Reviews

Oblivion by David Foster Wallace

rachelhelps's review against another edition

3.0

Wallace continues his commentary on academic (or corporate, or literary) culture using academic language in this collection of short stories. Some of the stories are bizarre or grotesque and funny. They weren't as "fun" to read as some of his essays, but still entertaining.

poopdealer's review against another edition

4.0

feels similar to the pale king style Evil DFW

gera_mtz's review against another edition

challenging dark funny sad slow-paced

4.0

nunuseli's review against another edition

5.0

Mi DFW favorito hasta la fecha. Antes de leer 'Extinción', David Foster Wallace me gustaba: escribía bien, era postmoderno, original y divertido, pero sus cuentos eran sólo anécdotas, algunas más incisivas que otras, pero anécdotas al fin y al cabo. En cambio 'Extinción' va mucho más allá. Sus cuentos alcanzan una profundidad impresionante y, detrás de la anécdota, nos acaba hablando de cosas universales que nos afectan a todos, básicamente acaba hablando del sufrimiento, del horror, de la tragedia, de la muerte. Y no entiendo como este libro ha tenido muchas críticas que han dicho que era "más de lo mismo", cuando en realidad es todo lo contrario. Wallace ha madurado. Y mucho. Aunque también sigue siendo el mismo de siempre: postmoderno, original y divertido. David, nadie de hoy en día sabe captar el dolor como tú. Nadie de hoy en día es capaz de, al acabar un cuento, dejarme sin palabras y con un nudo en el estómago. Literalmente. ¡Oh, David, cómo te quiero! Los relatos 'Extinción', 'El neón de siempre' y 'El alma no es una forja' es de lo mejor que he leído en mi vida y de lo que más profundo me ha llegado. Aún así, DFW nunca es fácil de leer: es tan inteligente que a veces te pierdes y no escribe como la gente escribe, ni siquiera escribe como la gente habla, sino que escribe como la gente piensa. Como lector te pide algo de paciencia, pero al final la recompensa es maravillosa. Una vez has entrado en DFW quedas atrapada y sabes seguro que no te decepcionará nunca.

oaklandbex's review against another edition

5.0

Taken together, most of this collection is an experimental slog. I wanted to actually die a few times while dragging my eyeballs through the monotonously constructed wordmire of 'Mr. Squishy', 'Oblivion', and 'The Suffering Channel' specifically, but I eventually made my way to the end of each. It's not all tedious, though. 'Incarnations of Burned Children' and 'Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature' are both efficiently written and just unhinged enough to be pretty good without becoming either forgettable or a mind-numbing bog like the others. **Five big stars for 'Good Old Neon' which stands alone as truly excellent.**

jpowerj's review against another edition

4.0

Every story in this book was absolutely incredible, except the last one ("The Suffering Channel"), which was sadly the longest one (similarly to "Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way" in Girl With Curious Hair, but I at least found that one somewhat worth reading) and the only one I got nothing out of. So 5 stars minus one :)

cryo_guy's review against another edition

3.0

Finally done. DFW is at times intriguing and at times excruciating.

Stories I liked: Another Pioneer, Good Old Neon

Stories that were okay: Mister Squishy, Incarnations of Burned Children, Oblivion, The Suffering Channel (but it's soo long)

Stories I didn't like: The Soul Is Not a Smithy, Philosophy and The Mirror of Nature

patkohn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

mathew's review against another edition

challenging funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

chirson's review against another edition

DNF-ing. I'd read the first three or four stories six years ago and I'd enjoyed them well enough, then I needed to give the copy back and I planned to finish in e-book, but kept putting it off. And now an acquaintance I don't really like (and whose literary taste is the opposite of mine) has been going around quoting DFW like it's the height of taste for months and I think I won't be able to get back to it without associating it with the person, so off my shelf it goes.