Note: Please read this even if you have no interest in reading Infinite Jest, as it also contains scheduling information about reviews/posts on Mark Reads.
I have mentioned numerous times in various places around these fine Interwebs that I was looking for a new book series or one-off book to do after I finish The Hunger Games trilogy. I created Mark Watches as a desire to expand my reviewing projects beyond just literature, and I’m now left with the desire to expand the scope of Mark Reads beyond YA literature series. A lot of you suggested a handful of very intriguing books on my Tumblr, but one stuck out to me as something that was just so overwhelmingly ambitious that I couldn’t get the idea out of my head.
Thus, I would like to announce my next project: Mark Reads Infinite Jest, by David Foster Wallace.
Some of you just groaned, some of you most likely wet yourself in a combination of terror and elation, and most of you are probably scratching your heads. That’s ok. I don’t expect many people to either have read this monster of a novel or have the slightest interest in following along. I’m aware of that, and I would be lying if that fact didn’t intrigue me the more I think about it.
I know nothing of Infinite Jest, except that it is long (nearly 1,100 pages in length), dense, complex, and contains a highly elaborate set of endnotes that must be read in real-time. I also know that many people whom I trust about literature, from Dave Eggers to online friends of mine (HELLO HERMIONE DANGER AND JESSICA) recommend this book with such an unending voracity that I simply could not ignore that nagging desire to buy this book and read it.
Because this book is unorthodox, it will not fit the normal review process of Mark Reads. Here’s a breakdown of how this will work:
1) I will start Infinite Jest on Monday, January 10, 2011. Yes, this series will run concurrent to The Hunger Games trilogy, so you will not have to wait two more months to join in. I know there is a portion of people in the world who would rather highlight Trip-Tiks than read this bullshit, so it will not be the sole project I am doing.
2) Posts will be as often as possible. Posts will not be separated by chapter because that is impossible and foolish. I will not announce ahead of time what page I start and end at, as I cannot plan how this will happen. Instead, posts will appear with the title, “Mark Reads IJ: Pages 1-16” and so on. This is just so you know what I read. I am going to follow the advice of friends and simply read until I’m inspired to stop and start writing.
3) Because of the density and nature of this novel, Infinite Jest will have a much more relaxed Spoiler Policy. Obvious plot spoilers will not be allowed, but I will welcome people who have read the book to provide general insights to me that do not heavily reveal the future. I think half the fun is going to be the conversations that we have in the comments.
4) Most of you have not read this book. I know that. So now is your chance to do something silly and foolish and (hopefully) be rewarded by the sheer inanity of conquering one of the most infamously difficult novels to finish. I want us to appear on the other end of this project having experienced something that is hard to put into words.
5) You honestly don’t have to read this book if you don’t want to, but if everyone I’ve spoke to about it is correct (and I suspect they are), you should.
I will post a general reading guide taken from the Infinite Summer project (which is how I first heard about this book, surprisingly) on Monday that will comprise the first section of that review. This journey is going to be strange and frustrating and there are few things that excite me more than the unknown.
This is a lot of information to process, I know. I know that the next question out of some of you will be, “How will you do two books at the same time?” Or: “When is the next Harry Potter post?”
Fair enough. The past two months of this site have been a great deal of fun and I’m still shocked and amazed by the continued support of all of you. Launching this (along with Mark Watches) has helped satisfy a goal of mine that, long ago, seemed absurd. And yet here I am.
I left Buzznet because the people who run that place had turned my project, which was supposed to be fun and exciting) into nothing more than a chore, or at least what seemed one at the time. So I gave up the money and the security of an established organization to rough it in the wild of the Internet and do things my way. I make very little money off of Google Ads and I’m certainly fine with that. It’ll get dumped in a savings account each month and I’ll use it in a couple years to repay for another couple years’ worth of hosting. This suits me just fine.
But (you knew that was coming) my current schedule is spreading me a bit too thin. (It is ironic to say this after I just publicly committed to another book.) I’m going to a show in San Francisco tomorrow night. When I realized that I won’t have time to do a Catching Fire review or watch an episode of Doctor Who tomorrow, that I’d have to come up with a way to do two of each tonight, I nearly had a heart attack. Unlike projects in the past, when I had the luxury of working for the same company that allowed me to publish my reviews, or when I moved to Oakland and my job was very slow, I am now entering a pretty stressful and overwhelming period of my life, as GlobWorld (the site I am a community manager for) is now public.
In short, posting two reviews for seven days a week is driving me to the brink of feeling like this is all just a chore and I don’t ever, ever want that to happen again. (One day I will publish my tell-all memoir about Buzznet and make a trillion dollars and laugh and everything will be wonderful. Today…I think I’ll just passive-aggressively blog about it.)
So, here’s what I’d like to do for right now. I’m still going to stick to a regular schedule of one review per weekday, with possible second reviews if I am so inspired, and use the weekends to begin to develop some sort of backlog of advance-programmed reviews so that I am not left scrambling week after week to get work done. It’s just a bit nonsensical for me to continue doing it this way. This will allow me time to do Harry Potter, Infinite Jest, and Catching Fire reviews with a little more attention to quality and consistency, instead of rushing myself or feeling upset about time. Until I get a TARDIS, I think that’s a fair plan, yes?
This does not mean there won’t be posts on the weekends. I have a handful of people I’m talking with to do guest posts and I’m also experimenting behind-the-scenes with some new ways to publish around here. I’m just saying that weekends will generally be reserved for shenaniganry and some preparation. And a lot more sleep. Sleep is good.
Ok, I’ve just dumped a lot of bullshit on you guys. Thoughts? Reactions? Cries of terror?
Ooh, I've been meaning to read Infinite Jest for AGES now, so this is the perfect opportunity! Hooray!
As for everything else: dude, amazing. Just the fact that you're willing to spend so much of your free time writing up thoughtful/hilarious posts about books and TV is fantastic. So you do whatever you gotta do to keep yourself from feeling overwhelmed. I don't think anyone here would want you to burn yourself out!
