Total Page : 112
Publisher : Research Education Association
Publication Date : 1996 07 25
>> The Definitive American Road Novel
Since On The Road has been reviewed so many times by others I won t recount the plot such as it is but just my opinions about the book
First Kerouac is a fairly quick read although I found the book a bit monotonous by the end Kerouac wisely ends the book before the narrative becomes too tedious
Second after reading only a few dozen pages you know that On The Road is an important book since its style and substance have been imitated so many times The book that I think it compares most favorably to is Huckleberry Finn
Third I really thought I d be treated to Kerouac s deep immersion into beat culture I was but only to a limited degree What I found fascinating about the book was a feeling of distance that Kerouac seemed to convey as if he was tangent to beat culture but not necessarily a part of it in the way that Neal Cassady Dean Moriarty and Allen Ginsburg Carlo Marx really were I almost got the impression of Kerouac being an interested observer but a somewhat wary participant with some exceptions When you compare Kerouac s opinion of hippie culture with those of Cassady and Ginsburg I think this becomes even more pronounced
I thought the book had a sense of fatalism that Kerouac always knew that these road adventures were only an interlude in his life but for others esepcially Cassady that they were a way of life that probably would lead to a bad end
On The Road is a great read
>> Raw rugged and real A spectacular novel
It is difficult to imagine one not finding some level of escape inspiration and revelation in reading On The Road The number of negative reviews is not entirely surprising Frankly I feel a bit sorry for those who despise this book and attempt to brand it as superficial and/or incoherent Kerouac s rugged and raw writing and story lines are exactly what makes this book so brilliant My guess is that these critics don t get it because they are entrenched in political and behavioral conformity or more likely simply drawn to linear formulaic fiction writing
>> makes you want to travel
I really enjoyed this book I read the anniversary unedited edition from the origional scroll and I would recommend it I liked reading the real names of all the people and it made it quarky having all the grammar and spelling errors every once in a a while Reading this story really gives you a new found pride for America and all the wonderful people and places we have to offer Everyone always thinks you need to travel abroad but this story makes you want to get to know the great scenery and characters right here at home
