BOOK BRIEF

Girl with Curious Hair

David Foster Wallace
Guide cover placeholder

Girl with Curious Hair

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1996

Book Brief

Sparkles iconBeta
David Foster Wallace

Girl with Curious Hair

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1996
Book Details
Pages

373

Format

Short Story • Fiction

Setting

United States • 1980s

Publication Year

1996

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Girl with Curious Hair is a collection of short stories by David Foster Wallace that explores themes of communication, identity, and modern culture. Each story, including "Little Expressionless Animals" and "Everything is Green," presents unique characters navigating complex interpersonal dynamics and societal norms, blending dark humor with insightful commentary on contemporary life.

Mysterious

Dark

Contemplative

Unnerving

Gritty

Reviews & Readership

4.0

14,990 ratings

68%

Loved it

25%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Girl with Curious Hair by David Foster Wallace showcases his distinctive style and intellectual prowess. Reviewers praise its innovative narrative techniques and dark humor. However, the collection's complexity and dense prose may challenge some readers. Themes of media influence and existential questioning resonate, although the stories may feel disjointed to some.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Girl with Curious Hair?

A reader who enjoys Girl with Curious Hair appreciates postmodern literature, intricate narratives, and explorations of culture and identity. Fans of Don DeLillo's White Noise and Thomas Pynchon's The Crying of Lot 49 would find similar thematic depth and stylistic innovation.

4.0

14,990 ratings

68%

Loved it

25%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Fun Facts

David Foster Wallace's collection Girl with Curious Hair features a unique mix of stories that experiment with postmodern styles and narratives, reflecting his interest in exploring the absurdities of contemporary American culture.

Wallace's fascination with television and its impact on society is evident in Girl with Curious Hair, as some stories critique consumer culture and media saturation, topics he frequently explored in his other works.

Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!

The stories in the collection were written during Wallace's early writing career, showing the development of his distinctive voice and themes that would later become prominent in his acclaimed novel Infinite Jest.

Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!

Book Details
Pages

373

Format

Short Story • Fiction

Setting

United States • 1980s

Publication Year

1996

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Buy This Book

We’re just getting started

Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!