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glad you're finding a way to keep this fun! you do what you need to do. we're all just glad that you want to do it in the first place.
When you say one review, do you mean one review spread over both sites or one review per site? I FAIL AT READING COMPREHENSION!
But yay! I'm excited! and you are slowly turning even more into Hermione! You need to invest in a Time Turner
Per site! There will still be one a day here and one a day over at Mark Watches. 🙂
Thanks for clarifying! 😀
Dude, that is plenty of reviews! Don't worry about doing more than that. That's pretty much what I expect, and on days when you've posted two reviews it's a bonus.
Mark, I want to give you an astral plane hug. 🙁 Take as much time as you need- we love you.
I'm looking forward to this adventure. I might want to follow along with ebook … I wonder how that will work out.
Mark: Less posts sounds good! Easier on you, and I won't have to struggle so hard to keep up with where you are. 🙂
It should also mean more views in the long run too, since people won't read the posts all at once.
I am intrigued, since I hadn't heard of Infinite Jest until it was mentioned on your Tumblr. I have no idea what my homework load this semester will be (although my advisor has made it clear maybe you shouldn't take two 300-level classes your freshman year because you haven't had any yet? Whatever, lady, and that WAS a 300-level Spanish class last semester! /rant) but perhaps I can find time to read a few pages before bed since I've promised myself I have to read a little of something non-schoolwork related each day. In other words, I am excite!
Take your time, Mark. I love HG reviews and HP reviews, but I'd rather have one you didn't feel pressured to get done than one as often as possible. 🙂
Oh man, I took two 300-level classes as a freshman. I was pretty ok and had a great semester!
I'm an Honors kid (*cough* Hermionie *cough*) so apparently I live to make more work for myself, sigh. But I am super-excited about next semester and those 300-level classes especially, since one is on the future of environmentalism and I'm going to Istanbul over spring break for the other!
You'll hear from me if my coursework keeps me from reading IJ! 😛YOUR LIFE = MY LIFE
Except that it's the nature of my major that means I spring right into 400-level classes in my freshman year, so a) I cannot help it, and b) everybody else is doing it so that means all will be well. Mainly my issue is that I'm incapable of signing up for a reasonable number of credits. 😛
I'm actually excited about IJ because one of my most awesome friends rec'd it to me and i made it about 350 pages before i just kind of ignored it for a month. so thanks for kicking my ass via this website
Well I didn’t start following you until THG, but I absolutely love what you do! Definitely don’t stretch yourself too thin! If you can’t post every day I’m sure your adoring fans will understand! With that being said, if you need any help at all feel free to ask. I’m currently a jobless college kid with all the time in the world to kill and a nasty habit of having to read constantly! Just shoot me an email or tweet
@CapnOA
Bah..just saw that it cost $9.99 to get the eBook…hmm..for a couple dollars more I could have the physical book, which would prob. be easier to flip to the endnotes, eh? What do yous think is better?
I think that quite a few eBooks with endnotes are now hyperlinked so you can toggle back and forth more easily, but I've also heard complaints about the endnote links not working properly depending on whether the publisher is willing to go through and mark up everything for hyperlinks.
The Infinite Jest-specific things I've read make the hyperlinking seem somewhat promising, though.
I went and bought mine at barnes and nobles today (the used book store I usually try and support didn’t have it and had never heard of it….) and with tax it cost 18.98 so it sort of does make a difference with the ebook!
If you can afford it, I strongly recommend reading it in paper form. It's meant to be read that way (and I don't mean "because it's a book"–I have a Kindle myself).
Whenever I think to myself "There needs to be 2 MR/MW posts every day" or some sort of similar comment, I think about how hard it is to keep my book blog relatively current. It's quite time consuming for my posts and yours are infinitely more insightful than my own and I can't even comprehend how you can balance it all!!
So, yeah… um… TEAM MARK GETS TO SLEEP!
Yeah I have a book blog that I've neglected since, like, last summer, because I started to feel OBLIGATED to do it, so I stopped doing it. I have problems with doing things that feel like chores, even if they're fun things like reviewing books! I wouldn't want that to happen to Mark.
This is perfect. I have been looking for a reason to pick up IJ for ages now. I can't wait!
The Hardest Novel to finish, you say?
As someone who prides himself on being a Bookworm, I accept the challenge.
Tomorrow morning, I'm off to the library.
FANTASTIC!
Okay, There are three libraries within walking distance of my house. None of them had it. I had to get it on order from Manhattan. So I thought, since I was going on a Library Trawl, I'd look for Mockingjay, which I hadn't bought yet. I didn't find it at first, but something caught my eye. There is a set of eight Twilight graphic novels. As if Stephenie Meyer hadn't wasted enough ink and paper. I read the first one out of curiosity. It was drawn in manga style. So after sitting through a great desecration of an art form, I go to put it back on the shelf, when lo and behold, in an act of Providence by some deity or other, Mockingjay is sitting on the shelf, right fucking there.
And SMeyer's blurb is on the back of it.
I don't know why I felt the reason to share that.
Same thing here! I'm a lazy bookworm but still, some of my favourite books include Foucolt's Pendulum and House of Leaves. This one looks fun.
This is a good reason for me to finally read IJ.
SO EXCITED. POSSIBLY THE MOST EXCITED I HAVE EVER BEEN.
This is the best book. THE BEST BOOK. Giant and intense and very VERY confusing most of the time, but it's so wonderful and the payoff is amazing. It took me a month and a half to read, and that was with it taking up literally all of my spare time (in my defense, I was a student at the time), so I don't expect this to move quickly, but that is probably for the best. It really depends on the section you're reading at the moment, to be honest. Sometimes things move so quickly you just want to keep reading, and sometimes it's best to let it sit and think very hard about what you've just read and what the eff it means. (Please resist throwing the book across the room, as it weighs many pounds and probably counts as a lethal weapon.)
