Tony...

[My2cents]

...What do I think about Pale Fire? It's contingent on Lolita. Which is to say, it's Nabokov giving the bird to the censors. I've always preferred Nabokov's Russian novels, and regret that I don't know any Russian. In another life.

[kelby_lake]

I enjoyed Pale Fire. It was certainly unconventional.

[My2cents]

What did you like about it, Kelby, if you don't mind me asking?

[My2cents]

What I understand of DFW comes down to 'What a wonderful world it is that allows one to indulge in a totally useless pastime without recriminations and threats of repossession of one's heart, liver, kidneys, and life; and if you change your mind, well f*&^ you!'

What I know of writing comes down to: the reader is king with this reservation; if you don't get it, well that's too bad, work harder (fool). DFW, despite the scattershot narrative logic, despite the narrative irresolution, keeps the reader engaged with voice alone, voice of a hip contemporary who doesn't give a &^% @#$^ about symmetry, balance, linear logic, and all the horse@#$% foisted upon impressionable minds.

Favorite part of Pale King is the conversation at the bar between the accounting firm's beauty and the accounting firm's black sheep. Nothing comes to a head, nothing is resolved, but the pages stand out for its sustained focus on matters that are ostensibly trifles.

[tonywalt]

What I understand of DFW comes down to 'What a wonderful world it is that allows one to indulge in a totally useless pastime without recriminations and threats of repossession of one's heart, liver, kidneys, and life; and if you change your mind, well f*&^ you!'

What I know of writing comes down to: the reader is king with this reservation; if you don't get it, well that's too bad, work harder (fool). DFW, despite the scattershot narrative logic, despite the narrative irresolution, keeps the reader engaged with voice alone, voice of a hip contemporary who doesn't give a &^% @#$^ about symmetry, balance, linear logic, and all the horse@#$% foisted upon impressionable minds.

Favorite part of Pale King is the conversation at the bar between the accounting firm's beauty and the accounting firm's black sheep. Nothing comes to a head, nothing is resolved, but the pages stand out for its sustained focus on matters that are ostensibly trifles.

I love DFW's writing, but I have to be in the mood for The Pale King AND IJ. Pleasantly enough his non fiction writing i.e. cruiseship piece in Harpers, State fair piece, and Consider the Lobster collections are the best non fiction pieces I have read. Very funny and obervant - genius.

[My2cents]

I'm in the process of reading all of DFW. Last I read was Consider The Lobster. He's right. We're barbarians.

[kelby_lake]

What did you like about it, Kelby, if you don't mind me asking?

I thought the novel's form was very clever, and certainly original. There are similarities with Lolita but this plays up the European academic more.

[My2cents]

Kelby, you're comments are so generalized that Nabokov himself would take you to task for it.

I have two favorite scenes in the book, both funny as hell. I won't mention them lest you nod in agreement and grandstand.