[[David Foster Wallace]] (I've read one memoir by Mary Karr and it was absolutely fantastic) Summary from Perplexity: Mary Karr has addressed the complex relationship between David Foster Wallace’s abusive behavior and his literary legacy, though she has not explicitly issued a blanket endorsement of reading his work. Her stance reflects a nuanced grappling with his actions versus his artistry: - **Acknowledgment of Abuse**: Karr has publicly detailed Wallace’s abusive conduct during their relationship, including incidents where he kicked her, stalked her family, and attempted to buy a gun to harm her husband[4](https://www.jezebel.com/mary-karr-reminds-the-world-that-david-foster-wallace-a-1825799769)[19](https://humag.co/features/reading-your-problematic-fave). She has criticized the romanticization of his "troubled genius" persona, calling it part of a "myth" that obscures harmful behavior[19](https://humag.co/features/reading-your-problematic-fave). - **Separation of Art and Artist**: While condemning Wallace’s actions, Karr has not advocated for canceling his work. In a 2018 tweet responding to readers conflicted about engaging with _Infinite Jest_, she wrote: _“Read him if you want. Don’t read him if you want. But if you’re asking me to justify your choice, I can’t”_[6](https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/8hdbiw/mary_karr_reminds_the_world_that_david_foster/). This reflects her refusal to gatekeep literary consumption while emphasizing personal accountability. - **Literary Criticism vs. Personal Trauma**: In interviews, Karr has distinguished between Wallace’s writing and his personal failings. She praised his “sincere, aching desire to connect” in his work while noting his manipulative tendencies in private[16](https://www.salon.com/2015/09/27/mary_karr_on_the_loser_outsider_weirdos_of_memoir_and_skipping_the_david_foster_wallace_movie_the_whole_st_david_thing_its_a_little_hard_to_take/). Her poem _“Suicide’s Note: An Annual”_ (written after his death) blends grief and anger, condemning his suicide while preserving the intimacy of their bond[1](https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/8865.Mary_Karr?container=myspace&page=8)[7](https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/11865702-suicide-s-note-an-annual-i-hope-you-ve-been-taken-up). Karr’s position underscores the tension between holding artists accountable and allowing audiences to engage critically with their work. As she told Lena Dunham: _“The whole St. David thing… it’s a little hard to take”_[16](https://www.salon.com/2015/09/27/mary_karr_on_the_loser_outsider_weirdos_of_memoir_and_skipping_the_david_foster_wallace_movie_the_whole_st_david_thing_its_a_little_hard_to_take/), highlighting her weariness with his idolization—but she stops short of prescribing how others should approach his writing. Her approach suggests readers can confront Wallace’s flaws while still engaging with his contributions to literature, provided they do so with clear-eyed awareness[19](https://humag.co/features/reading-your-problematic-fave).