Infinite Jest, Resources and Links

[Zulfiya]

To help us with the upcoming discussion that starts on Monday, I want our participants to help each other and post links that will make our discussion more enjoyable and more meaningful.

Post away.

[Linda]

To help those of us who need brushing up on Hamlet by William Shakespeare.

Very quick summary:
http://shakespeare.about.com/od/hamle...

More in depth analysis:
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare...

[Linda]

Tips before reading IJ:

http://infinitesummer.org/archives/215

[Linda]

Page by page annotations, without spoilers. Great for referencing unknown words, or quick explanations for references to various historical figures, etc.

http://infinitejest.wallacewiki.com/d...

[John]

The Infinite Atlas is an interactive map of the many, many, many locations mentioned in IJ.

Spoilers are probably likely if you click on the entries, but you can just zoom around and see all of the locations for fun.

http://infiniteatlas.com/

There's a location in Wernersville, PA, which is about 5 miles from where I live! :) But the place it talks about is marked as "Fictional", and it's not fictional at all. I should probably contact the site about that.

[Linda]

Giant character map:

http://sampottsinc.com/ij/

(this is one I am not looking at before reading the book, but will want to come back to later...)

[Brandon]

Linda wrote: "Page by page annotations, without spoilers. Great for referencing unknown words, or quick explanations for references to various historical figures, etc.

http://infinitejest.wallacewiki.com/d......"

Sooo useful! Especially for Wallace's neologisms!

[Mekki]

Here is some more information on Hamlet:

Ghosts, Murder, and More Murder - Hamlet Part I: Crash Course Literature 203

Ophelia, Gertrude, and Regicide - Hamlet II: Crash Course Literature 204

I enjoy watching his channels

[webslog]

Elegant Complexity is a fairly comprehensive study of IJ. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16...

[Dustin]

These look like wonder tips, everyone! Thank you!

[Kaycie]

Here is a description of the concavity/convexity:
http://figurativeink.wordpress.com/20...

[Dustin]

Linda wrote: "To help those of us who need brushing up on Hamlet by William Shakespeare.

Very quick summary:
http://shakespeare.about.com/od/hamle...

More in depth ana..."


I'll be read Hamlet for the first time, soon.:)

[John]

Brickjest is a site that apparently recreates IJ scenes in Legos. I haven't checked it out extensively b/c spoilers. I did see a feral hamster in there, though.

Apparently some people in Germany put on a 24 hour-long stage adaptation of IJ.

[Linda]

John wrote: "Brickjest is a site that apparently recreates IJ scenes in Legos. I haven't checked it out extensively b/c spoilers. I did see a feral hamster in there, though."

I had to take a peek. Found the hamster!

[John]

Hey Guys, just for fun today I made a list of who I'd cast if I were in charge of making an IJ movie:

Infinite jest Imaginary Movie Casting Call

It's definitely still in progress, I'll add more characters as we meet them! Let me know if you have any ideas.

[Linda]

John wrote: "Hey Guys, just for fun today I made a list of who I'd cast if I were in charge of making an IJ movie:"

What fun, John! (view spoiler)[I LOVE your picks for Hal, Mario, and Erdedy - they are spot on! Ellen Page would certainly work for Kate. I don't know who Michael Trucco is, but just from his photo he looks like an Orin. At first I wasn't quite sure about Catherine Zeta-Jones for Moms, but after thinking about it a bit, I think she's a great choice. And Mark Walberg in drag?! I'd pay to see that! :D I hope you'll be adding to the character list as we read forward. (hide spoiler)]

[Rosemary]

John wrote: "Hey Guys, just for fun today I made a list of who I'd cast if I were in charge of making an IJ movie:

Infinite jest Imaginary Movie Casting Call

It's definitely still in progress, I'll add more ..."

That's so funny. I loved them! ... except for Kate Gompert - that actress looks like she's playing a cute and stupid little girly, and that isn't how I'd pictured Kate Gompert at all! I'd see her as more brittle, like Emma Watson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Watson

[Linda]

Rosemary wrote: "except for Kate Gompert - that actress looks like she's playing a cute and stupid little girly, and that isn't how I'd pictured Kate Gompert at all!"

I think Ellen Page could very well fit. First movie I saw her in was one called "Hard Candy". She was definitely not a girly girl in that movie. :)

[Jamie]

Thanks for the links everyone

[John]

I read some commentary about DFW's essay This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life. The essay was originally given as a commencement speech at Kenyon College in 2005.

