Reviews

The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac

dannycakez8808's review against another edition

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3.0

Unfortunately I did not care much for this story. The sentences were very long winded and it was quiet pretentious. I loved the setting of the story since I am from Nor Cal myself.

bbboeken's review against another edition

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4.0

Op zijn gemakkelijkst, en geheel incorrect te onschrijven als Murakami, maar dan in deftig Engels. Hilarisch en soms heel stilmakend, is dit een gigantische trip (in beide betekenissen van het woord). Ik denk dat ik klaar ben om "[b:On the Road|6288|The Road|Cormac McCarthy|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21E8H3D1JSL._SL75_.jpg|3355573]" te lezen.

deanpeters's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

bellevue's review against another edition

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4.0

Although it has a good premise and idea, it annoys me how pompous he is.

kristidurbs's review against another edition

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3.0

Zen Buddhism and jumping trains and mountain climbing and sexuality and drinking and haikus and emptiness and chaos and hitch hiking and truth and half truths and yodelayhee and pseudo enlightenment and more drinking and more mountain climbing and monks and Desolation and a rainbow and God and the end.

(The mountain climbing parts were the best, and, surprisingly, I think I preferred Dharma Bums to On the Road.)

ilovelucy's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

bosstweed's review against another edition

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adventurous funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

An interesting and introspective book for sure. Better than the road in my opinion, as it doesn’t drag and goes along at a fairly quick pace, but warrents another read as it was pretty reflective and meditative with its big ideas. 

emsemsems's review against another edition

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1.0

DNF. I wanted to like this so badly because it's one of those 'hip' books that fifteen year old me would have loved reading. Unfortunately, I've passed that hopeful, wild, don't-give-a-fuck age - and the me now - am very sure that alcoholic Zen 'Eat, Pray, Love' does not appeal to me at all.

I was very generous with my attempt to read this. I gave it a few tries, and I even tried listening to the audiobook but it put me to sleep like a tranquilliser shot each time I tried reading it. As an insomniac, I will probably keep the audiobook - and put it on whenever insomnia hits hard.

The writing is not awful, but I'm just not that into the content. Very preachy and dull, like an accidental date with a very 'hip' dude who smells a bit funky, and keeps a pet ex-battery chicken called 'Namaste'. You know exactly what I mean. The difference is that, those dudes always share their funky cigarettes. A consolation prize for what it's worth. But with Kerouac, I'm getting nothing. Nothing.

kieranmckenna9's review against another edition

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inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

cleomewilkinson's review against another edition

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4.0

delightful