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5 Minute Book Review (Part 4): Infinite Jest

July 9, 2009 in 5 Minute Book Review

DFW 4Math

Though double majoring in English and philosophy, his studies had a focus on mathematics and logic. DFW was a mathematical genius. I think he saw the beauty in the predictability and the unpredictable in math; he liked the rules and the broken rules. Truly dichotomous.

Infinite Jest, per DFW, is built around a Sierpinski Triangle, i.e. it is a mathematically generated pattern that can be reproducible at any magnification or reduction. His analog comparing the microcosm of what occurs at Enfield Tennis Academy and Ennet House, viz. heartbreak, jubilation, struggle, strife, pain and addiction, is extrapolated very clearly.

The Sierpinski triangle, also called the Sierpinski gasket or the Sierpinski Sieve, is a fractal named after the Polish mathematician Wacław Sierpiński who described it in 1915.

It is said that Infinite Jest was written in such a way that if you started on page 500 and read until the end, starting over at page 1, the book would still make sense. I’m not brave enough to try to read it that way (yet), but maybe someday.

Part 1 here - Part 2 here – Part 3 here

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  • http://wordsmoker.com/help/members-3/fictionsinmotion/ Vaquero

    I haven’t read this book yet, Frac. But you are making me want to read it.

  • http://wordsmoker.com/help/members-3/viruswithshoes/ VirusWithShoes

    Is he sporting an erection in that photo? I never noticed before.

    Maybe his groin was reproducible at any magnification or reduction?

  • http://wordsmoker.com/help/members-3/dorothymantooth/ DorothyMantooth

    It’s at once entirely appropriate and extraordinarily guilt-causing that this is the first post that’s finally inspired me to register to post here. Guilt-causing because I absolutely LOVE you guys (as I hope you know!), and have so much enjoyed the site and the posts and the comments.

    But also appropriate because:
    I was first introduced to IJ when The Honey, almost 10 years ago, gave me the book as 1 of my Christmas presents. I had never even heard of DFW before then (even though IJ was 3 years old at that point — eep!), but I absolutely DEVOURED the book. As I have since devoured (sometimes multiple times — PLEASE read and enjoy The Broom of the System!) everything else he’s published ever since. (Also crazy is that he died on the day between my 34th birthday & my grandmother’s 80th. That sorta fucked me up a bit…)

    ANYway! Thanks, Frac! This book absolutely deserves all of the both pre- and post-mortem analyses that its received. And I’ve never heard of this Sierpinski Triangle, erm, angle before! But I’ve been planning on rereading the tome for years now (particularly 3 years ago when we went to the 10th anniversary Jest Fest and got an autographed copy), but haven’t worked up the resolve. (Not to mention the shoulder strength to haul that whole 1000+ page sucker in my pocketbook on the subway!) This might just do the trick!

    (Also, as this is my inaugural comment, I’d just like to commend Virus. The commenting interface? Effing PERFECT! Well done, you!)

    • http://wordsmoker.com/help/members-3/viruswithshoes/ VirusWithShoes

      MANTOOTH!!! EVERYONE BE QUIET – THE WORDSMOKER FELLOWSHIP IS TEH COMPLEAT!!!

      I missed you, gorgeous. Hope everything is well! Well – I hope one particular thing isn’t HEARTBREAKER.

      xoxox

  • http://wordsmoker.com/help/members-3/dorothymantooth/ DorothyMantooth

    Oh! And if there’s to be a Part Five? I really hope it’s about the PGOAT.

  • http://wordsmoker.com/help/members-3/fracturedacetabulum/ FracturedAcetabulum

    @Vaq; surprises me you haven’t read it. You’re pretty well read. Read it, you won’t regret it.

    @VWS: umm. don’t know.

    @dorothy: thanks for the kind words. It’s quite the book, and finding people who have also read it is not as easy as it sounds. There’s another 1.5 parts to come yet. But I think PGOAT comes up (ish) in the next one. If not, feel free to contribute! Or add some footnotes :)

  • http://wordsmoker.com/help/members-3/fictionsinmotion/ Vaquero

    Frac: Maybe we’ll make a book fight club book. For August the book is The Housekeeper and the Professor. I’ll announce that soon. Maybe IJ for September? Or make it an October book, skipping September, give people more time with it….Any takers?

  • http://wordsmoker.com/help/members-3/samuraipandapoetry/ samuraipandapoetry

    Vaq: if you mean October 2010, I’m in.

    Also: The analysis here, in how this book can be started at any given page and still have it still make sense, blows my mind, and makes me appreciate DFW’s genius all the more.

    Also, Vaq, again: In truth I might consider taking this on. I would practically disappear from the internets until then, but it would be worth it. Then again, I start school in September. Shit.