Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace

It's not possible to put all my thoughts in a video - there are so many and they keep coming.

Also check out my tips on how to finish reading this book.

[robhansen]

great line from a few days ago..." feral hampsters being notorious draggers and rearrangers of stuff they can't eat but feel compelled to fuck with anyway, somehow..." pg 671

[robhansen]

omg omg omg, I'm glad I'm not the only one who saw a correlation between Gentle and Trump. thanks for saying that

[PicklesReads]

I really like the idea of how the story is unsatisfying because we don't get a solid conclusion. After getting so much information about characters, life, and all the little details, we still don't get to know how the story ends. I really admire Wallace's view of maximalism in writing, how it was more real and gives text personality. This all makes Infinite Jest such an addicting book to read. I think he's one of the few authors who really thinks a lot about not only his story and characters but how he's writing it as well and what role his writing will play in society.

[yvettem.holland]

I have been curious about this book， and I've seen a few reviews of this novel; your review is the first one that has given me a solid idea about what the novel presents. Thank you. Great review

[tortoisedreams]

Congratulations! This is a real reading accomplishment! I have it on my shelf & I'm determined to read it -- sooner than later I hope! Way to go!

[ofbooksandtrees]

Loved hearing you talk about this book! Don't think I'll ever read it though ;P
I mean parts of it sound sort of interesting, but at the same time it has so many elements that usually get me to DNF a book. I'm sure it's very satisfying to finish, but I don't think I'd have the patience.

[shmoolicious]

I'm really grateful for your review! I definitely want to read the book now.

[jbsubscribes]

I have always resisted reading anything by David Foster Wallace because my own family has suffered many losses due to mental illnesses that end in suicide. I so admire his strength in surviving long enough to write his feelings for others to experience. This was no small feat.

[sumikatti]

Thank you for this review! I really want to get to this book now. I have wanted to read it for such a long time. But it will be a time commitment ..so I have always pushed it later.

[milomartin]

I'm from Boston and have thirty years in AA. Both central to this book. This is a tough read. It's not funny as in Catch-22, but it is similar in terms of a jumpy plot and lots of characters. It will take a couple of months to read this book. That's time you will never get back.

[KitchenJames]

Has anyone else noticed that a lot of names in the book sound similar to John Wayne Gacy, the serial killer's, name. It might be coincidental but there's John Wayne and then there's also Don Gately. It could have something to do with the fact that John Wayne Gacy did such horrific things to others for his own gratification/pleasure. Also there is a lot to do with facial distortion in IJ and clown paint could be considered to be a form of facial distortion. It makes the "map" less readable. It also might be coincidental but, even if it is, it kind of works. And but so...

[goblin]

I've seen some people say the narrator is Himself, very interesting but I don't know how much there is to it

[MsTerriB]

It's still on my stack to read. I appreciate your thoughts; you gave me some idea what to expect! Speaking of big books ... I'm going to start A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth next week. Can't remember if you've read it or not.

[jasonlawson]

Just read it...let it move through you...its an altered reality Dave takes you to. Trying to 'get it' is the biggest problem people make with this book. Itll come to you in your own way. But i could certainly say this book is a warning! A prediction! A world Dave sees coming fast...a world he wants to prepare us for. A real gift. Thank you DFW✌

[leonthesleepy]

Man i have this book, but its so daunting to even start.

[paulwinchell]

I wondered if you would catch the similarities and yeah non linear writing and open endings. A clean crazy president check got that, shudder

[alexwennerberg]

I thought you were going to say the only unlikable character was Randy Lenz

[paulkindlon]

Really? Nothing original in Infinite Jest. Quirky futuristic dystopian stories have been done before and better by others. Waste of time folks !