For the first time ever available as an audiobook, Girl with Curious Hair is being produced as part of Hachette Audio's ambitious David Foster Wallace audiobook publishing program, joining Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, Consider the Lobster, and This is Water. (Broom of the System will be released in June 2010.)
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"Saggio di scrittura magistrale, ogni racconto perfettamente calibrato su un registro diverso. Alcuni sono difficili da intendere, anche perché si rimane ipnotizzati dagli arabeschi narrativi. Quattro stelle per i limiti di comprensione del lettore e non per la bravura dello scrittore! "
— Mauro (4 out of 5 stars)
“Wallace caused a critical stir with his first novel, The Broom of the System, and this volume of stories is likely to attract equal attention. His publisher talks about post -postmodernism, whatever that means, but there is a highly unusual eye and ear at work here, and an impressive armory of writerly skills.”
— Publishers Weekly“Actors Robert Petkoff and Joshua Swanson bring to life the humor and joy in Wallace’s writing.”
— Library Journal“The complex, bizarre, cerebral, and massively ironic tales in this 1989 volume defy short summary. Let’s just say they justify the late author’s high regard among critics and academics. In this recording, the real achievement belongs to actors Joshua Swanson and Robert Petkoff…they merit applause for courage, commitment, and imagination.”
— AudioFile" Lost this so I couldn't finish it :( but I really enjoyed it! The first story, "Little Expressionless Animals," was probably my favorite. "John Billy" was some trippy ****, think No Country For Old Men on acid. "
— Julie, 2/11/2014" How curious! I could not pay attention to this collection of short stories. I did read the story entitled LYNDON, a fictionalized account of LBJ, which I loved. But then, I loved LBJ. Otherwise, I find I am in the company of the folk David Foster Wallace wondered about when he posited the question, "Are readers sophisticated enough to read my books?" Well, no I am not. One reviewer has called Foster's BROOM OF THE SYSTEM an extravaganza. And that is how I would characterize the writing in this volume -- extravagant. It is as though there is something there for me, but I can't quite get at it. Curiouser and curiouser! "
— Linda, 2/7/2014" I'm a little bit sad that I didn't like this more. I did really enjoy the first story, 'Little Expressionless Animals', but the rest were just ok. I should note that I did not read the last (and largest) story, 'Westward the Course of the Empire Takes Its Way', because I've read that I need to read John Barth's 'Lost in the Funhouse' first in order to fully get/appreciate it. I'll come back and finish this book after I've done so. "
— Cait, 1/22/2014" Certainly uneven, but the highs are so deliriously high that my "head throbbed heartlike" and I just swoon. Of special note are the collection's bookend stories "Little Expressionless Animals" and "Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way", and also the magnificent "Lyndon". "
— James, 1/18/2014" A fantastic collection of bizarre stories. "
— Cybil, 1/17/2014" Is it wise (or, indeed, fair) to refer as the authorial voice present in these collected stories as precocious? There's a certain complexity within these tales that suggests the intellectual breadth that Wallace rode to the hilt in "Infinite Jest", but his antipathy towards postmodernity in the literature of his peers (as represented by college aged literati) suggests the petulant thrashing of an enfant terrible who hasn't quite discovered how to reconcile his affection for a practice with his disdain for its practitioners. Wallace's erudition, however, was beyond reproach even at this stage in his career. This is strenuous, but rarely strained, literature. Be forewarned. "
— Charles, 1/14/2014" This is my all-time favorite short story collection. Abundant in its digressions and humor and humanity. If you want to get lost in good writing, read this one. "
— Eleanor, 1/7/2014" Recommended over infinite jest, by a longshot. "
— Corprew, 1/2/2014" Solid early DFW - a number of good short stories, and one really long short-story-slash-novella that I'm still on the fence about. All but the last fairly readable and interesting, though some characters end up speaking in unnatural DFW-ese and there are a few too many abrupt cut-off endings. "
