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/lit/ - Literature

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22115127 No.22115127 [Reply] [Original]

Is it just because it's a long book that people feel like they should have read? There are lots of those though. Are the really annoying Infinite Jest fans that constantly talk about it? I've never met one. Granted I live in Kentucky. Is it a symbol of pomo type literary experiments? But you don't have to pay attention to any of that stuff and can just read it through like a normal novel. Put away the note cards.

>> No.22115141

>>22115127
Because it commits the worst sin of books, being boring.

>> No.22115162

>>22115141

Lots of books are boring. I don't think IJ is even particular offender. It does start slow which, granted, is the size of most books. And opposing novels giving into the constant amusement logic of TV is part of the theme.

>> No.22115172

>>22115127
Mostly it gets enough written about it that the trolls can sort of get bait material from the threads and the IJ/DFW anons are mostly OK will being trolled with a few of them seeming to enjoy the challenge of debating a troll.

>> No.22115198
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22115198

the fans

>> No.22115214

>>22115127
Because of the moralizing aspect of it. Makes some wonder why couldn't DFW follow his own advice.
Which is a very insignificant criticism. Is the equivalent of saying: if you are so smart why aren't you rich?

>> No.22115226
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22115226

>>22115198

>> No.22115243

He is constantly contrasted, unfairly, to Pynchon, a writer he could never hope of equaling. Feel sorry for him. If he could just be compared with DeLillo od McCarthy we could recognize how good he is.

>> No.22115458

>>22115127
1. It’s simply not a great book. Dull characters, forgettable plot line
2. It’s trying to be more than it is. DFW tries to be a literary genius and fails
3. It’s gimmicky. It doesn’t need to be so long except as metaphor for infinite jest itself and the footnotes are unnecessary
4. The fans think it’s the best book ever simply because they read it and it’s a slog. The fans are usually immature readers and this is the biggest book they’ve read
5. Massachusetts, ew
6. Dude weed bro
7. Don’t criticize Bret Easton Ellis he’s a better writer
8. Tennis, ew
9. Book screams look at me I’m an intellectual without adding anything to literature

>> No.22115472

>>22115458
>footnotes
Thanks for confirming you haven't read it

>> No.22115499

>>22115458
>forgettable plot line
I read Infinite Jest 3 or 4 years ago and I remember it better than many books I've read since then

>> No.22116015

>>22115214

That makes sense.

>>22115458

American Psycho and IJ kind of go together. They cover a similar subject matter - not addressing foundational problems by focusing on distractions. It strikes me like Wallace viewed Ellis as more of a doppelganger than an opposite.

>> No.22117304
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22117304

Fuck you I liked it and I refuse to elaborate further

>> No.22117319

>>22116015
>It strikes me like Wallace viewed Ellis as more of a doppelganger than an opposite.
nah, he viewed Ellis as a dilettante offering nothing but platitude in an easily digestible and entertaining format.

>> No.22117350

>>22115499
infinite jest was perhaps more at your level anon

>> No.22117361

>>22117350
yeah most other books are so far below my level that my intellect barely registers them