Infinite Jest thread

Just started this book a week or so ago and I’m on p 117. Despite Wallace being a piece of soykaf, I really like the book and the “encyclopedic novel” idea with all the footnotes and worldbuilding is really creative and well-executed imo. The prose is amazing so far and while I am kind of confused with all the time skips and short bursts of time with individual characters who you won’t see again for awhile, I’m really enjoying piecing things together. The whole idea of the Entertainment and the way the author handles a corporatist dystopia is really something I thought you guys would enjoy. Thoughts on this novel? (ps please spoiler any text or images that might need it I don’t want the book spoiled since I’m only beginning my dive into this thing lol)

>>7225 I tried a few times to read it, got maybe 1/3 through? There does seem to be a lot there but felt like it was going over my head and I was mostly just reading a lot of words that didn't mean a lot to me, but were supposed to mean something. The experience of reading it was fever dream like, the world of the book felt like something stretched over some intended deeper meaning, rather than a real solid place. Similar to Pontypool maybe? Kind of claustrophobic, a lot of creepy psychological bits like the roaches in the glasses and the mini essay about weed anxiety, and the whole intense but dumb and pointless scenario of competitive tennis school. With that part I felt kind of vindicated about always quitting school sports.

Another book pseuds pretend to enjoy.

>>7229 See this is the soykaf that’s so annoying to me, I enjoy difficult books and the challenge they pose even if they’re not fun to read in the moment. And when I bring them around with me, people endlessly give me grief for trying to read them or otherwise just call me a poser for carrying them around. Why does it matter if I like Ulysses or The Hungry Hungry Caterpillar? How is it pretentious to want to try a new reading experience?

>>7233 I think that accusation of being a poser comes from so many trying to condescend to others about not liking or understanding the book. It might be analogous to toxic Rick and Morty fans. Personally, I have not read the book, but I did read a paragraph or two from one of Wallace's essays. He seems to have written in a deliberately alienating style that never let me forget that I was interpreting shapes of ink on page; I didn't appreciate that and it is why I personally am not so inclined to read his magnum opus.

>>7234 Yeah I guess my frustration is more derivative of the fact that I read and like a lot of books written (or enjoyed) by very vocal douchebags. it doesn’t really matter if I’m a fine guy, if someone sees me carrying IJ or Catcher around, there’s no defense. >why on earth are you reading that? >do you actually read that thing or just carry it around? And my personal favorite: >you’re so pretentious, no one actually likes that book I’ll quit derailing the thread but it is like kicking dead whales down the beach that books get memed to this point where someone can’t even make an excuse for why they’re enjoying it because the reddit-esque fans of that same book have ruined it for the public eye by holding it on this pedestal as >muh peak intelligence book you don’t get it XD I find it’s the worst for these commonly designated “hard” books like Joyce, Pynchon, or Wallace. You can list off everything that happens in one of these novels, and people will still believe you’re just lugging the book around to look intelligent :(

>>7237 There's no defense because those people aren't worth dealing with. I know it's tough, but ignore them. Unless that person is your boss or something, you're dealing with someone who isn't worth dealing with. Personally, I know some people who love Joyce, and they're pretty decent people to be around.

>>7229 I'm a pseud that really does enjoy Infinite Jest. At least, there are parts of it I really enjoy when I'm not being held hostage, forced to read something I don't care for. But take for instance the Eschaton chapter. Some great prose.

This book literally predicted snapchat filters