— Nick, 1/1/2014" "Little Expressionless Animals" is still one of the best examples of how a great story is crafted, in my opinion. That story is one of the reasons i wanted to study American Studies, and more specifically, popular culture. "
— Allison, 12/28/2013" The story on LBJ is particularly amazing, as are some others in the first half. By the last story, it gets to be a bit of a slog as DFW tackles post-modernist style in a thoroughly, well, post-modernist way. "
— Segalwilliams, 12/20/2013" Not DFW's best, but worth reading to witness an immense talent gradually discovering itself. "
— Mark, 12/14/2013" Couldn't finish the book, sorry. I'm in a time of my life I allow myself to not finish the book. I do want to read hideous men. And I glow his essays. "
— Sean, 12/9/2013" I highly recommend this collection of short stories. John Billy was my favorite, followed by Lyndon. This got me excited to finally read Infinite Jest. "
— Meggan, 12/9/2013" John Billy sent me to outer space. "
— Chris, 12/7/2013" Been a while, but I remember enjoying these very much. "
— Mac, 7/23/2012" so far, these stories are terrific. I can see why people gush over this guy. next up: Infinite Jest (as soon as I find a used copy, cuz, why not?) "
— Shotgunsnack, 5/5/2012" 'Lyndon' probably my favourite here. Will return to most of these methinks! "
— Tom, 4/6/2012" Bizarre short stories that are interesting, especially about LBJ. Solid Writing. "
— Nate, 3/25/2012" Good stuff. My introduction to DFW. "
— Douglas, 10/22/2011" I think this is the best introduction to David Foster Wallace. "Little Expressionless Animals" is my favorite short story. Kind of about TV, or America, or just loneliness. Guest starring Alex Trebeck and Pat Sajack. What a ballsy wonderful story. "
— Tim, 9/23/2011" Ho letto la prima volta questo libro quindici o venti anni fa. E per tutto questo tempo il racconto su Lyndon Johnson è rimasto nella mia mente. <br/>L'ho riletto, e ora mi pare di aver sempre conosciuto personalmente Lyndon Johnson. <br/>Ho capito la potenza della letteratura. "
— Holden, 6/24/2011" My favorite collection of DFW short stories. "
— Dave, 4/26/2011" I'm wavering between 3 and 4 stars here. <br/><br/>The writing is very good and each story is affecting, I just don't know how much I like how the stories affected me. Sad and painful stories have an important place and I think maybe I should reread this collection again. "
— Amy, 4/18/2011" so far, these stories are terrific. I can see why people gush over this guy. next up: Infinite Jest (as soon as I find a used copy, cuz, why not?) "
— Shotgunsnack, 4/14/2011" Pochi scrittori hanno la capacità narrativa del fu David. <br/>In questa serie di racconti prendoni vita ragazzi trani, perversioni strane, eccentriche figure da circo che prendono vita dai pensieri di David per raggiungerci ed afferrarci. "
— Terri, 3/29/2011" Not DFW's best, but plenty to like here, still... "
— Greg, 3/20/2011" I am a huge DFW fan, and there were parts that I loved in these stories as well. I have to say though that I found this collection... less inspired? than some of his other pieces. "
— Rev., 2/19/2011" It's a formative work, pocked with moments of brilliance that haven't quite found the best way to orient themselves yet. Still, early-DFW beats the pants off of most late-whatevers. "
— Greg, 2/5/2011David Foster Wallace (1962–2008) was the New York Times bestselling author of Infinite Jest, The Broom of the System, and Girl with Curious Hair. His essays and stories have appeared in Harper’s, the New Yorker, Playboy, Paris Review, Conjunctions, Premiere, Tennis, the Missouri Review, and the Review of Contemporary Fiction. He received numerous awards, including the Whiting Award, the Lannan Award for Fiction, the QPB Joe Savago New Voices Award, and the O. Henry Award.
Joshua Swanson is an actor and voiceover talent. He’s worked in major motion pictures and television and as a voice talent has worked in all facets of the business. An award-winning audiobook narrator with over sixty titles to his name, Swanson has won five AudioFile Earphones Awards.
Robert Petkoff is an actor and audiobook narrator who has won a prestigious Audie Award and multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards and has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice. He has appeared on Chappelle’s Show, Law & Order, and Quantum Leap. His Broadway credits include Sir Robin in Spamalot, Perchik in Fiddler on the Roof, and Tateh in Ragtime.