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A review by jeffcarlson96
Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
3.0
Feel myself landing at 3.5. Look, it’s clearly a masterpiece and Wallace’s brain is definitely bigger than mine. It’s an epic work that covers the spectrum of the power and danger of entertainment, America’s collision course with complete numbness or full scale intensity, and a search for individual meaning. I was fascinated with the world created (at least the parts that I could glean). He’s a master of language and built incredibly complex and traumatizing character arcs. Gately’s story breaks my heart continuously.
The reading experience was just too difficult and that’s what holds it back for me. So many times I felt ostracized by its self-awareness. DFW is writing and elbowing me to laugh, cringe, or shudder along with him, but I couldn’t get through the style to see what he did. And I think some of that is the point, but maybe it’s just not for me and I’m ok with that. Read it with some buddies over 4 months and it’ll be worth your time!
The reading experience was just too difficult and that’s what holds it back for me. So many times I felt ostracized by its self-awareness. DFW is writing and elbowing me to laugh, cringe, or shudder along with him, but I couldn’t get through the style to see what he did. And I think some of that is the point, but maybe it’s just not for me and I’m ok with that. Read it with some buddies over 4 months and it’ll be worth your time!