I began reading infinite jest by david foster wallace around october 2008. Wallace wrote to a friend that the fuckers cut by 600 pages from the first version. Infinite jest by david foster wallace overdrive rakuten. In an instant of sudden clarity i realized he was right, that they were basically the same book the same fractally complex narrative of broken meandering plots about an endlesslyawaited but never arriving apocalypse. It has been categorized as an encyclopedic novel and made time magazines list of the 100 best englishlanguage novels published between 1923 and 2005. I felt compelled throughout to read it aloud, such was the almost poetic quality of it. A multilayered postmodern saga of damnation and salvation. Jan 15, 2010 a cult filmmaker, incandenza is the star of wallaces seminal novel infinite jest the 1,000page book centres on the missing master copy of his film of the same name, so entertaining it renders. The first chapter of infinite jest is one of the best examples ive read in recent years. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. These are the endnotes to david foster wallaces infinite jest, a gargantuan, mindaltering comedy about the pursuit of happiness in america.
The infinite atlas project is an independent research and art project seeking to identify, place and describe every possible location in david foster wallaces infinite jest. A study of david foster wallaces infinite jest, and david foster wallaces infinite jest. David foster wallace facts softschools david foster wallace was an american writer best known for his novel infinite jest, published in 1996, read or download the moon is a harsh mistress ebook online free pdf and named one of the top. A novel audiobook, unabridged mp3 cd unknown binding january 1, 2009 4. I was in france at the time, and when i got back to the u. Set in an addicts halfway house and a tennis academy, and featuring the most endearingly screwedup family to come along in recent fiction, the novel explores essential questions about what entertainment is and why it has come to dominate our lives, about how our desire for entertainment affects. Having only read the first extremely exhausting chapter, i cant tell you whether i would feel this way after two or more.
Infinite jest is a 1996 novel by american writer david foster wallace. Literary troll has talked about nothing but inifnite jest. Written by david foster wallace, audiobook narrated by sean pratt. Infinite jest is a 1996 novel by david foster wallace comprising about 1,000 pages.
Infinite jest the kind of book that, when it is mentioned, creates a hushed silence of mingled awe and fear in the room. Heres how i finally read infinite jest and how you can, too. Im still trying to make sense of infinite jest io9. Feb 01, 1996 admittedly, infinite jest is a tough book. But, in a move that might give some fans a case of the howling fantods, hachette decided. Why i cannot recommend the infinite jest audio book infinite jest. Set in an addicts halfway house and a tennis academy, and featuring the most endearingly screwedup family to come along in recent fiction, infinite jest explores essential questions about what entertainment is and why it has come to so dominate our. When his infinite jest came out 20 years ago, david foster wallace felt some anxiety about how his fully stuffed novel would be received. Infinite jest david foster wallace 2 nbcfiresdonaldtrumpafterhecallsmexicansrapistsanddrug.
I cant recommend the purchase of the what at first appears to be the amazing ive heard good things about the audio, excellent vocal performance audio book of infinite jest. On reading the first chapter of infinite jest sally allen. His widely acclaimed novel infinite jest contains over 20,000 unique words. A gargantuan, mindaltering comedy about the pursuit of happiness in america. I have three helpers to infinite jest, each purchased at different readings of the great novel. It is an exuberant, uniquely american exploration of the passions that make us human and one of those rare books that renew the idea of what a novel can do. Oct 18, 2016 infinite jest explores the idea that all humans are addicts and examines how the chosen drugs particularly entertainment of late 20th century americans eat them alive. Infinite jest, a friend of wallaces commented to me when i was researching every love story is a ghost story, the biography of wallace that i wrote, reads like a valentine to a.
Beyond the ease with which one can lookup footnotes, consider the following. Infinite jest by david foster wallace, paperback barnes. Theres a tiny fellowship of people who know how difficult it is to sit in a room and read infinite jest out loud. But if you are seeking something other, then this book will not disappoint. Sep 10, 2016 its been a bit of a journey on this one. Ive seldom been more engrossed in a novel, and more willing to put in the time of. Not too many people write thousandpagers, much less read them. In fact, its take on the very nature of entertainment itself perhaps foresaw the age of vanity and social media, as seen through the prisms of tinder, facebook, twitter and instagram. Hang your posters in dorms, bedrooms, offices, or anywhere blank walls arent welcome. Over 200 vocabulary words collected from infinite jest.
