IJ Discussion: Part I

[Justin]

This thread is for discussion of Infinite Jest from pages 1 - 127 or roughly 1-13% of the electronic version.

[RachelvlehcaR]

I am beginning! Looking forward to it. I have read some great remarks in tho section we are reading.

[Justin]

Yeah, so far no footnotes and much more readable than I expected. He does use sine words I should probably go back and look up. I've started underlining those so I can increase my vocabulary skills

[Justin]

some words... my phone is so mathematical.

[RachelvlehcaR]

Lol, my phone enjoys substituting like for lil. Dang that autocorrect.

[Jeff]

Glad to hear you're liking it so far. Don't let the footnotes worry you. They are as much a part of the text as the narrative.

[Kirstin]

I bought this today. Hope to be reading with you all soon!

[Justin]

Yeah, you can do it! Let's go!

[Jeff]

It's funny you mention that, because in his original review of IJ, Eggers kinda trashed the book. Yet in the foreward, he sings it's praises.

[Jeff]

Yeah...I'm on my phone or I would link to it, but a quick Google or bing will bring it up. I like Eggers but it is very interesting indeed.

[Justin]

I've been underlining and looking up words online if they are new to me. I just found my first word that's only defined on IJ fan pages. Guess DFW will be making up his on words as well.

[Elspeth]

Just started reading and the pages are flying a lot faster than I thought they would.

The neologisms are fun! I think my favourite so far is hypophalangial.

Also: as an Albertan who did undergrad in Quebec, the politics in this world are particularly resonating with me. I'm dying to find out more about how Interdependence came about and what O.N.A.N. did that was so bad that the Albertan far right and Quebecois separatists are actually working together to fight it.

[Jessica]

I am only a few pages in...thoughts:
1. Until I get some traction with the writing and all, I cannot read it before bed. Daytime read which is making the audiobook ore appealing.

2. I really liked the Forward! It lit fire in my reading soul!

"In essence, there are some people who feel that fiction should be easy to read, that it's a populAr medium that should communicate on a somewhat conversational wavelength. On the other hand, there are those who feel that fiction can be challenging, generally and thematically, and even a sentence-by-sentence basis—that it's okay if a person needs to work a bit while reading, for the rewards can be much greater when one's mind has been exercised and this (presumably) expanded."

[Jeff]

This book is work indeed :-)

[Kirstin]

I liked that too, Jessica. I am one of those readers who will tackle any kind of fiction.

[Jessica]

Yes! I read the light stuff but I also love the challenging thought provoking fiction. Most people don't get that about me. The quote above felt like someone finally got it. I felt justified.

[Kirstin]

So, what's up with Hal? Only on page 15 and I've laughed quite a bit. The Dean's conversation "Sounded like a drowning goat/Like a stick of butter being hit with a mallet/His arms were...waggling..." Lol It was like reading a Monty Python sketch. I have no idea what's going on though.

[Jeff]

Just wait Kirstin and pay attention to the dates.

[Kirstin]

TheLongWait wrote: "Just wait Kirstin and pay attention to the dates."

Do you mean The Year of Glad? I don't see any other dates.

So Hal (view spoiler)[ ate some mold as a child and now he can't talk? (hide spoiler)]

[Jeff]

Kirstin,
Yes, the years matter. And keep reading to realize what happens to Hal...

[Justin]

In reading a little each day abd living this book so far. I'm making some notes in the margin and enjoying the different characters and events as they are introduced.

Hal seems to be a pretty complex character. I'm sure we'll learn more about his past and how he came to be the way he is. It's also cool to already see some connections between the different characters.

[Justin]

I'll start proofreading from now on when I leave comments from my phone. :) I swipe too fast and don't take time to review...

[Jeff]

Is everyone too engrossed to comment? I'm curious how everyone's doing.

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

I have been meaning to comment on the forward. Unfortunately, I am not yet farther. It is a little funny because it all it seems to be saying is "Don't be scared by the size and the writing, I swear this book is awesome (and drum-tight!)" Should one worry when the forward is a disclaimer swearing that the following is awesome no matter how else it might seem at times?

[Jeff]

Matthew...I kinda thought the same thing. But the book has a unfortunate reputation as being unreadable.

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

On page 17 - So far, so weird - but not actually as weird as I expected.

Administrators way overreacting - there has to be more to what is going on . . .

[Jeff]

Maybe?

[Justin]

I haven't had much time to read as much as I would like this weekend. I've had to break my footnote bookmark though as they are becoming more prevalent. So far I'm wondering how all these different stories are going to come together, where's it all going? I love how DFW switches up his writing style with different characters. Makes the book easier to press through.

