David Foster Wallace, 1962-2008

DFW, I will miss you so very much; your infinite insight and wisdom opened my eyes on so many levels, made me realize there is so much more right here in front of my eyes than I was ever able to see before, and put me on the path of becoming a more AWARE human being. I wish you were able to find a way to stay, for selfish reasons, but I understand, although it makes me incredibly sad. I will always cherish your words. Thank you.

To Reporter Guy,
It is obvious that you have no understanding of suicide or the tortured mind or you would not make the comments that you make. Suicide has nothing to do with toughness or with being a coward. Maybe you should educate yourself on something before you spew venom about it.

My best friend bought me a copy of "Infinite Jest". At page 100, I told him I wasn't getting into it. He implored, "keep reading!" At about page 300, I became one of those people who couldn't leave the house without it, and couldn't wait for the next opportunity to read it. When I finished it, I read it again from the beginning, now knowing all those characters. DFW signed my copy at a book reading in LA, and noticing the terrible condition of my copy, said, "Well, this makes an writer happy...," or something like that. I am still in shock from the news of his death.

Why oh why does a brilliant writer from Amherst College like David have to silence himself while a terrible writer like Dan Brown continues to spout garbage.

I read Broom of the System and Girl With Curious Hair with mixed chagrin and joy. Signifying Rappers informed an urban creative response to alienation and I really never had time or energy to finish Infinite Jest which sits on my shelf half finished today. I feel terrible for the loss of David's voice in our culture, so that what there is left for me is to finish reading that densely diffucult text and suffer this fresh atrocity. --tom owens, shelby, mi

I couldn't help but point out the irony, heartandlogic, having both read the book and understanding Wallace's fixation on the English language - Infinite Jest is a 'tome' not a tomb, though in some ways I suppose for him it could have been both.

I began reading David Foster Wallace after my daughter was born. I was an English major at Berkeley and had always lived very much in my head. The catapult to heart and hands upon becoming a mother was shocking; it was a time when I was so emotionally porous, so exhausted from the day to day, so felled by love, that I found balance and joy and a return to what was only "mine," in David's cerebral, challenging work. Today David occupies my heart far more than my mind and I send all love to his family, especially his wife.

I began reading David Foster Wallace after my daughter was born. I was an English major at Berkeley and had always lived very much in my head. The catapult to heart and hands upon becoming a mother was shocking; it was a time when I was so emotionally porous, so exhausted from the day to day, so felled by love, that I found balance and joy and a return to what was only "mine," in David's cerebral, challenging work. Today David occupies my heart far more than my mind and I send all love to his family, especially his wife.

I was introduced to Infinite Jest by a boyfriend back in 1997. At the time, I was actually living in the part of Boston that is fictionalized as the locale of the tennis academy, and the book sucked me into a world that completely, totally took over my life. I remember finishing it in a deli (I never left home without it) while waiting for some friends. When they arrived, I excused myself, went to a pay phone, and called my boyfriend. When he answered, I simply said, "I finished it." Having been through the experience, he asked, "Are you OK?" I'll miss you, Dave. Thanks for the great, great ride.



"My boyfriend, who understood how this felt, having

I was introduced to Infinite Jest by a boyfriend back in 1997. At the time, I was actually living in the part of Boston that is fictionalized as the locale of the tennis academy, and the book sucked me into a world that completely, totally took over my life. I remember finishing it in a deli (I never left home without it) while waiting for some friends. When they arrived, I excused myself, went to a pay phone, and called my boyfriend. When he answered, I simply said, "I finished it." Having been through the experience, he asked, "Are you OK?" I'll miss you, Dave. Thanks for the great, great ride.



"My boyfriend, who understood how this felt, having

seconded dimitripunk. someone who declares ignorance and then ascribes judgment anyway is a fool and should seek success in politics. the world is a richer place for wallace's intellectual generosity and thanks to david gates for lending his voice on the matter.

David Foster Wallace, Dave, was very important to me, and my sadness--both because he is gone and because he had to suffer while he was here--is great. This article says better than others I've read today something about what his work was about and what a gift it was for someone to do the work of wrestling his thoughts onto the page to hold up a mirror for those of us with ???teeming, unruly??? skull-encased minds of our own. To let us into his mind in however a limited way; it was an intimacy many of us felt.

I itz ttL`/ radicalz that DUDrFW is t0t3z n0t halving 2 lisend 2 anym0r3 stupidz. #3 was relly awe-dical & 1 nVr wulduv p1@yd t3nni5 W/0 him5. also, u r probably 2 stoops to kare but if u can u shoud bcuz h3 mai B smarter then u thinx, d00tz. pees.

Thank you for this thoughtful and moving obituary. It saddens me that the man's courage to face his demons was not enough to take it past them. I will now read, Infinite Jest, a tomb whose size has put me off. We all experience the reverberations of modern life in what is supposed to be that Mr.Tamberline Man place of creation inside us; I am moved to read about a life that glorifies man's drive to know himself all costs, and I regret his loss.

based on the human sensitivity of velvetine, i understand why david wallace chose to leave this world. for a visionary it is clearly discouraging to realize that humanity has taken a wrong turn. i have a feeling velvetine considers themselves a religious person. i'm sure you have asked or bartered favors with your deity. read about his son. he too saw his own demise approaching. but continued on his path, to his end, undeterred. ddon'tdon't be afraid

Comment / Velvetine: Your icy inhumanity is an appalling reflection of the barbarity of our world that tormented this great American writer. His loss is an enormous tragedy. Take a look at yourself, please.

Comment / Velveteen--Your icy inhumanity is an appalling reflection of the barbarity of our world that tormented this great American writer. His loss is an enormous tragedy. Take a look at yourself, please.