Apparently, I’m turning the anniversary of David Foster Wallace’s birthday into a Range annual event, but mostly this post is an excuse to link to The Awl’s collection of “46 Things to Read and See for David Foster Wallace’s 50th Birthday”, which should give you plenty to do for a few days. Just pick something…maybe 2005’s “The Host” from the Atlantic which might make you appreciate Jon Justice for a moment, believe or not.
This article appears in Feb 16-22, 2012.
I have to confess, DFW’s novels are too long for me. In the summer of ’87 I tried to read “Broom of the System” and couldn’t get through it, and while I’m sure the other novels have great rewards for many readers, they are not for me, basically a short story person. On the other hand, I totally adored “Girl With Curious Hair,” his first short story collection, two years later; the stories are wonderful, including ones that no longer seem Wallacelike, like “Lyndon,” his take on LBJ from the point of view of the president’s fictional gay confidant. And I’ve taught stories from “Brief Interviews With Hideous Men” and “Obvilion” as well as essays from his nonfiction books, which all seem to me brilliant in an almost unique way. He seemingly could take on any subject and make it new. From everything I’ve heard, he was one of the best creative writing teachers ever. We miss him.