Wallace's writing has a reputation for being dense and complex and impenetrable, but it doesn't seem that way when you're reading it. Yes, the sentences are ridiculously long, but they all make perfect sense, and they're absolutely delightful. His reputation for being intimidating gets in the way of just enjoying his work, and that's a shame.
I love the part: "You don’t think people who go to the gym are snobs. So why accept the same for your mind?" Yes, exactly. Especially in an era so rich in information, why do so many choose to feed junk food to their minds? Nothing wrong with junk food *once* *in* *a* *while* but a steady diet of it isn't healthy. Likewise, the embrace of overly simplistic pop content. Nothing wrong with it in itself, but when it's all one consumes, one becomes simplistic and without depth or nuance. (The proof of how disastrous this is for minds currently squats in the Oval Office.)
Because of "must read" recommendations, I've tried to read "Infinite Jest" three times but have never been able to stick with it. Perhaps, in part, because, when it comes to fiction, I'm all about good storytelling and don't find brilliant literary exercise engaging. For me, stories aren't about technique, they're about being transported to interesting worlds. It may also be in part because I've long seen the world — judging from your post — in much the same ways that Wallace does. My big ask for fiction is to take me someplace new, and Wallace just doesn't. Though I tend to agree with his point of view.
For example, that commencement speech. I've been ranting about what I called "The Death of a Liberal Arts Education" since the mid-1970s. I quite agree with him but was there long ago. Likewise, the notion of filling mental space to avoid facing the emptiness in oneself. Back in the early 2000s, when walking to my car after work, I noticed how many people doing the same thing were chattering on their cellphones. For me that walk was a chance to detune from the workday, and I wondered why anyone would sacrifice the peace and quiet. I decided they were afraid to be alone inside their own heads.
Good post, and I agree with every point you made. (Except for reading IJ or TPK, but that's just a taste thing. 😁)
"We’re so rarely bored, these days, but we’re also always bored." Damn. I'm a therapist, and this line gets me thinking about how so much suffering is caused by trying to avoid *that which has already happened*. The avoidant who will never be abandoned, for example.
It's maybe also the kick I need to embrace boredom more fully ... an ADHD diagnosis (and the extent to which "ADHD brain" has become a cultural phenomenon) tends to have the unfortunate side-effect of giving one permission to avoid boredom because there's a medical label for it being so intolerable.
I was slightly embarrassed when watching the penultimate (I think) episode of The White Lotus, a month or so back, that I found it quite moving when a character was told by a Buddhist monk something like "Most people spend their lives running away from pain, only to find that their pain is still with them when they reach their destination" - the point being that you have to accept discomfort and dissatisfaction as part of life. It's a cheesy line but it has stayed with me. Similar idea, I guess?
This is a really cool read - I do get you, I also think that what you're saying can be applied to British modernism - you know I think people like Woolf thought books and poetry should be more like puzzles to decipher which engage the mind. And I'd like to think there's a growing taste for kind of modernist sensibilities today - like Ali Smith is a really cool, modernism inspired author that I love, and she's successful, and I think she does a similar thing to Wallace, but in a more joyful way, like portraying how much life is like a headache in a really beautiful way. But yeah... just some ideas your essay gave me
Well dang. Now I want to read this (and Infinite Jest)! The only DFW I've read so far is BROOM OF THE SYSTEM, which I enjoyed but thought was mostly fine. But you've inspired me to add these two to my list.
What a fantastic essay. I have strong interest in DWF despiite not reading ,besdies a few of his essays), most of his work. I have read his biography and a lot of his intereviews on Youtube. This essay has strongly motivated me to actually read his darn work now.
Nice letter. I haven’t read any DFW yet aside from a couple short stories, but he has been on my shelf for years, waiting for the right moment to be picked up. I know I’m going to love him. This piece further solidified that feeling.
Whenever I do get around to reading DFW, I’m sure I’ll feel self-conscious about the literary bro trope, even though I’ve never met this character IRL. I also felt self-conscious reading Intermezzo in public. Sigh the internet has ruined me
Wallace's writing has a reputation for being dense and complex and impenetrable, but it doesn't seem that way when you're reading it. Yes, the sentences are ridiculously long, but they all make perfect sense, and they're absolutely delightful. His reputation for being intimidating gets in the way of just enjoying his work, and that's a shame.
I agree. He's really, really funny.
