Book Review: Although Of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself by David Lipsky

[elinorkonen]

awesome work =)) good job keep it up!

[plasticbratt]

One minor thing: Wallace passed in 2008, not 2006.

[RandyAnders]

@plasticbratt I was just about to say that. She didn't even look that up. Jesus.

[plasticbratt]

Thanks for this review. I enjoyed seeing Lipsky and Wallace interact...a sort of chess match, to borrow the book's analogy...the two men attempting to communicate sincerely while aware of other motives (Wallace speaking through to the RS readership, attempting to project a persona without seeming to project a persona...Lipsky quote hunting, pursuing issues of interest to his editors, measuring himself as a writer, investigating the reality of literary fame against his fantasies). Great stuff.

[Artzineonline]

P.S. for a literary homage to David Foster Wallace, read the brilliant essay "The Difficult Gifts of David Foster Wallace" in Zadie Smith's 'Changing My Mind" Penguin Press, 2009. Her tribute to her 'favorite' author is lucid, thoughtful, and a serious attempt at understanding the genius of David Foster Wallace.

[Artzineonline]

"..speaks to you from the grave?" please! Mr. Lipky's book reveals very little if anything, about the genius author of Infinite Jest. Even less of Mr. Wallace the man. Mr. Lipsky is not going for insight on DFW's literary genius, rather for "what it feels like to be a superstar writer." Particularly hideous is the way tries to dig up for signs of addiction. Mr. Wallace's archives may hopefully yield a more insightful and worthwhile work on the genius of Mr. David Foster Wallace.