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crostonk's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I love the unparalleled style of David Foster Wallace’s writing; DFW compilations are excellent. The stories are full of weird ideas and unique perspectives served up like tapas from a place at the intersection of postmodern-metacognitive anxiety and a train full of guys who smell weird.
The story(?) Datum Centurio, a fictitious futuristic usage dictionary entry for the word “date”, is a novel way of making a statement about contemporary (circa-1990s) relationships. It is a perfect example of why I love DFW and the medium of short stories in general.
Octet’s philosophical and moralistic premise and subsequent devolution into self-referential anxiety is great. DFW’s writing always feels unvarnished - the footnoted “Milorad Fucksalot” serving to demonstrate an idea without need for “flaccid abstractions” or prolonged explanation.
Similarly, “the uremic breeze that follows” shows how wonderful DFW is with language - florid abstractions for purpose (and elegance).
The presiding thread of psychological trauma attributed to youth, sexual violence, and masculinity is compelling throughout this collection, although I don’t necessarily find David Foster Wallace’s writing insightful as much as erudite. Reading DFW is like having a conversation with a clever friend who accurately represents facets and faces of existence for consideration without a prescribed moral conclusion.
DFW is the author I have the most fun reading - always sharp and funny. It is a treat to read his words.
The story(?) Datum Centurio, a fictitious futuristic usage dictionary entry for the word “date”, is a novel way of making a statement about contemporary (circa-1990s) relationships. It is a perfect example of why I love DFW and the medium of short stories in general.
Octet’s philosophical and moralistic premise and subsequent devolution into self-referential anxiety is great. DFW’s writing always feels unvarnished - the footnoted “Milorad Fucksalot” serving to demonstrate an idea without need for “flaccid abstractions” or prolonged explanation.
Similarly, “the uremic breeze that follows” shows how wonderful DFW is with language - florid abstractions for purpose (and elegance).
The presiding thread of psychological trauma attributed to youth, sexual violence, and masculinity is compelling throughout this collection, although I don’t necessarily find David Foster Wallace’s writing insightful as much as erudite. Reading DFW is like having a conversation with a clever friend who accurately represents facets and faces of existence for consideration without a prescribed moral conclusion.
DFW is the author I have the most fun reading - always sharp and funny. It is a treat to read his words.
Graphic: Abandonment, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
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