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sydney_reil's review against another edition
4.0
This book imperfectly and realistically deals with the complicated racial and social prejudices of the time as well as the attempts of a new-wave, egotistical, somewhat enlightened generation to overcome those prejudices. In addition to his participation in this enlightened beatnik generation, Kerouacs main protagonist has to deal with his own prejudices, thoughts, feelings, and experience with a girl from a different race, a different background, but nonetheless, a girl that he truly loves. Beautiful.
asphaltjunkie's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to like this more than I did. Generally speaking, I like Kerouac a lot. And generally speaking, I like things without a happy ending. But I struggled to get into this.
It's not that it's bad, really. It's just not really very good. He's just drunk a lot and kind of a dick and more or less executing Johannes' plan (Kierkegaard's 'Diary of a Seducer') only without the plan. It's just a tragically clumsy seduction and affair, brash, jealous and ultimately unfulfilling.
It's not that it's bad, really. It's just not really very good. He's just drunk a lot and kind of a dick and more or less executing Johannes' plan (Kierkegaard's 'Diary of a Seducer') only without the plan. It's just a tragically clumsy seduction and affair, brash, jealous and ultimately unfulfilling.
clix1700's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
twylanebula's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
ade_26_'s review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- 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
1.0
imrogers's review against another edition
4.0
Many reviews of Kerouac's work mention On the Road in some way (how can you not?), but I found this book far more readable. The prose is experimental, often rambling and elusive in terms of what it's describing, but it's also incredibly melodic and at times intensely powerful, and I found Kerouac's signature style far more palatable in this shorter form (the book is actually a novella).
In terms of plot, Kerouac's alter ego Leo Percepied navigates the San Francisco beat scene and starts a relationship with the black woman Mardou Fox, whereupon the book follows their ups and downs. In terms of exploring interracial dating in the 1950s, Kerouac touches on more than a few of the characters' uncertainties (mostly from the white male perspective) as well as relationship anxiety in general as Leo both reaches for Mardou and pushes her away. The jealousy subplot grows more intense in the final pages and explores the depths of Leo's anxiety still further.
All told, because of its stronger plot and shorter form, I'd take this over On the Road any day.
In terms of plot, Kerouac's alter ego Leo Percepied navigates the San Francisco beat scene and starts a relationship with the black woman Mardou Fox, whereupon the book follows their ups and downs. In terms of exploring interracial dating in the 1950s, Kerouac touches on more than a few of the characters' uncertainties (mostly from the white male perspective) as well as relationship anxiety in general as Leo both reaches for Mardou and pushes her away. The jealousy subplot grows more intense in the final pages and explores the depths of Leo's anxiety still further.
All told, because of its stronger plot and shorter form, I'd take this over On the Road any day.
jazose's review against another edition
challenging
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
3.0
loslibrosdelupita's review against another edition
3.0
La prosa y los diálogos incrustados dentro de la misma, el ritmo frenético y los saltos de tema a tema durante el relato, vuelven este experimento de ficción biográfica uno de los textos más representativos de la literatura de la Generación Beat.
Es una novela que refleja en gran medida los valores de esa generación que se reveló contra el Status Quo del momento. Abrazaron el movimiento contracultura y la pasión que sentían por las letras, la música y apoyaron diversas causas sociales relacionadas con la libertad para decidir. Sin embargo, no puede escapar a las sombras de su época, hay contradicciones de pensamiento (como en todos nosotros) y conflicto entre los valores que se quieren alcanzar y con los que se trabaja en el momento.
Dicho esto y reconociendo el mérito literario de Kerouac, no estoy de acuerdo en que vendan esta historia como una de amor (en la sinopsis), pues me parecen más bien los desvaríos de un escritor (Leo) acerca de una chica con la que se obsesiona (Mardou) tras darse cuenta que él no es su mundo.
Detesté la forma tan estereotípica y con tono misógino que tiene Leo de describir a Mardou, de mitificarla como "tan formidable, tan compañera, tan sociable, humilde y además sumisa, una verdadera mujer".
¿Has leído a Jack Kerouac? ¿Te llamó la atención conocer más de su obra?
Es una novela que refleja en gran medida los valores de esa generación que se reveló contra el Status Quo del momento. Abrazaron el movimiento contracultura y la pasión que sentían por las letras, la música y apoyaron diversas causas sociales relacionadas con la libertad para decidir. Sin embargo, no puede escapar a las sombras de su época, hay contradicciones de pensamiento (como en todos nosotros) y conflicto entre los valores que se quieren alcanzar y con los que se trabaja en el momento.
Dicho esto y reconociendo el mérito literario de Kerouac, no estoy de acuerdo en que vendan esta historia como una de amor (en la sinopsis), pues me parecen más bien los desvaríos de un escritor (Leo) acerca de una chica con la que se obsesiona (Mardou) tras darse cuenta que él no es su mundo.
Detesté la forma tan estereotípica y con tono misógino que tiene Leo de describir a Mardou, de mitificarla como "tan formidable, tan compañera, tan sociable, humilde y además sumisa, una verdadera mujer".
¿Has leído a Jack Kerouac? ¿Te llamó la atención conocer más de su obra?
amberzieg's review against another edition
3.0
Again, not my favorite by him. It's interesting, of course, a good read, and absorbing, as his writing always is.
What was worthy about it is his ability to accurately the twistiness of emotions that come from anxiety-inducing situations. In this case, the situation is a relationship that is weird and not really a relationship, one that can't last. He feels a connection, but can't seem to build on it. It's a beautiful example of how fickle and strange people can be, especially in their interactions with other people. Also illustrated is his complete inability to go a night without getting dead-drunk (which is a big reason the relationship can't last). I don't have any problems with drinking, but it made me feel so strange, this group of people that couldn't enjoy themselves without being completely inebriated.
But his writing works for all that. It's not particularly enjoyable reading, what with the depression and awkward interactions between people, but it's illustrative of a mind-set that is hard to understand. Kerouac excels at putting the reader in his mind, and that's something this book doesn't lose.
http://amberleez.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-would-never-snakelike-hide-furthest.html
What was worthy about it is his ability to accurately the twistiness of emotions that come from anxiety-inducing situations. In this case, the situation is a relationship that is weird and not really a relationship, one that can't last. He feels a connection, but can't seem to build on it. It's a beautiful example of how fickle and strange people can be, especially in their interactions with other people. Also illustrated is his complete inability to go a night without getting dead-drunk (which is a big reason the relationship can't last). I don't have any problems with drinking, but it made me feel so strange, this group of people that couldn't enjoy themselves without being completely inebriated.
But his writing works for all that. It's not particularly enjoyable reading, what with the depression and awkward interactions between people, but it's illustrative of a mind-set that is hard to understand. Kerouac excels at putting the reader in his mind, and that's something this book doesn't lose.
http://amberleez.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-would-never-snakelike-hide-furthest.html