Reviews tagging 'Death'

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

3 reviews

sophiajkessler's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

The main takeaway for this book for me was something I already knew: straight men are more in love with each other than they could ever love any woman. It was quite obvious to me that Sal and Dean love one another and this is to an extent a love story. Hence why Sal overlooks how bloody annoying Dean is which we as the readers have to suffer through, whilst Sal gushes about how great he is. Cognitive dissonance much? Other readers have commented ( and I agree) that although this book has beautiful prose it is plot deficient and there are precious few actually likeable characters. To me this didn't detract from the book though as it helped develop the sense of loneliness and isolation that an itinerant lifestyle engenders no matter how freeing it might be. People who aspire to this kind of lifestyle should look at the endings of the protagonist and deuteragonist to find the moral of the story:

Sal makes his way off the road and finds his happiness. Dean never does and seems unable to do either. We leave him to an uncertain fate, having lost all the friends and lovers of his journey and also Sal, his probable soulmate.

A cautionary tale about the dangers of a lifestyle many idealise even if its simultaneously a love story, both to the road itself and between its main characters. Best enjoyed if you yourself are actually on a roadtrip! At times I could practically see and feel the emotioms and scenery described. Beware of the content warnings though. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Police brutality, Pedophilia, Homophobia, Death, Racism, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Medical content, Drug use, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Sexism, Violence, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, and Cultural appropriation

coriblake's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, Alcohol, and Racism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, and Pedophilia

Minor: Homophobia, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Death, and Gun violence

wretchedtheo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Homophobia, Cursing, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content

Minor: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexual content, and Slavery