Girl With Curious Hair

Ignoring all the fuzz about postmodern writing, I constantly found myself asking, what kind of impact did writers like Thomas Pynchon, Don DeLillo or William Gaddis might have had to other writers and, even more significant, what trace have they left in modern writing. In David Foster Wallace's collection of short stories, "Girl with curious hair", I found a large portion of my questions answered.I've just finished it in almost one sitting, and like so often, when the book you've just finished didn't turned out to be total crap, you start missing its characters.I miss Julie Smith from the "Jeopardy !" show, I wanna stick to "Sick Puppy" and his punky friends visiting a Keith Jarrett (!) concert. I feel sorry for old pal Chuck Nunn, jr., who, after a car accident, had his eyes constantly popping out their holes (!!). I deeply felt for the woman who "appeared in the David Letterman show", don't be nervous anymore ! And then finally there's David Boyd, first boy and close friend of the president of the United States, Lynton B.Johnson ! David Foster Wallace presents each of the five stories in a different tone, a different style: There's the more traditional narrative form in the first story, pure satire (with shades of Brett Easton Ellis's "American Psycho") in the second, and a haunting yet nightmarish and illogical atmosphere in the third one. The fourth story comes with a dry, almost documentary-like kind of prose, while the fifth and last story (the LBJ story) once again returns to more traditional grounds.But don't worry: David Foster Wallace successfully manages to avoid pretentiousness or self-indulgence and never lets "Girl with curious hair" end up in a writing skill showcase !This book is funny, it's brilliant, it should be regarded as a modern classic, but word comes around his other books are even better oboy !

its completely annoying that few people seem to be able to talk about DFW without bringing up Pynchon (i am a case in point, i suppose); the comparisons between them are simplistic and easy, and really they are completely different from one another. beyond that, the difference between DFW and other writers is that he (DFW) is the best writer in the world and after reading him i find myself only interested in other authors only in as much as they have influenced/been ignored by/or subtly reminded me of DFW. Pynchon fanatics are often a testy lot to deal with, and obsessively find similarities and apings of their boy to such an extent that they seem to suffer some classic Pynchon-paranoia. heck i myself love Pynchon but to me he and DFW are living on different planets. also its not like Pynchon and Delillo have some kind of patent on the right to write about pop culture and television etc.: a writer almost cant not write about such things: its just the way it is. aside from my blatherings about Pynchon and DFW i just have to say that its almost impossible to believe that One human being could have written all of the stories in this book: DFW exhibits more scope, inventivness and flatout artistic intelligence in this one collection of stories than most writers do in two lifetimes. He has the amazing ability to simply be Right On with all of his ideas, characters, descriptions... The last story (and also the longest at 140 pages) is beatifully sad, and is just the type of original fiction that you rarely ever find.

DFW is a phenomenal writer. This book is a good introduction to him for those that may not have the time or attention span for Infinite Jest.The title piece is probably the weakest story, with a stream of conciousness that just doesn't quite work right. Most of the other stories and beautiful and exhilirating, though. Westward the Course of Empire Makes Its Way (I think I got the title right, it's been a while) is the best short story I've read in years. The Jeopary Story (I can't remember the name; you'll know it when you get to it) is insane and beautiful.This is a must read.By the way, I just don't understand the unfavourable comparisons to Pynchon. I like Pynchon, but Wallace is on a different level. Comparisons are inevitable, I suppose, but to me, the similiarities just aren't that striking.

I have not yet finished the last story, but I couldn't wait. This boy is so bizarrely talented I have no idea where to begin. For sure, not all of the stories are total winners, but damn can this kid write. The different voices, the moral tone, the evocation of time, space, time/space, the absolutely hallucinogenic skill and joy in language. "John Billy" is so damn strange and so damn wonderful, sporting, among other gems, the priceless: "The cleft rigger got levitationally joined by some other civilians." Get on the stick and ride this puppy.

Each story is a gem in it's own space. Wallace pushes the envelope of fiction writing into a place that is worth the effort to follow. Get your dictionary by your side and be prepared for an unexpected ride. My only regret is that some of the stories end unfinished, which is a clever ploy and shows that he does not pander to the American desire for a pat finish. A much easier and fulfilling read then Infinite Jest.