A review by courtney_mcallister
Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself: A Road Trip with David Foster Wallace by David Lipsky

1.0

My primary issue with this book has to do with David Lipsky and the manner in which he frames his "road trip" with David Foster Wallace. DFW's comments can be refreshing at times, but they are overshadowed by Lipsky's relentless preoccupation with DFW's fame and past addictions. This keeps the narrative from progressing and limits it to a repetitive repertoire. Additionally, Lipsky's use of bracketed commentary comes across as an intrusive attempt at interpreting DFW's statements for the reader. In a way, this bothers me because it reflects Lipsky's opportunistic appropriation of DFW in order to enhance his own reputation as a writer and journalist. I seriously doubt Lipsky would attempt to project his own reading of DFW's comments if DFW were still alive. This book depressed me because I believe it represents the worst of the already despicable class of writing and fanfare designed to exploit a deceased writer's iconic status for personal gain and profit.