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/lit/ - Literature

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[ERROR] No.2158588 [Reply] [Original]

Based on the continuous stream recommendations, I decided to order my own copy of Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace.

What should I expect? My room mate claims that this sort of novel is the worst kind of novel, that I should destroy it as soon as I get it in the mail.

I am disturbed by this.

>> No.2158593

Your room mate is an asshole, I think.

I didn't like IJ all that much, but it is a very well crafted and, at times, moving and humerus novel. If your room mate is telling you it is the 'worst kind' he's probably hating on it for its popularity.

If I were you, I would read 'Norwegian Wood' or something instead, though.

>> No.2158592

You're roommate is a faggot. You should expect infinite jest. Don't try too hardly to understand IJ, just experience it.

>> No.2158595

>>2158593

Don't listen to this asshole. Norwegian Wood is a piece of shit, as is everything written by that hack Murakami. Either it's just the translations that are horrible or that man writes prose like a broken calculator.

I am a few hundred pages into Infinite Jest and it is great, easily in my top twenty.

>> No.2158596

>>2158595
easily in your top 20 and you've only read about 20% of it?

>> No.2158601

>>2158596
That opinion can change as I go but from what I have read so far that is my assesment.

>> No.2158605

>>2158601
I'm not saying it is not a great novel, I'm just curious about what makes you think that considering it still hasn't happened anything yet

>> No.2158621

>>2158605
>considering it still hasn't happened anything yet
I am assuming you mean that it has so far been uneventful?

I am enjoying it for the same reasons that I cannot stomach more than a few pages of anything Murakami, I love well written, thought-out and clever prose. Besides, I would disagree with your assessment that nothing has happened. While I might not see the bigger picture yet I can tell where it is building up to, or at least I have a notion that the things I have read so far are not completely disparate.

>> No.2158624

>>2158595
trololol

>> No.2158627

>>2158624
That word has lost all meaning.

>> No.2158634

>>2158621
well, I wouldn't say it is uneventful, but the whole novel is based on descriptions more than in actions. Would you agree with me?

but I also think it is a great novel. The more you read DFW the more you think he was a really intelligent guy. And a very good writer.

>> No.2158637

>>2158627
you're right, one shouldn't be too generous while giving benefit of the doubt

>> No.2158639

>>2158637
Do you actually think Murakami is a skilled writer?

Or that DFW is not?

>> No.2158640

destroying books is a bad thing to do don't do it even if you agree with your dumb roommate that it's bad

>> No.2158642

oh, btw, if you're gonna destroy the book, then mail it to me, I would like to read DFW in his original language

>> No.2158658

>>2158639
yes, he is

>> No.2158677
File: 22 KB, 400x400, But+that_s+Wrong[1].jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
[ERROR]

>>2158658

>> No.2158762

>>2158677
no, it isn't you dipshit

>> No.2158775

If DFW wrote as well as his fanboys think he did, then there would never be any dispute at all from me.

>> No.2158808

>>2158775
If DFW was still alive he would apathetically glance your way before hanging himself again, in disappointment no doubt, about how shallow people have become; to be so easily influenced by the perceptions of others, to allow some perception of other's perceptions to detract from the enjoyment of what would otherwise be an enjoyable pastime.

>> No.2158815

>>2158808
He wasn't that talented. Get over it.

>> No.2158826

>>2158815
Not only did you not understand the post you linked, you likely did not read Infinite Jest seeing as how the irony of your post has escaped you.

>> No.2158961

>>2158588

I liked the parts with incest best.