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last updated: 05JUN11
An index for David Foster Wallace's novel Broom Of The System. (It's rough, admittedly.) In addition to page numbers, some entries include paragraph and line spotters, and will follow this notation scheme. There's no rhyme or reason why some entries have line info and othersÑin fact mostÑonly have page numbers...apologies if this inconsistency is an ass chap. Also annoying will be the fact that some seemingly esoteric entries have multiple citations (viz. Corfu) while certain central characters have almost none (see for instance Lenore Sr. who never actually appears in the narrative but is mentioned far more frequently than the three cited pages). I can offer no better explanation than to say "what can I say," or perhaps "go figure," or even "Hmm. No clue. Sorry." An underscore indicates that I know there should be a citation there but for whatever reason (I'm thinking laziness) I wasn't making notes at that point in my reading. (See dress for example. It didn't occur to me to note that until long after it was first mentioned.) Although if you're really desperate to find something not mentioned here, there's always Amazon's "Search inside this book" feature, which I use constantly.
Regarding vocabulary. What I've chosen to include and exclude will seem whimsical. It's my page so naturally my whims [clears throat] obtain.
A.C. (see Beadsman, LeVache)
Abbott, Peter (phone repairman). . . 49, 125, 290.7-2, 292, 445
Agnew, Spiro. . . 166
Bradley International (Windsor Locks, CT). . . 195, 202
Cleveland Hopkins (has no RWY 1, fyi). . . 179
Alan (Metafictional char. See Vigorous, Rick, "Love")
Alan (another Alan, non-metafictional, friend of Mindy's). . . 379
Allied, Mr. Nick. . . 101, 277, 293, 444
Alvin (see Spaniard, Alvin)
Amherst College. . . 40-1, 158, 203, 236
1968 mixer. . . 158, 210
dorms
Femur, North, Rumpus, Stone. . . 14, 210, 13, 203 respectively
Anscombe, Elizabeth (see Philosophical Investigations)
Antichrist (see Beadsman, LeVache)
antinomies (paradoxes). . . 31.6+5
Aqua Vitae restaurant. . . 201, 252, 260-1
Auden, W. H.. . . 274-3, 328
Batman. . . 151
Baum, Karen. . . 371
Beadsman, Clarice (see Spaniard, Clarice)
Beadsman, Concarnadine (Lenore Jr's grandmother). . . 37, 41, 94-2, 150-17, 240-1, 362
roundly hated. . . 74
by Lenore. . . 371
Beadsman, John (Lenore Jr's brother). . . 63,. 64, 100, 129, 156, 197-2, 202, 243, 281, 371
Beadsman, Lenore Jr (our heroine). . . 263
appearance. . . 59
car . . .28, 44, 157-5, 159
describes "love reversal". . . 287
double major (philosophy/Spanish). . . 396-6
downstairs neighbor (see Schwartz, Misty)
hair. . . 236
kicking other legs. . . 68+6, 243.4
literary sense. . . 114.8, 259-7, 307.7, 400
seeing Rick for 18 mo.. . . 381-3
showering issues. . . 58+5, 72-2, 271, 279.4, 330
socks. . . 204
threw a shoe. . . 20.6, 259+4, 375, 381.6-3
washes Candy. . . 100
Beadsman, Lenore Sr (Gramma, Lenore Jr's great-grand). . . 29, 154, 463
Beadsman, LeVache (Stonecipher IV, Lenore Jr's brother). . . 40-7, 63, 100, 146, 157, 202-10, 215, 241, 326, 371, 399
appearance, (satanic). . . 213, 261, 371
artificial leg. . . 213, 237, 261, 371
birth/ejection/launch. . . 267
hates Lenore Sr. . . 201
hates John. . . 201
quaaludes. . . 214
Beadsman, Patrice LaVache (Lenore Jr's mother). . . 41, 94-2, 132, 153, 156, 263, 267, 418
Beadsman, Stonecipher II (founded E. Corinth). . . 146, 368