You can find a recording of the speech here. I am looking forward to listening to it as soon as I get a chance, because from the commentary I read it seems like DFW touches on some themes that appear in IJ as well.

It looks like there is also a PDF transcript located here.

[Linda]

John wrote: "I read some commentary about DFW's essay This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life. The essay was originally given as a com..."

I've read that commencement speech a couple of times, and listened to part of DFW giving it, and once I started reading IJ I thought the same thing, John. He sure knows how to create depressing, yet at the same time hilarious, scenes that really makes one think.

[Linda]

Schematic of the Eschaton chapter:

http://pooryorickentertainment.tumblr...

[Dustin]

Linda wrote: "John wrote: "I read some commentary about DFW's essay This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life. The essay was originally g..."

And beautiful, too!

[Rosemary]

This is a timeline of the chronological order of all scenes - chock full of spoilers, obviously.

http://jest.founddrama.net/timeline/

[Dustin]

What, you mean it isn't told in order? I realize that that Wallace wasn't ordinarily a linear writer, but this tops everything..

[Kaycie]

Dustin wrote: "What, you mean it isn't told in order? I realize that that Wallace wasn't ordinarily a linear writer, but this tops everything.."

Nope. Not even a little bit. I have 2 notebook pages full of a calendar right now, and I'm on ~page 450.

Bet you can't wait to get started now! :-P

[Linda]

Kaycie wrote: "I have 2 notebook pages full of a calendar right now, and I'm on ~page 450."

You're so good! I gave up on my journal awhile ago, around page 223. :) Now I'm just going with the flow, enjoying the text, and looking forward to a reread someday.

[Kaycie]

Linda wrote: "and looking forward to a reread someday"

I haven't decided yet if I like this book enough for a re-read someday, so I am therefore trying to get whatever I can out of it on the first pass! So many books, so little time. I always have so many tbr books that re-reads need to be special.

[Linda]

Kaycie wrote: "So many books, so little time. I always have so many tbr books that re-reads need to be special."

Very true. I can at least see myself pulling the book off the shelf from time to time and flopping the book open to whichever page to reread bits of it.

I just keep reading how people say a reread of this is a must, so I guess I have figured that in to my life's reading list somehow. But generally I have too many unread books to make any rereading a priority.

[Dustin]

Kaycie wrote: "Dustin wrote: "What, you mean it isn't told in order? I realize that that Wallace wasn't ordinarily a linear writer, but this tops everything.."

Nope. Not even a little bit. I have 2 notebook pa..."

I really can't. I'll be starting Hamlet in a few days, hopefully, then it's off to DFW's masterpiece I go. OMG, I am intimidated!

[Dustin]

Kaycie wrote: " Linda wrote: "and looking forward to a reread someday"

I haven't decided yet if I like this book enough for a re-read someday, so I am therefore trying to get whatever I can out of it on the firs..."

I hear that a lot of readers can't just leave it be after the 1st read. It becomes an addiction.

[John]

The Daily Deal at audible.com today is Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel, which is a novelization of the play. $3.95 today only. I imagine you can find audio readings of hamlet for free on, say, Librivox, but this might be a good deal for entertainment value. It seems to have good reviews from Shakespeare fans and non-fans alike.

[Dustin]

John wrote: "The Daily Deal at audible.com today is Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel, which is a novelization of the play. $3.95 today only. I imagine you can find audio readings of hamlet for..."

I'll be reading the play in a few days.:)

[Nicola]

Linda wrote: "Tips before reading IJ:

http://infinitesummer.org/archives/215"

Well I found that hilareous. Now I'm really looking forward to starting.

And, yes, I do want to flick forward to page 223...

[Linda]

Nicola wrote: "Well I found that hilareous. Now I'm really looking forward to starting.

And, yes, I do want to flick forward to page 223..."

I laugh when I go back and read that list (it seems all a bit silly now...). And I DID laugh when I finally got to page 223 and realized what was there after all the hype. :)

[Dustin]

Linda wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Well I found that hilareous. Now I'm really looking forward to starting.

And, yes, I do want to flick forward to page 223..."

I laugh when I go back and read that list (it seems al..."

Now you guys have ME curious about page 223!!

[Linda]

I don't remember who or in which thread had suggested that reading IJ in chronological order would be fun and/or interesting (Ami, perhaps?), but I just came upon this attempt to construct a guide to do just that. I just read the first bit, then quickly scanned a couple of pages since I don't want to come upon any spoilers. Anyway, I thought I would post it here for later reference if anyone is interested!

http://www.thehowlingfantods.com/dfw/...

