Book thread

[The Third Man]

I found it on Google anyway, thanks for the heads-up, I hadn't heard of this essay. Makes me wonder how much other stuff of DFW's from magazines is just floating around that I didn't know existed.

[heyzeus]

I found it on Google anyway, thanks for the heads-up, I hadn't heard of this essay. Makes me wonder how much other stuff of DFW's from magazines is just floating around that I didn't know existed.

I think I fixed the link now (?)

The books Consider the Lobster and A Supposedly Fun Thing... both collect most of Wallace's nonfiction. But as far as I recall, Ticket to the Fair isn't in either, which is a shame because it's a memorable journey into midwestern homecoming and alienation.

[JackofDiamonds]

DFW is my favorite author, I'm due for a re-read of IJ this summer. Interviews with Hideous Men is a great collection as well.

Third Man, have you read Gravity's Rainbow yet? That was an interesting one.

[The Third Man]

Third Man, have you read Gravity's Rainbow yet? That was an interesting one.

Hehe...I first tried reading it four or so years ago. Failed, stopped somewhere around 180 or so. Tried a couple more times, the third try getting as far as 450 pages in. Failed. Problem was, I'd put it down for just a couple of days and feel helplessly lost.

Fourth try, about a month ago, was the charm. Blitzed through it in three days. I had a leg up this time, having read the first 450 pages, so it was a lot easier to keep things straight, but I was also more willing to let myself get lost on occasion and just keep on trucking. I'm already itching to reread it; I doubt I've ever read a better novel. I even picked up the Weisenburger companion for the next go-round.

[lukethedrifter]

This chick I know had a several year mail correspondence with DFW after she wrote him a letter. She also used to hang out with Layne Staley.

[JackofDiamonds]

Third Man, have you read Gravity's Rainbow yet? That was an interesting one.

Hehe...I first tried reading it four or so years ago. Failed, stopped somewhere around 180 or so. Tried a couple more times, the third try getting as far as 450 pages in. Failed. Problem was, I'd put it down for just a couple of days and feel helplessly lost.

Fourth try, about a month ago, was the charm. Blitzed through it in three days. I had a leg up this time, having read the first 450 pages, so it was a lot easier to keep things straight, but I was also more willing to let myself get lost on occasion and just keep on trucking. I'm already itching to reread it; I doubt I've ever read a better novel. I even picked up the Weisenburger companion for the next go-round.

If you thought GR was the best, you're going to love Infinite Jest beyond anything you imagined.

[pioneer98]

I'm only about a third of the way through it but "Born To Run" is fascinating.

Reads like a long magazine article, but it's a fun theory nonetheless. Made me want to run an ultra. I didn't, but I was interested for the 2 weeks I read Born To Run.

I'm not sure about running an ultra, but I am giving a serious consideration to calling myself el Caballo Blanco.

I just finished "Born To Run"...the book is enlightening...I ran two marathons last year, and I'm running a half marathon this Spring, and the Chicago marathon this October. I plan on altering my training due to reading this book. Good thing I read it now, looks like I have plenty of time to put it into action.

It is a gratuitous and interesting read -and had a placebo effect on my running for a while.

My friend is my running guru for [expletive] like this -(sub 17 min 5Ks, Boston under 3 hours, ultraruns, geocaching type races etc). I've tagged along a few times with him and friends on trail runs sw of STL. Anyway, he has some mixed feelings about McDougall, as do I. He's a bit bombastic in his claims, the anti-running shoe stuff was a bit over the top.

Again, I enjoy reading McDougall's stuff, as a novice - but you can tell he often is just spewing info that real runners like my friend have known about for decades. Or promotes some little idiosyncracy of running like its the cure. Besides the "Born to Run" -this past year he wrote a NYT article touting "the lost secret of running". and wrote another NYTimes thing called "born to be a trail runner"

Totally understand...but it put things in perspective for me at least. It just seems to make sense, not that it's any easier. I figured most real runners understand this, but a novice like myself, can really appreciate any advice...and this makes a lot of sense to me.

I enjoy running, but I'm too focused on time/speed/etc. I just need to relax, it will all come with time. I do think I will switch from a normal cushioned running shoe to a lower profile shoe...barefooting intrigues me, though. It might be fun to try...but not right away. I think I'll have to ease into it.

I read it a couple years ago. I agree it had a couple flaws, but it was still a great read.

I've been tempted to try the fad that the book started - those Vibram shoes. But I've been wearing the same running shoes for like 7 years. They were nothing special when I bought them back then. They are finally starting to wear a bit, but still have some life left. No clue how many miles I put on them.

The book did cause me to think more about my gait when I run. I think my running gait is similar enough to what the barefoot runners use. I've never had any leg issues or anything. I run a slow pace, though. I definitely don't run for speed, I *try* to run for distance. I do the Bix 7 almost every year, and I am thinking of trying a half marathon this Fall. I'll see what kind of shape I am in after the Bix.

[The Third Man]

I think I fixed the link now (?)

The books Consider the Lobster and A Supposedly Fun Thing... both collect most of Wallace's nonfiction. But as far as I recall, Ticket to the Fair isn't in either, which is a shame because it's a memorable journey into midwestern homecoming and alienation.

I was under the same impression but lo and behold, it's in A Supposedly Fun Thing... with the title "Getting Away From Pretty Much Being Away From It All." I'm not sure if, as in the case of "A Supposedly Fun Thing...," it's longer than the version published in Harper's.

[docellis]

Just read "A visit from the Goon Squad" by Jennifer Egan. I liked it, especially the last chapter which was sort of in the future and really asked some questions I never considered. Also the guy who wrote "The Lie" which, I think, was awesome, wrote some other books, Average American Male and Men, Women and Children. I read those. They don't compare to The Lie, but were interesting. I wonder if anyone else read The Lie.

[The Third Man]

Here's a cool short story from the New Yorker.