A Supposedly Fun Thing Ill Never Do Again Cover Art

• Karen
• 08-20-13

Wonderful book, terrible narration!

I had read this book just wanted to listen to it equally well. The writing is all the same wonderful, merely clearly the narrator doesn't sympathise the material. He uses sarcasm when the writer is not being sarcastic, makes huge reading mistakes (he calls Louise Erdrich "Louis," for example), and changes meanings by emphasizing parts of sentences that don't make sense.

Fortunately, the writing makes the awful reader less damaging.

51 people found this helpful

• Kindle Customer
• 08-09-12

Overdramatic narrator for my taste

Would y'all be willing to try another one of Paul Garcia's performances?

I'grand certain peoples' tastes on this vary a lot, just... I listened to "Consider the Lobster" a while agone, which is a similar book of essays by DFW, merely that book is narrated by DFW. This book is narrated by Paul Garcia. The reading style is vastly different between the two books. DFW's reading manner is pretty restrained, like a lot of authors. By comparison - Paul Garcia brings a lot of expression to the reading - his reading of the book sounds sort of similar a dramatic monologue, at least compared to the comparatively straightforward approach taken by the author, which sounds like, well, like someone reading from a volume. I prefer DFW's reading immensely. I find Paul Garcia's reading hither really distracting, and information technology interferes a lot with my enjoyment of the book. Again - I'g sure this is a matter of sense of taste, and some people volition prefer information technology. Merely if you lot are the sort of person who prefers a more affectless reading style, this may bug you as it bugs me.

38 people found this helpful

• T. Prizer
• 06-08-18

Best book, WORST narrator Ever

I have never in my life plant a clearer example of the fact that a Swell book, read poorly, tin can be completely indigestible, intolerable, and loathsome. Anyone familiar with David Foster Wallace, especially those familiar with his speaking/reading voice, will be utterly appalled at Paul Garcia'southward utter destruction of this unbelievably expert book. His tone is haughty and contrived; Wallace's is subdued, soothing, and understated. Garcia places emphasis in the strangest and most inexplicable of places, and he does so judgement after judgement later judgement. I found myself trying to moving picture the words, even imagine Wallace's voice, while trying to cake Garcia's nauseating tone. But this proved incommunicable. Accept in Wallace's work like the air you breathe, simply avert this audiobook similar the plague. Can nosotros delight get Robert Petkoff to read this???? ANYONE but Paul Garcia??

15 people institute this helpful

• Erik A. Hanson
• 06-eleven-13

Corking writing, middling reading.

Where does A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again rank among all the audiobooks you lot've listened to so far?

The essay genre is well suited for audio format, where thoughts can trip the light fantastic without wandering likewise far, and there's no strong need to write downward anything for reference later, apart from well turned phrases we might want to await back on for inspiration.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

David Foster Wallace was a master of the essay form.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Paul Garcia?

I don't know whom I would have chosen over Paul Garcia, but information technology was articulate from the reading the manner things ought to have been read, but weren't. I retrieve a chiasmus or 2 read in a way that seemed oblivious to the relation of the 2 sentences, and it hurt to hear.

Was this a book you wanted to mind to all in one sitting?

I could mind to each entry in ane go, but it's refreshing enough and light plenty, nevertheless coherent enough to only hear as much as fits in a walk, jog or commute, to be picked up after. Once again, kudos to the author.

8 people institute this helpful

• Kim
• 03-27-13

Clever.....but just blah

David Foster Wallace is a genius and an excellent writer - I take respect for his talent, his clear mastery of the English linguistic communication and his ability to paint a pic. That said, this book was just mode too much of him at one time. I tin can encounter how his articles would exist big hits on an individual basis only as a drove they simply fall flat and I had a hard time soldiering through each chestnut and exhausting train of thought trying to go to the side by side field of study. I was tickled at times - merely nothing here to LOL about (at least the 3/4 that I listened to before setting it bated). Those of yous who long for seriously intelligent commentary and sophistication will probably love this - it'south got class - maybe just too much for my lowbrow sense of humor and mutual tastes.

13 people constitute this helpful

• Bill at Torg Stories
• 03-01-13

Life Through David Foster Wallace's Eyes

I waited a little likewise long to write this review, just here we go: I'm from Indiana and grew up playing basketball, and I enjoyed Wallace describing his years travelling the Midwest and the dodgy style of gritty tennis he played. He relished the oestrus, the bugs, and the surprise gusts of wind while others complained of their foul luck. Memorable pieces on the IL state fair and a trip on a luxury cruise liner. Listened to this as I read Michael Martone'south The Flatness and Other Landscapes. A practiced pair.

4 people found this helpful

• eabbel
• eleven-21-18

brilliant just dated fabric

this sounded like the narrator's start read; he did non know how to pronounce several words and proper names, and mis-read the emphasis in long sentences. every bit ever, Hachette is likewise lazy to marshal "capacity" with any meaningful divisions inside the book, even in this, a collection of essays with titled sub-sections! so the chapter segments are typically meaningless and unhelpful.

three people found this helpful

• Scott
• 06-26-12

Bang-up Drove of Articles from DFW

Would yous heed to A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Practice Again again? Why?

I would. Peradventure in a few years. I would listen to some of the articles I liked improve than others just they were dense enough and entertaining that they could require multiple listening if you lot liked them the starting time time around.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

I would have to say the combination of his razor precipitous observations combined with his critical sense of self awareness. Also, the variety of the articles.

Which character – as performed past Paul Garcia – was your favorite?

That doesn't actually apply hither. There are a few characters throughout but no stand-out favorites.

What's the most interesting tidbit you've picked up from this book?

Hard to say. At that place's a lot of information here as each piece is quite long.

Any additional comments?

An overall stiff collection of David Foster Wallace'south articles from the early to mid 90s, including a great piece on David Lynch's prepare of 'Lost Highway', a Canadian lawn tennis tourney, the Illinois State Fair, and aboard a luxury prowl ship. Wallace'southward style of razor sharp, surgical precision, that can oft times come off equally harsh, combined with his critical sense of cocky sensation is on full display here. Paul Garcia does a great task of capturing DFW's voice and spirit.

iii people found this helpful

• Joshua Fields Millburn
• x-29-12

Even funnier aloud

Where does A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Once more rank among all the audiobooks y'all've listened to so far?

Information technology's great.

Who was your favorite character and why?

N/A

Which scene was your favorite?

I enjoyed the state-fair slice and the opening tennis essay the most.

Did you take an farthermost reaction to this book? Did information technology brand you laugh or weep?

Laugh. A lot.

2 people found this helpful

• Jeremy
• 09-08-12

A Drove of Clever Observations

Would you listen to A Supposedly Fun Matter I'll Never Do Again once again? Why?

Yep. I would like to experience a few of the essay's topics then listen to these essays once more.

What was the near compelling aspect of this narrative?

The author's attention to details. He has a fashion of writing a mundane occurrence in a way that makes you feel like you lot too should be getting more than out of how you view life.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it brand you express joy or weep?

I really appreciated a theme mentioned in at two of the essays of how millions of people are being sold the concept of individualism.

2 people found this helpful

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Source: https://www.audible.com/pd/A-Supposedly-Fun-Thing-Ill-Never-Do-Again-Audiobook/B006ZBAUD0