From “A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again” by David Foster Wallace: “… I have heard upscale adult U.S. citizens ask the Guest Relations Desk whether snorkling necessitates getting wet, whether the skeetshooting will be held outside, whether the crew sleeps onboard, and what time the Midnight Buffet is. I now know the mixological difference between a Slippery Nipple and a Fuzzy Navel…I have in one week been the object of over 1500 professional smiles…Is this enough? At the time it didn’t seem like enough…”
This is such a lovely reflection. Happy to know that undergraduates might still be interested in reading Flannery O'Connor (my first dog was named Flannery in her honor). I've never read DFW, probably scared away because one of my more arrogant students was a big fan (not a good reason, but still . . .) I admire your work enough to think it might be worth reading his nonfiction. And, I see no problems in absorbing the voices of our writing heroes--in fact, I make my students write an entire essay explaining what has influenced their writing voices. Thanks for continuing to use yours.
Okay, I’m off to read DFW. Can’t imagine how I missed his work. I’ll take the advice you gave your daughter, although I think you and I are the same age. (Born in ‘71).
This is such a lovely reflection. Happy to know that undergraduates might still be interested in reading Flannery O'Connor (my first dog was named Flannery in her honor). I've never read DFW, probably scared away because one of my more arrogant students was a big fan (not a good reason, but still . . .) I admire your work enough to think it might be worth reading his nonfiction. And, I see no problems in absorbing the voices of our writing heroes--in fact, I make my students write an entire essay explaining what has influenced their writing voices. Thanks for continuing to use yours.
The Suck Fairy😂
Thanks for the chuckle.
Okay, I’m off to read DFW. Can’t imagine how I missed his work. I’ll take the advice you gave your daughter, although I think you and I are the same age. (Born in ‘71).