Consider the Lobster and Other Essays

Outside my academic work, I almost never read nonfiction, so I'm pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. The essays were interesting and funny. I enjoy DFW's writing style—it's unlike anything else. “Authority and American Usage” was my favorite of the essays, despite categorically disagreeing with some of the arguments re linguistics. Both “Up, Simba” and “Host”, which concern American politics in the early 2000s, are—unfortunately—eerily prophetic.

An English major's wet dream. If nothing else, DFW's review of the dictionary is inspiring and provocative for anyone interested in the politics of language and usage.

However, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who is not a fervent lover of words, writing, literary criticism, and the like. Otherwise, it's probably too dense and uninteresting. Even I found myself skimming - particularly the piece about McCain, as I'm just not super interested in political pieces, and it was quite long (though I still found the writing itself to be engaging and superb).

You see, this is why I should never borrow books from the library. While I sit here considering the books I remember fondly to add to my otherwise meagre library here on Goodreads I remember reading and re-reading his SNOOT essay and loving his foray at the AVNs. I loved this collection of essays and so I scan the bookshelf looking for it only to realize I borrowed it. And with so many books still to read I doubt if I'll ever actually buy it just to have on my shelves. Sigh.

A collection of essays so good you'll finish it and immediately buy a dictionary, the collected works of Dostoyevsky, and pornography.Authority and American Usage is the greatest essay ever written. not for the porn, for the tiny moments of truth

A great collection of essays from an author I've been curious about. I'm a little disgruntled because my version was abridged, and I was really looking forward to his views on Kafka, but that specific essay was missing. The most notable essays included one about a lobster festival in Maine, with lurid details showcasing the author's jaded cynicism and deep love for footnotes, and another which covers the Adult Video Awards in Las Vegas. The latter goes in depth into the strange and awkward celebrity culture that exists within the pornography industry. The man has a way with words, and I'm looking forward to more of his stuff, but I can see how his work could promote the overly cynical world view that runs rampant among guys my age.

“Host” and “Up, Simba” were a bit sloppy, I thought, but really enjoyed “Authority and American Usage,” especially the part about the pants.

Continuing my quest to read all of DFW's work before I finish grad school......

I really liked this book and I'm pretty bummed that DFW just died. That said, probably not everyone would enjoy a 60-page essay about lexicographers as much as I did. But you might like it more than you thought you would... his style is somehow very intelligentsia-ish but also accessible and charming. “Big Red Son” and “Consider the Lobster” are especially Don't-Miss essays in my book. Also “The View from Mrs. Thompson's” cuz it's about Bloomington IL, holla!