Comments on: David Foster Wallace, RIP

By: Steven Harris

Steven Harris — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:18:31 +0000

Great remembrance, Jessamyn. Really reinforces what I’ve read about his humanism (in his work and stuff about him). I’m still in shock and saddened. He was in a lot of pain.

By: Elysia

Elysia — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:05:54 +0000

I can remember reading pieces written by him with my highlighter in hand. My good friend and I would call each other to discuss the best passages… What a shame…what a loss for all of us.

By: library riot » David Foster Wallace, 1962-2008

library riot » David Foster Wallace, 1962-2008 — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 02:54:29 +0000

[...] I’m really not good for words at times like this, so I’ll defer to Jessamyn, who writes, I don’t think I was necessarily any more favorite than any of his other students, just that he [...]

By: ramblings » Blog Archive » Bangs and Whimpers

ramblings » Blog Archive » Bangs and Whimpers — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:26:58 +0000

[...] community. Watching the comments on that post, and later posts by Steve and Steven and Rochelle and Jessamyn, I was bouyed somewhat from the awful shock of it because I was connected to so many people for [...]

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 01:35:20 +0000

Thanks Jon, I fixed the post.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:49:36 +0000

Thank you for sharing your story. The loss is devastating.

By: jon

jon — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:16:26 +0000

If you are like me, a librarian who enjoys both David Foster Wallace and the idea of a Total Weed Orgy, you might like to know that his story “Three Protrusions” is actually in The Pushcart Prize XVIII: 1993-1994. Thanks for the personal remembrance.

By: Sean

Sean — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:56:17 +0000

I’m sad too.

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:26:02 +0000

Thanks for the sharing. For some strange reason I find myself affected by his passing – similar to the day John Lennon died. I ask why it is affecting me.

I am familiar with his writing but saddened that he seemed all to distracted by being self-conscious about the depth of his own originality. More than original he was unique, in particular in seeing the nub of an issue that to mere mortals (which we truly are now that he is gone) there wasn’t really an issue until he pointed it out. I guess that is the mathematical precision of his thinking, going to the root of the equation yet appreciating the different formulaic routings on the way.
Too bad he couldn’t just enjoy it.
Best regards.

By: rebecca

rebecca — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:06:39 +0000

that’s a fabulous story. thanks for sharing.

By: rochelle hartman

rochelle hartman — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:29:39 +0000

Like Steve, the full realization hit me last night, when I saw that people I already care about are having the same reactions and have had the same lovely experiences with Dave as I have. Makes me even more glad to be part of our community.

By: genevieve

genevieve — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 04:03:37 +0000

That’s beautiful, Jessamyn. Thank you.

By: Cory

Cory — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 02:34:24 +0000

I have no personal connection to DFW and thus can’t explain my sadness about his death but reading your tribute makes me feel better.

By: marilyn mason

marilyn mason — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:42:02 +0000

Lovely story. Thanks so much for sharing.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:29:42 +0000

Made misty-eyed as well, and I didn’t know the man. But, like you, suicide always saddens me – I felt the same way when I heard that Spaulding Gray had died – like, “Aww, man, they couldn’t beat it.” Very sad indeed.