Kris’s Comments (group member since Aug 06, 2012)

Kris’s comments from the Infinite Jest – David Foster Wallace group.

Aloha wrote: "Thanks, Kris!"

My pleasure!

Nathan "N.R." wrote: "I expect mine in the mail today. I am deeply dreading the effects that this bio will have on our reading of IJ. What's it called? the biographical fallacy? the psychological-reductionist fallacy? Something like that. May I make a plea that we keep in mind that IJ is the reason we love DFW, not vice versa. But perhaps I'm being overly anxious or perhaps it's just that unnecessarily obligatory tip of the hat to suicide everydamntime DFW's books are discussed. Maybe it's just me. "

I am very glad you wrote this, Nathan. I think it's very important to keep that in mind. The discussions of IJ are not intended to be a search for clues into his state of mind, or a means to conduct a group case study on him. IJ and he deserve better than that.

I have a new folder up for discussion of supplemental readings. The first thread is for Every Love Story Is a Ghost Story: A Life of David Foster Wallace, but please feel free to create new threads to discuss other books by DFW, or books about IJ, or anything else that you'd like to discuss with other group members.

This is a thread for discussion of the new biography Every Love Story Is a Ghost Story: A Life of David Foster Wallace by D.T. Max.

Hi Brigid! So glad you're joining us.

Jason wrote: "Kris, have there been those who have voiced their support for a January start specifically? It is my impression that most everyone falls into the earlier start pattern. Maybe you wouldn't have to h..."

I haven't heard anyone do so specifically - we'll see if anyone surfaces on this thread!

Marieke wrote: "i think i'm in the same boat as Jason. from watching friends read IJ, i think it is more demanding than most books, regardless of length. so ~58 pages per week seems more manageable to me (and mayb..."

So far, option 3 is in the lead for the people starting IJ in December. Marieke, I think the discussion can start at any time - we have many IJ veterans who can jump in whenever they like when new comments are posted, and since we're looking at two different official starts here, I think you'll find that there always will be people eager to discuss IJ with you, whenever you post.

I'll put up a discussion thread for the new DFW biography, and I also will get the official IJ discussion threads up and ready shortly, once we hear from some more people on reading schedule options.

Aloha wrote: "My daughter will be at her dad's for the holiday break, so I'll have plenty of time to read. I'll shoot for the December start, #2."

I'm also in the more-time-to-read-in-December group.

Jason wrote: "#3 makes me have the fewest number of panic attacks."

That's a very important criterion to consider.

I'm working on some different options for recommended reading schedules: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1... Any feedback appreciated!

I've had a lot of questions about reading schedules already, so I've spent some time tonight looking over my paperback edition of IJ, and coming up with a few different options. I'd like to get feedback from you on which options seem best.

Keep in mind that I assume people will be reading ahead or behind the schedules. These would just be suggested signposts to stay on track. We will have discussion threads set up by page numbered sections, so that you can easily find the relevant thread and post comments, even if you are off schedule.

We need to come up with two official schedules - one with a December start, and one with a January start, to better accommodate those of us who will be participating the the Proust discussions, which start in January. Other issues to consider here are that the winter holidays could affect people differently (some with a winter break to read more, some with a lot less time to read), and that the earlier part of IJ is by all accounts the most challenging part of the book to read.

According to my paperback edition, here are the page counts:
pgs 3-981 - text
pgs 983-1079 - notes and errata

Bearing all of this in mind, here are some different approaches:

(1) December start: 3 months with equal number of pages each month: 75-76 pages a week, not counting notes and errata - end in late February-early March

(2) December start: 3 months with ½ book in December and ¼ each in January and February: in December, would read 491 pages in December (123 pages a week) and then 246 pages a month in January and February (comes to 55 pages a week) - end in late February/early March. Please note that I'm concerned this could be a challenging pace to keep up.

(3) December start: 4 months, roughly 58 pages per week, not counting notes and errata, end in late March

(4) January start: 2 months -- 109 pages a week over 9 weeks, not counting notes and errata, end in late February

(5) January start - 3 months, roughly 75 pages per week, not counting notes and errata, end in late March

Richard wrote: "I just got my copy today! I'm very excited about that. I'm going to treat myself to a doughnut (a real one, not a virtual one)."

Hooray Richard! I love that feeling when you bring home a much anticipated book. :)

Moira wrote: "The Kinks - Picture Book http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjDu3E...#

Radiohead - Videotape http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qvv-Lp...# (this is like THE IJ song, I am not kidding)

Radiohead - Vid..."

Awesome selections across the board. So happy to see Mission of Burma in there.

Proustitute wrote: "@Marieke and Kris

Which Proust bio? The Carter one? I plan to have that as either a preliminary or auxiliary read for me; if the latter, it'll be paired with Paintings in Proust. I've heard wonder..."

Yes, Carter. It looks great. It and Paintings in Proust are at the top of my auxiliary/preliminary readings list too.

And it's always a pleasure to discuss Proust -- no highjacking involved. :)

Nathan "N.R." wrote: "Kris wrote: "Only moderators can invite, so I'll send a message to Proustitute and ask him to invite you, Aloha. :)"


Nope. Just sign up. Your request has to be approved, but no need for an invite."

Thanks Nathan - Proustitute just wrote and said the same thing to me.

Only moderators can invite, so I'll send a message to Proustitute and ask him to invite you, Aloha. :)

Oh yes - I see -- Message 308.

I think I jus pasted the link into one of the comments here somewhere....

Here it is again, in case I went crazy:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/7...

Marieke wrote: "i really do love giant books."

It's so good to be with people who understand.

Aloha, you have to check out the shelves with auxiliary readings in the Proust group. So many wonderful recommendations.