Reviews

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men by David Foster Wallace

quawbix's review against another edition

challenging funny reflective sad tense slow-paced

3.75

robbe'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

johnthecrow's review

3.0

I mean this as respectfully as possible: I can see why this guy killed himself. To be able to articulate the level of grating self-consciousness on display here can only indicate it was something he himself suffered from.

On the whole not as entertaining (lol) as Infinite Jest. Too experimental and lacking in what makes DFW good, namely the humor and hyperrealistic dialogue, but still mostly engaging.

eric_peartree's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

monica716's review against another edition

1.0

I’ve never read DFW before and I guess he’s just not my thing? Though the interview portions were interesting in their grotesque-ness, the collection of stories as a whole was just boring.

carly_golightly's review

3.5

3.5 stars. 

I’m pretty conflicted with DFW as a person and I struggle to separate the art versus the artist. At times this felt cathartic, because - well yeah, men are hideous and that’s the commentary. Or is it? His metafiction makes me feel bad for the interviewees while simultaneously cringing in discomfort at their behavior. We know DFW had his own foray into being a chauvinistic toxic man. 

His prose - gorgeous. The interviews - incredible range. His creative ability to build layers on characters - an absolute delight. But is it really critiquing masculinity, or is it just another book spotlighting men? Lit bros are not able to spot the difference. 

brianhuynh's review

challenging emotional funny tense slow-paced

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

3.0

At times great, at times truly awful. A slog. 

thepamz's review

1.0

Ya se que el punto es que son hombres horribles pero se pasó de lanza el autor. Es difícil de leer de lo estupidas que son casi todos las opiniones. No lo recomiendo para nada.

piyushn's review

4.0

The book was funny unless it wasn't. Also, I don't think DFW likes babies. I'm kind of down with that.

woogafolgawomp's review against another edition

challenging dark funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

how does he keep getting away with it!!!!! what a master of language and interpretation of the modern world. every short story in this collection is evocative and genius in its own ways. highly recommend to anyone, especially wallace first-timers, as the majority of this collection is very accessible.

favorite stories: octet, adult world, church not built with hands, forever overhead (in contest with "the dead" as my favorite ever short story), and interviews #31, #42, and #20