I had this plan to read Infinite Jest this Summer. So I asked if anyone wanted to read it with me. I expected to hear only the sound of crickets in return, but this is the internet and the internet loves to surprise me, so instead I heard a chorus of “I do!”
I was like, “Yes!”
Then I thought about how we might do this. And I talked to a few people about it. Then I thought about it some more. Now I must admit that I still have no idea how to proceed. If I was starting a book club, I certainly wouldn’t choose Infinite Jest as the first book. It’s huge and, well, that’s pretty much all I know about it because I haven’t read it yet.
So I’m thinking we keep it pretty simple. We’ll try to keep a pace of 100 pages a week (so it will take us most of the Summer) and we’ll try to find different ways to talk about it (on our blogs, on twitter, maybe in vlogs, even a group chat if there’s the interest). Some of the guides on the Infinite Summer site might be helpful.
The real goal is just to read the book. It probably won’t be easy, but we can do it together. Join me!
Here’s what you should do:
1. Let me know you want to participate! (Even if you have already; I’ll make a contact list.)
2. Get a copy of Infinite Jest.
3. Start reading June 1st.
4. Participate in discussions, start discussions, or just read along.
5. Finish reading August 13th. High fives with me are required.
Pace Keeper (Hard Copy):
June 1: Page 1
June 5: Page 30
June 12: Page 100
June 19: Page 200
June 26: Page 300
July 3: Page 400
July 10: Page 500
July 17: Page 600
July 24: Page 700
July 31: Page 800
August 7: Page 900
August 13: Done! We win!
Pace Keeper (Ebook–Thanks Kathleen!):
June 19: Page 254
June 26: Page 382
July 3: Page 509
July 10: Page 636
July 17: Page 763
July 24: Page 891
July 31: Page 1018
August 7: Page 1145
August 13: Done!
Participants
Allison – Lemonade Life/@AMBlass
Amy - Just a Titch/@justatitch
Andrea - andreadisaster.com/@andreadisaster
Berrak – DC Princess/@DC_PQ
Bri – Habbala/@habbala
Christa – Growing Up Ginsburg/@christagins
Clare – Never Niche/@clareyt
Danielle – Wonju Wife/@wonjuwife
Ellen - Company of Clever/@companyofclever
Gina – Gina Marie Rose/@gina_marierose
Heather – Musings of a Girl/@yesthatgirl
Jenn – Avec Moi/@jennbizzle
Jeremiah – –/–
Katherine - purekatherine/@purekatherine
Kathleen - Kapachino/@kapachino
Lisa Jennea – LisaJennea/@lisajennea
Meg Life in Bloom/@megaug
Melissa – By Melissa/@bymelissa
Miranda – Imperfectly Candid/@MprfectlyCandid
Nico - nicopolitan/@nicopolitan
Nicole – Nicole Marie Says/@nicolemariesays
Rachel – Rachelskirts/@rachelskirts
Stevie – Seattle Stevie/@seattlestevie
Kate – Suburban Sweetheart/@heysuburban
Suki - Super Duper Fantastic/@suki
Tabitha - Probably Tabitha/@probablytabitha
Terra – Terra Bear/@terrabear
Tom – Week 11/@tomfromhr
Tom - Winston-Salem’s Lone Beatnik/@tbevilacqua1034
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
Damn, that’s a big book :o i would love to join you, but i don’t own the book. And even if the library would have it, i don’t think they’d like it if i would keep it all summer.
If there would be an e-book version, maybe i could join.
There’s at least a version for the Nook, so I assume there also is for the Kindle. Hurray! Less weight to carry!
Also, HEY! SIGN ME UP! I’m totally up for joining insane book clubs or reading programs or anything to do with promoting literacy. :)
Rachel: Do you have a Nook? Have you seen the new touch one that came out this week? (I bought a Nook last week, and three days later they announced the new one. BOO.) How do you like it?
Ashely: Gah, I am so tempted to jump on board with this, but I’m hoping to finish the Harry Potter books (6 & 7) this summer! I don’t know if I can handle that many pages. :-P
Tabitha! Yes, I have a Nook (the original). A week ago, my mom got the Nook Color from my “I give the best presents ever” brother. Both of us love them. I wasn’t interested in the Color because I don’t want my reading device to be backlit; the temptation to read in poor lighting is already too great for me. However, the Color’s full touchscreen makes navigation a lot easier for book purchasing and whatnot.
