Vale David Foster Wallace

David Foster Wallace, author of Infinite Jest, The Broom of the System, Oblivion and other works  committed suicide on September 12, 2008, after a long battle with depression. The NYT’s A.O Scott describes him as an “ally and an influence, a link between the giants who inspired and enraged him and whoever comes next.” I bought Oblivion about two years ago, but didn’t get around to reading it. The day David Foster Wallace died, I read a story called “Incarnations of Burned Children.” When I recovered I read through the collection. One perfect story after another. (For an excellent review of this collection, see Adrienne Martini’s article on Bookslut.) Incarnations blew my mind. It singed my brain. It changed me. Not only because of its subject matter, but also because of its perfection. Like the sky on a clear night. It’s perfection made me feel small and that it was alright to feel that way.