duszek wrote: ↑Wed Oct 11, 2017 8:47 pmNo, I did not quote from "Infinite Jest", I just printed something spontaneously as an example of someone focusing on one particular aspect of his life: honesty and lying.marjoram_blues wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2017 6:55 pmI seem to remember, in a previous PN chapter - that you once recommended, or mentioned, his 'Infinite Jest' which I then attempted to read. Perhaps it was someone else...duszek wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2017 6:32 pm One could write like this:
"Very late in life I finally realized that I had to lie at least 10 times a day in order to be an adult. I started a chart and made a point for each lie. On days when I was not able to make a point I got worried."
This would be life from the point of view of a disappointed idealistic person.
Someone like David Foster Wallace perhaps. Who ended up badly.
Anyway, it is such an extraordinary book - I think I had to give up first time round, then revisited it some time later.
Is that quote one of his, or a character. Or both ? Have you tried to keep such a chart ? I wonder what caused his 'realization' so late in life...and why would it worry him when he couldn't lie...
Anyway, ' Infinite Jest' is described by one reviewer as a lifechanger. Did it have that effect on you?
Trouble is, the review was kinda short. 'Sorta changed my life'.
Could be a bit of an understatement, and we are kinda left wondering 'How?'
Another aspect could be: how I move from one love to another (and got cheated by some conmen on the way too) because love is the best.
Another person could describe his life focusing on his bank account.
Another one focusing on watching weight.
Another one focusing on jogging performance.
A book worm could tell how certain books made a difference to his life. Anything else being secondary.
A jokster could tell which jokes accompanied him in his life.
A gourmet could tell the story of his meal discoveries.
I'm still intrigued by the quote - you 'just printed something spontaneously' - so, is it your own writing? If so, are you that ' disappointed idealistic person' ?
Yes, I think we could also mix it up a little - a collector of recipe books reflecting interests in world cuisine - travels to Italy - checking bank balance beforehand. So, 'a peek through the keyhole' of any door can make us gasp in wonder...the Knights of Malta gate on Rome's Aventine Hill...frames the door of St Peter's in the distance.
Perhaps we need the distance...
to gain a better perspective ?