RIP David Foster Wallace

[cactusfan]

damn! i totally missed this over the weekend. David Foster Wallace hanged himself. how depressing is that?

he was a great writer. his massive book Infinite Jest is a lot of work to get through, and though it's not a great book, it's full of greatness, if that makes any sense. it's like nothing else, that's for sure.

his non-fiction is even better, i think. his books of essays A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again and Consider The Lobster are smart and hilarious and i highly recommend them.

my favorite book of his is Everything And More, a history of the concept of infinity in mathematics. it's heady but short, and just great in every way. a very thought provoking science book that had me laughing out loud. a very uncommon quality in science books, i've found.

what a bummer.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/books/15wallace.html?scp=4&sq=david%20foster%20wallace&st=cse

[Hicks]

ugh, finding out about this and Rick Wright in one day is just too much, fucking sucks.

Infinite Jest is probably the most brilliant book I've ever read. 

Shit.

[whyweigh5.0]

yes  :-D

[fauxpaxfauxreal]

This happened on my birthday, btw.  I was totally saddened and surprised by his death.  This is the only time a celebrity death ever "effected" me.

I read "Infinite Jest" when I was a senior in high school.  It had just been released.

I totally would suggest that if you haven't read it and you enjoy fine literature, you invest the time, money and effort that it takes.

RIP DFW.

[fauxpaxfauxreal]

yes  :-D

I didn't realize you went as invisible.

Good find whyweigh.

I'm actually surprised you would put 8 billion and 8 billion together.

[whyweigh5.0]

I shouldn't be invisible

[fauxpaxfauxreal]

I shouldn't be invisible

You aren't now, I found this thread because I was peeping toming it and it said "Guest Viewing The Thread"  So I came in here to post about it, so someone could say that I have a double standard, because I mourned for David Foster Wallace and he committed suicide.

Before I posted, I noticed that I hadn't posted in the original thread.  You posted before I did, and then I was like omfg, WhyWeigh <3's me so hard.  I don't know how you connected all the dots, but I truly think it's awesome.  I'm surprised noone posted in here "whatever, he deserved to die!"

[whyweigh5.0]

well I posted in here because I saw your whos online thread and followed you in here... so

[fauxpaxfauxreal]

well I posted in here because I saw your whos online thread and followed you in here... so

Syncronicity!

Someone was totally in here as a guest.  I don't know if it was someone who was invisible who is intelligent enough to know that I mourned DFW's death alot and he died on 9/12 which is my birthday, or what.  Because I totally thought someone was snooping on me and then I caught them snooping.

Heh.

Regardless, DFW is the kinda guy who would think that us posting like this in his death thread is an awesome tribute.  He's got that kinda sense of humor.  If you haven't read it yet, I suggest picking up "Infinite Jest"  you'll either thank me, hate me or both when you do.

[PIE-GUY]

"guest" always freaks me out... who's reading our thoughts?

[redrum]

TINA FEY!!!!!!!  :-o

[fauxpaxfauxreal]

I heard she has a crush on me.

8-)

[kellerb]

"guest" always freaks me out... who's reading our thoughts?

I have to assume its IHUNTDUCKS

[flow00]

This is the most confusing thread ever. Only a few posts for the death of a great writer (more than a year after the fact) but many more for an actress? Pop culture has overtaken us.  :|

[fauxpaxfauxreal]

This is the most confusing thread ever. Only a few posts for the death of a great writer (more than a year after the fact) but many more for an actress? Pop culture has overtaken us.  :|

The funny thing is, this is an issue DFW clearly hits on in much of his work.  He's like a post-post-modernist.