syafa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
2.0
I'm not sure I'm a fan of the Beat generation style of writing...maybe it's uptight of me but it's a bit crass for my tastes. I've never been more uncomfortable in a class discussion than when my professor made us talk about the passage when Oscar learns how to masturbate. Also, this may be a stretch but the prose reminds me of Rushdie actually. And all those passages when Oscar is super high make absolutely no sense and reminded me of how I felt reading The Clockwork Orange
aneides's review against another edition
3.0
A set of recent drug adventures interspersed with more lucid episodes from the author's youth. I haven't read Cockroach People so it is difficult to gauge whether or not these tales provide the necessary background to understand Acosta's later involvement in the Chicano movement. It is too bad it is difficult to see Acosta except through one's preconceptions of him as HS Thompson's "Samoan" attorney.
cowgirltings's review against another edition
2.0
It's difficult to say what I think of this book...I have recently been trying to rate books holistically, not just based on the end. The end was satisfying, important, and beautiful, but it took me months to get to because of how many deep discomforts and questions about incongruities the book raised for me. Maybe those things are mostly good. Some of it was still just hard to read because it seemed repetitive, the supporting characters were constantly rotating but almost identical, and much of the plot felt stagnant. And yet the moments that shone shone brightly. Definitely a trudge of a book, but with vital and important moments. Big project, also interesting to have read this "autobiography" in conversation with other pieces of evidence of his lived experience his Uncollected Works. Overall, I wouldn't consider it a must-read, but valuable.
lennatheunicorncat's review against another edition
medium-paced
0.25
If I could give this 0 stars I would. This was one book that I hated having to read and would have quit on my own if it wasn't required for one of my classes. Acosta depicts himself as basically the most repulsive man alive and many times I had to put the book down with how gross this book made me feel. Rasquache is definitely a term that fits him as a person, as well as the fact that he constantly runs away from his issues via substance abuse. I was done with him by page 4. Also there was too much puking in here for me to handle. Either way, I can see the possible importance this book may have, but that importance was hidden under a lot of crap that wasn't worthwhile. It may also be that I'm not a fan of Hunter S. Thompson, and Acosta is great friends with him, so much so that his personality inspired one of Thompson's characters in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Either way, this book was not for me and I'll be donating it promptly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Misogyny, Racism, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, and Addiction
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Antisemitism, Excrement, Homophobia, Bullying, Classism, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
salvatorer2's review
maybe i shouldn't order more books from the library and finish the ones i already borrowed.....nah 😂