I have OH MY GOSH SO MANY THOUGHTS, and I will probably comment flailingly ALL THE TIME while you are reading this. SO EXCITED.
I'm quite excited about Infinite Jest; I've been wanting to read it for ages, but haven't had the motivation. Hopefully this project will get me enthused. You're awesome, Mark!
Don't worry, we understand. Don't over-work yourself, chores are no fun (that's why they're chores)!
I was wondering how you were doing all of this so often and had come to the conclusion that Hermione had lent you her Time-Turner. This post is just one big cover-up so you have even more time to do cool things like fly Hippogriffs and save the world from Daleks and Reavers instead, right, right? ;D
Reading one of Amazon's summaries of Infinite Jest, I could barely understand most of it. But it seems a lot more appealing than The Hunger Games trilogy for me so I can't wait to follow you along on both Mark Reads and Mark Watches. 😀
I WANT A TIME-TURNER.
Have you considered adding a donate button to the site?
You may not have a boss that pays you for this gig, but I bet a lot of us would be willing to chip in a fiver here and there to make sure you can breathe a little bit easier. And, really, the amount of time and effort that you put into these sites? They really are second (and third) jobs. You deserve more than GIFspams in payment.
THAT BEING SAID
<img src=http://skalenda.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/tangled_yay.gif>
<img src=http://skalenda.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/r2.gif>
TWO AMAZING GIFS.
Also I have heard so many fantastic things about Tangled that I really want to see it.
Also I would rather people give money to worthwhile charities than me.
OMG I know you are busy, but try to make time to see Tangled, it is the best Disney movie I have seen in years. I would even go so far as to say that I would rather you go to see it instead of you doing a Doctor Who review for that day. THAT'S how much I love it.
I AM IN AGREEMENT, CLEARLY, BECAUSE I CANNOT CONTROL MY FANGIRLING.
Okay, taking my six-year-old self off to bed.
I agree entirely as well!!! I keep telling people that if I could, I would give that movie a hug, because it is impossibly adorable!!!
That's fair!
I may or may not have made sure I slapped links to Child's Play and the Video Game Voters Network on my community site for similar reasons. *eyeshifts*
Tangled? Made of Awesome Sauce! Found it to be funny and cute and the best Disney Princess film since The Beauty and the Beast.
oh mark, you just made me like you even more with that last comment! you are truly an amazing person. we love your posts, but if you didn't enjoy writing them anymore, we couldn't enjoy reading them either!
TANGLED!
So I just put in a hold request for Infinite Jest at my library. Sadly there are 23 people in the queue ahead of me… but 24 copies in the library system. I probably won't have it by Monday but I will FINALLY READ THIS BOOK.
I spent last year in a literature course I LOVED but consistently felt stupid in because my somewhat pretentious professor seemed all pouty that so few of us had read this, so I WILL PUT YOU TO SHAME PROF. JACOBS.
What I mean to say is you have motivated me to finally read this, Mark!
THIS IS EXCITING.
23 people ahead of you in the queue? I don't think my library has ever, in its history, had 23 people inside the building, never mind all waiting for a book to be returned!
Never heard of it, and I don't like the sound of those endnotes. That quote on the cover is crazy too––I mean, three adverbs sandwiched between redundant terms? That cover art is nice, though. And Jessica recommends it, you say? Hm, this is a tough one.
I agree with the endnotes. I have enough of those in Old English. They hurt my eyes and completely screw with my ability to stay focused on the text. But who knows, maybe it will work for me in this book?
My 100% honest reaction: "Aw, now I have to read Infinite Jest? But that sounds HAAAARD." /whine
Seriously though Mark, I think you should Read whatever you want to Read. I know all about things that used to be fun becoming a chore, and it's no good. So if you have to cut back on posting or Read things that people don't suggest or NOT Read things that people DO suggest, that is fine by me. I will take Mark Reads People Magazine once a month if that's what you feel like doing.
I don't want to speak for everyone here, but I think a lot of your other readers feel the same way. And haters can commence the left-hand evacuation procedure.
I've benn wondering how you would do so many reviews at once. Don't feel pressured to write long, wordy, thinky reviews if you just don't have it in you. Keymash reviews are TOTES acceptable.
Hmm…I've never heard of "Infinite Jest" but now I'm curious. If work stays as ridiculously slow as it has been I see myself reading along 🙂
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
Dude, I am having trouble keeping up with your pace as a reader so it is JUST FINE for you to slow down. I was wondering how you were doing it anyway!
Also, I know nothing about Infinite Jest except that certain people whom I love very much practically orgasm over the book. I can't wait to read it with you guys!
This is a stupid panic moment that has nothing to do with what you just posted, but do you back up your posts? I would hate for all of them to be lost. D:
Yes. WordPress has a plugin for it. 🙂
Putting Infinite Jest on hold at the library as we speak. It's one of those books I've just never delved into. Now I have even more reason to. Also, it'll be the first thing that I'm actually experiencing for the first time along with you. Awesome.
And definitely do not stress yourself out over these sites. They're fun, but we're not going to commit mass suicide if you don't post a review on the odd day here and there.
Putting Infinite Jest on hold at the library as we speak.
SAME HERE!!
Like many others, I've also been wondering how you're going about doing all these reviews plus everything else in life (including sleep). Use whatever pace works for you, Mark. We love your reviews, but sleep is good too. 🙂
I've never heard of Infinite Jest, but it sounds pretty interesting. It's a difficult book to read, you say? I might have to take this challenge… 🙂
I actually must be slow or not keeping up with things, because I haven't heard of Infinite Jest. 🙁 However, I read a ton of Stephen King, and the page count doesn't frighten me at all. And once upon a time in my senior year in high school, our sociology teacher and all around awesome person assigned "The Stand" (expanded version) to the entire class. Sadly I wasn't in it, but it sounded so good that I borrowed a friend's copy and finished it in a couple of weeks. (go team insomnia!) I would recommend to you the "Dark Tower" series by King, but the chapter by chapter review would be impossible due to his organization of chapters, but if you ever have free time (hahahahaha), those bazillion pages of words are great.
