Infinite Jest. The focus of Infinite Summer. Clocking in at +1000 pages, with footnotes that are actually endnotes, that actually have their own footnotes, with 150-word sentences with creative grammar; this book is going to be a helluva ride. And I haven’t mentioned the actual story or fictional characters yet. There are mentions of being well-equipped by reading Hamlet first. Knowledge of Proust is a plus, as well. I know how to spell Proust, that’s about it, but I’m still reading the book.
I think the idea of stamping this summer with this experience is part of the reason I’m tackling this infamous novel. I wouldn’t have much motivation for buying this phonebook if it weren’t for the community of enthusiasts at Infinite Summer. I can’t argue with Colin Meloy either. All bibliophiles with more words clocked than I will ever hope to approach, but they’re all excited about this book and want to help guide others through this, at first look, daunting endeavor.
I’m only 19 pages through, and although I haven’t hit my first footnote yet (or I completely blanked and read right past it), the reading has been fine. We’ll see what I have to say when I’m 75 pages into it.
