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challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
this is the most difficult book i've read thus far, and is exactly how you should imagine a novel that is written by a man who spent years in a hotel room alone on every drug know to man. it is less than 200 pages of pure frustration. like most people, i hate the 5 star rating system because i dont know how i should judge: on how well i enjoyed the book or on how well it is written. I usually give three stars when i hate the book but respect and appreciate it, or if i love the book but dont respect and appreciate it. that's what i have done here.
Makes me never want to touch heroin, so I think the book did its job.
I feel as though this would have been more enjoyable if I understood some of the references, but I also recognize that the novel isn’t about “understanding” as much as it is about experiencing. I definitely enjoyed the Appendix section of the book the most as reading about his experiences and opinions on different drugs and treatments was certainly fascinating.
I definitely have some negative takeaways regarding how Burroughs approaches/discusses the topic of race and his usage of racial slurs as well as his views on women. Interesting guy, nonetheless.
I feel as though this would have been more enjoyable if I understood some of the references, but I also recognize that the novel isn’t about “understanding” as much as it is about experiencing. I definitely enjoyed the Appendix section of the book the most as reading about his experiences and opinions on different drugs and treatments was certainly fascinating.
I definitely have some negative takeaways regarding how Burroughs approaches/discusses the topic of race and his usage of racial slurs as well as his views on women. Interesting guy, nonetheless.
challenging
dark
slow-paced
challenging
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This might be the strangest book I’ve ever read, and I don’t know how I feel about it. I don’t get it but I do feel connected to what Burroughs has created
So wrong, it's right.
ულამაზესი და უდიადესი ბოდვა შემომეკითხა.
ულამაზესი და უდიადესი ბოდვა შემომეკითხა.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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:
Yes
One of the most disgusting books I’ve ever read. In a good way. This is incredibly raw and emotionally provocative. Told in a series of disjointed, hallucinatory vignettes, it DEEPLY explores drug addiction, sexuality, and violence.
The core message (to me) is anti-control. The book is so powerful that it left its pages and exerted its message IRL, becoming a landmark in resisting US government censorship of art and language. It was like Naked Lunch was THE fork in the road. We picked the right direction, and here I am enjoying (?) it today. I can feel its influence echoing through so much later postmodern literature I love (Pynchon, DFW, others). At the moment the US could’ve veered towards repression, Naked Lunch helped push us towards freedom.
The core message (to me) is anti-control. The book is so powerful that it left its pages and exerted its message IRL, becoming a landmark in resisting US government censorship of art and language. It was like Naked Lunch was THE fork in the road. We picked the right direction, and here I am enjoying (?) it today. I can feel its influence echoing through so much later postmodern literature I love (Pynchon, DFW, others). At the moment the US could’ve veered towards repression, Naked Lunch helped push us towards freedom.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
it felt on brand that this book smelled of cigarettes and I used a bandaid as a bookmark