Reviews

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson

dmfw's review against another edition

dark funny sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Style over substance abuse.

catiealb's review against another edition

dark funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

talereads's review against another edition

adventurous funny

4.5

nospaddy's review against another edition

adventurous funny fast-paced

• 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

4.0

jcmcginn's review against another edition

funny fast-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

debbarney's review against another edition

5.0

Hunter S Thompson. Need I say more?

jmoore43's review against another edition

dark funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

carolinekdickens's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

matcha_pages's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I don't doubt that this book is a cult classic, edgy, and captured a generation's feeling of discontent with the status quo. But in 2024, this drug fueled adventure in Las Vegas just concerned me. 
I used to live in Las Vegas, so I found some of their shennanigans par for the course and darkly funny. I kept hoping to understand the deeper meaning of this book, unfortunately I never found it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use

bmarchman's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

In high school only the druggies seemed super invested in Hunter S Thompson and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. I stayed away from it because I felt it wasn’t for me and to be a contrarian more than anything. However, my opinion of Hunter S Thompson evolved as I read parts of the Great Shark Hunt and understood more about him and fell in love with Gonzo Journalism as a style. 

Besides being wonderfully written and funny, the book has so much to say about the United States immediately following the counterculture movement of the 60s. Vegas here serves as an important backdrop; a carefully crafted, artificial city in the desert designed to replicate and serve up the American Dream. The fact that Thompson encounters insanity, violence, and disillusionment is just another part of that dream.

Definitely recommend to anyone looking to understand the zeitgeist of the 1970s and examine the failures of the 60s counterculture movement.