tessjvl's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
jim96's review against another edition
2.0
Given this is his first attempt at a novel, Kerouac's prose is unsurprisingly immature and uninspiring. He clearly has a lot of great ideas, but tends to tell us them all through over-written monologues rather than showing them to us via the actions of his characters - as he would so aptly come to master in his later novels. The writing does pick up in the final third, particularly with the introduction of Dick who is pleasantly reminiscent of Dean Moriarty, and it is around this point that Kerouac starts dwelling on more substantial themes like the transition from adolescence to adulthood and the uncertainties that accompany one's staring down the barrel of the gun (both metaphorically and literally, in this instance).
heybender's review against another edition
1.0
whenever an author's work enjoys renewed popularity several decades after their death, there always seems to be lost manuscripts that bubble to the surface. sometimes, these lost manuscripts provide great insight into the development of the author's style, and sometimes, these lost manuscripts are put out for the sole purpose of cashing in on the dead author's career revitalization. sadly, this book is the latter.
kerouac's writing here is very hacky and reads more like a high school freshman's writing assignment: big words are used simply to show off vocabulary, references to other authors are gratuitously inserted to show off how well read young kerouac was, plotting and character information is told explicitly rather than shown in a carefully crafted manner.
the actual manuscript only occupies about 70 pgs. of the books approximately 190 pgs. the rest of the book is stuffed with rambling notes and journal entries and letters that don't contribute much to the contextualization of the manuscript.
the introduction mentions that kerouac thought he had lost the haunted life manuscript. my guess is he actually realized how horrible it was; his literary reputation would have been better served by letting the haunted life remain buried.
kerouac's writing here is very hacky and reads more like a high school freshman's writing assignment: big words are used simply to show off vocabulary, references to other authors are gratuitously inserted to show off how well read young kerouac was, plotting and character information is told explicitly rather than shown in a carefully crafted manner.
the actual manuscript only occupies about 70 pgs. of the books approximately 190 pgs. the rest of the book is stuffed with rambling notes and journal entries and letters that don't contribute much to the contextualization of the manuscript.
the introduction mentions that kerouac thought he had lost the haunted life manuscript. my guess is he actually realized how horrible it was; his literary reputation would have been better served by letting the haunted life remain buried.
dandreamelissa's review against another edition
4.0
It was a good introspective on Jack's beginning as a writer, and I was glad to learn more about Leo Kerouac, Jack's Father. Like the title suggests, the stories in this book have a darkness to them, but I enjoyed it, as any Kerouac fan will.
jasonpacheco's review against another edition
4.0
Recently finished The Haunted Life and enjoyed it quite a bit.
A section from The Haunted Life Part 1 ...the cool swishing song of the trees: a music sweeter than anything else in the world, a music that can be seen-profusely green, leaf on leaf, atremble-and a music that can be smelled, clover fresh, somehow sharp, and supremely rich.
I found this book very interesting because it provides Kerouac fans with the missing novella that preceded Town and City and I really enjoyed the letters from Jack's father. Highly recommend this book to Kerouac fans.
A section from The Haunted Life Part 1 ...the cool swishing song of the trees: a music sweeter than anything else in the world, a music that can be seen-profusely green, leaf on leaf, atremble-and a music that can be smelled, clover fresh, somehow sharp, and supremely rich.
I found this book very interesting because it provides Kerouac fans with the missing novella that preceded Town and City and I really enjoyed the letters from Jack's father. Highly recommend this book to Kerouac fans.
laread's review against another edition
3.0
This posthumous release of a long-lost manuscript was satisfying to this reader who's read plenty of Beat writing. The story is sweet and allegorical to Jack's own life. I was disappointed to learn of some of his conclusions as written in his notes, such as his disdain for cities, for Burroughs, and for those who take direct action, indeed! (I think that the latter is noble when enacted out of compassion, not seeking self-punishment, as Kerouac suggests.) Anyway, it's a slice of life in America as affected by war times and family struggles and, bien sur, intellectual philosophizing.
venusarium's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The Story of Peter had so much potential and on some points I thoughts it might could have been better than on the road but unfortunately Kerouac never finished the book 😭
grrrlfriday's review against another edition
3.0
I have mixed feelings. The prose is fantastic and I loved the main character but I wish Kerouac wasn't so dismissive of the female characters in the novel. I realize it was the early 1940s so what can you expect, but it still bothered me. In some of the non-fiction writings at the end of the book he expressed some philosophies that I am opposed to, including some borderline racist sympathizing. It's almost like I wish I hadn't read it. Now I plan to go back and read some of my Kerouac favorites to see if those themes are present there as well, and decide if I need to retire them as favorites.
robertthereader's review against another edition
4.0
First time reading any Kerouac but it certainly won't be my last. As the same age as the protagonist there was no better time to read this coming of age story. Parallels can certainly be made between the political situation then and now; with FDR certainly appearing to have split opinion as Trump does now.
Kerouac's novel The Town and the City is continually referenced throughout and I will be checking this out very soon!
The edition I read contained some of Kerouac's diary entry's including letters from his father, Leo. I found his philosophical musings of deep interest. Other authors mentioned and who no doubt had an influence: Louis Ferdinand Celine and William S Burroughs were already on my to read list but now they have been moved to a more prominent position.
Kerouac's novel The Town and the City is continually referenced throughout and I will be checking this out very soon!
The edition I read contained some of Kerouac's diary entry's including letters from his father, Leo. I found his philosophical musings of deep interest. Other authors mentioned and who no doubt had an influence: Louis Ferdinand Celine and William S Burroughs were already on my to read list but now they have been moved to a more prominent position.
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