I've had to read some Wallace for a post-modern American literature class in college and I have no desire to repeat the experience. I'm a pass on this, but good luck to you!
Was it fiction or an essay? I've read almost all of his nonfiction and it's generally a little easier on the reader than my brief encounters with his fiction have been.
The only thing I've read is "This Is Water."
I really love his essays, especially the title one in A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again. His sense of humor just slays me.
Mark, do what you have to in order to keep your sanity and happiness with doing this =3
"When I realized that I won’t have time to do a Catching Fire review or watch an episode of Doctor Who tomorrow,…"
you've been watching Doctor Who? *w* *luna lovegood voice* which Doctor did you start with? or which episode, should i say…
"instead of rushing myself or feeling upset about time. Until I get a TARDIS, I think that’s a fair plan, yes?"
you HAVE been watching Doctor Who! >w< *flails*
<img src="http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz151/cjjolly/doctor%20who/gifs/dance08.gif" border="0" alt="dancing08 Pictures, Images and Photos"/>
or just looked stuff up i dunno ._.
OH GOD YOU'LL REVIEW THE EPISODES SOMEDAY, YEAH? don't push yourself to, but if/when you do….*w* i will be in heaven.
OH GOD EDIT EDIT EDIT
I JUST FOUND THE 'MARK WATCHES' SITE. oohhh i feel stupid. just read the first line of the above post and skip everything else…..*hides in corner*
Get thee to the Mark Watches site! We just started on TEN.
i know! SO EXCITE. just read all the past reviews except the 'city of death' one, i think it's called, since it's 4am right now…
Glad you found it! I've asked a couple of times now for a link in the header to the Mark Watches site (and a link there back to Mark Reads) to help out users of each site, but it hasn't happened yet. I really think it'll help more people on each site find and navigate to the other.
I have never heard of Infinite Jest but I am definitely willing to take the journey with you, Mark! Just have to go order the ebook now!
I completely understand about the schedule thing. As someone who works full time I can't even imagine trying to do something like this also, so I give you a lot of credit!
dude. DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY! for serious.
we love reading your stuff because it's you doing it in what communicates as a very transparent and open hearted way.
so, stay healthy and happy. enjoy the process and share it with us. that's what i want to read.
xo
Has nobody else replied because they think the posting is done for the day? Weird.
Hi, Mark. I don’t comment very much but I thoroughly enjoy reading your reviews and have even gone back to Catching Fire so I can read chapter by chapter with you on your journey (and I was coincidentally re-watching Firefly when you were watching it, yay).
I am in the middle of trying to coordinate my two paid language blogs with my full time job and my personal (i.e. unpaid) blogs, as well as social life, relationship, creative projects, etc. So, with the knowledge that it is really, really hard to manage time over multiple projects (even discounting my procrastination), I say: do whatever you can manage. Your little community here will understand. And they will still love every review you post. Meanwhile, scheduling is such a good blogging method. Unfortunately, I end up back-posting more than I should. Oops.
Good luck!
Umm, I guess it was just because my page didn't load any comments. Whoops.
Oh my God I'm so excited! To be honest this is my first comment even though I've been following you since the HP days. I love epic books like this 🙂 To be honest the thing about end notes kind of reminds me of Suzanne Clark's Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, which I loved.
So I'll definitely join in 🙂 Although can't say I'll stick to any kind of schedule either I think, since 1000+ pages are a lot to commit to, haha.
BRB going to find the book.
Oh man, I want to read this book so badly. I've been a bad fan lately and haven't commented, but I love that you're loving Doctor Who, and I plan to catch up on Catching Fire ASAP, but I think I'm going to have to wait till the summer for this and then go back and read all your reviews. Stupid college. It takes up entirely too much of my time.
By all means, pace yourself dude. We certainly don't want you to burn out and we're not going to hate you if you miss a post because you have like, you know, a life and shit.
I've been following your blog since you started Harry Potter and just wanted to say you're awesome and even though this book sounds like it might kill me as I'm about to start another ridiculous semester, eh what the hell. I'm in. To the library it is.
I know basically nothing about Infinite Jest except that it's supposed to be brilliant and wonderful and insurmountable. Seriously, could you have picked a more intimidating book? Well Finnegans Wake, maybe.
I just started Winter term and I'm rereading Moby Dick so it'll be interesting to try and work Infinite Jest into my schedule but it sounds like a fun challenge.
I'm really glad you decided to do this; I think it will be a nice change of pace for MarkReads. I'm especially excited because I haven't been able to participate with THG.
Oh and I wanted to add that I also love Dave Eggers.
We value your sanity, Mark. 🙂 Take things at whatever pace works for you.
From what I just read about Infinite Jest, I can't say I'm all that thrilled about it. It seems to be one part satire, one part propaganda and three parts Dreamworks movie. Its all ideas and opinions and cultural observations without an actual story representing them, like a hundred SNL skits squashed together in book form or something. I probably shouldn't blast it like this before I even read it, but what I'm hearing isn't really intriguing for me. It seems like another one of those pseudo-intellectual mumbo jumbo books that get praised for being "cerebral" simply by not following any literary conventions and reading like an acid trip, but who knows. I'm all for new things, and Mark is just the right person to make it sound exciting (though I'm still hoping for the Song of Ice and Fire possibility, as I squealed when you said you liked ensemble casts)!
I just wanted to thank you for letting us know what's up. The fact that you bother informing us of this is greatly appreciated.
I have never heard of Infinite Jest, but will gladly try reading it.
