Consider the Lobster
Some days my favorite author is Kurt Vonnegut and some days my favorite author is David Foster Wallace. Someone told me at a party that Infinite Jest is overrated and I was SHOOK. I reacted dramatically, obviously, but it was self-defense because not appreciating Infinite Jest feels like a personal attack. Okay wowow, now I’m worked up.
Consider the Lobster is a collection of essays that DFW previously published in various magazines. I shall break it down:
Big Red Son (published in Premier): Wallace’s reporting on the AVN awards, which is the Academy Awards of pornography. I love this clever piece; per usual, he simultaneously teaches and entertains me. He has a unique twist on gonzo journalism.
Certainly the End of Something or Other, One Would Sort of Have to Think (New York Observer): A review of a John Updike novel, which I have not read. I think I hate John Updike now? I dunno, I’m impressionable.
Some Remarks on Kafka’s Funniness from Which Probably Not Enough Has Been Removed (Harper’s Magazine): A speech about Kafka, whose work I have not read. I think I love Kafka now?
Authority and American Usage (Harper’s Magazine): An overly-deep-divey review of a dictionary. I couldn’t get through this one-- sorry, David. It's a dictionary.
The View from Mrs. Thompson’s (Rolling Stone): A raw portrayal of how he experienced the 9/11 attacks. He’s really not afraid to be vulnerable/honest and it’s awesome.
Up, Simba (Rolling Stone): He reports on John McCain’s 2000 presidential campaign. I had no idea that he did this, and it was a very pleasant surprise. DFW’s reporting is brilliant--his attention to detail is unmatched and he talks about politics in a uniquely non-partisan way.
Consider the Lobster (Gourmet): His commission to write about a Maine Lobster Festival turns into a thought-provoking (and somehow non-judgemental) discussion of the ethical concerns of boiling lobsters.
Joseph Frank’s Dostoevsky (The Village Voice): A review of a review of Dostoevsky. I like Dostoevsky, but not this much.
Host (The Atlantic): A profile on an LA talk show host, which feeds into larger commentary about conservative talk radio. I learned a ton about the mechanics of radio and remained interested.
So, my impression is mixed. I do not like his book reviews very much but I absolutely love his reporting. I wish so badly that he was still alive to report on Trump. His political reporting strikes some magical pose where he acknowledges his own views + remains balanced + criticizes all sides without succumbing to false equivalency. I’m going to always come back to his work because he is so obviously incredibly intelligent. He never misses a detail and he shows you that seemingly meaningless details are actually important. He always follows the nuance, making tangential arguments through footnotes when necessary. He really poured himself into every single piece he wrote. There will never be anyone else like him and no one at a party can tell me otherwise (If you’re reading this, sorry that I’m throwing so much shade). If you're curious about his fiction-- I previously reviewed his short story collection, Girl with Curious Hair. Consider the Lobster receives 4 out of 5 flames.
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