Annie Littlewolf
Sep 6, 2018 · 3 min read

I haven’t read Stephen Kings “It”, so I can’t really say. Infinite Jest is over 1,000 pages (plus there are pages of notes following)(I just checked — 1098 pages, so from what I have just learned, it is 8 pages longer than “IT”). What I understand is that this is DFW’s Magnum Opus. I can say that I am LOVING it — and will buy AND read every single DFW book I can lay my hands on. He is utterly brilliant, whether it is in fiction or non-fiction (“A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again), and his writing is inspiring to me as a newish writer myself.

On my nightstand is Reza Aslan’s “God — a Human History”, Daniel Quinn’s “Ishmael” and Ursula K. LeGuin’s “Conversations on Writing” — those are my newest acquisitions. Also there is “The Pale King” (DFW, published posthumously), “Notes from the Underground” — Dostoyevsky — and I’m re-reading Viktor Frankl’s “Mans Search for Meaning. I DO have a couple of fiction books, when I am just too tired to engage my brain that much. But I’m drawn more to just REALLY WELL WRITTEN books — in my next buying books round, I intend to get Reza Aslan’s “Zealot”.

Oh yes, and I am reading Merlin Stone’s “When God Was A Woman”.

WHEW!

I looked up both books you mentioned, “We” and “Buried Child” — and added them to my cart. (Yes, sigh — Amazon). I have not read either of them. “We” sounds like a modern day “1984”, and I am pretty sure I’ll love it. “Buried Child” sounds wonderful also — as a writer of fiction myself (some non-fiction), and only starting on doing this for real, I am a heavy reader. I love to see how other writers “do it”. One book quite unlikely to be on your list, but one that I love — is “Greenwillow” by B.J. Chute. It is pure fiction, pure charm — and perhaps more for a female audience, though the writing itself is brilliant. And of course, Wally Lamb’s “I Know This Much is True” (also about 900 + pages) was a favorite until I encountered DFW. In fact, I got that book (I Know This Much is True” and was so engrossed immediately that I read it cover to cover in one reading — took me a little while (ouch) but totally worth it.

I think I am somewhat fickle about what I read — so if the book doesn’t grab me fast, I’ll put it down. That’s probably not fair to some books I’ve put aside, but I’ll take that as my loss. As you might imagine, I’m not a fan of stuff like David Baldacci (though I’ve read some of his stuff) and I can boast that I’ve never read Danielle Steele and have absolutely no intention of EVER doing so! My time is more important than that.

“Infinite Jest” is very classic DFW — almost stream-of-consciousness, and he jumps back and forth on various topics, set in various places. I find his work absolutely amazing. I wish I’d found him earlier.

I’ll put Stephen King’s “IT” in my cart too — although reading the blurb about it, it sounds terrifying. Read with the lights on, it says. OH dear.

I know this is WAY more than you asked for, but I absolutely love books and love reading. And I sense you do too!!

    Annie Littlewolf

    Written by

    Artist, writer, 60+ trying on my dancing shoes finally.......