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Consider the Lobster (A Story from Consider the Lobster)

By: David Foster Wallace
Narrated by: David Foster Wallace, Robert Petkoff
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Publisher's summary

Do lobsters feel pain? Did Franz Kafka have a funny bone? What is John Updike's deal, anyway? And what happens when adult video starlets meet their fans in person? David Foster Wallace answers these questions and more in essays that are also enthralling narrative adventures. Whether covering the three-ring circus of a vicious presidential race, plunging into the wars between dictionary writers, or confronting the World's Largest Lobster Cooker at the annual Maine Lobster Festival, Wallace projects a quality of thought that is uniquely his and a voice as powerful and distinct as any in American letters.

©2017 David Foster Wallace (P)2017 Hachette Audio

What listeners say about Consider the Lobster (A Story from Consider the Lobster)

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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting but rather dated

David Foster Wallace wrote interesting essays, however some of the topics in this book didn’t quite resonate well with international reader. Some were too political, and felt dated as it was written in early 2000. But some topics were really interesting and worth listening too.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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An odd beginning but an enjoyable ride.

Excellent narration! and overall enjoy experience with each essay. Do I found myself hooked to the inner workings of the authors mind.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good collection of his writings in one place

Performance is meh only because DFW narrates some of this work which is footnoted differently than the work the other narrator does. Other than that this was great.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

David Foster Wallace has the heart od god and the

There are so many essays in this collections of essays that you might never forget, like the one about 911 and the one regarding the biography of Dostoevsky. He was really the American treasure.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Intriguing and thought-provoking

DFW is a much-missed treasure, a true genius whose compelling language and unmatched humor will never be replicated, never be forgotten. These thought-provoking essays range in topic and scope, useful reading and musing for all.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazingly captivating

The whole audiobook is a testament of its time. I love hearing David’s voice. The other voice actor is great too.

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The most serious but comedic essays

Wallace has that refreshing gift of stating things how they are with wild detail, humor and at times a few extra steps to really unpack the topic at hand which is amazingly rare in writers who actually are purposefully writing comedy.
You can tell maximum thought goes into a moderately bias view of the world before we got to huge amounts of political correctness and micro aggression nonsense which Wallace experienced as a teacher and writer on many levels which is ironic to write this in the present time of 2024 right before another chaotic election year.

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Consider The Wallace

Narrator mislabeled: DFW with Robert Petkoff. Still a great collection. Rest In Peace Dave Wallace

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant writing

DFW is brilliant, witty, poignant and insightful. I highly suggest skipping the first story Big Red Son and checking out some of the others - The View from Mrs. Thompson’s or Up, Simba first. I am no prude but was pretty put off by aspects of Big Red Son and nearly DNF’d, which would have been a shame. The Audio formatting is pretty wonky and I would have preferred the chapters to have titles for easier skipping around or re-listening.

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Perfect.

This is a great pick if you like to pop in and out on an audiobook. Entertaining essays on everything from the adult film industry to grammar.

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4 people found this helpful