Consider the lobster, and other essays

343 pages

English language

Published 2005 by Little, Brown.

OCLC Number:: 244642394

(1 review)

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 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, Wallace projects a quality of thought that is uniquely his and a voice as powerful and distinct as any in American letters.

4 editions

kerry reviewed Consider the Lobster by David Foster Wallace

Review of 'Consider the Lobster' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

The title essay is terrific - funny and erudite. The section on the annual porn awards ("Big Red Son") went on far too long. There's also a touching portrayal of immediate reactions to 9/11.

I have to admit that I listened to an audio recording of some of these essays, and did not listen to/read the entire book (although I would like to). I really enjoyed hearing DFW read his own work.