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4.4k reviews for:
On the Road (Penguin Classics) by Kerouac Jack (2002-12-31) Paperback
Jack Kerouac
3.28 AVERAGE
4.4k reviews for:
On the Road (Penguin Classics) by Kerouac Jack (2002-12-31) Paperback
Jack Kerouac
3.28 AVERAGE
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I was surprised, as always, by how easy the act of leaving was, and how good it felt. The world was suddenly rich with possibility.
.
QUÉ LIBRO. Pensé que no me iba a gustar pero me encantó. La prosa es de lo más fluida y hace que los eventos (a veces instantáneos) queden orgánicos, y no sentía que pasara lo que leí en varias reseñas que señalaban que el libro era un tiro al aire que hablaba de cualquier cosa. Si bien no hay un "conflicto" me parece un roadtrip muy bien construido que trata las aventuras de Jack y Neal (Sal y Dean) alrededor de los Estados Unidos de forma psicodélica y a la vez centrada.
Lo único es que de a momento me pareció repetitivo, pero después volvía a la fluidez propia de la historia (y que creo que es el gran pro). Y como apreciación personal, las primeras partes son mucho más interesantes que las últimas y lo relaciono con el principio y el final de un viaje. Empecé con toda la energía y lo terminé cansada pero satisfecha con lo que leí. Tratándose de este libro y de lo que trata me parece 100% correcto sentir eso.
.
QUÉ LIBRO. Pensé que no me iba a gustar pero me encantó. La prosa es de lo más fluida y hace que los eventos (a veces instantáneos) queden orgánicos, y no sentía que pasara lo que leí en varias reseñas que señalaban que el libro era un tiro al aire que hablaba de cualquier cosa. Si bien no hay un "conflicto" me parece un roadtrip muy bien construido que trata las aventuras de Jack y Neal (Sal y Dean) alrededor de los Estados Unidos de forma psicodélica y a la vez centrada.
Lo único es que de a momento me pareció repetitivo, pero después volvía a la fluidez propia de la historia (y que creo que es el gran pro). Y como apreciación personal, las primeras partes son mucho más interesantes que las últimas y lo relaciono con el principio y el final de un viaje. Empecé con toda la energía y lo terminé cansada pero satisfecha con lo que leí. Tratándose de este libro y de lo que trata me parece 100% correcto sentir eso.
On the Road, by Jack Kerouac, is a first person travelogue account from the point of view of Sal (Kerouac), as he endlessly crosses back and forth across America, encountering the people, places, and ideas that make the country what it is.
Here is a quick disclaimer to the potential reader of this novel:
If you expect an intricately woven plot, STOP; while Sal hitchhikes across America, the reader travels nowhere .
If you expect likeable characters, STOP; most are downright unlikeable, lazy, and filled with pessimism.
If you expect a portrait of post WWII America, STOP; the sweaty, drunken picture Kerouac paints is limited in scope and a bore to the viewer.
If you expect ideas to be set down and discussed coherently, STOP, unless you want to sift from one drunken conversation to another (which is most of the time). This is not an 'idea' book.
If you at least expect a well written novel (it has remained popular 60 years since publication, after all), STOP; the ramblings of a lunatic are no match for the contemporaneous prose of Bradbury, Steinbeck, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and many, many others.
This was tough to get through and its 'message' was murky at best. Do yourself a favor and don't read this.
Rating: 2/10
Here is a quick disclaimer to the potential reader of this novel:
If you expect an intricately woven plot, STOP; while Sal hitchhikes across America, the reader travels nowhere .
If you expect likeable characters, STOP; most are downright unlikeable, lazy, and filled with pessimism.
If you expect a portrait of post WWII America, STOP; the sweaty, drunken picture Kerouac paints is limited in scope and a bore to the viewer.
If you expect ideas to be set down and discussed coherently, STOP, unless you want to sift from one drunken conversation to another (which is most of the time). This is not an 'idea' book.
If you at least expect a well written novel (it has remained popular 60 years since publication, after all), STOP; the ramblings of a lunatic are no match for the contemporaneous prose of Bradbury, Steinbeck, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and many, many others.
This was tough to get through and its 'message' was murky at best. Do yourself a favor and don't read this.
Rating: 2/10
adventurous
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As a historical snapshot and time capsule it's priceless, but It's hard to get over how incredibly annoying and pretentious most of the people in the story are.
I finished all five 1000+ page books of A Song of Ice and Fire in less time than it took to read On the Road. It's one of those books I read more out of obligation than actual enjoyment. Shallow and unsatisfying, but somewhat interesting and (I guess) historically important.
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
slow-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
I wanted to like this book. I really did. I knew how one of my heroes, Bob Dylan, loved Jack Kerouac, and I wanted to give one of his books a whirl. I chose On The Road because it was his most well known book. But I have to quote Truman Capote, "This isn't writing, this is typing." The prose itself was jagged and hard to follow. I really can't give you any plot to the book because I really don't understand what was going on. I wasn't surprised when I found out Kerouac took 3 weeks to write it, and was high the entire time.
Dean Moriarty, in my humble opinion, was the worst part of the book. I didn't think he was the romantic hero of the road, I thought he was horribly irresponsible, especially towards the women in his life. Every time he left Camille or Inez I couldn't help but roll my eyes and pray that they left him. He also broke his thumb trying to /hit/ his ex wife Mary Lou. His childishness was fun at first but it got old very quickly. Galatea said it best when she told him off: "You have no regard for anybody but yourself and your kicks."
All in all, it wasn't great. But I still have faith in Kerouac. I'm sure that his other books are actually great.
Dean Moriarty, in my humble opinion, was the worst part of the book. I didn't think he was the romantic hero of the road, I thought he was horribly irresponsible, especially towards the women in his life. Every time he left Camille or Inez I couldn't help but roll my eyes and pray that they left him. He also broke his thumb trying to /hit/ his ex wife Mary Lou. His childishness was fun at first but it got old very quickly. Galatea said it best when she told him off: "You have no regard for anybody but yourself and your kicks."
All in all, it wasn't great. But I still have faith in Kerouac. I'm sure that his other books are actually great.
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No