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frankiejblue's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
aly_vee_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Drug use, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexism
Moderate: Pedophilia and Sexual violence
caseylovett's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, and Alcohol
kydnmthws's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Sexual content
e_jc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, and Alcohol
Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual violence
sponberry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I understand the significance of the beat movement and this book’s bearing upon it, but as a straight, white man in late 1940s America, the author succeeds only in upturning the status quo for himself and others like him, whilst firmly reinforcing it for literally every other marginalised group he encounters, including gay folks, women, black and indigenous people. What is the value of a movement that seeks to open up new ways of living if it entrenches inequalities in search of something as frivolous as fun?
I think this book is seriously overrated, even as a story it’s in dire need of some additional editing. However, I’m interested to read other books by the beat generation (I’ve read and loved some Patti Smith) and this did give a window into that era.
Graphic: Drug use, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
zo__ish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Normally I am a huge fan of character driven novels, I don’t need much plot. However, Sal (aka Kerouac) and Dean were flat and insufferable. There was little to no character arc. However, Kerouac does write dialogue very well, he depicts tension between characters and the way they move beautifully, but it was a chore to try and get into.
There are some sentences, paragraphs, and chapters that I underlined and loved; page 15 waking up with the sun and the anguish of not knowing who you are or what you want, the chapter going through Denver to Central Cities, or the whole entirety of Terry and the San Joaquin valley. I wish these bits were enough to make up for the rest.
Kerouac’s writing lacks the depth I want in a story(it also feels passionless, or apathetic, somehow Kerouac feels incredibly distanced from a story that mingles with autobiography), there are some beautiful depictions of cities and towns in America.
The last chapter of One The Road was one of the best parts, if not the best. Maybe because I was so excited to be done with it.
LA is a jungle. [….]
The beatest characters in the country swarmed on the sidewalks-all of it under those soft Southern California stars that are lost in the brown halo of the huge desert encampment LA really is. You could smell the tea, weed, I mean marijuana, floating in the air, together with the chili beans and beer. (77)
Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Blood, and Alcohol
animar1a's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Racism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Domestic abuse
Minor: Drug use
erinwolf1997's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Drug use
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Car accident
_quinnsreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol