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4.37k reviews for:
On the Road (Penguin Classics) by Kerouac Jack (2002-12-31) Paperback
Jack Kerouac
3.28 AVERAGE
4.37k reviews for:
On the Road (Penguin Classics) by Kerouac Jack (2002-12-31) Paperback
Jack Kerouac
3.28 AVERAGE
slow-paced
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
definitely want to read the book to pick up things I missed by listening to audiobook
but I love his writing and how it encompasses his environment and generation
but I love his writing and how it encompasses his environment and generation
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a book that is an incredible travel journal wrapped in a mediocre character story that I found quite confusing overall. The travel part of it is definitely fascinating and engaging; I found myself wanting to be in the characters' shoes and see all of the things they were seeing. However, the way the characters are written is something that I found very confusing and I found myself carried away by the fast pace of the book.
Starting with the travel part of the story, I thought this was really enjoyable, especially reading it so far in the future. It felt like I was getting a real insight into America in the 1940s and 50s, seeing so many different parts of the country and reading the stories of a very diverse range of people. This is definitely where the book excels and it drove me to keep reading the book as I was excited for the characters to reach the next city and meet people from that city to learn more about them.
The pace of the book is very quick and this had a disarming effect on me as I found myself wanting to read on but not fully being able to process the things that had happened so far. This is definitely a reaction specifically from me and I'm sure that others wouldn't find that. The writing tends to be long, descriptive and roundabout in a way that gets quite convoluted, especially when the paragraphs can be a whole page long!
When this style of writing is then combined with characters that are incredibly complex and seem to have ever changing motivations, ideas and goals, the characters themselves felt mashed together such that I'm not sure that I really understood any of the characters. I think I would have enjoyed a bit more consistency in the book but I also can see how this type of "beat" character may not be so consistent (especially when we take into consideration that in real life, these characters would be regularly taking a lot of intoxicants!)
There is not much of a defined story, instead weaving in and around the characters' changing motivations and drop of a hat ideas that take them across the country at seemingly no notice. This is the entire intention of the book and helps to maintain the pace of it as the reader is aware that anything could happen at any point and that we could be taken anywhere at anytime.
One thing I did enjoy about the book is the overall upbeat and optimistic nature of all the main characters. Throughout the book, the characters maintain this sunny disposition to their natures that carried over to me as the reader and this also helped motivate me to keep reading. Despite setbacks, surprises and the chaotic nature of their style of lives, the characters are always just excited to get on to the next thing, to live their lives to the fullest extent and to follow their whims as they only get the one chance at life.
The optimism is the main message that I got from the book; it left me wanting to go travelling again and experience those same feelings myself. The incredibly way in which the landscape and people of America are described, meanwhile, just enhanced that feeling in me. Despite the opaque characters, I always wanted to keep reading and seeing where the adventures would take them next and the sense of chaos definitely kept things exciting. This would make a great holiday read or one that could use decades upon decades of analysis but either way, it was a genuinely enjoyable book and one that is a classic for a reason!
Starting with the travel part of the story, I thought this was really enjoyable, especially reading it so far in the future. It felt like I was getting a real insight into America in the 1940s and 50s, seeing so many different parts of the country and reading the stories of a very diverse range of people. This is definitely where the book excels and it drove me to keep reading the book as I was excited for the characters to reach the next city and meet people from that city to learn more about them.
The pace of the book is very quick and this had a disarming effect on me as I found myself wanting to read on but not fully being able to process the things that had happened so far. This is definitely a reaction specifically from me and I'm sure that others wouldn't find that. The writing tends to be long, descriptive and roundabout in a way that gets quite convoluted, especially when the paragraphs can be a whole page long!
When this style of writing is then combined with characters that are incredibly complex and seem to have ever changing motivations, ideas and goals, the characters themselves felt mashed together such that I'm not sure that I really understood any of the characters. I think I would have enjoyed a bit more consistency in the book but I also can see how this type of "beat" character may not be so consistent (especially when we take into consideration that in real life, these characters would be regularly taking a lot of intoxicants!)
There is not much of a defined story, instead weaving in and around the characters' changing motivations and drop of a hat ideas that take them across the country at seemingly no notice. This is the entire intention of the book and helps to maintain the pace of it as the reader is aware that anything could happen at any point and that we could be taken anywhere at anytime.
One thing I did enjoy about the book is the overall upbeat and optimistic nature of all the main characters. Throughout the book, the characters maintain this sunny disposition to their natures that carried over to me as the reader and this also helped motivate me to keep reading. Despite setbacks, surprises and the chaotic nature of their style of lives, the characters are always just excited to get on to the next thing, to live their lives to the fullest extent and to follow their whims as they only get the one chance at life.
The optimism is the main message that I got from the book; it left me wanting to go travelling again and experience those same feelings myself. The incredibly way in which the landscape and people of America are described, meanwhile, just enhanced that feeling in me. Despite the opaque characters, I always wanted to keep reading and seeing where the adventures would take them next and the sense of chaos definitely kept things exciting. This would make a great holiday read or one that could use decades upon decades of analysis but either way, it was a genuinely enjoyable book and one that is a classic for a reason!