Infinite Summer

via GabrielleKai on Etsy

Yesterday was the first day in about two weeks the temperature didn’t reach 100º or higher. “But Christine,” you may say, “you live in Texas! Aren’t you use to this? Isn’t this normal?” No, it is not normal to have record breaking temperatures of 107º in June. That sort of nonsense is usually reserved for the end of July and the month of August. Summer arrived in Austin long before June 21st and it is here to stay for what will feel like an infinite amount of time.

Which brings me to Infinite Summer.

Remember way back on June 13th when I said (and I quote):

…it hardly seems the time of year to be reading heavy tomes…

I am eating those words right now. Shortly after writing that post, I read (via John Green’s twitter account—hurray for Nerdfighters!) about Infinite Summer, an online read-a-long and discussion site for “Infinite Jest” and was intrigued. I’ve read a few of David Foster Wallaces’ essays and I knew of “Infinite Jest”, but I didn’t know if I could obtain a copy in time to join or if I really wanted to commit to reading such a book this summer. The idea stuck with me, however, and mentions of Infinite Summer continued to pop up in my daily internet reading, but it wasn’t until I read the guide introductions and saw someone refer to House of Leaves (one of the most amazing books I’ve read) as Infinite Jest junior that I resolved to join the group. So yesterday I picked up my own copy (the last one available in Austin, I do believe) at the fabulous Bookpeople:

Let me tell you, I knew it was massive but I wasn’t quite expecting this. If nothing else, it would make an excellent paperweight or doorstop!

So here is to making blanket statements, carrying around a four pound book until October and the indescribable feeling this book nerd gets knowing that there are thousands of people all over the world reading the same book at the same moment in time. Care to join?

Infinitely yours,