the glob

Consider The Lobster was the fifth book (and coincidentally the fifth book I’ve read this year) that I’ve read by David Foster Wallace. Because I’m a wimp, I still haven’t tackled either of his true novels (Broom Of The System or Infinite Jest). Perhaps someday I will.

In the meantime, I’ll continue to enjoy his collections of shorter pieces, whether they be fiction or non-fiction. I plowed through Oblivion and like most of his work I found it to be somewhat frustrating at times yet amazing at others, which is why I always seem to come back to his work. Even when he frustrates me, he manages to keep me interested.

Anyway, Consider The Lobster is a collection of his non-fiction work from the past six years or so, and it contains everything from book reviews to a long piece on John McCain’s presidential campaign in 2000. For those that find DFWs fiction work a bit too obtuse, they can rest easy knowing that his non-fiction is almost completely the opposite. Sure, there are places where he seems to revel in the craft itself more than the storytelling, and one story in particular (the closing one of the book) seems to rely a smidge too much on gimmicky arrowed subnotes, but overall this is a great collection of work that’s highly enjoyable to read. Even his sharp-witted criticism of a new John Updike book (which I hadn’t read (and had no intention of reading)) kept me engrossed.

Basically, if you enjoyed A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again, you most likely won’t go wrong here. Easily one of the most fascinating writers practicing the craft today.