death. . . 263+10
Beadsman, Stonecipher III (Lenore Jr's father). . . 146, 263, 337.6, 451
affair with Malig. . . 202, 262-1
satanic appearance. . . 377-11
Beadsman, Stonecipher IV (see Beadsman, LeVache)
Beatles. . . 211, 235
Beeberling, Mr. . . 386
Beechnut, Erv. . . 148-2, 153
blasted. . . 210-13, 177, 350+10
Blentner, Olaf (see also hygiene anxiety). . . 120-12, 137, 311, 345
Blentnerian (see also Blentner, Olaf). . . 60-6, 341-8
Bloemker. . . 30, 138, 148, 156, 291, 296-2, 328, 362, 445-2
Bloomfield. . . 148, 150, 156
boat shoes . . . 203-5, 347-2, 395.4-1
Bombardini, Norman. . . 47, 81, 149, 292.1-2, 449
Bonwit. . . 212
book (mystery). . . 73, 102-1, 103-7
Bradley Airport (see airport)
Breather, The (aka Mike) (LeVache roommate). . . 213, 236, 238
Brenda ("friend" of Bloemker). . . 139, 367
Brenda (girl with LeVache's leg). . . 242
Brezhnev, Leonid. . . 213+4
bridge (game). . . 256
broom. . . 149.4+4
butter. . . 91-7, 100+2
CabanaTan. . . 68, 161
tanning accident. . . 268
Cambridge. . . 40, 63, 73
Cat (LaVache rommate). . . 213, 236
cat (feline. see Prietht, Judith)
Cat Stevens. . . 4
cathex (? cathexis?). . . 60-4
Cathy. . . 131
Centerport. . . 231.3
Central Park (NYC). . . 77
Centrex (see phones)
CHA (see Airport, Cleveland Hopkins)
Chagrin Falls. . . 356
Champ (see Prietht, Judith)
Charlotte's Web. . . 173, 275-3
Christianity. . . 281
Chutes & Ladders. . . 160, 246
Circe. . . 373+7
Clarice (see Spaniard, Clarice)
Clarke (see Spaniard). . . ??? (forgot to note the page #, Grrr)
Cleveland Hopkins Airport (see airport)
Clint (see Roxbee-Cox)
coach (see Zandagnio)
Concarnadine (see Beadsman, Concarnadine)
confused (is there a typo in this sentence?). . . 313.2
Converse sneakers. . . 4-9, __
Corfu (aka Kerkira, island off the western coast of Greece). . . 71, 99, 153, 168, 234, 260, 300
Costigan, Mr (see Vigorous, Rick, "Love")
Creamer, Ed. . . 3, 16, 370
crystal case of polite indifference. . . 77
Dad & Lenore Sr (mutual hatred). . . 99
Dailey, Bill (Bob Newhart Show actor). . . 214
Dallas, TX. . . 226
Dallas (TV show). . . 392
Dangler, Doug. . . 13
Darwin, Charles. . . 217
Daughenbaugh, Karen. . . 12.0, 371
Dayton, OH. . . 265
Dean, James. . . 12
Descartes, Rene. . . 148, 247
Desert (re: also Great Ohio Desert). . . 46, 53, 131-5, 143, 327, 390
Dibdin, Janet. . . 210
Diggerance, Biff (real name Bernard Warner). . . 12, 17, 258-3, 410
Djarum. . . 357
Docksiders (see boat shoes) dress, purple. . . __, 358.1, 379+3, 381.6-4 E-Screech Equivocation (wtf/lol). . . 396-12 East Corinth, OH. . . 31 looks like Jayne Mansfield. . . 45, 181 educed (deduced). . . 122+14 elseone. . . 239.6 embolism (v. i.). . . 379.11 Enrique's House of Cheese. . . 93, 445-7, 297-6 erection concealment. . . 63 Erieview Tower (see shadow) Etienne Aigner. . . 359.9 Etvos, Mr.. . . 151 facial contortions. . . 34 Feltner, Mrs.. . . 31 Fieldbinder, Monroe (see Vigorous, Rick, journal). . . 32+1, 123, 128, 163, 299, 308-4, 312, 324, 349, 419 Flange (bar). . . 223 flapped. . . 6.5-2, 239-15, 202-12, 247, 326-8, 422.10 Flintstones. . . 5, 202 Flit gun (insecticide, c. 1930). . . 377 fnoof. . . 114, 197, 257 Foamwhistle, Blanchard (Sigurd's father) . . . 264 LeVache's father?. . . 264 Foamwhistle, Sigurd (Stonecipher III's secretary). . . 70, 146, 152, 157, 170, 387, 451 Fordham Univ.. . . 75, 78, 407-2 forest. . . 