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This evening, after work and a haircut and dancing, I sat down to read a bit of Infinite Jest. A few minutes ago, I reached the section break of page 507, which, according to the Index, means I am just over 51% of the way finished with the book. Also according to the Index, I don’t need to be there until August 6th. Meaning that, despite my struggles with the novel, at least I’m still reading! And I’m likely going to finish ahead of schedule – or, at the very least, I have a buffer so if I experience a setback, I can finish on time.
I love the comics featured at this post from Infinite Summer. Like the character in the first comic, I feel like I’ve been reading this for 100 years. Except I’ve only been reading for a month! I can’t believe how long this month has felt in my reading life. And I imagine I’ll feel the same way at the end of August, too. Even though I’m struggling and I expect I’ll feel lukewarm about the content (though not the style, which I adore), I’m going to finish this thing.
So the whole plan to blog about the entire Infinite Jest reading process clearly fell apart. Blame it on life.
But just because I haven’t been blogging doesn’t mean I haven’t been reading. In fact, I’m well ahead of schedule. I’m currently on page 434, and I only need to be on page 295 if I want to finish on time. Hooray for that!
I feel especially accomplished because my initial enjoyment for the novel faded pretty quickly. I adore Wallace as a prose stylist. I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to see him deliver the 2005 commencement address at Kenyon College. I think his nonfiction is brilliant. But I’m not particularly enjoying Infinite Jest.
There are moments of stylistic brilliance, of course, and that’s what keeps me hanging on. Well, that, as well as sheer determination to finish the book, to be able to say that I read it all the way through, from first page to final endnote. And there are plot points I enjoy. Just about everything that has to do with Ennet House Drug and Alcohol Recovery House has me hooked. But the plot about the Enfield Tennis Academy bores me. I don’t know if it’s because I generally find high school boys to be uninteresting literary subjects (Lord of the Flies and The Catcher in the Rye both bore me), or because not enough is happening to sustain my interest, but those sections just don’t do it for me. Nor do the bits about international intrigue.
*shrug* Well, it’s not for everybody. At least I’ll be able to say I gave it a fair shake.
It’s been quite a weekend! Friday started out with dinner at Kerby Lane Cafe, where I met with some dance friends to help plan a competition that’s taking place in October. After dinner, I met up with Jon and we went out for beers at the Pourhouse Pub, and then turned in a little early. It was a low-key Friday night that felt great at the end of a long week.
On Saturday, I slept in, and then it was time for our usual Saturday morning jaunt to Torchy’s. After tacos, my friend and I drove out to Longhorn Cavern, where we went on an amazing tour.
It's gorgeous, and we haven't even gone in yet!
The tour was amazing. First off, our guide clearly enjoyed his job, and was very charismatic. We got to see some amazing geographic formations, learned a lot about the history of the cavern and Texas, and got to experience a few moments of total darkness. The whole thing ran a little over an hour and a half, and I even came away with ideas for stories.
The Queen's throne room
The gem room
After walking through the cavern, we stopped for a late lunch at Bluebonnet Cafe in Marble Falls, where we dined on great food and even better pie.
Once I got home, I did a little yoga, took a shower, and then went out to Trophy’s to see Jon and his band Groove Think.
You can barely see Jon, but he's in the back, on the keyboards.
Our friend Denise, enjoying the show
After the show, Jon, Denise, and I went to Black Sheep Lodge for drinks and delicious fried food.
This morning, I slept late again (yay!), and then Jon and I got brunch at 24 Diner. After swinging by Black Sheep to pick up the card that Jon forgot, we went up to Williams-Sonoma to get a wedding gift for some friends. When we got home, I did some yoga, and then it was time to head out for the Inaugural Austin Writergrrls Literary Festival, held at BookWoman.
Local poet Cindy Huyser shares a poem
The reading was fantastic, and it was fun to celebrate the local women authors who have published books this past year. I admit, I spent more money than I planned, but local bookstores are always worth the extra cash.
After the reading, I went over to the hospital to have my writer’s group. One of the participants was a bit late, and since I had my camera with me, I got some great shots of Reesa’s daughter.
Cutest baby ever!!
After writing group, I came home just in time to catch the amazing season premier of Breaking Bad. Now I’m chilling out, working on some writing, organizing photographs, and generally winding down before another workweek begins.
