Wonderful review. Really brought some memories when I read in 2017. Making me feel like I under-appreciated it after watching your review. The motif/theme of 'awareness' or 'choice' of how to look at the world when you're experience the kind of mundane boredom he talks about is especially interesting. I've thought that concept is a captivating & optimistic way of trying to reinforce the 'positive vibes', you know? Reminded me a little bit of the philosophy of Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. What happened to the author afterwards gives an obvious reflection of how serious did they believe in their works' philosophy, or in those themes...just sad what happened to DFW. But, like you said fantastic read.
Thanks for the kind words. There is definitely a question of how much Wallace bought into these ideas, particularly with his final months. I am not sure where he landed, but he opened a few doors and windows for me to look out as I progressed through this one. I enjoyed some views more than others, but he definitely made me think. I hope that you have a Happy New Year! Cheers, Jack
Oddly TPK was my first DFW book, which I wouldn’t recommend, but I adored it and the themes of boredom and distraction that remain ever relevant to today. Loved your analysis and hope to re-read it in the coming years!
Thanks for the kind words! I’m not sure how I would have reacted to this if it was my first exposure to Wallace, but I’m glad you found so much to appreciate. It is eerie how prescient the book remains. Have you read any of his other books? I hope 2025 gets off to a good start for you. Cheers, Jack
@ yes I have! He’s probably one of the first authors I really fell in love with. I’ve read IJ, Girl with curious hair, A supposedly fun…, and Consider the lobster. I’d like to read the rest of his works over the next 2 years
“And in remembering a road sign I am remembering a girl when I was young And we said these songs are true These days are ours, these tears are free We had a lot of fun We had a lot of money We had a little son And we thought we'd call him Sonny Sonny gets married and moves away Sonny has a baby and bills to pay Sonny gets sunnier Day by day Well I've been waking up at sunrise I've been following the light across my room I watch the night Receive the room of my day Some people say The sky is just the sky But I say why? Why deny the obvious child? Sonny sits by his window and thinks to himself How it's strange that some rooms are like cages Sonny's yearbook from high school is down from the shelf And he idly thumbs through the pages Some have died Some have fled from themselves Or struggled from here To get there Sonny wanders beyond His interior walls Runs his hand Through his thinning brown hair Well I'm accustomed to a smoother ride Or maybe I'm a dog that's lost his bite I don't expect to be treated like a fool no more I don't expect to sleep the night Some people say a lie is just a lie But I say The cross is in the ballpark Why deny the obvious child?” -Paul Simon
Wonderful review. Really brought some memories when I read in 2017. Making me feel like I under-appreciated it after watching your review. The motif/theme of 'awareness' or 'choice' of how to look at the world when you're experience the kind of mundane boredom he talks about is especially interesting. I've thought that concept is a captivating & optimistic way of trying to reinforce the 'positive vibes', you know? Reminded me a little bit of the philosophy of Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. What happened to the author afterwards gives an obvious reflection of how serious did they believe in their works' philosophy, or in those themes...just sad what happened to DFW. But, like you said fantastic read.
Thanks for the kind words. There is definitely a question of how much Wallace bought into these ideas, particularly with his final months. I am not sure where he landed, but he opened a few doors and windows for me to look out as I progressed through this one. I enjoyed some views more than others, but he definitely made me think. I hope that you have a Happy New Year!
Cheers, Jack
Oddly TPK was my first DFW book, which I wouldn’t recommend, but I adored it and the themes of boredom and distraction that remain ever relevant to today. Loved your analysis and hope to re-read it in the coming years!
Thanks for the kind words! I’m not sure how I would have reacted to this if it was my first exposure to Wallace, but I’m glad you found so much to appreciate. It is eerie how prescient the book remains.
Have you read any of his other books?
I hope 2025 gets off to a good start for you.
Cheers, Jack
@ yes I have! He’s probably one of the first authors I really fell in love with. I’ve read IJ, Girl with curious hair, A supposedly fun…, and Consider the lobster. I’d like to read the rest of his works over the next 2 years
You make me want to read DFW again - this.
Thanks for the kind words, David. I hope that you enjoy this one if you take the time to read it. Have a Happy New Year!
Cheers, Jack
“And in remembering a road sign
I am remembering a girl when I was young
And we said these songs are true
These days are ours, these tears are free
We had a lot of fun
We had a lot of money
We had a little son
And we thought we'd call him Sonny
Sonny gets married and moves away
Sonny has a baby and bills to pay
Sonny gets sunnier
Day by day
Well I've been waking up at sunrise
I've been following the light across my room
I watch the night
Receive the room of my day
Some people say
The sky is just the sky
But I say why?
Why deny the obvious child?
Sonny sits by his window and thinks to himself
How it's strange that some rooms are like cages
Sonny's yearbook from high school is down from the shelf
And he idly thumbs through the pages
Some have died
Some have fled from themselves
Or struggled from here
To get there
Sonny wanders beyond
His interior walls
Runs his hand
Through his thinning brown hair
Well I'm accustomed to a smoother ride
Or maybe I'm a dog that's lost his bite
I don't expect to be treated like a fool no more
I don't expect to sleep the night
Some people say a lie is just a lie
But I say
The cross is in the ballpark
Why deny the obvious child?”
-Paul Simon