Reviews tagging 'Racism'

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

49 reviews

plnnn's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

0.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexism

cyb's review against another edition

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Classism

hypocrisis's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

couldn't get past the racism, pedophilia and misogyny (unfortunately?). 
Selfish and self-destructive characters like Dean Moriarty can only be romanticised as 'angel(s) of terror' and prophets from the safe distance of a reader ...or a protagonist who's in a permanent state of intoxication.
I'm sure it was groundbreaking at the time, but the lifestyle described doesn't appeal to me, even though i do give into 'madness' at times and love 'kicks'. Maybe I'd get it if i had a real connection to american culture and jazz, or if i had a driver's license lol.  Maybe I'm too stuck in my middle-class ways to see it, but i didn't get the point of all these roadtrips just to do the same thing with the same people all over again.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, and Alcohol

Minor: Sexual assault and Toxic friendship

jessieherdman's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

1.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Minor: Fatphobia

tumbly_weed's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity and Sexism

Moderate: Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Colonisation

carrotdreaming's review against another edition

adventurous reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

antares's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

90% of this book is Dean having a manic episode and dragging Sal along with him

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Racism, Sexism, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug use, and Pedophilia

Minor: Car accident

sophiajkessler's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The main takeaway for this book for me was something I already knew: straight men are more in love with each other than they could ever love any woman. It was quite obvious to me that Sal and Dean love one another and this is to an extent a love story. Hence why Sal overlooks how bloody annoying Dean is which we as the readers have to suffer through, whilst Sal gushes about how great he is. Cognitive dissonance much? Other readers have commented ( and I agree) that although this book has beautiful prose it is plot deficient and there are precious few actually likeable characters. To me this didn't detract from the book though as it helped develop the sense of loneliness and isolation that an itinerant lifestyle engenders no matter how freeing it might be. People who aspire to this kind of lifestyle should look at the endings of the protagonist and deuteragonist to find the moral of the story:

Sal makes his way off the road and finds his happiness. Dean never does and seems unable to do either. We leave him to an uncertain fate, having lost all the friends and lovers of his journey and also Sal, his probable soulmate.

A cautionary tale about the dangers of a lifestyle many idealise even if its simultaneously a love story, both to the road itself and between its main characters. Best enjoyed if you yourself are actually on a roadtrip! At times I could practically see and feel the emotioms and scenery described. Beware of the content warnings though. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

aly_vee_'s review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexism

Moderate: Pedophilia and Sexual violence

nessafurtado's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Para um livro escrito em três semanas tem seus pontos fortes; as paisagens descritas, o pós guerra, o nascimento da geração beat, algumas boas frases sobre amor e a vida. Eu consigo entender o porquê tanta gente romantiza esse livro. 
Agora, os personagens são, na grande maioria, detestáveis. Demandou muito esforço mental tentar compreender o que Sal via em Dean, uma fé e dedicação totalmente cegas e unilaterais. Os comentários de Dean sobre mulheres, e uma criança eram deploráveis; os comentários relacionados a pessoas pretas ou gays não eram melhores. Não importa o tempo em que isso aconteceu - 1950, 1960 - isso NÃO é desculpa para ser uma pessoa ruim/babaca.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Police brutality