261+5, 235.4-2, 252-10 Fred (see Vigorous, Rick, "Love") free rein (...is correct. Not reign.). . . 309+4 Frequent Leisure Suit. . . 355 Frequent Review. . . __, 259-1, 309 Frequent, Monroe. . . 64, 171? Frequent & Vigorous. . . 43, 147, 339, 379 Frick, Veronica (see Vigorous, Rick, "Love") fulgent. . . 155+11 Fursich, Prof.. . . 215 G.O.D. (see desert) Gary (Lawrence Welk dancer). . . 95-2 Geach, Peter (see Philosophical Investigations) Geralamo, Jesus. . . 370-3 Gerber. . . 127, 146, 148, 154, 262, 366 Gere, Richard. . . 12 Gilligan's Isle bar. . . 138, 301, 359, 375.0-8 ginger ale. . . 127-2, 195+4, 68+4 gleet. . . 384-2 Gluskoter, Alan (Mindy Metalman's manager). . . 177, 231 Goggins (Stonecipheco Jars Dept.). . . 146, 158, 387 Golden, Dr Robert. . . 131, 198 goopin'. . . 70-4 Gowdy, Curt. . . 163 Gramma (see Beadsman, Lenore Sr) Grandmother (see Concarnadine) Great Ohio Desert (see desert) Gretchen (see Yingst, Mrs.) "grinned wryly" (way too many to name of course) hair (Lenore Jr's v. Lenore Sr's). . . 59&75 hairbrush, tortoise shell. . . 44, 95 Halazone. . . 425 half-brother. . . __ (LeVache & Sigurd? Forgot to note where I saw this.) Harvard. . . 310 hatred (family, etc). . . 174, 201, 241 Heat (LaVache roommate). . . 213, 236 Hegel. . . 221-1, 247-8 hegira (escape, exodus). . . 224-10 hew. . . 53, 183 hideous. . . 43-2, 47.2, 126, 300-1, 307+4, 349-11, 428-2 Holiday Inn. . . 156 Holiday, Steve (see Holiday Inn, immediately supra) Howard Johnson. . . 205 Huffman, Prof.. . . 221 Hunt & Peck Publishers. . . 64, 104-1 hygiene anxiety (see also Blentner, Olaf). . . 120-12,. 135-10, 137, 138+4, 204, 311 Industrial Desert Design. . . 53, 234, 328, 411-1 ingenuous (childlike candidness). . . 166.3+9 Investigations (see Philosophical Investigations) Iran hostage crisis. . . 77 Jay, Dr Curtis. . . 31, 60, 116, 135, 158, 183.2+4, 248-10, 309, 340, 448 neuroses & phobias. . . 310 gas mask. . . __,. 327 Jennifer (stewardess). . . 188, 194 journal (see Vigorous, Rick) Joy, Dr Daniel. . . 197 KAL 007 (01SEP83). . . 77 Kafka. . . 158-7 parody. . . 308 keened. . . 328-3, 335.10 Keller, Roy. . . 221, 239, 247 Kerkira (see Corfu) key holder, clay horse. . . 39-7, 96-8 kilroyishly. . . 249-6 Lake Erie (solid). . . 261 Lang, Wang Dang (real name Andrew Sealander Lang). . . 12, 175, 300, 328, 340, 384, 408, 420 grandmother story. . . 414 half-brother. . . 412 ...and Candy. . . 293 LaSalle St (Chicago, IL). . . 129 LaVache, Mrs. (presumably Patrice's mom). . . 154 LaVache, Edmund (presumably Patrice's dad). . . 154 legs (in general). . . 24-9, 176+1, 182-8, 241, 295-12, 303.3 carving. . . 202-10, 242?, 247-14 Lennon, John. . . 132-4, 250-5 Lenore washes Candy. . . 100 Lindenbaum, Mrs.. . . 311 Lipp, Dick (CEO Consol. Gland Deriv). . . 151 Lot, Mrs. (Lot's Wife, see Metalman, Mindy) lottery tickets. . . 386-5, 396.1, __ Lundberg. . . 53 Madge. . . 29 Malig, Nancy (Spaniard's babysitter, Lenore Jr's nanny). . . 134+18, 147-7, 161, 202, 251, 262, 371, 40 affair with Stonecipher III. . . 202, 262-1 Mandible, Candy. . . 47, 220, 272, 292, 338, 355, 374, 444 ...and Lang. . . 293 ballet. . . 101-6 can't keep a secret...at light speed. . . 383.8 full name (Candice Eunice). . . 357-3 looks like Mindy. . . 358, 380.16 Mansfield, Jayne (see East Corinth, OH ) Martinez, Bib Bob. . . 125 Mavis (Rick's secretary). . . 308 McMahon, Ed. . . 162-4, 216 McTeague (see Norris, Frank) Melinda-Sue (see Metalman, Mindy, couple spots down) membrane. . . 