I've got a great gift idea for the pomo lit lover in your life: D. T. Max's splendid literary biography of David Foster Wallace, Every Love Story Is a Ghost Story: A Life of David Foster Wallace.
Although I've never been able to read Wallace's fiction (for which he is really critically known), I've always been charmed by his nonfiction and I loved his 2005 graduation speech at Kenyon College. Because of the tragedy of his too-early death by suicide, I have always felt somewhat that he must have had a hard life, and I find him interesting.
Max's biography of him is definitely a literary biography--he quotes extensively from his works and really examines what it seems DFW was trying to do in his fiction. He also provides a good look at his influences, the politics of academia, and his relationships and correspondence with other writers, like Jonathan Franzen.
When I read this book, I read it more from the nosy viewpoint of someone who is more curious about his personal life. Although this biography is definitely not "dishy," there is still solid information to learn here about Wallace's family, his beginning struggles with depression and medication in college, and his often troubled relationships with friends and lovers (particularly with Mary Karr).
One particular tidbit that I found really fascinating was his sister's assertion (learning more about his relationship with his sister and parents was one of the more satisfying parts of this read in general), which she said she and her family had often talked about, that Wallace's (and I'm paraphrasing here) nonfiction was whimsical and sometimes a bit exaggerated, while his fiction contained the truths you really had to look out for. Something about that, really, frankly, tickled me. I find that one of the more fascinating aspects of Wallace, not only his writing, but also his personal approach to truth and truth-seeking.
It was a great read, even though, of course, it does not have a happy ending. I'd highly recommend it--and I'm not the only one.
I doubt I will ever read Infinite Jest, but I do have A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again on my shelves. I am making a stack of 10 books that I have owned for over a year unread that I MUST read between January and April 2013…I should put it on the pile. Since you brought her up, have you read any Mary Karr CR? I read the Liars Club and thought it was pretty good. I also have Cherry, but I haven’t read it yet.
Posted by: Ruthiella | 10 December 2012 at 11:02 AM
Ruthiella,
DO read ASFTINDA. I enjoyed it quite a bit. But don't expect it to be "factual"!
I've always wanted to read Infinite Jest, actually, but know I will not have the time or attention for it for probably the next 20 years at least.
I would love to hear which 10 books end up on your list.
I read Liar's Club and thought it was just okay. (I thought both Helene Stapinski's "Five-Finger Discount" and JR Moehringer's "The Tender Bar" were similar, and more enjoyable reads for me.) I think she is a talented writer but her books and subjects have largely not been for me--I couldn't say why, really. I think I find her too intense--low lows, high highs. And although I very much like people who are a bit different, unconventional, etc., those types that really live to the extremes tend to scare me a little bit. If that makes any sense. If you read "Cherry" I'd like to hear what you make of that too.
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 10 December 2012 at 01:16 PM
I think I liked The Liars Club more than I liked the Tender Bar. I haven’t read Five Finger Discount. Karr is intense, however. I agree. There were a couple of points where I wanted to put the book in the freezer (like Joey on Friends…dunno if you get the reference).
As best I can remember, since I am at work, the books are thus far:
The Wizard of the Crow by Ngugi wa Thiongo
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley ( I have had this one for uh, 20 years?)
Testament by Alis Hawkins
The Panopticon by Jenni Fagen
Tom All Alone’s by Lynn Shepherd
Jack Mags by Peter Carey
The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood
Posted by: Ruthiella | 10 December 2012 at 05:02 PM