The Broom Of The System, David Foster Wallace BOOK REVIEW

[@Craw1011]

Love your reviews. I know you haven't posted anything in a while so just wanted to say I hope you're doing well you beautiful person of the internet :)

[@andrewc930]

I just had to subscribe after finding your video on IJ which I am currently reading. I love the way you think; how you take considerations for the opposing argument while avoiding fallacies and staying on topic. You embody the characteristics that make a great critic. Thanks!

[@whisperthafreak7101]

I checked the comment section for your review of Infinite Jest and could hardly find anyone with negative things to say about the book, aside from a few folks simply commenting that they couldn't finish it and mostly attributing that to their own personal taste or reading limitations. I only gazed through three years of comments, so maybe they might have been left prior to that, or maybe they're on another video. The overwhelming response that i noted seems to people who either loved the book or were encouraged to read it because they loved your review.

[@marshall8525]

I would definitely want to see your review of your Lolita based solely on the fact that your perspectives and how you review books while keeping it digestible makes me v happy, whilst you're emotional reactions give me life ykno

[@RyanRabid]

sounds like some great reasons for a lolita review :) duly noted. I'm very likely to make one this week

[@timetoread1795]

I have only read Consider the Lobster, but after reading that one essay collection I preeeettttyy much want to read everything he has ever written? Maybe?

[@RyanRabid]

I think that's a worthy goal :) ahahahaha

[@timetoread1795]

Hahahaha, yes yes :)

[@LavenderHoney2]

I just finished White Noise by Don DeLillo a few days ago (and watched your review of it like an hour ago. I'm late to the party) and GoodReads was like "hey you might like this book too", recommending The Broom Of The System. Would this book be worth picking up if I enjoyed White Noise?

[@clarissas5651]

Review Lolita, definitely! I am currently rereading it and would love to hear what you have to say. Great video, as usual!

[@monishgowda5975]

Nobakov's wordplay(like Eminem in the rap game) and his way of articulating such sensitive complex topic is awesome.Lolita was a bit dragged in the middle, but I drooled all over the page for his wordplay. Awesome read.

[@RyanRabid]

I'm thinking I'll work on it this week, then, since y'all have commented quite a bit across a few videos :)

[@RyanRabid]

the wordplay had me drooling, too!

[@DanMartinlikesyou]

I will now read this novel. Thanks, Ryan.

[@RyanRabid]

Here's to hoping it treats you well :)

[@jamesnetwall6168]

thank you for reviewing this book. it hooked me and served as a good beginning to DFW. I notice you mostly review novels. Does this mean you will not review his short story collection or essays?

[@RyanRabid]

thanks for the comment! I'm not sure -- I can imagine a day when I would have a review for every DFW book, but that day would be at least a year in the making. I want to do justice to The Pale King first, and maybe make some more IJ videos. But I'm *definitely* not opposed :)

[@mounicornsplz]

i hope you can read and maybe review Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

[@RyanRabid]

man, so many of y'all keep saying that :) it almost makes a guy want to read and review it! (soon, hopefully)

[@Bob_Wiseman]

Awesome work Ryan. You are a mensch.

[@thisisyrrobotfriend]

Please please review Lolita! I don't like the idea of forgiving a books failings because the author was young but at the same time that doesn't make me feel less inclined to give Broom of the System a shot someday. And ultimately your review makes me so curious to read it because I want to know what happens in those last lines!

[@RyanRabid]

I've got complicated feelings about the youth thing.. particularly after seeing Zadie Smith at an even take an emphatic dump on White Teeth, which I had just absorbed and loved. For me (for now at least) I'm trying to just think about the author's youth as a consideration after the fact, after I've decided on the book one nuanced way or the other. (definitely not a foolproof idea). Good comment, you've got me thinking!:)

[@thisisyrrobotfriend]

Oh wow I had no idea she wasn't super proud of it! I wasn't totally crazy about it myself (don't hate me!) so actually hearing that makes me more interested in going back to her newer work. It's certainly a complicated idea to deal with. Authors are just humans too after all, but I like works to stand on their own for the most part. But... sometimes you really do need context! Hmmm, I dunno!

[@RyanRabid]

yrrobotfriend I felt the exact same way after hearing her say that: I bought On Beauty to motivate myself to read some more of her stuff! :)

[@michaelrhodes4712]

"I will choose Free Will"

[@KnowledgelostOrgOnline]

The Broom of the System sounds interesting and I think I need to read more David Foster Wallace...even want to reread Infinite Jest. Also yes, review Lolita, please.

[@RyanRabid]

Yes to Lolita then! I failed to say this in the video (ah, regrets) but I think I'm also at the most ideal time in my life to have read Broom.

[@KnowledgelostOrgOnline]

There is so much to say about Lolita. I am always tempted to re-read (again) it just to review it on my channel

[@RyanRabid]

you should! I'd watch it in a heartbeat :)

[@robertbaillargeon3683]

Alright, I'm sold on this one. Until now, the only person's opinion I had heard on this book was David Foster Wallace's. Also, I 100% found this channel from the Infinite Jest review, so take that for what you will.

[@RyanRabid]

That's good to know, actually -- maybe I should be easier on that video. I do think that video is the video that I'm most proud of and the video which was most important in my development as a reviewer so far... but it's hilarious to watch the hate comments roll in :). If you do read it, let me know!

[@TheBobbybare]

I agree with you totally, but saying that having a working knowledge of Wittegenstein's theories helps understand some concepts clearly.

[@tortoisedreams6369]

Seems to me that a good reader should be able to find something in any of the books of a good author, that helps the reader learn more about the author and the author's work as a whole. Each of an author's books (even weaker ones) tells you (at least) a little more about the author and the other books. Does that make sense? And yes, please do a book review of Lolita.

