Weekend Sees a Tragic Loss for Literature
David Foster Wallace, author of Infinite Jest and The Broom of the System, among others, took his own life over the weekend:
"David Foster Wallace, the novelist, essayist and humorist best known for his 1996 novel 'Infinite Jest,' was found dead Friday night at his home in Claremont, according to the Claremont Police Department. He was 46. Jackie Morales, a records clerk at the department, said Wallace's wife called police at 9:30 p.m. Friday saying she had returned home to find that her husband had hanged himself. Wallace, who had taught creative writing at Pomona College since 2002, was on leave this semester. Times book editor David Ulin was in New York City for a National Book Critics Circle Board meeting Saturday. 'What was a party is now a wake,' Ulin said as the news of Wallace's death circulated. 'People were speechless and just blown away. He was one of the most influential and innovative writers of the last 20 years,' Ulin said."
R.I.P.
I read a zillion books a year but I never heard of this guy. Was he gay? Why is he of interest to a gay audience? Can you tell us more about the guy and why he is of more interest than the many others who also died this weekend?
Posted by: Hephaestion | Sep 15, 2008 9:24:15 AM
You've probably never heard of him because he's not located in the Harlequin Romances section. If you'd like to know more about David Foster Wallace, there are two things, Google and Wikipedia, that will provide all the information you're looking for and more. These can be found on the Internets.
Posted by: John in Manhattan | Sep 15, 2008 9:42:20 AM
David Foster Wallace was not gay, but that shouldn't stop you from reading his stuff. He was an amazing artist. Everyone should read Infinite Jest -- phenomenal piece of American Lit. I would also recommend A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again, especially for anyone who has ever been on a cruise.
Posted by: JH | Sep 15, 2008 9:48:02 AM
David Foster Wallace was a great writer, and I just can't believe that he's gone. I finally see how people felt when Kurt Cobain died. That whole voice of a generation thing can be so overdone, but I remember when I read INFINITE JEST for the first time, I really thought that here at last was someone who had really captured the world around us and the struggles to make sense of it.
If you're interested, a good place to start is the title essay in his collection A SUPPOSEDLY FUN THING I'LL NEVER DO AGAIN, about his experiences on a cruise ship. One of the funniest things I've ever read, a marvel.
I'm just devastated by his departure. And having seen him several times at assorted readings and signings, I can say that he was a very sexy guy, too.
Posted by: Roscoe | Sep 15, 2008 9:54:31 AM
Great shame, I agree about "a supposedly funny thing I'll never do again", it also contains a very good essay about his experiences as a teen tennis pro - did you know that most of them are virgins because they never get time off to meet girl/boyfriends ?
Have to admit though that I am in the catigory of readers who bought "Infinate jest", never finished it but left it on the shelf to impress others with my taste...
Posted by: ARCH | Sep 15, 2008 10:09:08 AM
"I read a zillion books a year but I never heard of this guy"
Well quite honestly that's a little hard to fathom but what is even more difficult to understand is how someone who seems to love reading could question why the tragic and untimely death of a gifted young writer, known to him or not, should matter.
I am not sure what you've been reading in the past but for your one zillionth and first book why not challenge yourself with Infinite Jest. You'll be a better reader for it and perhaps a better person as well. Your box? It's way to small.
Posted by: Giovanni | Sep 15, 2008 10:14:26 AM
"too"
Posted by: Giovanni | Sep 15, 2008 10:16:55 AM
how absolutely horrible for his wife to come home to his hanging...
Posted by: A.J. | Sep 15, 2008 10:53:29 AM
Hephastion, if I were remotely religious I would pray that your post is a joke. So you only read gay authors? And who else of much note died this weekend?
As for A.J., I completely agree. I can understand the motive for suicide but not the ability to put it in the face of people you love. There are other ways to do it. One of my neighbors sealed herself in the garage, with the car running, and her husband found her half-alive and raced to my mother for help in resuscitating her (my other had been a nurse). The woman didn't survive. That was almost 30 years ago, and I remember it crystal clear.
As though we need any more reason to increase coverage of and lower costs for mental health care in this country.
Posted by: Paul R | Sep 16, 2008 12:03:44 AM