I haven't heard of Infinite Jest, but I'm definitely going to look into it. I'm glad you're giving yourself some breathing room. I won't speak for everyone else, but just the fact that you take the time to do this is awesome, and I would hate for you to burn yourself out on something that's supposed to be enjoyable.
*reserve a copy from library*
Infinite Jest? You are not prepared.
But why do you have to start it just as my semester starts up again?! Now I'm tempted to read along…………. /selfish whining
I just reserved Infinite Jest from my library. I was wondering if you were going to branch out from YA fiction. I just did my 2010 book round up on my Tumblr, and realized all I read last year was non-fiction and YA fiction. I love YA, but I do like/want to read fiction directed at adults.
As for slowing your roll on the posting schedule, good for you. I love the posts here, but I would much rather you stay inspired than burn out by doing too much too fast. I've got some promising job interviews coming up and once I have income again I plain on donating again to your AIDS Life Cycle event to say thanks for all the wonderful reviews.
THIS IS MY MAIN QUESTION: Is Infinate Jest harder/thesame/easier to get through than House of Leaves?
Because if it is anything like House of Leaves (which I adore with a flaming undying PASSION) then I am going to buy this book -TOMORROW- and read along.
OMG OMG OMG OMG I LOVE HOUSE OF LEAVES FOREVER.
I think it's around the same, as I've heard. But if you can do House of Leaves, I say go for it.
LET US NOW TURN YOUR THREAD INTO A LOVEFEST FOR HOUSE OF LEAVES.
!!! OMG YOU DO ?!?!
You rule all Mark, you rule ~all~, for serious. I read that book like four years ago and it literally affects me to this day; there are occasions where it's nighttime, and I'm sitting in the house [argh I really want to make that blue] and I'll think back on that book and I'll suddenly get up OH SO nonchalantly and turn on every single light in the house. I still can't enter a long dark hallway without part of me quietly freaking out, lmao.
But not even just the horror (well to me) aspect of it, the density of it is just mindboggling. I'm pretty sure I still haven't disassembled every layer, theme or easter egg. (One night at work I spent like three hours translating Johnny's mom's coded letter, lol. And it was actually really worth it, too.)
BUT PART OF ME IS SAD YOU LIKE IT xD that means you won't ever do a review ~ aw
Come ooon, Real Life, stop being so predictable! I saw that coming ages ago!
Honestly, I wondered how you were able to do this anyway, because just reading/watching all these series cost you 1 hour a day. Which is A LOT. I'm just following the Mark Reads, but sometimes I still lack the time to keep up with you, so I don't mind you slowing down a bit at all.
In fact, I embrace this, because it might make your reviews better. The reason why I love your Twilight reviews the most is that you were addressing issues. The books were nearly made for that, but it was often eye-opening for me to see what they actually contain. (I never managed to read the entire series, because I'm getting bored after a couple of pages and can't bring myself to read them any further…) Sometimes, I had the feeling that you didn't stress one particular point enough, sometimes I disagreed, but I've always thought about what you've written. I know that not every book can (nor should) be a pile of polyphobic crap between two covers, but to me, reading your Hunger Games reviews isn't as intriguing, because there aren't any topics aside from a description of what is happening.
Maybe that is the case because there isn't any interesting subtext in the Hunger Games, but I don't think so. Every now and then, you mention something in a subordinate clause, that grabs my attention, but you don't specify it. I blame the frequency of your posts on it, so I'm looking forward to fewer, but probably better reviews!
If you're going to read His Dark Materials this will change for sure. And if there is a chance you're going to read anything from Enid Blyton (preferably the Twins at St. Clare's, but ANYTHING will do) I will… I don't know. I already love you forever.
(Sadly, I won't be able to follow you Infinite Jest. Even though there is a german translation by now – the translator needed SIX FUCKING YEARS to finish his work – I won't have the time to read such a long and complex book. Bleh.)
Also I have a wonderful love/hate relationship towards Dave Eggers (srsly it's a thing of joy, I feel the stuff that makes him rule is the stuff that makes him suck and I like and dislike him for it with twin passion), so I will say that if he recommends the book, then it is definitely something I'll have to to check out. I don't know what I'll think, but I bet I'll definitely ~react~ lol.
You know what? I think I might just join in on this and add it to my reading list. I literally know nothing about Infinite Jest other than what's been posted here, but colour me intrigued. I just bought myself a nook, so reading is a thousand times more convenient for me than it was previously so I'm thinking I can swing it.
Right now I'm also reading Battle Royale, after seeing it mentioned so many times in the Hunger Games reviews. I had started to read it in high school after falling in love with the movie/getting half of my class into it during my sophomore year, but I never finished it for some reason. So, with some of my other reading plans this should all be very interesting.
Oh man. You're reading the novel, yes? The manga is also fantastic too.
The novel, yes. I'm already further than I got when I borrowed it in high school, and I'm pretty excited about finishing it this time.
Echoing what everyone said – take the time you need, Mark! I know how much work updating a blog with posts as long and substantial as yours is, and we don't want you to be stressed out. I would like you to have as much fun with it as we do :).
Not sure what to think about Infinite Jest. It sure sounds challenging! I'll have to wait and see if I can read along with you.
I am sad that I will not be able to read Infinite Jest with you, Mark. 🙁 I would love to, but, well, as you said, it's infamously dense and complex and I'm an English major taking three senior-level courses, two of which are outside my area of interest. So… I am going to have MORE than enough reading to do this semester. Reading I don't really want to do. 😐 This on top of other commitments I have online, and somehow managing to have a life off my computer and out of the pages of books.
But I hope you know that your readers would rather you post at your own pace and be happy about it than keep up with an extremely demanding schedule and feel that you are doing it as a chore, or that the joy has been sucked out of your writing. At least, this reader would. Take care of yourself!