Set in an addicts halfway house and a tennis academy, and featuring the most endearingly screwedup family to come along in recent fiction, infinite jest explores essential questions about what entertainment is and why it has come to so dominate our lives. Start a free 30day trial today and get your first audiobook. For reference while working on the project drew used the ij scene by scene guide, and stephen burns david foster wallaces infinite jest. Infinite jest has a reputation for being one of those books that everyone starts and no one finishes. She closely analyzes david foster wallaces 1996 infinite jest, dave eggers 2000 a heartbreaking work of staggering genius, and mark danielewskis 2000 house of leaves, pointing out how they deal with a perceived lack of decisionmaking tools, difficulty locating and appropriating emotions, and the need for connection and society. A cult filmmaker, incandenza is the star of wallaces seminal novel infinite jest the 1,000page book centres on the missing master copy of his film of the same name, so entertaining it renders. Infinite jest by david foster wallace, first edition abebooks. I havent read infinite jest, but heres some memes about it anyway. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. A gargantuan, mindaltering comedy about the pursuit of happiness in america set in an addicts halfway house and a tennis academy, and featuring the most endearingly screwedup family to come along in recent fiction, infinite jest explores essential questions about what entertainment is and why it has come to so dominate our lives. Infinite jest infinite jest audiobook, by david foster wallace.
Equal parts philosophical quest and screwball comedy, infinite jest bends every rule of fiction without sacrificing for a moment its own entertainment value. Listen to infinite jest by david foster wallace available from rakuten kobo. While i cant read the book not even the end notes for you, i. Rather, each reading is a meal the whole tome is practically a steady diet. I guess this is a first for me and ill get straight to the point. Infinite jest audiobook by david foster wallace, read by. Mar 03, 1996 reading david foster wallaces latest novel, infinite jest, i couldnt help thinking at times about 7yearold seymour glasss booklength letter home from camp, published in the new. David foster wallaces infinite jest is an audiobook, minus. Partly since it makes the book more accessible and partly because it lets you enjoy the flow of wallaces prose. I havent read infinite jest, but heres some memes about. Apr, 2009 a gargantuan, mindaltering comedy about the pursuit of happiness in america set in an addicts halfway house and a tennis academy, and featuring the most endearingly screwedup family to come along in recent fiction, infinite jest explores essential questions about what entertainment is and why it has come to so dominate our lives. Some readers have found it useful to rip the book in half for easier reading on the subway or on the beach.
Wallaces particular conceit in infinite jest is that the events described are taking place in the indeterminate future, possibly. Download infinite jest ebook pdf free infinitejestkus blog. Infinite jest audiobook by david foster wallace 9781609418120. A gargantuan, mindaltering comedy about the pursuit of happiness in america set in an addicts halfway house and a tennis academy, and featuring the most endearingly screwedup family to come along in recent fiction, infinite jest explores essential questions about what entertainment is and why it. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the us or from the uk, depending on stock availability.
Its a tough read but part of the fun is piecing the story together, which honestly has taken me years of rereading and rethinking it all in light of my own life and inevitably in light of dfws suicide. I did find it a bit of a slog for the first 100 pages, but once i learned to trust that the author would fill in the blanks for me over time, everything became awesome. And the bouncing backandforth is a feature, not a bug. There is stuff that happens in the opening pages that explains events at the end of the book, albeit over pages and hundreds of footnotes away. Each one has good material, but for an overall or first read of the book. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. A readers guide provides a good overview of the novel and includes a chronology, as well as sections on the novels critical reception and key plot points. The novel is widely noted for its unconventional narrative structure and its experimental use of endnotes there are a total of 388 endnotes, some with footnotes of their own. Steven asin infinite jest is the perfect book for the kindle paperwhite. Infinite jest is both sad, depressed and funny and even 25 years after it was published in 1994 remains relevant to the modern age.
Calling to mind that infinite jest was published in 1996, dont think crystal meth is a new phenomenon. Infinite jest is a gargantuan, mindaltering comedy about the pursuit of happiness in america. The novel is widely noted for its unconventional narrative structure and its experimental. Unquestionably, infinite jest required great ambition and focus to write, and requires a bit of ambition and focus to read as well. Infinite summer blog archive how to read infinite jest. The next installment in the audiobook series pgs 6878. Infinite jest is the name of a movie said to be so entertaining that anyone who watches it loses all desire to do anything but watch it. The audio book club on david foster wallaces infinite jest. Listen to infinite jest audiobook by david foster wallace.
