a definitely fun thing that i would love to do again

book: a supposedly fun thing that i'll never do again

author: david foster wallace

completion date: 26/08/10

method: purchased

i had never read anything by david foster wallace before this. to be frank i found the description of his work intimidating. i had heard from people who had read infinite jest that there were moments of totally genius and then moments of confusion followed by frustration. i didn't think i was ready for that, so instead i chose a book of essays. now what amazed me is how observant he is as a writer, but it never hampers your enjoyment. there are moments when he crosses the line and gets so absorbed in what he's talking about that its easy to forget what he's talking about if you let your attention drift. i don't foresee myself being able to handle it during total thesis madness, but you never know. i may give it a shot, but i think it might be too much.

now there are a number of essays in this book, all of which shine, but the title piece made me laugh out loud number of times on the bus which afforded me some bizarre looks, but i was enjoying myself too much to care. the supposedly fun thing that he'll never do again is going on a cruise ship. now, this has never really appealed to me, but it appeals even less to me after he writes about it. some of his lines are just so poignant and smart i don't even understand how someone can write like that. i wanted to write down some of his lines to remember them later, many of which occurred in the foot notes. there is one in which he describes the people who are at his dining table (apparently you are assigned a table and sit at it for the entirety of your cruise). his table seems varied between some old cruise veterans and spoiled brats. he is the only one who is a cruise virgin. for everyone else this is just a routine. something that they always do. it isn't special- they deserve it. now on another note, i don't think that wallace knows what a short footnote is- some of them are a page and a half in about size 8 font. maybe less. now i loved reading all the stories. i loved reading it, but i found by towards the end of each story i was waiting for it to be over. i felt that it just dragged on a bit too long at times.

i also felt hampered because i have never seen a david lynch movie.... and i don't know much about tennis. but! it made me want to change both of those things.

xo-ellebee