I just wish I had time to read Infinite Jest with you as you're making the posts but uni is ruling my life. So far, I've already read all the books you're reviewing (although once you start reading the third Hunger Games book I'll be in uncharted territory). But I'll still read all of the reviews even though chances are I'll be a bit confused 😀
I've been wondering for quite some time how it is that you do what you do and not start to hate it. A review/post every day? That's going above & beyond! I write a weekly column for a site that covers all things Disney and there are occasional times I HATE it when Wednesday roles around because I know I have to start the column all over again. I can't imagine doing that every day. Bravo to you for maintaining a crazy publishing schedule for so long because lord knows you've provided us all with loads of entertainment and got what I suspect is an awful lot of people to read and discuss what they're reading. That's pretty a fabulous achievement in my book! Glad to hear you're figuring out a way to keep it fun for you because though I rarely comment, I'd sure as hell miss both you & these great discussions!
I love you. Seriously. I just sat down in the library at college to get an hour of solid work done then BAM I saw you'd made an announcement. Best. Procrastination. Ever.
50 minutes later, here I am.
Also, I'm glad you're adjusting your system to better fit your life. We (I) might whine for a bit, but we still love you if you miss a day. There is no rush to finish anything (besides fnding out what happens in the OMGWTFBBQ that is HG).
Also, I was wondering if you found reading more or less enjoyable split up into little chunks? I usually whip through most books in a few days and I wasn't sure if you got more satisfaction from spreading it out over a few weeks.
On another note, will you be posting the ISBN of the version you are reading so I could try to get hold of the exact same version?
Yes, I will post the ISBN # but it looks like most versions have identical number of pages.
Sometimes I enjoy taking books slow. Other times I don't. It all depends.
Oh, also:
Is this the best book club ever? I think it's becoming the best book club ever.
Actually, best community ever. We win.
Hmm…I gave up on Oblivion 3/4 through Mr Squishy. Mentally running out of breath reading about market research just didn't do it for me.
But I'm aware of how people rave about DFW so I'm up for giving him another chance and doing this.
I am laughing with recognition. I'm 100% supportive of you finding sane ways to get rest and not make yourself crazy while your joyous appetite for EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD runs riot. Yes, yes, please take care of yourself because you need to be rested and happy while you have fun!
Mark, this is my first attempt at fangirling (feels awkward and cringy!) but I have to say: you are a legend and an inspiration. Reading all of your HP blog got me through a nasty bout of flu just over a month ago, and since then I've been vociferously following along though I've never read HG or watched Dr Who and 'haven't got time to read for pleasure' (and, um, don't know how to watch TV online. Yes, I am a Luddite. No, I am not proud)… and two minutes ago, even though I've never heard of Infinite Jest and it sounds time-consuming and my life is meant to revolve around my PhD, I bought it on Amazon and I await it with excitement. LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO.
So yeah, you have POWER and INFLUENCE and I really want to thank you for all your awesome reviews and (this bit is really cringeworthy) for reminding the Hermione in me that taking a wee bit of time out every day for fiction and fun is actually probably not going to cause the world to implode.
And seriously, please get some sleep! You enjoying doing this makes us enjoy you doing it, so please please please do it at the pace that allows to you enjoy it!
Ella xx
Ehm. I have no idea how I'm gonna find this book out there in the REAL WORLD but I'll just have to work something out because I need to read it.
THIS IS EXCITING.
Given everything everyone's been saying about this book, Infinite Jest sounds like it's the LOST of literature or something. (I obviously know nothing of this book so I might've just said the most ridiculous thing ever but such is life.) AHH. I need to flail for a bit now.
*Click*
*Send book to Yllsa's Kindle*
Real time Foot Notes?
Yes please!
And I know this doesn't help you but blogger has pre-scheduled posting :3
Yes real time footnotes! So much easier than flipping back and forth
I haven't checked the Google version, but the Kindle app would give me real time footnotes? OMG.
There is pre-scheduled posting on WordPress too. I've been using it to put up my Catching Fire reviews at 7am PST.
Team Mark!
Also I'm so glad I found Mark reads because it will force me out of my book bubble of rereading Harry Potter and Artemis Fowl and try something new
Cheers to keeping things fun and manageable for you! I whole heartedly approve (not that you care, but I wanted to throw support your way!
I'll be following your Infinite Jest adventure with interest, because I tried to read this book back when it was first published…but couldn't get through it. Best of luck to you, and thank you for allowing me to come along for the ride!
This is going to be a long comment…I can just feel it.
First off, thanks so much for devoting so much of your free time to these sites. Take however much time off you need to, it's not like we can demand more from you, seeing as your doing this for free. Not that that's going to stop us. That said, I don't think I'd mind more spread out reviews. I had to stop following Mark Watches because I simply can't keep up with watching an episode of Doctor Who every day on top of everything else. I'm still watching and reading your reviews, but I'm only 6 episodes in to the first series. And even though I'm reading your reviews, I'm finding myself a little scared to check out the comments because I seriously don't want to be spoiled. So fewer reviews might be best for everyone, especially you if it helps you maintain your sanity.
After you announced Infinite Jest on twitter last night, I downloaded the free sample from amazon and read the foreword and now I'm incredibly excited to start reading this. I might actually even be able to read this one along with you, given that I'm also engrossed in two other books, and Infinite Jest doesn't seem like something you can just plow through. So I'm really looking forward to this one. And having a place to discuss should come in handy – it certainly would have made reading Snow Crash easier last year.
I am wondering how exactly the page thing will work out. I'll be reading on my kindle, it sounds like you might be reading on your iPad and other people might have actual books (OMG that is so last decade!), so how does pp1-16 translate? Is there a good way to figure this out?
Anywho, hooray for new announcements! I look forward to IJ, more HG, and more rehasing of HP, and many many more reviews and discussions on these sites.
PS The foreward didn't seem to have any spoilers, just lots of praise for the author and warnings that the book is like an extended work out for the brain, but a fun one. So I'm actually coming into this blind (for the first time with anything in MR history) and will hopefully be able to keep it that way.