Set in an addicts halfway house and a tennis academy, and featuring the most endearingly screwedup family to come along in recent fiction, the novel explores essential questions about what entertainment is and why it has come to dominate our lives, about how our desire for entertainment. Infinite jest by david foster wallace turns 20 today, and im still confused by it all these years later. I was talking to my roommate about infinite jest, and he asked me how it compared to illuminatus. So many people post their i just finished x post, and while thats fine, what i hope to do differently is having just finished infinite jest, write a post i would have liked to have read before having started the book.
Dfws masterpiece otherwise known as the pinnacle of postmodern literary snobbery. Part of what makes this publication hard are generous undefined phrases deliberately. Infinite jest by david foster wallace chapter 3, 1 april year of the tucks medicated pad, chapter 4, 9 may year of the depent adult undergarment, chapter 5, year of the depend adult undergarment, and chapter 6, year of the trialsize dove bar summary and analysis. Download and keep this book for free with a 30 day trial. Infinite jest is one of those books that a lot of people know of but have never read. Whether you are a word gourmet or gourmand, infinite. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of infinite jest by david foster wallace.
If you have not read infinite jest there are major spoilers to be found. I remember seeing its bulk and oddlyentrancing cover in the basement of the seminary coop. I cant recommend the purchase of the what at first appears to be the amazing ive heard good things about the audio. In the 19 years since it was published, david foster wallaces infinite jest has gained the sort of cult status that a struggling novelist would kill for. I am somewhat tempted to immediately start again, since the end is the beginning and you really cant pick it all up in a single read, but if anyone has a good followup or comedown read suggestion id be glad to hear. How to read infinite jest chronologically infinite jest. Infinite jest goes on to the screen books the guardian. Jan 17, 2016 stephen burns revised david foster wallaces infinite jest. David foster wallaces lexicon was the stuff of legends.
Why i cannot recommend the infinite jest audio book. Infinite jest by david foster wallace, first edition. I received an email earlier today from a reader who had excitedly received their unabridged audio book of. You start the book having no clue when it is happening and who the various characters are.
A brick of a tome of a journey of a boy and his harried growth in spurts of tennisfueled tragedy. Infinite jest has been listed as one of the top 100 all time greatest novels of 19232006. Infinite jest doesnt add much to those ideas but throws it all together in a sprawling and inscrutable whole. Mar 20, 2009 the slate audio book club on infinite jest. For those who have actually read infinite jest, youll probably get more out of my very spoilerheavy summary of what happens just after the end of the book. Infinite jest chapter 3, 1 april year of the tucks. Infinite jest tshirts on redbubble are expertly printed on ethically sourced, sweatshopfree apparel and available in a huge range of styles, colors and sizes. Apr 12, 2012 why i cannot recommend the infinite jest audio book infinite jest i guess this is a first for me and ill get straight to the point. Lemon pledge husks a battery of fiveholed masks 223. Mar 08, 2016 the first chapter of infinite jest is one of the best examples ive read in recent years. What its like to record the audiobook version of infinite jest. Infinite jest by david foster wallace librarything. A gargantuan, mindaltering comedy about the pursuit of happiness in america set in an addicts halfway house and a tennis academy, and featuring the most endearingly screwedup family to.
They are not boring bibliographic details, but rather an integral part of the text. I received an email earlier today from a reader who had excitedly received their unabridged audio book of infinite jest only to discover that in. Infinite jest kindle edition by wallace, david foster. Written by david foster wallace, narrated by sean pratt. I had ordered the book from after hearing of david foster wallaces death. Infinite jest theatre company infinite jest theatre. Infinite jest ebook by david foster wallace rakuten kobo. If one of your reading resolutions is to finally finish infinite jest, david foster wallaces mammoth novel, im here to help. Feb 26, 2016 12 if you think infinite jest at 1,100odd pages is a long book, be advised that it started longer. The following was drafted by matt bucher maintainer of the wallacel listserv and author of this post, and augmented by input from nick maniatis administrator of the howling fantods, a site devoted to dfw, and kathleen fitzpatrick professor at pomona college, who teaches a course entitled david foster wallace theres no wrong way to read infinite jest.
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