[@RyanRabid]

It makes total sense -- and I agree -- if what you are looking for in a book is a better understanding of an author at large or an author's work in total. It's a legitimate way to read and can't be ignored. But in terms of *reviewing* books, I'm all about trying to give each book it's own fair day in the sun :) if that makes sense?

[@tortoisedreams6369]

Of course ... read globally, read locally. :o)

[@RUTKN2ME92]

PLEASE REVIEW LOLITA Also, please make a subreddit! Ok, I know this is asking a lot and I know you are not a superhuman who can review ALL THE BOOKS, but honestly, I think people would have so many brilliant and constructive things to say about the novel and I think it would be fascinating to not only hear your thoughts, which are wonderful, but to hear everyone else's thoughts, as well. I just have so many feelings and thoughts and ideas about Lolita and I need to shout them at someone who will listen and understand! :)

[@RyanRabid]

Sooooo I'm definitely taking the steps to make a subreddit. So keep your eyes peeled for that :) Also, it's looking like a lot of you want a Lolita review, so I might work on that this week. I can definitely be the shouting outlet for you! haha :)

[@PaperBird]

good to see this. his thesis on fatalism is also remarkable for that young age

[@RyanRabid]

I hear it'd be quite hard for a lay-thinker to digest... what do you think?

[@PaperBird]

+ForTheLoveOfRyan some pretty daunting logic in it but overall not too bad and very insightful. also a great counterpoint to broom

[@Misserbi]

I have an idea of what this book is about and cannot help but think the yellow object on the cover you are waving around looks like the Grinch upside down.

[@AdamGenesisArt]

Hey thanks for the video. You should do a review on the discovery of heaven.

[@dylancrist2591]

Why do you hate the word theme?

[@billypilgrim1]

Is the David Lipsky book any good? I watched "End of Tour" and I felt it was more about Lipsky than DFW, plus Jesse Eisenberg apparently just knows how to act as Mark Zuckerberg.

[@monishgowda5975]

Jason Segel was awesome.

[@billypilgrim1]

Monish Gowda That's very true

[@RyanRabid]

To be honest, the book is definitely about Lipsky. I thought Jesse Eisenberg captured pretty well how much Lipsky was internalizing everything DFW said, and seeing it through this ultra-particular lens. It's a pretty good read, especially if you are aware going in that Lipsky is coming at it from a certain angle which colors everything.

[@billypilgrim1]

ForTheLoveOfRyan I will definitely give it a try.

[@monishgowda5975]

+ForTheLoveOfRyan I am reading Infinite Jest now (Finally, I got guts to pick up such an ambitious and mammoth work after watching yours and the bookchemist review, which were awesome as always!!) and I am enjoying every page of it.I started reading his articles and essays and Am I the only one who feels that DFW's non fiction is a bit prolix? He goes on and on repeating the same thing again and again in order to get his point across.Maybe because he thinks reader's aren't smart enough to understand what he's trying to say? I don't know. I read some of his articles like en unnbis plurum, the depressed person and his essay collection consider the lobster etc. May I know the starting point for a DFW non fiction noobie? Thank you.

[@louisofpointedulac]

Yeah man, You should review Lolita and give us Your thoughts. I'm very intrigued.

[@RyanRabid]

Duly noted. Strongly considering. Likely happening. Commenting Two. Words at. A time. :)

[@reidcarlson7623]

Ok it might just be because I'm dumb but... The ending. I was waiting for things to kinda get wrapped up a little bit then it just ended. It might have just have been because I was anticipating a more completeness to the events happening but I feel like things ended right when they were starting to come together.

[@Omnishred]

I have a question to ask but it's kind of vulnerable on my part. Would you be willing if I private messaged you?

[@RyanRabid]

go for it!

[@levitybooks3952]

But how many guys will never wear their mom's makeup? That's gotta be an achievement of some kind!

[@matt00794]

I loved the first half of this book. it is funny and well written and deals with some interesting characters but it just felt empty to me. the book didn't seem interested in the characters or ideas but really just wanted to show them off like a circus. I have read books a lot longer than this but what made those successful was that those felt like they needed those pages. one of my favorite books is a river run through it. in the book the writer's dad always had him cut half out of each of his stories or papers to cut out anything unnecessary. Obviously you want some art in everything but this book just feels bloated and a lot of the ideas would have been more fulfillingly explored if a lot of the junk was cut out so we can deal with those questions. If anyone is reading this comment I would love more books that are this well written but have more to them.

[@jeffreywilson9913]

My Struggle, (6 books...yeah, and over three thousand words)by Norwegian author Karl Ove Knausgaard.Raymond Carver,Cathedral.John Fante,Ask The Dust

[@libraryofthelabyrinth]

Same! The first half really had me and then I just got confused.

[@toamatau8785]

This is a great way to put it. Broom has a lot of elements that would go on to become common in his other works but this one is just totally lacking the warmth and empathy that IJ and TPK have, for example. It doesn't feel like the novel cares about anything that's happening, it just kind of vomits things out for the sake of doing so.

[@LetsFindOut1]

0:38 lol. subbed.

[@vagingo]

I did not care for this book at all. The characters all seemed the same to me and found the surreal aspects to be more silly and asinine and never felt compelled to keep reading. I've considered picking up infinite jest to see if it's better; I'm always willing to give an author a second chance.

[@iliasliakos6692]

as long as its not about fucking tennis!

[@mperhaps]

I don't understand this guy, he has on no make up, no lip gloss and no eyeliner and he expects us to take him seriously? That's just weird.

[@eevans545]

We be Ohioans. You had it right, cap'n

[@holyarmageddon19]

You need a haircut.

[@yelenachizhik952]

Lolita is boring.

[@RyanRabid]

eh.