Litsy

I‘ve read 5 books and 2 short stories so far during this quarantine all on my trusty tablet, which in less than 9 weeks is pretty good for me 🤷‍♀️grateful for online library resources these days, though i know we miss going in to an actual library. Also, I have NOT been doing my hair and make up every day, don‘t let this pic fool you 😜 sometimes you gotta do something to make you feel better, though 😭 #week9

Mishu94 Looking good! 😍💛 5y

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Kristelh

Infinite Jest (-20th Anniversary) | David Foster Wallace

I#infinitejestbuddyread, still working on catching up, #week9, 44%, page 492.

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JenP

Infinite Jest (-20th Anniversary) | David Foster Wallace

#infinitejestbuddyread #week9
Toward the end of this week's section Joelle and Gately discuss the "shame circle" and UHID. What point is each person trying to make about shame, veils/masks, and self-esteem? Who do you agree with and why?

Mtroiano What I'm getting is that Joelle is accusing Gateley of pretending he doesn't have low self esteem and hiding his shame behind his staff position and Gateley is accusing Joelle of not really having anything to be ashamed of behind the veil. Joelle's "deformity" is a paradox. I don't see her as having low self esteem rather she uses the veil because she has such high self esteem. 8y

britt_brooke I found the whole exchange pretty confusing, tbh. All I kept thinking was that in Joelle's effort "to hide openly" beneath her veil, that she's actually drawing attention to herself with that very act. Perhaps, she just doesn't want to be recognized from Jim's last film? Maybe she knows about the effects of The Entertainment? Maybe she's using the UHID as a cover? (edited) 8y

Pippitypip I understood that Joelle felt shame that she was hiding behind her veil because you are not supposed to care how you look. She says that U.H.I.D. supports the decision to "hide openly". She then states that she is deformed by beauty. Is she hiding because she is so amazingly beautiful? I thought her shaming of Gately for hiding his supposed low self esteem rather rugged. (edited) 8y

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Kristelh

Infinite Jest (-20th Anniversary) | David Foster Wallace

http://www.infiniteboston.com/post/29825532853/antitoi-entertainment. #infinitejestbuddyread #week9. For more information about Antitoi Entertainment.

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JenP

Infinite Jest (-20th Anniversary) | David Foster Wallace

#infinitejestbuddyread #week9
This week's sections contained many repetitions/recurring images and concepts (sounds, colors, parallel plot lines, etc). Which recurring patterns did you notice and what do you think they mean?

LeahBergen That whole "blue" thing in the waiting area of CT's office! 8y

JenP @LeahBergen what do you think the purpose of that was? What does blue symbolize? 8y

LeahBergen I have no idea! I don't think it is really meant to be symbolic of depression or gloominess, do you? The colour, and especially the cloud and sky wallpaper of the office, call to mind the original blue cover of the novel (and that vast blue sky image certainly conjures up a feeling of infiniteness). Maybe DFW, like CT, just liked the colour blue. 😂 8y

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JenP @LeahBergen I am clueless about its significance. I'm hoping I become illuminated 😂 8y

LeahBergen I also noticed that both Steeply and Avril are described as smoking in the exact same way, in different sections ("cradling the elbow" etc.). Marathe even points out that Steeply is smoking with his left hand when " he knew quite well he was right-handed". What is the importance of THIS? ? 8y

Mtroiano The sound of the squeaky bed when Jim's father felt around until he heard a squeak. What was that about? 8y

JenP @Mtroiano yes, then the squeaking wheelchairs in the scene with the brothers, pemulis causing his chair to make "rodential squeaking that gave Hal the howling fantods," Tavis desk with the squeaky casters, etc (edited) 8y

Hooked_on_books I also noticed that in Jim's childhood section he mentioned his first interest in annulation (creating a ring structure in chemicals), bringing us back to the ring/circle theme. 8y

LeahBergen "To hear the squeak"! ? 8y

Pippitypip Even Hal's bad ankle squeaked! There were also squeaky shoes. And there were still dumpsters everywhere. 8y

BookwormM I had picked up on squeaks and rodents 8y

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JenP

Infinite Jest (-20th Anniversary) | David Foster Wallace

#infinitejestbuddyread #week9
We've reached the halfway mark. I wrote a blog post about how IJ has changed the way I am reading: https://thereadersroom.org/2017/04/04/when-a-book-is-all-consuming/

Share your thoughts on reading this book. Has IJ changed the way you are reading?

