However I felt about him, though, pales in comparison to the way I feel about David Foster Wallace, a guy who I am pretty sure none of you will be familiar with.
The truth is, DFW nearly ruined me when it came to reading. I have never, in my short little life, ever read an author who had such a profound effect on me. For seven months I lugged around his masterwork, Infinite Jest, in my bag. At 1079 pages, I was constantly aware of its weight, both in the literal sense (as it was heavy as stink) and in a more metaphorical, literary sense. It was, and remains to be, the single most difficult book I have ever tried to take on. DFW pummeled his audience with an intelligence that was, for lack of a better term, intimidating - something that was entirely intentional based on his belief that a real understanding and appreciation of art could only be truly reached if the consumer had to wrestle with it, fight for it. I wrestled. And I fought. And when I came to the end, I was utterly devastated. There was a humanity and honesty in the words that I was unaccustomed to. Though I tried to read other authors after finishing it, I think its safe to say that I was flat out unable to enjoy them. I really didn't enjoy reading again until I picked up another one of his books. And so it has gone, ever since.
DFW - you were a titan walking amongst mere mortals. For Crowder and myself, I can safely say that you will be missed tremendously. The world of literature will never, ever be quite the same.
-Hogan
"And when he came to, he was flat on his back on the beach in the freezing sand, and it was raining out of a low sky, and the tide was way out."