I finally finished Infinite Jest – and just in time for the end of the “Infinite Summer” – so I wanted to blog quickly about my basic reaction to it. I thought it was over-hyped and pretentious. The idea behind it was so interesting to me but I honestly had no patience for his writing style. I liked certain parts like the stories of some of the students at Enfield Academy but I was completely put off by his weak attempts at “urban” colloquialisms.
I feel like I wasted time reading what seemed to be an infinite book. Luckily I still read several books in the last week to make up for it.
Sorry, Wallace. I tried to like it but I just couldn’t.
by her side (or more likely, in her hand). Reads anything, especially old free stuff. For more riveting information such as this, try the aptly named 
3 responses so far ↓
Matt // September 22, 2009 at 10:18 PM |
his essays are a lot more fun/readable. im still in media res of infinite jest though.
Themba // January 25, 2010 at 7:15 AM |
Apart from the ESCHATON debacle this book is pure genius. The characters, the ideas, the complex episodes, the underlying sense of total heart-break & hope-in-dark-time are hard to find anywhere else. The diversity of pitch-perfect vernaculars&voices is unrivalled.
I find it near incomprehensible how one cannot like this book, other than that it is one of the greatest literary, intellectual challenges one will come across.
peace, t
http://themzini.wordpress.com/2010/01/13/navigating-blueness-part_1-a-meta-critique-of-avatar/
reina evita // January 27, 2010 at 7:23 PM |
Fair enough. I recognize the complexity and the genius of it – I think perhaps that’s what kept me going through so much of it. I disagree, however, with it having “pitch-perfect vernacular”. Instead I found it rather affected.
Definitely a great challenge to read though.