136, 330+3, 336 Metalman, Mindy. . . 3, 12, 175, 210-3, 339, 357, 372, 444, 462, 466 as Lot's Wife (Gen 19:26). . . 376.3+2 job as gadget voice. . . 231.1, 380+11 looks like Candy. . . 358, 380.16 Metalman, Rex. . . 57, 177.6, 210, 228.10 lawn OCD. . . __, 383, 412.1 mice. . . 132-1, 135, 325.2 Mike (see Breather, The) Mindy (see Metalman, Mindy, couple spots up) monadic (single-celled organism?). . . 76.1-2 Monroe?. . . 171 Mooradians. . . 94, 379 Mother (in WI, see Beadsman, Concarnadine) Mount Holyoke College. . . 3, 63, 158 Muffin. . . 379 multivalence. . . 167+2 Munsters. . . 217 Nelm, Dr Daniel. . . 198, 436 Newhart, Bob. . . 213, 223 Nick (see Allied, Mr. Nick) Nixon, R. . . 76 nonce. . . 326+11, 342.0-2 Norris, Frank (author). . . 430 McTeague. . . 430, 440 Norslan. . . 65, 147, 260 Oberlin College. . . 147, 213, 430 Obstat, Neil Jr. . . 148, 151, 157, 202.2, 300, 367, 413, 420, 451 skull-shaped head. . . __, 413.3+6, 300.1 Shaker School wedgie. . . 370-4 Obstat, Neil Sr. . . 53 Old Spice. . . 205 Old Mother West Wind. . . 241, 367 oral surgeon (see Tissaw, Martin) otiose (lazy, useless, futile). . . 162? palanquin (enclosed litter carried by men). . . 195-10 Paquita (Gerber's wife). . . 155, 262 Partners With God (PWG). . . 272, 445 Patrice (see Beadsman, Patrice) Pauline In Peril. . . 393-6 Peahen, Walinda. . . 78, 157, 297.5+1, 307, 355, 374, 391, 451 Peanuts (comic). . . 242+6 Peck, Veronica (Rick's wife). . . 64, 77, 230, 374, 407+8 phones. . . 214 Centrex. . . 33-1, 123, 355, 360, 391 Philosophical Investigations (see also Wittgenstein). . . 39-1, 244 Geach & Anscombe translation. . . 244 Physicians Desk Reference. . . 353 pineal gland (see also Yingst, Mr). . . 150-1, 148, 302.9 pithed (spinal cord severed? Vance?). . . 78 Pleshette, Suzanne. . . 213 pomoish. . . 169+2 pray (abbrev. of "pray tell"). . . 229.6+3, 330+14 precious. . . 244.3 Prietht, Judith. . . 48, 125, 273, 292, 338, 354-1, 444 Champ (cat). . . 445 Proctor. . . 6-1 Pupik (Stonecipheco Lids Dept.). . . 146, 158 purple fist. . . 78 purse. . . 67 Queen Victoria (see Vigorous, Rick, dreams) querulous (whiny, complains a lot). . . 73.1+6 Raring, Vern. . . 49, 93, 124, 295, 360, 375 Road Runner. . . 352, 354-5, 394-2 Roberts, Oral. . . 173-10 Roxbee-Cox, Clint (Candy's BF, Allied VP). . . 97, 124, 173, 215, 294, 445 rubicund. . . 123.3 Rummage, Karl. . . 35, 148, 168, 366 Salada tea. . . 325.2+4 Salinger, J. D.. . . 104-2 Sancho (Panza) [1]. . . __, 422 Scarry, Richard. . . 166 Scarsdale. . . 6, 57, 58, 64, 78, 175, 210, 226, 373 Schorr, Mrs. (Dr. Jay secretary). . . 348 Schwartz, Misty. . . 48, 68, 161-1, 268, 272, 392 injured. . . 268, 395 Screen Door of Union. . . 341 scrimshaw (whalebone). . . 58+6 scritch. . . 12.1, 159+6 semiotic. . . __ (lost the page #) (approx 166?) shadow (Erieview Tower, etc). . . 46, 47, 69.1-2, 72-4, 78, 101, 169, 295, 298, 306+4, 444-4 Shaker Heights. . . 161, 263, 365 Shaker School. . . 3, 147, 202, 370 Shaw, Sue. . . 3, 404, 411 Shorelit. . . 129 skata (feces). . . 234.7 skit, Spaniard family. . . 165 Slotnik (see Vigorous, Rick, "Love") Sludgeman (tunnels supervisor). . . 126, 453 Snadgener. . . 217 Spaniard, Alvin. . . 71, 157, 159, 445-2 Spaniard, Clarice (Lenore Jr's sister, Alvin's wife). . . 3, 146+13, 156 Spaniard, Spatula (daughter of Alvin & Clarice). . . 159 Spaniard, Stonecipher (son of Alvin & Clarice). . . 