Some days my favorite author is Kurt Vonnegut and some days my favorite author is David Foster Wallace. Someone told me at a party that Infinite Jest is overrated and I was SHOOK. I reacted dramatically, obviously, but it was self-defense because not appreciating Infinite Jest feels like a personal attack. Okay wowow, now I’m worked up.
Consider the Lobster* is a collection of essays that DFW previously published in various magazines. I shall break it down:
-Big Red Son (published in Premier): Wallace’s reporting on the AVN awards, which is the Academy Awards of pornography. I love this clever piece; per usual, he simultaneously teaches and entertains me. He has a unique twist on gonzo journalism.
-Certainly the End of Something or Other, One Would Sort of Have to Think (New York Observer): A review of a John Updike novel, which I have not read. I think I hate John Updike now?
-Some Remarks on Kafka’s Funniness from Which Probably Not Enough Has Been Removed (Harper’s Magazine): A speech about Kafka, whose work I have not read. I think I love Kafka now?
-Authority and American Usage (Harper’s Magazine): An overly-deep-divey review of a dictionary. I couldn’t get through this one-- sorry, David. It's a dictionary.
-The View from Mrs. Thompson’s (Rolling Stone): A raw portrayal of how he experienced the 9/11 attacks. He’s really not afraid to be vulnerable/honest and it’s awesome.
-Up, Simba (Rolling Stone): He reports on John McCain’s 2000 presidential campaign. I had no idea that he did this, and it was a very pleasant surprise. DFW’s reporting is brilliant--his attention to detail is unmatched and he talks about politics in a uniquely non-partisan way.
-Consider the Lobster (Gourmet): His commission to write about a Maine Lobster Festival turns into a thought-provoking (and somehow non-judgemental) discussion of the ethical concerns of boiling lobsters.
-Joseph Frank’s Dostoevsky (The Village Voice): A review of a review of Dostoevsky. I like Dostoevsky, but not this much.
-Host (The Atlantic): A profile on an LA talk show host, which feeds into larger commentary about conservative talk radio. I learned a ton about the mechanics of radio and remained interested.
So, my impression is mixed. I do not like his book reviews very much but I absolutely love his reporting. I wish so badly that he was still alive to report on Trump. His political reporting strikes some magical pose where he acknowledges his own views + remains balanced + criticizes all sides without succumbing to false equivalency. I’m going to always come back to his work because he is so obviously incredibly intelligent. He never misses a detail and he shows you that seemingly meaningless details are actually important. He never misses nuance and he always follows a thought, making tangential arguments through footnotes when necessary. He really poured himself into every single piece he wrote. There will never be anyone else like him and no one at a party can tell me otherwise (If you’re reading this, sorry that I’m throwing so much shade). If you're curious about his fiction-- I previously reviewed his short story collection, Girl with Curious Hair. Consider the Lobster receives 4 out of 5 camel humps.
