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The Broom of the System

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'The Broom of the System' by David Foster Wallace is a novel that delves into the life of Lenore Beadsman, a young woman dealing with a variety of complex relationships and personal struggles. The story is filled with bizarre characters, intricate plot threads, and a mix of humor and philosophical musings. The narrative explores themes of language, metaphysical reality, and the limitations of human experience through a blend of witty dialogue and clever storytelling techniques.

The writing style in 'The Broom of the System' is described as inventive, funny, and at times adolescent, showcasing Wallace's early enthusiasm for experimenting with language and narrative structure. The novel is praised for its complex storytelling, multi-layered plot, and humorous vignettes that offer insights into contemporary reality through a lens of absurdity and wit.

Characters:

The characters are eccentric and quirky, with Lenore as a neurotic protagonist surrounded by complex interpersonal relationships.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is complex and verbose, blending humor with philosophical insights through playful narrative techniques.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features Lenore's quest to find her missing great-grandmother amidst a backdrop of quirky characters and intricate themes surrounding language and identity.

Setting:

The setting takes place in a fictional Ohio, featuring suburbs and a nursing home, with metaphorical elements like the Great Ohio Desert.

Pacing:

The pacing fluctuates, characterized by a mix of rapid dialogue and slower reflections, with an abrupt, unresolved ending.
Most really pretty girls have pretty ugly feet, and so does Mindy Metalman, Lenore notices, all of a sudden. They’re long and thin and splay-toed, with buttons of yellow callus on the little toes and ...

Notes:

The protagonist, Lenore Stonecipher Beadsman, is searching for her missing great-grandmother.
Lenore's great-grandmother was a student of philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein.
The novel explores themes of language and reality, influenced by Wittgenstein's ideas.
Lenore has a pet cockatiel named Vlad the Impaler, who becomes a TV star.
Rick Vigorous, Lenore's boss and boyfriend, is characterized as insecure and obsessed with her.
The book contains absurd and humorous characters with quirky names.
The narrative includes elements of existentialism and surrealism, likening the coyote from Road Runner cartoons to a futile pursuit of unattainable goals.
David Foster Wallace brings a blend of humor and serious philosophical inquiries throughout the novel.
The story features bizarre plot developments, such as a character named Norman Bombardini who orders nine steak dinners in a single sitting.
Wallace's writing style is described as playful and inventive, showcasing complex character interactions and storytelling techniques.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Medium content warnings for themes of existential angst, relationship dysfunction, and potential distressing situations related to mental health.

Has Romance?

The novel features a medium level of romance, primarily focused on Lenore's complicated relationships with her boss Rick and other characters.

From The Publisher:

Winner of the 2016 AIGA + Design Observer 50 Books | 50 Covers competition

The Broom of the System

The "dazzling, exhilarating" (San Francisco Chronicle) debut novel from one of the most groundbreaking writers of his generation, The Broom of the System is an outlandishly funny and fiercely intelligent exploration of the paradoxes of language, storytelling, and reality.

Ratings (3)

Loved It (3)

Reader Stats (7):

Read It (3)
Want To Read (4)

About the Author:

David Foster Wallace is the award-winning author of several short story and essay collections as well as two novels. Most recently, he is the author of the biography Everything and More: A Compact History of Infinity.

 
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