Notafraidofwords Congrats! 8y

britt_brooke Thanks for sharing your blog post. 💙 You nailed exactly the way I feel, too. At just over halfway, I can easily say this will be an all-time favorite. It's mind-boggling/blowing that one person could create such a complex, but enjoyable and funny piece of art. 8y

britt_brooke I'm also reading more YA and graphic novels on the side than usual. 8y

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AshleyHoss820 I've never done a buddy read before, and it has been really helpful! I've been making myself read at least 10 pages a night, and I've been retaining it better since only reading at the same time and in the same place. I really am enjoying the story! 😊I'm so excited to finish so I can wear it as a badge of honor! 😄 (edited) 8y

LeahBergen That was a wonderful read! You certainly nailed many of my own feelings about this book, as well. Like you, I've been noticing and seeing so many things around me with "IJ Eyes" ... especially Habitant pea soup. ? It took me a couple of hundred pages (!) to start feeling the love but I'm now a convert. 8y

LeahBergen I've also started to wonder what I'm going to do with my "reading self" when this totally immersive experience is over. ? What should we buddy read next?!?! ? 8y

Simona Great post❣️ 8y

JenP @AshleyHoss820 I'm so glad you are enjoying the group read element. I agree and it has enhanced my reading 8y

JenP @LeahBergen 😂 hmm, will anything else compare. I read Ulysses which is a good group read but I didn't enjoy the experience. 8y

JenP @Simona thanks 😊 8y

JenP @britt_brooke I'm glad you feel the same way. 8y

JenP @Notafraidofwords thanks! 8y

Skeebies05 @LeahBergen Anna Karenina :) 8y

Skeebies05 But as far as this book goes: its just ok for me. I have a few thoughts that I will save until we are finished because I may change my mind. But this week was the first time I thought maybe The Entertainment is a metaphor for drugs. Just the way Steeply described the man who saw just a bit and how it destroyed him and its all he wanted. 8y

LeahBergen @Skeebies05 I loved Anna Karenina! 👍🏼 8y

Hooked_on_books I'm not quite hate-reading this book, but there are times I want to pick up anything but it. When I'm actually reading it, I enjoy the segments, but my fundamental approach to reading is that it should just be enjoyable and this feels like work, which I don't want. So it hasn't (and won't) change my approach to reading. I am absolutely loving the buddy read component, though! 8y

Pippitypip The buddyread has made this quite a different experience from usual and I am hoping for another to get me through Lord of the Rings. But reading IJ is a unique experience anyway. It is puzzling and amusing and addictive. It is not a book to pick up in an idle moment. I need to have a pen to take notes, wallacewiki to help my understanding and a quiet space to concentrate. I started with the audiobook, but realised it was hopeless because 8y

Pippitypip So many WTF moments needed a rewind and there were no footnotes. I started to catch up on the Kindle, but it is tricky with footnotes and worse when the footnotes have footnotes. I am now ahead of Audible on the Kindle, but am planning to read and listen simultaneously for the second half of the book. I have never read like that before, but this book warrants the attention. 8y

BookwormM My issue is the book is so big I can only read in bed when I lean it against my legs which limits reading to evenings (when inevitably I am so tired I read a few pages and fall asleep) and weekends (when I get hooked and get tantalising close to catching up before falling behind again) overall I am enjoying it and loving the buddy read 😀 8y

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