Status Updates From Consider the Lobster and Ot...

Eighth essay, Consider the Lobster, after which this whole book is titled.

It was awesome. Funny, uncomfortable, and almost as good as Up,Simba, the John McCain one.

Very short, unfortunately. The ethics of boiling lobsters alive for human enjoyment is definitely his strongest premise, so I wish it were at least as long as his essays about McCain’s campaign trail or the porn industry’s annual awards show.

Seventh essay - this one took me a while.
DFW is a reporter for Rolling Stone along for the hilarious ride that is John McCain’s 2000 presidential campaign trail.

Of the seven I’ve read so far, this is my favorite. Really funny, super engaging and interesting, kind of thought provoking if you’re not already distrustful of politicians and their ulterior motives. Mostly just fun.

AND LIKE NO FOOTNOTES THANK GOD

Sixth essay which is a highly critical review of tennis prodigy Tracy Austin’s sports autobiography. DFW Just rips it and talks about how good it could’ve been, then loosely compares himself to superstar athletes (kind of, not really). It was fine. I agree with his assessment of the state of modern sports autobiographies. Obviously, I’ve never read one myself. DFW has certainly convinced me to stay the course.

Fifth essay. About his experience watching “The Horror” unfold on 9/11 in the home of his old lady church-mate neighbor. I liked it. He wrote much more normally in this one. Of the five essays so far, he was oldest when he wrote this. I thought that was interesting, because he really reads as a much younger man here.