Questions About Oblivion

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I'm interested in reading DFW after hearing a lot about Infinite Jest and listening to a lot of interviews with him. However I'm not quite in the mood to tackle a 1000 page goliath of book (that IJ is supposedly meant to be) right now so I was considering buying Oblivion. What do any DFW fans think is the best place to start with his work?

Kellan Marvel This is a tough one. DFW wrote some outstanding magazine articles, which is where I started with his work. His fiction is very, very different (and mu…moreThis is a tough one. DFW wrote some outstanding magazine articles, which is where I started with his work. His fiction is very, very different (and much more difficult to get through) than his nonfiction. I'd recommend starting with some of his shorter stories (here's a link to his publications in Harper's: http://harpers.org/blog/2008/09/david... ) before diving into his novels. DFW is, hands down, my favorite author to date so I highly recommend reading some of his stuff. Personally, one of my favorite articles he wrote is called "A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again" and it follows his trip on a cruise line (sometimes titled as "Shipping Out"). (less)

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I've been recommended Oblivion as a good place to start with Wallace's work, which I'm interested in learning more about and actually reading. However, I'm not quite sure as to which short story in the collection to start with. Should just start at the beginning and read them in order, or is there a particular short story that you would suggest starting with as an introduction to Wallace's style, themes, tone, etc.?

David My suggestion is to start with the beginning. "Mister Squishy" showcases DFW's ability to evoke humor from banal events such as a focus group meeting.…moreMy suggestion is to start with the beginning. "Mister Squishy" showcases DFW's ability to evoke humor from banal events such as a focus group meeting. It is the second-longest story in the book. If you find yourself struggling to get through it, I suggest you set the book aside for the rest of the day and then read only a page or two per day after that. You might find that the depth and density of his prose begins to grow on you and you find your reading sessions stretching into the hours. (less)

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