On David Foster Wallace

[nancylebov]

Having read this about the implications of popular and unpopular culture, I thought I'd ask....

[Poll #1508378]

Comments

[onceupon.livejournal.com]

I have read the majority of his published works and enjoyed them only marginally, if at all. I find him pretentious and trying-way-too-hard. I am aware of his literary influence and import... and I hate that he has defined a literary voice and has influenced many writers producing fiction today. Blargh.

[inertiacrept.livejournal.com]

I agree. I blame him for eggers and chabon. But damn, nobody has facilitated crappy derivatives quite like David sedaris!

[richardthinks.livejournal.com]

your Sedaris comment made me snort tea. Yes. Although right now I can't name any of his imitators.

[inertiacrept.livejournal.com]

Sloane Crosley is the easiest and most obvious offender but I'm not inclined to spare Klosterman or that knob from The Onion AV Club either.

I mean, when I'm king. During the purges.

[avram]

Eggers is a possibility. Chabon's first novel had already been written by the time Wallace's first novel saw print.

[inertiacrept.livejournal.com]

Duly noted. So who do I blame for Chabon?

[avram]

MacDonald Harris.