[Dustin]

Linda wrote: "I don't remember who or in which thread had suggested that reading IJ in chronological order would be fun and/or interesting (Ami, perhaps?), but I just came upon this attempt to construct a guide ..."

Thank you, Linda!

[John]

I just learned today that the Decemberists did an adaptation of the Eschaton chapter for one of their music videos! It's pretty good, although their Ann Kittenplan needs to be way more punk. I like that the lead singer chose to be Pemulis :)

[Linda]

John wrote: "I just learned today that the Decemberists did an adaptation of the Eschaton chapter"

Oh yes, I watched this - it's great!! Someone had already posted this in a previous thread sometime back, I can't remember which thread now.

[Nicola]

Dustin wrote: "
Now you guys have ME curious about page 223!!

Don't be :-) It's really an anti climax and actually if you want to read it ahead of time it's not exactly a spoiler.

[Nicola]

Dustin wrote: "What, you mean it isn't told in order? I realize that that Wallace wasn't ordinarily a linear writer, but this tops everything.."

Hahahahahahahaha!!! The mere thought of this being in order makes me laugh now. I've never read a book that's more diced and sliced (and I've read Catch-22)

[Nicola]

Dustin wrote: I hear that a lot of readers can't just leave it be after the 1st read. It becomes an addiction. .."

I'm definitely re-reading. I just can't decide if I will do it right away or wait for a bit.

I'll probably do it right away though :-)

[Dustin]

Nicola wrote: "Dustin wrote: "
Now you guys have ME curious about page 223!!

Don't be :-) It's really an anti climax and actually if you want to read it ahead of time it's not exactly a spoiler."

Thank you. I won't be reading ahead, but will be there soon enough. I'm 94 pages into it.:)

[Dustin]

Nicola wrote: "Dustin wrote: "What, you mean it isn't told in order? I realize that that Wallace wasn't ordinarily a linear writer, but this tops everything.."

Hahahahahahahaha!!! The mere thought of this being..."

Though I am only at 6%, I'm inclined to agree with you. IJ was intended to be read in order, and the craziness of it is quite addictive. If Wallace wanted his audience to read it chronologically, he would have written it as such.

Oh, I hadn't realized that Catch-22 is told in a similar fashion. I really want to read it, now more than ever! Think I'll read it in the coming year. Thank you, Nicola! You've been a great help!

[Nicola]

Dustin wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Dustin wrote: "What, you mean it isn't told in order? I realize that that Wallace wasn't ordinarily a linear writer, but this tops everything.."

Hahahahahahahaha!!! The mere though..."

There is one difference with Catch-22 chronological wise though - the dates and events in Infinite Jest obviously do lock together correctly, everything is dated (even if the dates are a little whack) but in Catch-22 nothing is dated and you can only really reference where you are by events that are happening around you. This sort of non linear bouncing around leads to one particular reveal that blew my mind; because of the way the plot is structured you don't notice it happening (or I didn't) until it's pointed out to you at the end.

Catch-22 also doesn't match up perfectly I believe. I think someone went through at some point and worked out that the events can't have occurred in the way they are portrayed. But that doesn't matter :-) Keeping everything correctly aligned is definitely not the point of Catch-22...

[Dustin]

Nicola, I am more intrigued by Catch-22 than ever before. Thank you. I must read this next! I'm inclined to agree, by reputation only, that keeping the events properly aligned isn't the point of Catch-22.


For sure, the dates in IJ are all out of whack, but can be followed (so far, anyway) by the chapter names. Or can that be misleading?

[Nicola]

Dustin wrote: For sure, the dates in IJ are all out of whack, but can be followed (so far, anyway) by the chapter names. Or can that be misleading? "

I don't think so. At least I haven't read anything so far to suggest it (if I'm wrong please don't anyone let me know ahead of time), I think everything does mesh in nicely if you actually took the time to put it all together afterwards. Which I might do for fun :-)

[Dustin]

Nicola wrote: "Dustin wrote: For sure, the dates in IJ are all out of whack, but can be followed (so far, anyway) by the chapter names. Or can that be misleading? "

I don't think so. At least I haven't read any..."

That WOULD be fun, albeit a little confusing and time-consuming, IMO, but perhaps that was DFW's intention.

[Kaycie]

Nicola wrote: "I think everything does mesh in nicely if you actually took the time to put it all together afterwards. Which I might do for fun :-)"

I am keeping an ever-expanding timeline as I read to try to mesh stuff together as I go! I think I'd be way too confused without it!