Lane and Sheri have met at Peoria Junior College, in campus ministries. He studies business and she studies nursing and mostly what they do is pray together. But it becomes clear that that certainly is not all they have done because they are wrestling with a problem, and a decision that they have made that Sheri has now decided she can’t go through with. In Wallace’s typically convoluted style, which is perfect for the rationalizing young Lane, we are privy to the thought process—what is expected of him, what does she really want in her heart, does he love her, does he only think he doesn’t love her, doesn’t he really have some kind of love for her and won’t that be enough? It isn’t clear what to make of this story, but I have to assume that Wallace isn’t taking a position as to whether the action the couple is contemplating is wrong, or their reason for changing their minds. Rather, what is interesting here, is Lane’s twisted thinking. I need to read more of Wallace.
February 5, 2007: "Good People" by David Foster Wallace
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