Loops, rings, & cycles

[Jen]

Throughout the book we see many circular patterns. Which particular loops, rings, and annular patterns did you pick up on throughout the book?

[Tracy]

The biggest one is connecting the end to the end. The first chapter is the latest date in the book, so the whole thing is a flashback to how we got there.
I think for me the circles created by James are the most fascinating- from his films to his hauntings, to his annular fusion, the description of which I still need to reread. But the connections/loops among the characters are also interesting.

[Pip]

Annular is a word that crops up all the time, alerting the reader to the way the stories loop back and merge. Jim Incandenza's explanation of annular fusion is the most obvious example.

[[deleted user]]

I like both your answers Pip & Tracy

[Kristel]

In order to fully understand the uses I will need to reread. It was important and loops and cycles would imply that what goes around comes around, maybe. I had hoped that in the end I would understand the first chapter better but I can't say that I do. Can any one fill me in with what I missed.

Did we learn what was happening to Hal?

[John]

To what extent is Infinite Jest a more robust version of Time's Arrow? In which we start at the end and end near the beginning, though perhaps without a clear understanding of how they are related. Well, for me, anyway, with no idea at all how they are related.

[Kristel]

I'm with you John. Not sure how it really ended. I had as many questions at end as I did starting out. I enjoyed some of the story that featured the Half Way House because that felt like there was closure. Not so much with Hal.