Weekend Diversion: Night Of The Ponies
Pedway, First Store Open At Block 37
Around Town
Around Town
Red-Light Cameras Not So Special?
Well, pantagrapher, since you were the only person to suggest a Convince Us this month, you win in finally getting us to read a David Foster Wallace suggestion.
We'll be reading his first novel, The Broom of the System. We hope everyone reads along. At the end of the month (we'd better get started, eep) we'll review it and ask for a new Convince Us book on a theme.
Happy reading!
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I love DFW, and think it's great you're taking him on, but I'll be honest and admit Broom might not be the best entry point. I probably would have suggested one of his short story or essay collections ... but enjoy anyway!
That's right, mofos.
Broom is manageable. And the Great Ohio Desert is awesome.
"they did Kuwait."
LOL
Oh God, you're jumping into David Wallace because you want something quick after the astoundingly dry Paul Theroux? You think you're going to read a David Wallace in a week?
Wow. Good luck with that.
Nooooo. Don't start with BotS or you'll ruin your appetite for more. Do "A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again" or "Oblivion." They're much, much better.
--whet
As a longtime DFW promoter, I'm going to have to strongly agree with Tankboy here. I'm perhaps his biggest fan and I think Broom is not only his weakest work but generally not that great at all. It was written when he was young and still finding his voice. For fiction I'd start with Brief Interviews, although Oblivion is probably my favorite story collection. Infinite Jest, of course, is amazing, but if you're just getting your feet wet, you'll probably want to start lighter. Consider the Lobster is his nonfiction at its finest.
In other words, starting at the beginning is not always the best route.
Yeah, I agree that his short story or essay collections are a better place to start. I like his writing and even I have a hard time getting through his novels...DFW is kind of like the literary equivalent of prog rock; it's amazing, but sometimes it's best consumed in small doses.
It's certainly not his best work, but it's the only DFW offering (aside from Brief Interviews...) that fits in with the spirit of Convince Us. Collections are a pain in the ass to review. IJ is too long. BotS is just right.
By the way, anyone else looking forward to the movie version of Brief Interviews? Rumor has it DFW has been pleased with the screenplay.
and, it wasn't the only suggestion CHICAGOIST!
I'll second Guest 5's recommendation. The title essay in A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again is one of the best and funniest essays I've ever read.