MetaChat - Anyone participating in Infinite Summer?

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16 July 2009

Anyone participating in Infinite Summer? →[More:]

I'm 300 pages behind, but I was thinking of playing catch-up. I don't have the money for NYU summer classes (I'd rather go to Vegas), so I thought this might do. I've been wanting to read Infinite Jest for a long time. I have an autographed paperback (he wished me "best podiatric wishes" -- I told him how I kept stubbing my toe on Jon's hardcover on the floor next to our bed in the middle of the night), but I think I'm gonna spring for the Kindle version (light enough to take to Vegas). The website gives both page numbers and Kindle locations. Sign of the times.

Sorry I can't post the link on my little vaio (I still can't figure out why), but the address is www.infinitesummer.org for anyone interested. The posts and comments look interesting (the argument over "hanged" or "hung" notwithstanding).

I don't know. Maybe I'm just lonesome. I need a goal. Next on the agenda, another run at Joyce's Ulysses. Or maybe I should stick to my Hardy Boys.

(Jon just called and said he's picking us up some donuts at the new Tim Hortons on his way home. I love that man.)

post by: Pips at: 18:58 | 13 comments

I joined an Infinite Summer group on Facebook. I haven't cracked the book. Bad.

I need a goal, too. Enjoy the donuts and very cool about the autograph and message!

posted by LoriFLA 16 July | 19:09

No. Read it once. Can't imagine doing it again.

posted by eamondaly 16 July | 21:14

I will join you in this. I have always wanted to finish that damn book.

posted by Lipstick Thespian 16 July | 21:14

I think my summer might feel more infinite if I don't assign myself to read a giant-ass book.

posted by Miko 16 July | 23:06

I'm doing it! I've never read it before. I started out more than a week behind, on June 30, and I just this week got my pages-remaining-per-day average down below the 10.66/day bare minimum required to finish on time. But my average keeps going down -- I'm doing 20-30 pages a day now and I wish I had time for more. It was pretty hard right at the beginning but after page, I think, 88, plus note 304, it got a lot easier and a lot more engaging. And now I don't want to put it down.

I am on page 293 and I'm ahead so you aren't *quite* 300 pages behind. Just dedicate some time to it, you'll catch up.

Because I am a nerd I am using a copy of this google docs spreadsheet.

Be careful with the posts and comments on infinitesummer.org. There are some spoilers there including some big ones in the comments that are sad to stumble upon if you don't want them.

I'm scared of the official site because of the spoilers, so I've not been reading the forums either, so if you all want to chat about it let me know! I'll rss this thread ...

Yay!

posted by librarina 17 July | 00:12

Cool, LT & librarina...

I just downloaded my Kindle copy from Amazon -- a bargain at $9.99. I plan to sit on the porch in the lovely 90 degree heat this afternoon with a gin and tonic and read.

I know what you mean about spoilers. I'm wary of them, too. (There should be spoiler alerts in the comments.) But I may risk it to join in the conversation. But maybe we can have a weekly dialogue here, too.

(Miko, just think of it as 3 or 4 smaller books. Piece of cake! : )

posted by Pips 17 July | 09:56

(Of course, I live with my biggest "spoiler" -- when I read Richard Price's Ladies Man (great book), my ever-lovin' sat on the end of the couch watching me, waiting for my reaction to one part or another. It was uncanny how, if I laughed, he knew exactly where I was.)

posted by Pips 17 July | 10:01

Man, I envy y'all who have the book to look forward to. It's truly an amazing piece of modern American literature.

posted by NucleophilicAttack 17 July | 11:18

I've never read the book and intended on joining in on the summer thing, but haven't even looked for a copy of the book. And now I'm all involved in a video game so it ain't gonna happen this summer.

posted by deborah 17 July | 15:42

And now I'm all involved in a video game so it ain't gonna happen this summer.

A woman after my own heart.

posted by BoringPostcards 17 July | 16:03

I gotta get through Lady Chatterly's Lover first as my "This is a classic, and don't you feel stupid for having never read it before?" book first.

Does IJ make for good winter reading?

posted by TrishaLynn 17 July | 16:38

I love the book, and I've read it probably a half-dozen times already, and this is the first I've heard of the Infinite Summer thing, and so now I'm tempted to start it again. That, and what Miko said.

posted by box 17 July | 17:12

I originally bought IJ as a book I would read if I ever go abroad to a non-English speaking country. There have been times when I had to resort to Grisham, Crichton, and Erich Segal to fight off boredom while I visited my home country.

I'm officially signed up for Infinite Summer. Maybe this is the time to start.

posted by reenum 17 July | 20:35

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