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Coyote Smith wrote:Very very much so.

If I was going to read one Kerouac book - which should I choose? On The Road?

Richman wrote:

Coyote Smith wrote:Very very much so.

If I was going to read one Kerouac book - which should I choose? On The Road?

I'd choose none - I can't stand him! On the road is as over-rated as the bible.

Richman wrote:

Coyote Smith wrote:Very very much so.

If I was going to read one Kerouac book - which should I choose? On The Road?

Yeah, start with On The Road. It's my all time favourite.

Richman wrote:If I was going to read one Kerouac book - which should I choose? On The Road?

It depends how much travelling you've done. If you haven't done much but like the thought of it, you should give it a read. But if you have, it may just remind that your still 3 hours away from where you want to be.

I prefer Hunter S. Thompson. Mad man ravings = good writing.

I haven't done much travelling and I don't particularly like the thought of it - where does that put me?

I really like "Maggie Cassidy"- it's a fairly simple novel about him being a teenager and the Irish girl he had a crush on, but it's really nicely written. Mind you, it's been a while since I read it.

rumblecat wrote:I really like "Maggie Cassidy"- it's a fairly simple novel about him being a teenager and the Irish girl he had a crush on, but it's really nicely written. Mind you, it's been a while since I read it.

There's a line in Kureishi's "The Buddha of Suburbia" which is something like: "the cruelest thing you can do to Kerouac is re-read him at 30." I wouldn't entirely agree but there's some truth to it.

Richman wrote:I haven't done much travelling and I don't particularly like the thought of it - where does that put me?

You could give it a go and see how you get on, there is certainly worse books you could read. If you think it's mince, just read something else! I didn't like it but maybe thats just me, you ever try William S. Boroughs?

Burroghs is fantastic, well Junky was at least. I tried to read Naked Lunch3 or 4 years ago when I was working the nightshift and it wasn't a smart idea.

Bukowski's really good too.

Coyote Smith wrote:Burroghs is fantastic, well Junky was at least. I tried to read Naked Lunch3 or 4 years ago when I was working the nightshift and it wasn't a smart idea.

Bukowski's really good too.

I read The Dead School by Patrick McCabe which is all about how a job can grind you down into a fat bald man and rob you of everything precious and have you living the rest of your life wishing you were dead while working in a shitty job that i was sure was going to turn me into a fat bald man. Joined the dots and quit not long after! Ah, the power of books......

CcraiggyO wrote:

Coyote Smith wrote:Burroghs is fantastic, well Junky was at least. I tried to read Naked Lunch3 or 4 years ago when I was working the nightshift and it wasn't a smart idea.

Bukowski's really good too.

I read The Dead School by Patrick McCabe which is all about how a job can grind you down into a fat bald man and rob you of everything precious and have you living the rest of your life wishing you were dead while working in a shitty job that i was sure was going to turn me into a fat bald man. Joined the dots and quit not long after! Ah, the power of books......

Hmmm... I'm more a fan of this interpretation

That's one of my favourite favourite books, along with this one

"George Bowling is not a very sympathetic character—he is a fat, middle-aged insurance salesman who dislikes his wife and children and who would betray what few principles he has for a couple of pints or a good night out with a prostitute."

The man was a Prophet of England it seems..........

I love Orwell's work, I bought his collected stories and read it over a period of about 2 months on the train to and from work and every story taught me something new except his two famous works, 1984 and Animal Farm! Tsk.

I gave up on reading newspapers at work and started reading books. never looked back!

Dracula and The Rum Diaries being particularly memorable lunchtime reads, and Wouldn't It Be Nice: Brian Wilson and the Making of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds was a joy. A Detailed analysis of one of my favourite albums. ever!

I just read that one recently, good stuff. My favourite Beach Boys book is Heroes and Villains by Stephen Gaines, totally gripping and has an especially insane chapter concerning the writing of "Caroline No" and how an out-of-his-head Bran Wilson shows up on the front door-step of his high school crush he wrote the song about- the whole thing is totally excruciating, especially as she has no idea why he's there.

crispybacon wrote:There's a line in Kureishi's "The Buddha of Suburbia" which is something like: "the cruelest thing you can do to Kerouac is re-read him at 30." I wouldn't entirely agree but there's some truth to it.

ahh, that's a pretty clever line, never heard that, it's quite smart. Thiking about it it's probably one of the reasons I haven't re-read On The Road- first time I was 18 and travelling across America after working in as a dishwasher in Conneticut, and that whole world of bus depots and freight trains and travelling was right there in front of me. Part of me worries that if I read it now I'd just think he was dick. Still, the new 'complete' version of On The Road is pretty tempting...