Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of Brief Interviews with Hideous Men

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men
reviewed on


Of DFW's books of short stories which I have read, I consider this one closest to Infinite Jest in style and tone. There are also hints of The Broom of the System here.

If you have not read any Wallace and are looking for a good introduction that will also give you a taste (albeit not an exact taste, because none of his books are exactly similar; he was always growing as a writer) of what to expect from his magnum opus, then this is a great choice.

Wallace's style is different in many of his short story collections: for example, The Girl with the Curious Hair and Oblivion, while both excellent, did not prepare me for Infinite Jest. I read Infinite Jest before Brief Interviews and loved it; and now, I have NOT been disappointed by Brief Interviews With Hideous Men.