Almost done reading every written work by DFW. Went through most of this audiobook this morning over 12 mini-preps, with the unabridged book in the mail some time later this month. Other than that, I'm finally taking some time off to visit Delaware this weekend.
Wow, props to you. I think it took me a good 3 or 4 months to get through Infinite Jest. I think I enjoyed it overall, but I have yet to feel any desire to pick up another DFW book. When I do eventually get that urge, do you have a recommendation for what to read second?
If you're feeling a barrier, I'd pick up one of the short stories books. Girl with Curious Hair was a great second read for me. It's unabridged, got a lot of strange stories, and ends with a short novella that's a decent precursor to IJ and has similar themes. From there, you can either opt for non-fiction / essays (Lobster, A Supposedly Fun Thing, Both Flesh and not), more short stories (Oblivion (very dark), Brief Interviews), or either of the other two novels (Pale King, Broom of the System). It took me a while to approach Pale King, but after the first many insufferably boring chapters, it suddenly becomes much more engaging and an interesting read.
Holy shit, his entire work? How long did it take? What are your favorites and least favorites? And how do the audiobooks of his hold up?
Since starting Infinite Jest... 595 days Favorite would definitely be IJ, least favorite would be either the first half of Pale King or some of the non-fiction in Consider the Lobster. The audiobooks are all pretty good, but a few of them don't include footnotes or are abridged and lacking several stories from a given book. But DFW himself narrates a few of them, and he's got a very peaceful voice to listen to.