Reviews

Tristessa by Jack Kerouac, Aram Saroyan

tamzy6's review against another edition

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2.0

I realised I really don't like the stream of consciousness writing style after reading this. And Jack's (the name of both the protagonist and the author) drug-induced thoughts are incoherent and sometimes intelligible, that I don't even know what's going on half the time.

traveller_maria's review against another edition

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5.0

good but depressing . Trigger warning

adamdesalle's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

n4444's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad 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

3.75

danielafin's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5

emma_ireland's review against another edition

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2.0

I love Kerouac, but Tristessa left me frustrated, irritated, bored, and cold. All the five star reviews on here make me feel I'm missing something, and I'll leave it a few months and give it another go (as I commented elsewhere, I find Kerouac gets better and better with re-reading), but my initial impression after finishing it for the first time is: what a ramble.

aniabot's review against another edition

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5.0

in classic kerouac tradition, you have to read it in one sitting for the flow to make any sense. such beautiful passages, i wanted it to go on. i think one of his few stories with the focus on romance, a woman, and still it had the well known longing, growing, and meditative teaching.

oninka's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.25

decadent_and_depraved's review against another edition

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5.0

Oh, you poetic misery, Tristessa, there is nothing worse than loving somebody that cannot be helped!

maameslittlelibrary's review against another edition

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medium-paced

1.25