159 Spaniard, Ruth Spatula (Alvin's mother). . . 159 Spasova, Kopek (russian gymnast). . . 127, 149, 162, 366, 385 Spasov, Ruble. . . 163 Splittstoesser. . . 6-5 Stilton (see also Enrique's House of Cheese). . . 297-6 Stonecipheco. . . 35, 148 Baby food label. . . 40+2, 242-1 sublation (negation, denial). . . 239.6+3 Summerville, Prof.. . . 217 Sykes, Rev Hart Lee. . . 273, 293, 382, 445 sympathetic vibration. . . 308.6+4, 373.1-1 Tafts. . . 29, 38+7 telos (an ultimate end). . . 160-10 tennis. . . 71, 151+9, 314 ti symptosis. . . 234+3, 325.1-1 Tissaw, Mrs. (landlady). . . 43, 97, 271 Tissaw, Martin. . . 173, 271-4, 444 Tunnel guys disappear (too). . . 126 Ugolino (see also Vlad the Impaler). . . 390 Vern (see Raring) Veronica (see Peck, Veronica) verstehen sie (Ger. "they understand?"). . . 222.2-2 Vigorous, Rick. . . 340, 450, 462, 466 beret. . . 77, 127, 252-8, 383, 421 dating Lenore Jr 18 mo.. . . 381-3 double chinned. . . 126+2, 182.0-6, 303-5 dreams "Bellagio". . . 164, 325 Lenore & Lang. . . 325 Queen Victoria. . . 44, 131 homosexuality?. . . 324+6, 223.3+7 impotence. . . 72, 74-5, 239-5, 286, 332, 406 infantile genitalia?. . . 324+7 journal. . . 32+1, 104 (begins), 123, 158, 170?, 206, 235, 299, 419, 324, 362 kinky. . . 283, 383 "Love" story. . . 312, 314-4 on collegiate fiction. . . 307 self description. . . 286 spanking. . . 300.5, 383.8 vaguely suicidal ruminations. . . 78-1 Vigorous, Vance (Rick's son). . . 58, 75.1, 209, 372, 424 swimming images. . . 299, 373 Vigorous, Veronica (see Peck, Veronica) Vlad The Impaler. . . 58, 96, 98, 251, 382, 458 dosed. . . 304.4 Wacker Dr (Chicago, IL). . . 129 Warshaver. . . 85 Weejun. . . 223 Welk, Lawrence. . . 29, 95-2, 150, 366 Werner, Bernard (see Diggerance, Biff) Wetzel. . . 129 White Shoulders perfume. . . 358 Wittgenstein (see also Philosophical Investigations). . . 63, 73, 151+5 Wood, Clint. . . 124, 215 Yancy. . . 53 Yingst, Mr. . . 148, 151+6 Yingst, Mrs. Gretchen. . . 33, 95-3, 147, 148, 151, 240, 310 Zandignio, Stenetore (Lang's lacrosse coach). . . 261, 269 Zusatz, Raymond (Gov. Ohio). . . 53, 423-9 [1] Yeah. As if some other Sancho could be implied. ("Sancho Panza?" "No, Sancho Beckenbauer.") Stories That Rick Reads To Lenore pp24-26. . . leprosy guy pp105-114. . . kids disease (crying causes epileptic fits) then a string of even worse luck pp180-194. . . Love addict guy, ugly thermos lady, tree frog pp312-323. . . "Love" (presumably Lenore read this one to herself) Fieldbinder tells Slotniks that Costigan has been obsessively photographing and drawing their son. pp423-432. . . thinly veiled "Paralyzed Theoretical Dentist" allegory Miscellaneous stuff that I thought was cool "rings being led". . . 37+6 "hips like spun glass". . . 38 "universal dropping dead". . . 52 "half a bubble off plumb". . . 119 "shit on a twig". . . 71, 101, 388, 401-5 an impossible, hilarious gymnastic maneuver. . . 127 "we can practically hear the thud as she falls in love". . . 187+2 "chewed the whiskey out of my ice". . . 233.8-1 "sweet shrieking mother of ______ ". . . 18.6, 197.5 "calves like churns". . . 262-16 "eyes like little anuses". . . 300, (422) "paying me like the money hurt his hand". . . 303 "What could be simpler". . . 311+9 "dressed to harm". . . 312-8 knee v. elbow skin. . . 371-4 01SEP07
Stone Hall. From what I can gather, of the four dorms mentioned in the book, only Stone is an actual building on the Amherst campus.
