Sunday, September 14, 2008

David Foster Wallace Killed Himself



I just heard from Dan Coffey Sunday night that David Foster Wallace killed himself over the weekend. I'm really heartbroken.

8 comments:

Sharon said...

He must have really been suffering......hopefully he has transcended pain and is in peace.

Ruth said...

I didn't know his story enough to be ready for this, if there was any clue that it might come. Oh god, does the world just have to be so hard?

Sharon said...

I just wanted to respond to the comment you left on Ruth's blog but didn't want divert from the wonderful discussion between you guys and Rauf. So I will post it here and can you delete it if you'd like.

Anyways, I really connected with what you said and no I don't think it is a crutch. We humans are still evolving and that goes for our brain chemistry too. I came to fervently believe that years ago after starting Prozac for PMS. It didn't help the PMS much but it changed my life and quite honestly I would rather be dead than spend my days and all of my energy (like I did for my first 35+ years) just trying to maintain emotional balance. That is no way to live. Because of it I can truly be myself and experience life. So I don't think it's an issue of crutches or toughness. I think it's a matter of quality of life and evolution......having the self awareness and means to survive; to give to the world of ourselves, and to receive from the world all of it's beauty.
Thanks for everything to you and to Ruth and Rauf.....

Loring Wirbel said...

Thank you, Sharon. Delete this? Never!

John G said...

I always loved his loathing of irony and the essay "A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again" is the funniest thing I've ever read. I should finally pick up Infinite Jest.

Loring Wirbel said...

YES! "Funny Thing" is wonderful.

Loring Wirbel said...

Oops, "Supposedly FUN Thing..."

Ruth said...

Sharon, so glad I came back and read your comment. I wish you had posted it at sync, but thank you for your consideration. It would not have been a diversion one bit.

My sister has also been 'saved' by Prozac for some of the same PMS reasons, what a difference. And a nephew, her son actually, has seen his life transformed from one who could not leave the house to one who is energetic and creative to the extreme. Unfortunately we don't often hear the good stories about these aids.