I read about Infinite Jest and had been intrigued enough to order a copy, only to discover the size intimidated me.
As someone who likes to read in bed, the idea of holding up this slab was also discouraging.
Recently
I thought again about reading it, but there are piles of more easily
digestible texts and I tend to go for non-fiction a lot of the time.
I
had been prompted by Ted Goia's discussion of David Foster Wallace's
prescience, and it's a great article that I recommend reading.
It
was while reading the article aloud to my partner that my son heard
about the book and, like me so many years ago, became intrigued.
Last night he asked for it, but it took a while for us to figure out which book he was talking about.
"It's got something about forever in the title," he said unhelpfully.
"The book described changes in technology and how it will impact people in the future."
Anyway, we eventually remembered Goia's analysis and the discussions that followed.
Now
I'm wondering if the "jest" will continue as I hear my son describe the
book's contents, or if it'll sit like so many books by his bedside.
Or if I'll end up buying another copy as my youngest son joins his siblings in leaving home for university.
