Brief Interviews with Hideous Men

I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and reward of Infinite Jest (it took a couple of months to get through, and the next book I read took around 2 days) as well as The Girl With Curious Hair, but never got to grips with A Supposedly Fun Thing, so I was uncertain about how much I would enjoy these Brief Interviews. However, almost all of these stories (the exception being Tri-Stan) had me rapt, they were so brilliant. True there is a lot of repetitiveness, only just on the right side of excessive, but in for instance The Depressed Person it served to heighten the endless reworking of the person's fears. Plus I knew this wasn't going to be an easy read, although I found it to be a breeze compared to Infinite Jest. One thing I've noticed has been missing from the reviews of this has been Wallace's simply awesome use of words. I love the way the words in the story fit exactly as they should, not to say that there aren't surprises and loops where I couldn't help but laugh at the audacity. But in the interviews themselves it's so easy to imagine a real person speaking what's written, the way they're interrupted and interrupt themselves. What's also impressive in the interviews is the lack of words from the interviewer, which I found forced me to concentrate more on the book, and gave me the fun exercise of thinking of the questions; and that only in the last shocking interview do we get anything of the interviewer's persona. And I suppose even Tri-Stan's wordplay was entertaining, although for me it was too long and rambling; Wallace's stories generally work best for me when they're more condensed. This is one book I can't wait to re-read.

One of my favorite books! DFW is extremely easy to read in Brief Interviews. I actually read through about 4 of the stories as well as the first set of interviews before I found my first stopping place. I also found myself reflecting on a few of the stories throughout that day and feeling a sort of emotional connection to those "hideous men". I decided to read the rest of the book a bit slower so I could reflect on each story for a brief period of time after I finished reading. Best decision ever. Several reviews I read before beginning the book described the content as funny. I actually cried in about 4 of the stories. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. DFW does a wonderful job at humanizing men who you would otherwise have many negative feelings toward. Since finishing Brief Interviews, I have gone back and re-read about half of the book. I can already tell it is a book I will read again and again. Some of my favorite interviews/short stories from Brief Interviews are B.I. #31 03-97, B.I. #48 08-97, Adult World (I and II), On his Deathbed, Suicide as a Sort of Present, and B.I. #20 12-96 (http://www.theparisreview.org/fiction/1225/brief-interviews-with-hideous-men-david-foster-wallace). Actually, looking back, I love all of the interviews. They are probably the best part of the book.

David Foster Wallace is one of those "love him or hate him" kind of guys. His fans love his quirky stories, textural experimentations, and insights on the human condition. His critics, however, think he's too full of himself and egotistical. After attempting to read "Infinite Jest" last year, I was of the latter group. But after reading "A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again" and trying "Infinite Jest" again, I now consider myself a fan. "Brief Interviews..." is not my favorite DFW book, but it's still a great collection of short stories. Yes, it can sometimes difficult, but if you take the time to really read them you will find some great, and hillarious, stories. The title story is a series of fictional interviews with men who have some major issues. I've read reviews accusing Wallace of being a sexist, but I don't think he's intentionally glorifying misogyny. Hence the word "hideous" in the title. THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE OUTSTANDING CITIZENS!!! One of my favorite stories is "The Depressed Person." It is a difficult read because the prose often reads too much like a philsophical textbook than a story. However, it's actually an interesting story about a woman suffering from depression and the effect it has on the people around her. Another good one is "Octet" which starts off as a series of pop quizzes featuring different scenarios, but then, in a metafictional move, focuses on the author's original intention for the piece and how it didn't work out the way he planned. Judging by your tast, such "breaking the fourth" wall moves like this are either groundbreaking or cliched. Of course there are flaws. Besides it being sometimes really difficult, some of the stories don't really go anywhere. For example, "Death is Not the End" is not really a story but a very wordy description of a writer relaxing by the pool. When I came to the end of that piece I couldn't help but think, "So what?" Despite its flaws, "Brief Interviews with Hideous Men" is a challenging yet hillarious book that may not be for everyone, but nevertheless displays Wallace's great talent.

Loyal to Foster Wallace's irony and insight into the viscisitudes of human relationships, this oeuvre is an essay into the forms of modern post-feminist mysoginy and its deep roots in the primitive male insecurity towards feminine rejection. Just delicious.

excelente

A bunch of stories that make you reflect about who you are and what you want, about how you see and interact with the world, other people and yourself. Extremely though-provoking in its concepts and masterfully crafted by, in my opinion, the sharpest pen of its generation. David Foster Wallace was an extraordinary author, this is an excellent display of his empathy and his talent.

Interesting book

David Foster Wallace hat mit geballter Sprachkunst, Witz und unterschiedlichsten Weltperspektiven genau meinen Buchgeschmack getroffen. Die Texte sind zwar teils sehr hoch geschrieben, was natürlich die Englische Sprache noch einmal erschwert (wenn man, wie ich seit gut einem Jahr kaum noch Englisch gesprochen hat) und vor allem bei den Interviews muss man sich immer wieder in ganz andere Gespräche und Situationen ohne große Vorgeschichte einlesen. Jedoch hat Wallace so interessant und in den einzelnen Kurzgeschichten so unterschiedlich und mtreißend geschrieben, dass ich das Buch gerade zu verschlungen habe. Auch die Inhalte der Geschichten und Interviews sind unterschiedlicher als sie kaum sein könnten, regen jedoch alle zum denken an. Gerade denen, die sich durch ein Buch in die unterschiedlichsten Orte einfinden möchte und selbst über die Welt nachdenken möchte kann ich dieses Buch empfehlen!