PPS Have you considered setting up a store of some sort? There are plenty of taglines from your history that could be slapped on coffee mugs and the like. I would probably buy a coffee mug that said "You are not prepared" because that's generally how I feel in the mornings.
Ok, to answer your questions!
1) Seriously, thank you for the support. SERIOUSLY. You rule! I would definitely avoid the comments out of fear of spoilers for now over on Mark Watches.
2) I bought a physical copy and an e-book copy of the book, so I will do my best to make note of what that entails for each version. That being said, this is not going to be a process in which you have to read at the same pace as me. I encourage you to do it as you please. Because of the nature of this book, my posts will more or less act as the catalyst for us to discuss things and track my progress. It's slightly more selfish than usual, but I'm the comments will be the opposite.
3) I read the foreward immediately. It was a great read and made me even more excited.
4) I have and I might just do that. We will see. 🙂
I'm writing my undergrad thesis on IJ and actually first read it in 2009 in conjunction with Infinite Summer. Definitely keep going back there and read the blog posts/discussion if you can–smart cookies out there.
And yes, my sister sent me the link to this post and I freaked out (accidentally shut the browser window in some sort of keyboard flailing joy). So glad that you and all your readers are going to get to try (and finish, yes, PERSEVERANCE) an excellent book.
Seriously, I am incredibly excited. I hope you'll join us, as I could use the insight.
Sorry you're feeling overwhelmed.
If you have to give up daily posts, I'm happy it will be on the weekends. Your weekday posts give me a nice break from my boring job.
I'm excited about Infinite Jest! It's on my list of 1001 Books to Read Before You Die, and I doubt I would ever be able to read it on my own!!! And this year I'm trying to read one book off the list for each letter of the alphabet, so this can be my "I".
Yay, Mark gets to sleep. Sleep is important, and as much as I love your blog, I think the quality of the posts would be better if you're not stressed.
Ooh, a new book! I read some of the Wikipedia page and it sounds really awesome but kinda scary. I'm no stranger to long books (I've read the entire Harry Potter series several times), but this book sounds really long and complicated and I'll probably read 20 pages and pull my hair out because I don't understand anything. That said, once I return the 9 books I have out from the library, I'll go see if they have IJ for me to take out. 🙂
Also I never knew about Mark Watches. I kinda wanna check it out, because I've been meaning to watch Dr. Who and Firefly but seeing as I'm currently trying to watch all of Buffy and Angel I feel like if I try to watch all 4 shows at once I'll overload myself, haha. I have too much on my entertainment to-do list, but at least I'm not writing daily reviews on it. I can't imagine how much pressure that puts on you.
Aaaanyway long comment over.
What is infinite jest about?
I know it has to do with tennis. And Hamlet. And that's about it.
People who have read it refuse to tell me what it's about. It's best to go into it blind, apparently.
ZOMG MARK.
I won't be able to start Monday with you (am in Chicago on vacation until Tuesday night), but I AM SO EXCITE. Started reading IJ for-freaking-ever ago and got too busy to pay it its proper due, so giving it another go with you and all these fine folks will be so worth it!
OMG THIS EXCITES ME TO NO END.
I have found that the more enthusiastic the person writing the blog is about the writing, the more interesting of an experience it becomes for the reader. So I'm excited about whatever you feel you need to do to maintain your enthusiasm for these projects – I love following your reading/watching exploits, and I would hate for it to become a chore or boring or anything negative for you.
Hi Mark, I've been reading your blog since HP and all of your HG reviews. I haven't commented since you moved from Buzznet but I just want to say that I got a Kindle for Christmas so I'm going to download this book and read along with you because I've never even heard of it! Wondering how it's going to work with pages v. e-reader but I'll figure it out.
Ha! This has been on my reading list that I will never get through forever! I'm definitely looking forward to it.
Go at whatever pace you feel comfortable with. If you think of this as a chore, it's not going to be fun for anyone. I'd much rather have amazing reviews at your pace than ones you constantly churn out.
Looking forward to reading this.
Mark! alabama–arkansas here from Tumblr. OH MY GOD — I JUST bought Infinite Jest on my kindle two days ago to blog it over at my book blog. We will be like dueling banjos. Only without the creepy satan/redneck thing. <3 <3 <3 So excite. And so excite that you're scheduling this in a way that's healthy and positive for you! Woohoo!
Omg, please include links in the comments with updates. I'd love to read your thoughts too!
ZOMG MEGHAN!!!
Mark, what's important is that you continue to enjoy what you're doing. 🙂 Do whatever you need to do and we'll follow.
Also, I have never heard of this book but I am seriously intrigued by your description.
Mark, you should be able to sleep whenever you damn well please.
We understand. ^_^
I have never heard of the book before (but then again, I'm from the magical land of Belgium), but I will certainly look for it! Luckily there's a store in Brussels filled with English books :3 I SHALL FIND MY GOODS THERE.
*But, Arne, you have lots of work to do.*
SHUT IT.
Okay… So I won't be able to start reading along this Monday :/ In Flanders they have the annoying habit of putting exams in the beginning of the year. I don't even have a break D: School starts immediately after. And then I still have to finish a writing assignment. Oh goody. SHOOT ME NOW.
(If you do intend to shoot me, do it with a vaccine to cure me from this flu; It's becoming rather annoying.)
Ok, cool.
Doctor Who! *jumpy claps*
Yessss! Infinite Jest was my summer reading self-project this year, and I posit you will love it! And this gives me a chance to pick up on some of the stuff I missed. (There's a lot to miss.)
My insightful reaction: "Why can't you read a book that is available in my country? WHYYYYYYYYYYYY"
🙂 I'm excited! I've never even heard of this book, so I am definitely going to try and follow along with you. Course, it took the library a month and a half to get Mercy Among the Children, so I might have to catch up to you guys.As far as becoming overwhelmed with all your projects—- This is YOUR site and YOUR rules. If you want to go out and see some friends one night, you shouldn't worry about what we will say. Believe me- we won't get angry and stop coming. I'm sure all of us will understand that you're a real person and not a review spewing robot. And if people do start getting mad- just remind them that if this becomes a chore for you, the reviews will suffer.