It looks like the newly released one will pretty much bring together the best of all worlds, soooo I need to have it, haha. :)
To sum up: we love B&N, and we love our Nooks. If you’re interested, you can follow the link for the (private, rambly) review I wrote after one week of owning mine: http://rachelskirts.tumblr.com/private/406343531/tumblr_kya253Ft0s1qz80h5
Yeah, I have no interest in the Nook Color. So, as an expert on all things Nook, would you recommend I trade in my Nook for the new touch one? My biggest hesitation is that it doesn’t offer 3G, but since I don’t actually have my Nook yet (it arrives today!), I don’t even know how important it will be to have 3G. (FYI, I don’t have a B&N store near me. The closest one is like an hour away.)
In other news, I hope we’re not annoying Ashley with this conversation! If you wanna email me, feel free! (tabitha dot blog at gmail dot com) :-P
Over 1100 pages? Wow. Sounds like a great summer challenge that will be in interesting. I may try to get a copy from the library.
I’m excited to follow along with you guys even though I won’t be re-reading along! I will definitely keep my annotated copy on hand for discussions though (although I must ship it back to CA with my other books some time in the middle).
Oh my goodness. I’m eying this mountain and wondering if I have it in me to scale it. On one hand, I’m a head in my resolution of 40 books this week. On the other hand, 1100 pages, Ashley? What are you doing to us. I’m going to go to our university library to see if they have it. University libraries let us keep books for forever. Austin Public Library lets us keep it maximum 4 weeks.
Still decided of I think I can do this. Wait, yeah, I think I want to do this. At least try, anyway.
i have the book. i will do this. i’ve never finished it. :P
This is so my type of thing. I’m just wondering if I can do it, considering I have another book club to keep up with and I’m expecting a baby in July. However, it’s only about 15 pages a day so…if I can get a copy by June 1st, count me in!
So excited please sign me up! Thanks for coordinating all of us on the internets!
I’m in!
I’m in!
Oh, I am most certainly in.
Ok, I’m in. I know I told you I’ve tried to read it several times before, but maybe this time around I’ll finish it!
Thanks for putting this together :-)
You know I’m in. I just got my copy last Friday.
I’m in. So excited about this. I found a free copy of the kindle (.mobi) version. If anyone wants it, I can email it over. :) I’m not sure if it works well with all the footnotes though, it might be better to just buy the Kindle version. I’ll update as I find out and if anyone wants it I will gladly send it out.
I’m totes in! I’m picking up my copy at work tonight. Unless I decide to get the new Nook, in which case I will get a digital version! Perhaps I’ll see if my mom wants to join us!
Okay, I have had a copy of this book for some time now and have really missed the point of it because I wasn’t being guided along it. This might actually make me finish it!
I’m in!
It is hard for me to commit at this time but I think this is a wonderful idea.
Me too, me too! I totally want in on this and I just ordered it from Amazon. Yay for blogger book club!
YES. I’m in, if there’s still room of course. I’ve been looking to get back into reading this summer, and I’ve been meaning to acquaint myself with DFW for some time now.
http://imperfectlycandid.net
@MprfectlyCandid
Oh, oh, yes! I would definitely like to join in on this! I’ve actually had a copy on my bookshelf for sometime now – always a bit too nervous to tackle it. This is the perfect excuse, and I won’t be doing it alone. Phew!
Oh hi yes me too still please. Wheeee!
I am so totally psyched…if we finish this on target, we totally rock. {and, even if we don’t, we still rock, of course.}
Count me in, too!
Oh what the hell. I’m in! :) Downloading it on my Kindle (no way I’m carrying around that big of a book) today.
Is it too late to sign up to participate? I need a reading challenge!
I missed the original post about this…Can I still sign up for it?
I know I’m late too. Can I still sign up?
I am really late I know but I would like to join if it is still possible.
Natalie
Hello, I’m even later than anyone above, but could I still join? I read Infinite Jest last summer and have now just started my second round and feel the great urge to TALK!!! about it.
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