Paula’s Comments (group member since Jun 18, 2025)

Paula’s comments from the Reading the Chunksters group.

I'm flexible and can start whenever is good for everyone :).

Cleo wrote: That's too bad because I actually found your posts helpful. I'm feeling a little lost...

Hi Cleo! I appreciate that, but I don't want to spoil anyone's enjoyment of the book on their own terms. And it can become a bit of a minefield when trying to figure out what to post and what not to post. Especially because DFW deliberately designed the book to be full of subtle threads and teasers that he wanted the reader to dig up. Kind of like Joyce's Ulysses.

For example, when I used a certain term to describe Avril's behavior as stated in the chapter we read, that term was strictly my own. It is not a spoiler. I come from a large family of doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists, some of whom treat addiction and so, her behavior is not something I would have heard described as promiscuous. The sheer number of partners is over and beyond occasional love affairs.

So again, that was strictly my own terminology (based upon my own family environment) for the behavior, based upon the comments made by Hal's father in the chapter we read.

When I said I thought it was interesting that, in that conversation, Hal's father could converse with Hal, but then not at the end of the chapter, I meant only that. I thought it was weird and interesting. I thought it was interesting and strange the first time I read it and I still do. It wasn't meant to be a teaser. It was simply me saying "wow, that's interesting".

But I can certainly see why John would take these comments as teasers and spoilers because of some of my other comments and because I've read the book before. I appreciate it that he pointed it out to me.

So my dilemma is: what if I make a comment that I find something "interesting" just because I do? I can't control how my comment will be interpreted. So, until I figure out a better way to express it, I'm going to read along with you guys and get a feel for the conversation instead of jumping in all over it.

My bigger dilemma is this: there's a lot in this book that I just don't understand and haven't figured out. So, when we get to that part of the reading, what happens if I ask a question like "what do you guys think it meant when Tom Cruise saw purple chickens crossing the road in Manchuria?" Will that be taken as a leading question, when in reality I would honestly like to know what you guys think because I honestly don't know? Or, will it be taken as, "if Paula doesn't know the answer, that means the question doesn't get answered in the book, so the fun of wondering about that episode is ruined for me".

You see where this could go.(P.S., there are no purple chickens, Tom Cruise or Manchuria in the book :)).

Again, I have to figure it out and in the meantime, I want to put everyone else's experience of the book in front of my own. I don't want to ruin the enjoyment of it. And I don't want the entire posting thread to be full of conversations about my faux pas (I apologize again) instead of the book itself.



Enjoy!

Hi everyone. I have deleted all my posts (I think). Let me know if I missed one. John, I think if you delete or hide the list of instances you just posted, that will help. Apologies to the group!

I promise never to post without my book again :(.

Esther wrote: "I can absolutely recommend Anathem. I read it this year and it is incredible. The philosophical layers to that book make you think and the plot is intricately built."

One of my favorite books!

I've read it twice and I know I will find things I missed when we read it again. I don't think it's possible to get everything the first time around, so it's a good idea to relax and just enjoy it.

But don't skip the footnotes. Most of them aren't really footnotes. They are extensions to the story. I believe DFW used a lot of them to give you a little break from the main narrative so that we could explore some of the background.

John wrote: "Great idea Linda -- Infinite Summer is a great resource for starting out... they have a post on How to Read IJ.

This Infinite Jest Wiki site has a character diagram that shows all the connections ..."

This is the best resource I have found. I referred to it when I was reading IJ for the first time. So much great information!!!!

I started with a kindle copy, but quickly moved to hard copy. I have post-its, bookmarks, underlining, highlights and notes scribbled in the margins. :)

John wrote: "Layla, each week is about 50-60 pages.

I got started already to make sure I'll be ready for the first discussion -- it seems like pretty easy reading so far, which is making me even more nervous....."

I agree with you. It's not a difficult read. Like Ulysses, you can enjoy the book perfectly well without delving into all the subtle threads...unpeeling the onion, as it were. But DFW has so many tiny little nuances built into the story and footnotes. I love finding them and connecting them with other little threads that connect to it 50-100 pages later. Just about everything in this book is connected - and making all those discoveries makes it fun. On one page, you may see reference to someone's drug supplier...and then maybe 100 pages later, you see the slightest little reference as to who that person is. Building all those connections adds to the genius of the book.

Plus, it contains (along with so many other things) the most poignant depiction of the fragility of hope (a hope that is wanted so desperately), that I have ever read. Such a moving book.

I would suggest a separate bookmark just for the footnote section.

Don't be intimidated, just take your time and read all the footnotes. Many of them are essential, some are funny, they all have value. The first 200 pages are the most difficult because they skip from character to character, but after that you pretty much know everyone. It's worth the effort. :)

Zulfiya wrote: "Tentative dates:
October 27, 2014 - Dhalgren and House of Leaves
November 24, 2014 - Mason and Dickson

As for Dr. Zhivago, maybe it is worth trying to nominate it again for our themed read - Russ..."

This all sounds yummy!!

Sarah wrote: "Paula, you've read Dhalgren, right? Is it true sci-fi or more of a 70's acid trip?"

I read it years ago. It's an odd book. I would say it's sci-fi on acid if that makes sense.

Zulfiya wrote: "Guys, you can start HoL in October. Let me know if this is an acceptable date for you.

As for Dhalgren, let me know when everyone wants to read it. I am game."

I would be willing to start Dhalgren any time. October for HoL sounds good. Would M&D be in November/December?

I lean toward the end of October. These are all very good books and, whatever we choose, I would like to be able to really discuss it in some depth. I'm stretched a bit thin right now and don't want to ruin the enjoyment of a great book :).

I will be happy with either M&D or Dhalgren and would love to read them in succession.

Everyman wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Although, if people do all of these, I will probably idiotically try to do every single one."

Clearly, you're still young. [g]"

She just doesn't have anyone serenading her with a kazoo :)

Sarah wrote: "Although, if people do all of these, I will probably idiotically try to do every single one."

Yeah, me too. I feel it happening...

Zulfiya wrote: "I am not at home today, but when I am back, I will open a thread where you can talk about a buddy read."

You are awesome, as usual.

Kaycie wrote: "Paula, I agree that Fall of Giants is very easy. I ask just trying to take it at the group pace so I don't forget everything when people discuss...meaning it's going to be an ongoing read for me fo..."

I've overextended myself too, so an easy pace works for me, whatever we decide to read :).