Oh, Lord! Now, I Am Going To Have To Read THIS?????????????????????????

                                         Two years ago, "The New York Times" did a story on the 20th Anniversary of the publication of "Jonathan Strange And Mr. Norrell," by Susanna Clarke. The article drew more press coverage.  I had read the book when it first came out, and it did nothing for me.  But, under pressure I bought a copy and reread it, and nothing has been the same, since The novel simply blew me away.

                                            Now, something of the same seems to be happening with David Foster Wallace's "Infinite Jest."  Here's the thing.  I had a hardback copy of this book all the way back to my days in Woodside, and carried it all the way to Bay Ridge, where it sat in my TBR pile for years.  Eventually, on an annual purge, I got rid of it, and now I could kick myself.

                                             Both of us read the article in "The New Yorker."  David is saying I should read the book.  Should I?  Is there anyone out there who has ACTUALY read it?  Because I have never met anyone who has!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                I will admit the article made the novel sound interesting.  But I have heard it is very non-linear, and something about everything tying back to page 243, so a reader has to keep a bookmark there, for constant referral.  A critic of James Joyce's "Finnegan's Wake" referred to it as "mental masturbation," and I am beginning to wonder if that what is Wallace's book is.  I got my dose of mental masturbation with Philip Roth's "Portnoy's Complaint," and that was enough for me.

                                                  Still, I feel the tingle of challenge.  I will probably end up buying a copy but not reading it till next year.  Besides, this is also the 90th Anniversary of the publication of a classic gigantic novel, and I plan to reread that.  And several other Mammoth Books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                      Not all is in jest.  I will probably attempt it next year.  Meanwhile, if anyone out there has given it a try, please let me know.  And is it worth it????????????????