On the wild assumption that anyone besides Bill is reading the blog, I'm inclined to voice an opinion on our current project. So far I have read four of the essays: The Visit to the Porn Convention, The reviews of the John Updike's Novel "Toward the End of Time" , Tracy Austin's autobiography review, and "Consider the Lobster."
I was reminded of the early works of Tom Wolfe and the essays of Hunter Thompson. I used to love this kind of hip writing, that someone described as, "PHD writing about lowbrow subjects." But nowadays I find it less engaging. I did enjoy the elegant trashing of Updike and the others. But I felt that cute little Tracy Austin should have been spared, as she is not and doesn't pretend to be a writer.
I think Wallace is a great writer, with an eye for exquisite detail and a penchant for witty observation. However, his writing is so densely erudite as to leave the reader (me - at least ) exhausted after wading through ten pages or so of prose -- and don't get me started on those fucking tiny font footnotes....
I don't know if I will read the other essays before the group meeting on the 25th, but I think I have enough to join the conversation and I always look forward to the usual excellent libations.
Dennis Noonan