I will have to look into Infinite Jest.
The thing i love about your reviews is how exciting, real, and awesome they are. Don't stress yourself to post a lot. Quality over quantity! 🙂
Oh Mark, please don't kill yourself doing all these reviews. I couldn't imagine doing all them reviews while I was working and going to classes. I barely even got time to turn on my TV. I can't imagine you doing it when you actually have a life.
I might try infinite jest, don't know anything about it except what I just saw on amazon, but if we can read it in small bites and have a community talking about it that might ease the experience.
Also: Guest Reviews *SQUEES* <img src="http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu90/vanessa68_2009/Macros%20and%20gifs/Colbertspazzflailjoy-1.gif">
Oh hey Mark, question–what edition of Infinite Jest will you be reading? Can you post the ISBN so we can find copies to follow along with? I'm assuming that different editions would have different page numbers and such.
Yes I will!! 🙂
Oh god, I love this idea. I wish this wasn't starting right when I start school and will have zero time to follow along, but I love it nonetheless. I've heard this title thrown around a lot.
And srsly I don't need to know the epic backstory to see that you are taking on a lot, I'm glad you're slowing down and it'll make your posts better so I can't be anything but happy about that. We all know you have a job and a life so take care of yourself, we don't want you to burnout.
This makes me so happy, it's ridiculous. I read it last year, and kicked myself for missing the Infinite Summer by six months. I'll gladly re-read along with you. I am a Kindle owner, and I love my e-books, but half way through I gave in and bought the paperback.
Good luck, Mark.
I haven't even heard of it, but your past reviews have been good, so I can guess this one will be just as good. Also, you should read the Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud next.
That's a lot of stuff, but it's you and I'm hopelessly loyal. I'll support you forever!
Unless you become a Scientologist. That shit scares me.
HAHAHAHAH. That will not happen.
I'm doing my exams right now, the really really really important ones. I need to get straight As. First time. Lest I'm forced to abandon my life-long ambitions and kick myself so hard up the arse that I simply die. And it's stressing me out so much, now that school's back for the new year, that I feel as if I'm going to be sick kind-of-sort-of ALL THE TIME. The fear, the fear!
The temptation to read a monster book which is infamous for being hard-going, and confusing, and intellectually taxing, and all those other scary things – is making me feel somewhat more ill. BUT I feel like I should read it because for one thing, it'd be fun to be keeping up with these reviews. 🙂 For another thing, it'd be an achievement. Attaining it *might* reassure me that I'm not a dribbling dolt destined to fail everything and therefore life. It might broaden my mind some and might provoke my currently cowering intellectual functions. It'll no doubt stretch my vocabulary and might give me insight into different styles and concepts. And it's one of those 'everyone should read this if just to say you've read this' books.
But. My mind is so tired and fearful and oh-so-so-so stressed. Would it drive me mad or would it benefit? WHICH?
I'm torn, guys. Guys. I'm torn. Torn!
I'm sorta sad that you won't be posting on the weekends much anymore. I completely understand of course, I certainly don't want you thinking of this as a chore. It's just that I'm still in school, so when you post on weekdays by the time I get here most everything has been said and it is deep sadness 🙁 I always look forward to my weekend Mark Reads because then I actually have an opportunity to comment and join in on discussions.
Oh well, that being said, I'm really looking forward to more stuff from you 😀
Aw, I'm sorry. BUT just because I don't plan on posting on weekends doesn't mean I wont! I just mean to say there won't be regular reviews for the time being, but it will give me a chance to experiment with something else for the weekends.
Just stay tuned. You'll see 🙂
Well, here's the deal. I'm going to be reading it at a slower pace than usual with no set, predetermined stopping points. The idea is that we all read it at whatever pace works for us and check in from time to time to discuss up to whatever part I've gotten to.
I say try it. See how it goes. Go at your own pace. If you're behind me, that's perfectly fine. If you shoot ahead of me, also fine. The thing is that I want us all to comfortable throughout so we can actually finish it!
Don't work yourself too hard!
Oh, I am very excited. I wasn't planning on reading this but at laaaaaast, I'll get to read something with you.;)
I sort of lurk here… AND I get my students to read your posts. EVEN though there is profanity, I have enjoyed your posts so much I think it is worth it ;). Of course… I work in a pretty non-traditional school. I have never heard of Infinite Jest, I have just bought it on my Kindle and plan on following along. The problem? Is that I might not be able to follow with 'page' numbers… still I think it will be fun to read along with you! 😀 yay!
You do whatever you feel comfortable doing, Mark. ButcanthenextreviewbeaHarryPotterrereadpleasepleaseplease?
I've never even heard of "Infinite Jest" but perhaps I'll read it after I finish the three books I'm reading now. Shit. I gotta hurry.
Well, you could always read The Host by SMeyer, if you're searching for stuff to read.
I jest, I jest! Don't throw rotten tomatoes at me! I didn't mean it!
Hmm– I have never heard of this book. I shall try to find a copy at the library so I can read along with you.
So this is pretty awesome. I most likely wont be reading this with you, since my current load of school work/life/various other things has in fact left me nearly a week behind just on the CF chapters as it is, but I'll definitely be looking forward to your reviews as I've heard "Infinite Jest" is absolutely brilliant. And yes, sleep is good. I would be sleeping right now if I didn't have mid-terms to study for…@_@
I've never heard of Infinite Jest, but if its been so highly reccomended, maybe I'll have to find it. (If I can. Next to impossible to find any books where I live).
And I understand that you're slowing down. We come here to see the enjoyment when you read (or watch) something you love. If its a chore, its not the same.