The American author on how Infinite Jest made him face up to his substance abuse, and the joy of Judy Blume
Photograph: Michael LionstarPhotograph: Michael LionstarMy mother first read me Dr Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat when I was four, and as with much of what I love, I became compulsive about it, wanting to hear it over and over. One day, a fbabysitter asked what I’d been up to. “Learning to read,” I lied. I pulled out The Cat in the Hatintending to bluff my way through. Then a miracle: beneath my eyes, the word-shapes matched the sounds. I was reading.
’s To Kill a Mockingbird has its problems, but for me it was a formative instance of books giving expression to what’s not being talked about.’s Beloved when I was home from college in my freshman year. I still had a kind of punk attitude towards the canonical novel, which I viewed as the province of my English-teacher parents. But in its incendiary fusion of language and story and feeling, Beloved ripped open something inside me.
I probably couldn’t have grasped Beloved without reading David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest. I know a lot of annoying young men have approached this novel as some kind of monument to the intellect. But in my senior year of high school, I was in a position to feel emotionally vulnerable to the material about recovery. It convinced me to try to change the way I was living – to face down the things that had driven me to substance abuse.
and her other books for older kids and tweens. Blume made me see writing as a place for the honesty and emotional intimacy I craved, and also as a place to relish the absurdity of daily life.In college, I was assigned the title story of Deborah Eisenberg’s Under the 82nd Airborne, and though I admired it, we didn’t quite “click”. Five years later, when I was in graduate school, Eisenberg visited and read her story Some Other, Better Otto. It was hearing it in her own voice that made me realise what I’d been missing – in particular, the singular quality of her humour. I ran out and read every story she’d written.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Footage of musician David Foster calling American Idol star wife, Katharine McPhee, fat resurfaces online7NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Read more »
DAVID WOIWOD: President Joe Biden’s abysmal debate performance has pushed the left into deep panic7NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Read more »
Australians urged to avoid Lebanon as war risk escalatesThe government&x27;s Smartraveller website issued the warning as cross-border attacks continue.
Read more »
Copa América: Mexico risk another early tournament exit after loss to VenezuelaSeeking redemption after disappointing performances in the World Cup and Concacaf Nations League, Mexico are on the verge of an early Copa América exit
Read more »
Biden's family encourages him to stay in the race during Camp David gatheringThe family discussions have focused on how members of the Biden clan could help the president – and not whether he should reconsider his candidacy, one of the advisers said.
Read more »
NSW Coalition at risk of collapse after Nationals leader backs Wes Fang in spat with LiberalsDugald Saunders took issue with Liberal leader Mark Speakman who sacked Fang from the shadow ministry over comments about a Wagga Wagga trip
Read more »