[Jeff]

Glad you are liking it so far. Trust me, it's amazing how it all comes together. You may want to start again after you finish. I know I read the first 100 pages again immediately after I finished.

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

I like paragraphs . . . the occassional long, stream of consciousness paragraph is okay, but for me, I enjoy shorter, more specific paragraphs.

Thus, Infinite Jest may prove to be not quite so pleasant for me (if pages 17 to 27 are any indication)

[Jeff]

Maybe....there paragraphs that are pages long.

[Justin]

There are also sections that are just dialogue that break up the long paragraphs, too. I agree, I like some breaks, too, and it seems like just when I'm ready to move on the scene and writing change.

[Jessica]

I've not had a lot of time to sit down and read. I around the page 30 mark. It's a lot of information that I'm sure will come together soon.

The pace and writing makes it feel like a group of short stories right now. Easy to pick up and put down. I'm waiting for the moment to come where it starts to snowball. Still considering an audio version since I don't have a lot of reading time, due to the baby.

[Justin]

Congrats! Is this your first? I applaud you for reading this with a new baby.

[Jessica]

He is our first. He's great and enjoys me reading aloud to him...no matter what it is. He's 9 months right now. So my reading time isn't what it was a few months ago.

The book is holdings interest but at the same time I'm looking at my other books. Just need to be patient and give it time like I do everything else lol.

[Justin]

In reading it in small increments. it's definitely not something I can read quickly, and I'm mixing in some shorter books as well. Really enjoying it so far though.

[Jeff]

Glad u guys are enjoying it. It does take patience. I put it down for a couple of weeks around page 650. Hope everyone can stick it out. I believe it is truly worth it.

[Justin]

If nothing else, I know mute than I ever wanted to know about prescription drugs so far. :)

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

I read two long stream of conscious sections today. One about marijuana. The other about Toblerone and video cassettes. This book is weird!

[Justin]

I'm around page 65 abd the stream of consciousness stuff only gets weirder. I'm usually not big on this style of writing, but find myself enjoying this.

[William]

Some books, including this one, really favor a close reading, meaning to read while looking for context and hidden meaning. School tends to vastly over emphasize this, forcing students to search for "hidden" meaning in just about anything, which of course creates a distaste for it. Few books really require or reward the reader for that extra effort, but this one does. The reward isn't just some greater understanding of the author's intent, but added fun and humor as well. A first time reader of it is encouraged to remember that any weirdness encountered is at the service of deeper things, which are usually intended to be funny, and the author has deliberately chosen to shake the reader off his trail in the hopes they will start looking for the footprints just off the marked trail. It's a game, and he hoped you'd have fun finding him. Don't give up!

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

My approach to this . . . especially with the large paragraphs . . . has been to just keep reading at a steady pace and when I get to the end of the chapter, I think back to the key points that stick out, but I don't spend too much time re-reading or taking notes. I fear with my busy life and other reading that could make this book last forever. My hope is that as I get more comfortable with the story and the writing, this method will work and I will start picking up more and more.

My guess is that this sort of method is what led TheLongWait to go back and re-read the first 100 pages because, once you are comfortable with the story and the writing at the end of the book, it can completely change how you view the beginning - which you were not ready for the first time through.

[Jeff]

Indeed.

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

Orin's chapter - page 47 - A Clockwork Orange? I think so, my brothers - a real horror-show . . .

[Janina]

I'm at about 50 pages, but not sure it's the right book for me. I don't mind challenging books, but I'm not a big fan of meaning hidden behind weirdness .. or short stories. So far, it feels just like random snippets of banality ... and I'm not sure if the effort required to read this would pay off for me personally (due to not being a fan of weirdness in books). But, I'm definitely going to finish our part I to see if it still feels only like a chore or more like hard work promising benefits ...

[Jessica]

I'm right there with you. I really do love a challenge and books that makes think. But sometimes too much of sucks the joy out of it. I think there's potential here but it's becoming more tasking the further in I get. :(

[Jeff]

I can only say that for me, it was absolutely worth the effort. This book reawakened my love of fiction to the degree that I have read more in the last 9 months than I had the previous 9 years! I understand its not for everyone, and I hope you catch something that makes you want to keep reading.

[Justin]

Really enjoying it, but reading at a much slower pace than anticipated. Going through pages of filmography now.... how important is this section?

[Jeff]

The section is important to understand how hals dad. It provides depth to the character and some of the films are referenced throughout the book

[Jeff]

Plus it's good for a laugh