It probably seems intimidating because you're flipping through trying to extract an abstract concept of the book from random decontextualized scraps instead of just linearly and attentively reading it on its own terms like you're supposed to. Do you have attention-span and procrastination problems, or what's going on that's preventing you from just reading it instead of making a thread about it? Any book, by its nature, isn't suited to a manageable bite-sized consumable concept: you need to dive in to the thick of it and embrace the indeterminacy. You lazy diabolical 666 motherfucker.
Infinite Jest is very manageable. It’s important to remember that in stark contrast to the myriad other overblown and erudite ‘postmodern tomes’ that likely inspired it (think The Recognitions, Gravity’s Rainbow, Giles Goat-Boy, Ratner’s Star), DFW attempted to communicate some very genuine and very heartfelt emotions with the book and understand when and when not to play games with the reader.
The psychotically depressed person x10, the depressed but largely functional person x100 and Mario.
It is really interesting how he manages to to use the postmodern character as tool of author so effectively, they are still very much his tools and on examination of them we see them to be rather flat and everything about them being rather convenient, and yet he still manages that sort of emotional connection which is generally lacking in the postmodernists.
That said, no one can give that emotional kick in the balls like the postmodernists, you just never see it coming because by the time it happens that part of you has largely shut down. Roger and Jessica in GR are my favorite example of this, that one tiny little thread of humanity buried in it all, fuck the war, they are in love. Then it gets taken away and it still hurts and still makes me angry.
yep, that's pretty much hysterical realism in a nutshell
I'm not even 1/3rd through my copy and already I've seen incredibly nuanced social commentary
been liking it more than GR too
Once you adjust yourself to Wallace's writing style it's fine and the only thing I was really confused by was how the new calender worked in his timeline
there's a small list of the years about 200 pages in, at least all the ones relevant to the plot
https://i.imgur.com/bpESp1j.jpg
My copy just arrived. What should I expect?
the need to flip to the endnotes FREQUENTLY. I have made use of a post-it-note to help with this...
Read it as an epub because flipping back and forth to the footnotes is exhausting but they're unskippable. Also most of the steeply-Marathe dialogs can be skimmed through if they bore you.
>flipping back and forth to the footnotes is exhausting
but bro the back-and-forth is symbolic of a tennis match dudeeee it's super deep and meta bro please believe me
Once you adjust yourself to Wallace's writing style it's fine and the only thing I was really confused by was how the new calender worked in his timeline
If you put it in the microwave, it will get warm and produce a pleasant smell. Winter has passed, but it serves good fodder for the fireplace. As for myself, I carefully sliced the tome into two pieces: one half I carry around with me to use as hygenic paper in public bathroom in case none is available (which is often the case). The other half I use to clean up small spills at home when no paper towels are available. When winter arrives, I order several more copies.
I had laughed to the point of crying when I came to that one the first time.
i just finished this recently after like nine months of on-and-off reading and despite the fact that it felt extremely unrewarding with how meandering and directionless the "plot" was i have the inexplicable urge to reread it instantly under some idea that i will "get it" on a thematic and narrative with context of the entire piece because i had the same thing happen to me with twin peaks: the return
You are growing out of your plotfag phase, DFW is good for that and he wrote The Pale King for people like you but he did not reduce it to pandering to people growing out of their plotfag stage.
i just finished this recently after like nine months of on-and-off reading and despite the fact that it felt extremely unrewarding with how meandering and directionless the "plot" was i have the inexplicable urge to reread it instantly under some idea that i will "get it" on a thematic and narrative with context of the entire piece because i had the same thing happen to me with twin peaks: the return
I'm the guy you bought it off on Craigslist, fair warning pages 100-125 are completely crusted with my semen so you'll have to carefully pull them apart or just skip that section entirely
Expect your hands to sweat
classic
idk, i have not read it. this still doesn't stop me from mocking people who do. homosexual.
Why on earth would you want to approach a text through a haze of memey LULZ opinions? Just read page 1 and keep on going.
Just had a flip through, seems intimidating. Any tips?
It probably seems intimidating because you're flipping through trying to extract an abstract concept of the book from random decontextualized scraps instead of just linearly and attentively reading it on its own terms like you're supposed to. Do you have attention-span and procrastination problems, or what's going on that's preventing you from just reading it instead of making a thread about it? Any book, by its nature, isn't suited to a manageable bite-sized consumable concept: you need to dive in to the thick of it and embrace the indeterminacy. You lazy diabolical 666 motherfucker.
just threw it up on the bookshelf, I'm sure I'll get around to it eventually
dam bro u saw the reply u just got hit with? u effort posted to a shitposter, nigga what r u doin?