I love the part: "You don’t think people who go to the gym are snobs. So why accept the same for your mind?" Yes, exactly. Especially in an era so rich in information, why do so many choose to feed junk food to their minds? Nothing wrong with junk food *once* *in* *a* *while* but a steady diet of it isn't healthy. Likewise, the embrace of overly simplistic pop content. Nothing wrong with it in itself, but when it's all one consumes, one becomes simplistic and without depth or nuance. (The proof of how disastrous this is for minds currently squats in the Oval Office.)
Because of "must read" recommendations, I've tried to read "Infinite Jest" three times but have never been able to stick with it. Perhaps, in part, because, when it comes to fiction, I'm all about good storytelling and don't find brilliant literary exercise engaging. For me, stories aren't about technique, they're about being transported to interesting worlds. It may also be in part because I've long seen the world — judging from your post — in much the same ways that Wallace does. My big ask for fiction is to take me someplace new, and Wallace just doesn't. Though I tend to agree with his point of view.
For example, that commencement speech. I've been ranting about what I called "The Death of a Liberal Arts Education" since the mid-1970s. I quite agree with him but was there long ago. Likewise, the notion of filling mental space to avoid facing the emptiness in oneself. Back in the early 2000s, when walking to my car after work, I noticed how many people doing the same thing were chattering on their cellphones. For me that walk was a chance to detune from the workday, and I wondered why anyone would sacrifice the peace and quiet. I decided they were afraid to be alone inside their own heads.
Good post, and I agree with every point you made. (Except for reading IJ or TPK, but that's just a taste thing. 😁)
One of the few long essays I've been able to get through lately. Very interesting.
"We’re so rarely bored, these days, but we’re also always bored." Damn. I'm a therapist, and this line gets me thinking about how so much suffering is caused by trying to avoid *that which has already happened*. The avoidant who will never be abandoned, for example.
It's maybe also the kick I need to embrace boredom more fully ... an ADHD diagnosis (and the extent to which "ADHD brain" has become a cultural phenomenon) tends to have the unfortunate side-effect of giving one permission to avoid boredom because there's a medical label for it being so intolerable.
I was slightly embarrassed when watching the penultimate (I think) episode of The White Lotus, a month or so back, that I found it quite moving when a character was told by a Buddhist monk something like "Most people spend their lives running away from pain, only to find that their pain is still with them when they reach their destination" - the point being that you have to accept discomfort and dissatisfaction as part of life. It's a cheesy line but it has stayed with me. Similar idea, I guess?
This is a really cool read - I do get you, I also think that what you're saying can be applied to British modernism - you know I think people like Woolf thought books and poetry should be more like puzzles to decipher which engage the mind. And I'd like to think there's a growing taste for kind of modernist sensibilities today - like Ali Smith is a really cool, modernism inspired author that I love, and she's successful, and I think she does a similar thing to Wallace, but in a more joyful way, like portraying how much life is like a headache in a really beautiful way. But yeah... just some ideas your essay gave me
Fuckin A. Good stuff
I loved this essay great read!
Well dang. Now I want to read this (and Infinite Jest)! The only DFW I've read so far is BROOM OF THE SYSTEM, which I enjoyed but thought was mostly fine. But you've inspired me to add these two to my list.
Putting the Far Side in the same category as hair metal and Dan Quayle is a hate crime.
If it's any consolation, I like hair metal a lot
Okay fine, I'll read the rest of the article
You're a gentleman and a scholar
Thank you for this essay! Read first thing in the morning, and now I’m both determined to embrace the difficult, tedious parts of today, and read DFW.
Thanks for reading it!
What a fantastic essay. I have strong interest in DWF despiite not reading ,besdies a few of his essays), most of his work. I have read his biography and a lot of his intereviews on Youtube. This essay has strongly motivated me to actually read his darn work now.
Intriguing analysis- will check out the book. Thanks
really enjoyed this, consider me actually open to the idea that I might enjoy DFW!
This was the most convincing review I've read on here in a long time. I can't wait to be delightfully bored by concentrating too deeply on this book.
Nice letter. I haven’t read any DFW yet aside from a couple short stories, but he has been on my shelf for years, waiting for the right moment to be picked up. I know I’m going to love him. This piece further solidified that feeling.
Whenever I do get around to reading DFW, I’m sure I’ll feel self-conscious about the literary bro trope, even though I’ve never met this character IRL. I also felt self-conscious reading Intermezzo in public. Sigh the internet has ruined me
This is nice, but footnote 1 is wrong, sorry. Increasingly so!
You reckon?