional. Over 1000 pages with included endnotes. But for those who enjoy his prose it provides hours of delight.
Just took the liberty of checking out the reviews on goodreads.com
The idea of the book certainly holds my interest but I don't think that a book this long could be my next read or even a near future read. Once I start reading I have habit of getting into the book until I finish it. It is one of my many weaknesses - the fact that I would forgo my important work just to finish a book. That is why I have to be really careful what I start because there would be no resting until I finish it (that is if I read several pages of t first and they hold my interest)
I have marked the book review page as 'favorites' for future reference. Thanks for sharing this man
I agree. This book has garnered a reputation that people pick up because they want to appear as intelligent or sophisticated but then never finish. It is not a book I take lightly. But long books can be rewarding.
That is certainly true. Some of the longest works that I have read are theological texts and finishing them gave me was an unbelievable amount of satisfaction.
Leaving a book in the middle just feels a little........................ like one more thing that you didn't finish. Although I can't preach that to vehemently since I have left my share of books unread...........just not recently.
I gotcha on the urge to complete books.
That is interesting if you have read long theological texts then you definitely must read 12 Rules for Life - it discusses several Bible passages in detail.
Bravo, @john-robert! Reading IJ made my brain work differently. It's been several years since I experienced it and it's definitely on the read-again list. Right now I'm digging the hell out of Hilary Mantel's "Wolf Hall". I'm delighted you posted about it!
IJ is definitely a mind-bending read. I also have Wolf Hall on the bookshelf - you recommend?
Thanks for this review, you've inspired me to check out the book!
That is great to hear. David Wallace has written a lot of shorter stories as well.
My friend, that is just the kind of book that I am not attracted to. Reading to me is a source of information (I love to read the Encyclopedia Britannica) or a relax time (fantasy). I hate to finish a book and start thinking about rights or wrongs.
I agree with you that reading is most enjoyable when it is the source of learning and gaining knowledge. I read many more non-fiction books in fact. Still, a good fictional book can be a valuable source of information when considered in a different way.
Would you say that a Shakespeare play, Julius Caesar, contains valuable information that may aid you in your daily life?
Classics are a very different kind of book. Shakespeare works, even the comedies, are filled with insights about the human being, but, due to their distance in time, they don't worry me much about rights or wrongs. The same could be said about, for instance, Don Quixote by Cervantes or The Iliad by Homer.
Precisely. As you say classics can provide timeless insights. In my opinion, Infinite Jest is a modern masterpiece. Of course, time will tell if it becomes a classic.
Hi @john-robert :)
Nice to meet you :) What attracted me to your profile is your introduction "I am imperfectionist" This is nice.
I was perfectionist and that is where I suffered great loss, and since I am no more perfectionist, I am greatly enjoying life and things have been much easier.
Anyway, to your post...
I have read this novel, Infinite Jest several years ago but I remember that I did not finish it. But it can be a good addition to my library. Thanks you reminded me about it :)
Thanks and yes it is a popular piece of many libraries, and they're better for it.
I've had this book for years on my shelf. I think I'll pull it down for the summer, thanks John.
FarmerD
Farmer! Nice I hope you enjoy it. It's a challenging read but I think the author rewards the reader's efforts.
Great brother, I agree with you. Indeed, by losing David Foster Wallace, English has lost a burning talent. His works and writings will always remain alive among the people. Though he is not.
Agreed. The written word stays ever fresh.
Yes brother. But I am learning manything from you. Though you told me in a comment that we will learn something from each other. Maybe I cannot help u to learn something from me. But I am very happy that you are following me. This is the manything to me. Thanks a lot for that.Maybe you can know something about my country if you cheak out my post. But I am not expert for bloging. I am just learning.
Hi sir @john-robert i'm your new follower. great post sir i really like this type book because this book is very interesting for me. ...wish you best of luck keep posting....
Thank you.
I haven't read it but saved a painfully, blissfully true quote from the book I found on a blog. After reading it was stuck in my head so I saved it for my wallpaper.
Here it is :
@adisrivastav If you haven’t read Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace, this is a snippet of what your missing:
“That you do not have to like a person in order to learn from him/her/it. That loneliness is not a function of solitude. That logical validity is not a guarantee of truth. That it takes effort to pay attention to any one stimulus for more than a few seconds. That boring activities become, perversely, much less boring if you concentrate intently on them. That if enough people in a silent room are drinking coffee it is possible to make out the sound of steam coming off the coffee. That sometimes human beings have to just sit in one place and, like, hurt. That you will become way less concerned with what other people think of you when you realize how seldom they do. That there is such a thing as raw, unalloyed, agendaless kindness.”
That is a great excerpt and very "Wallacian" prose indeed. Many don't like his style because it deals with some somber and heavy topics. Coupled with the fact of his taking his own life it becomes all too easy to pigeon-hole DFW as a nihilist. Nothing could be further from the truth. In my opinion because he grapples with such serious issues as isolation, entertainment, and addiction the nuggets can make life much more worth living.
DFW was one of the pioneers of a new artistic style characterized by sincerity and authenticity. A reaction to the deadly -modern irony all too prevalent in late capitalism.
Okay. I may have to read some of his stuff :) Actually, I tried three times but never finished more than five pages since Infinite Jest is humbling in the vocabulary area. First book I’ve ever found that I need the dictionary app always next to me and open..
Oh there are many words in IJ that I don't know off-hand. No shame there!