Anything I need to read before reading this?
The greeks.
Hamlet, The Brothers Karamazov, Gravity's Rainbow, White Noise, Wittgenstein's Mistress and E Unibus Pluram.
You need to read Infinite Jest.
The first reading is just a gearing-up for the second.
nope literally didn't know shit about fuck going into it. Like hadn't read many books before and I ended up having one of my favorite reading experiences ever!! Great book super easy to read. Just long and wordy a points. Never gets too heady or w/e. Just stick with it. Finishing it is so worth it <3
>>7407325
In terms of the things it references: No, although a familiarity with Hamlet, The Brothers Karamazov, and Ulysses make for a fuller understanding of where some of the structure, references, etc. come from.
In terms of Wallace's writing style: I might recommend some short stories (Oblivion, or maybe Brief Interviews) and/or essays (A Supposedly Fun Thing, or Consider the Lobster) first in order to get acclimated; IJ isn't terribly difficult, though, just long, non-linear, and a bit disorienting until it explains itself, which it does in its own time.
>>7407341
Five star amazon review
Upvoted
OP have you read DFW before?
>>7407336
>White Noise
End Zone would be the most relevant DeLillo
>>7407348
:^)
>>7407341
L O N D O N
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>he's still reading the old meme trilogy
You'll never be a patrician at this rate.
>>7407359
nice!
If you haven't read a 1000+ page book before, I'd go ahead and do that just so you don't pick it up and stop 300 pages in. Something easier like a longer King book or something even more genre-pleb.
Infinite Jest isn't hard to read or understand, but there is a lot going on. If you aren't dedicated to finishing it, you won't.
Also seconding reading an essay by DFW beforehand. Not needed, but it can't hurt.
