The Pale King

[TheAmazingRando]

I've been looking forward to this since before it had a name, before DFW's tragic death. And now it's only a month away.

Who else is as excited for this as I am? There was a new excerpt from it published in the New Yorker this week, which I recognized from a previous reading, and that along with the previous published pieces and the bits in Oblivion that are rumored to be parts of it have me almost giddy with anticipation.

I've never been so excited about a book release before, even knowing that it's unfinished and will, in that respect, be somewhat disappointing.

[charliepanayi]

Sorry, it's a bit off topic, but what about his other books? I'm curious to try them first, especially Infinite Jest, are they worth a read?

[TheAmazingRando]

Infinite Jest is one of my favorite novels, but it's a pretty difficult read. I tried reading it on and off for a few years, got about halfway through, but it wasn't until I'd read his short fiction and essays that I got the motivation to start over and plow through it. He has a pretty unique style, and it takes some getting used to. I'd recommend starting with his shorter stuff. Here's everything he wrote for Harpers, which includes Shipping Out (aka A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again) and Ticket to the Fair (aka Getting Away From Being Pretty Much Away From It All), which are both some of his best non-fiction, and also an excerpt from Brief Interviews with Hideous Men.

[no-genius]

There's a paragraph in the 2nd chapter that lasts for 10 pages. I've read too much of this stuff to be impressed by that - I'd swear I've seen a sentence do that. But, enjoying it so far (might finish reading something else first).