For some reason I decided to tackle both of these behemoths simultaneously. The Power Broker chronicles, with astonishing detail and staggering reporting, the rise and moral-decline of Robert Moses, arguably the most important New Yorker of the 20th century. It's more than a biography, it's also something like a blow-by-blow description of how power moves. It's unbelievable and have yet to find too many folks who have read it (not unreasonable, given it's 1000+ page length). If anyone is familiar with Caro's newer work-the trilogy on LBJ- I believe they have similarly beautiful prose for a non-fiction book. At this point, it's in contention with Solomon's Far from the Tree for my favorite non-fiction book. I'm about 1/3 of the way through and, by that point in Far from the Tree, my whole life had been reoriented as a result. We'll see if Caro can manage the life-changing impact of Solomon.
Infinite Jest, meanwhile, is hardly user friendly but I'm finding myself loving it. The style can be tiresome; however, it's not that difficult to get acclimated to it and the style often allows for a type of leaping prose that is incredible to read. Most of all, when the book is on, it is on. Scenes that come to mind: Mario's script, chock full of lines like, "Try to learn to let what is unfair teach you" or [], or anything with Don Gaitly. The chapter that has stuck with me and never let go, though, is Winter B.S. 1960 with it's alcohol drenched diction and brutal honesty.
Just thought I throw it out there and see if any one had an opinion.