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Di Carne E Di Nulla (2013)

by David Foster Wallace(Favorite Author)

3.79 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

8806214799 (ISBN13: 9788806214791)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Einaudi

review 1: NOTE TO FUTURE SELF: This one was okay, and probably recommended for fans only. With that said, when you find yourself stumbling upon this book years from now, I don't think that you'll feel compelled to pick up BOTH FLESH AND NOT and give it a re-read. Posthumously published, this collection of essays, reviews, and general nonfiction features material that probably wasn't good enough to publish in either CONSIDER THE LOBSTER or A SUPPOSEDLY FUN THING I'LL NEVER DO AGAIN. "Federer Both Flesh And Not" features (probably) the only moment that gave me pause for reflection. It's easily the best of the bunch, however there are a few others (e.g., the one about democracy and commerce at the US open) that showed sparks of Why People Love David Foster Wallace. Other pieces o... moref BOTH FLESH AND NOT will vary wildly based on your interests -- if you read WITTGENSTEIN'S MISTRESS, Wallace's review will be insightful; if you love grammar and syntax, his piece about commonly misused words will also appeal to you. It's hard not to be disappointed by BOTH FLESH AND NOT, which is why this stuff wasn't bounded, collected, and published during Wallace's life.
review 2: Released posthumously, i'm not sure if every essay in here was worth putting in, or if DFW would put them in himself (unless i'm misunderstanding how/who chose what goes in these collections). Anyways, Both Flesh and Not doesn't really compare to A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again or Consider the Lobster. There is no essay that really stood out to me like E Unibus Pluram or his other notable essays did. The title essay, 'Federer Both Flesh and Not', was interesting (probably more so if you like tennis) but not as memorable as I would've liked. Lots of shorter pieces such as the review ones seemed a bit unneeded or novelty-like. Not that the essays were bad, however. Often times I felt myself forgetting about what I was reading and not having issue with it, because Wallace's tone and way of writing is soothing in a way that alone makes him worth reading (Then again, I read a lot of this on subway rides in short bursts, it's very well possible I skimmed over some valuable information which would change my rating). If you've enjoyed Wallace's other essays and want to read more, you may find something you like here. Probably wouldn't recommend it otherwise, or at least not as a whole. less

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Reviews (see all)

Haylee

This collection of essays is another posthumously published work of Wallace's that sort of somehow lacks any real coherence w/r/t any one essay's relationship to another. They're not all dedicated to one subject or topic or idea or group of subjects or topics or ideas. Which is fine. It's fine because Wallace's interests were multiform, and myriad, and beaucoup. And it's fine because his prose is so clear, his voice so present, that reading anything he's written ante or post Sep. 12, 2008 is an absolute fucking delight that I'm clearly having trouble getting over even as I'm writing this review for a collection of essays that no one is going to read (the review, not the collection). The essay from which this collection takes its title is about watching R. Federer playing tennis as a religious experience; DFW is (was?) both flesh and not.

andrea

I love DFW's essays. At the same time, they infuriate me. His writing is so good, so seemingly effortless, that it makes my own work seem so small.Both Flesh and Not collects the bits and pieces yet published in book form. His epic piece on Roger Federer is here, and it alone is worth checking this book out. There are some essays that went way over my head. Specifically, his literary criticisms. There's an essay on Terminator 2 that's just awesome, and the rest I couldn't connect with.And the one on grammar made me mad. I though I was good at grammar, but DFW would say no.Worth a look, but read his other books first. Especially Consider the Lobster. RIP, DFW.

tamar

would have given 5 stars but 3 of the essays were over my head

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