Infinite Jest is very manageable. It’s important to remember that in stark contrast to the myriad other overblown and erudite ‘postmodern tomes’ that likely inspired it (think The Recognitions, Gravity’s Rainbow, Giles Goat-Boy, Ratner’s Star), DFW attempted to communicate some very genuine and very heartfelt emotions with the book and understand when and when not to play games with the reader.
The psychotically depressed person x10, the depressed but largely functional person x100 and Mario.
It is really interesting how he manages to to use the postmodern character as tool of author so effectively, they are still very much his tools and on examination of them we see them to be rather flat and everything about them being rather convenient, and yet he still manages that sort of emotional connection which is generally lacking in the postmodernists.
That said, no one can give that emotional kick in the balls like the postmodernists, you just never see it coming because by the time it happens that part of you has largely shut down. Roger and Jessica in GR are my favorite example of this, that one tiny little thread of humanity buried in it all, fuck the war, they are in love. Then it gets taken away and it still hurts and still makes me angry.
yep, that's pretty much hysterical realism in a nutshell
I'm not even 1/3rd through my copy and already I've seen incredibly nuanced social commentary
been liking it more than GR too
there's a small list of the years about 200 pages in, at least all the ones relevant to the plot
the need to flip to the endnotes FREQUENTLY. I have made use of a post-it-note to help with this...
Gravity's Rainbow is incredibly emotionally resonant and really not that post-modern at all. People who say this stuff clearly haven't read it
Not postmodern at all? But It’s the archetypal postmodern novel?
I don't think you know what post modernism is.
Read it as an epub because flipping back and forth to the footnotes is exhausting but they're unskippable. Also most of the steeply-Marathe dialogs can be skimmed through if they bore you.
>most of the steeply-Marathe dialogs
anon, those are more important than the footnotes and there is not even a comparison.
They are important to the plot which is why you need to at least skim them or read a summary but they're thematically redundant and mostly dull.
No, they are vital to theme and provide most of the context for the novel.
>flipping back and forth to the footnotes is exhausting
If you're a baby maybe. It's as simple as using two bookmarks
The dirst book mark is a hassle because you'll be constantly moving it.
>flipping back and forth to the footnotes is exhausting
but bro the back-and-forth is symbolic of a tennis match dudeeee it's super deep and meta bro please believe me
I thought the end notes were symbolic of someone flipping through tv channels. Seems far more thematically relevant.
try flipping backwards as well as forwards
The “Call of the Crocodile” of its generation.
Once you adjust yourself to Wallace's writing style it's fine and the only thing I was really confused by was how the new calender worked in his timeline
Infinite zest
Infinite Sweat
All you need to know is that the title comes from Shakespeare: "There is inifinite jest, but not for us."
>What should I expect?
To be bored to death.
No longer being able to wait for a microwave to finish without contemplating suicide for the entire duration
Something sure smells good.
If you put it in the microwave, it will get warm and produce a pleasant smell. Winter has passed, but it serves good fodder for the fireplace. As for myself, I carefully sliced the tome into two pieces: one half I carry around with me to use as hygenic paper in public bathroom in case none is available (which is often the case). The other half I use to clean up small spills at home when no paper towels are available. When winter arrives, I order several more copies.
an endless joke I presume
>and but
>and but SO
The state of LULZ.
>but and so and but so
filthy casual
I had laughed to the point of crying when I came to that one the first time.
You are growing out of your plotfag phase, DFW is good for that and he wrote The Pale King for people like you but he did not reduce it to pandering to people growing out of their plotfag stage.
>I had laughed
Not sure where that "had" came from, lets just call it providence.
i just finished this recently after like nine months of on-and-off reading and despite the fact that it felt extremely unrewarding with how meandering and directionless the "plot" was i have the inexplicable urge to reread it instantly under some idea that i will "get it" on a thematic and narrative with context of the entire piece because i had the same thing happen to me with twin peaks: the return
A man who read the Pynchmeister, a-and did his best to reach the Pynch’s lofty heights, but failed, natch. Many such cases. Sad.
Sweaty Palms
seriously how do I stop this it only happens with reading proper literature
I'm the guy you bought it off on Craigslist, fair warning pages 100-125 are completely crusted with my semen so you'll have to carefully pull them apart or just skip that section entirely
i dont read it yet