You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.21 AVERAGE
3.21 AVERAGE
Satori in Paris is depressing. Drunk, aging Kerouac -- near death, though he could have never known it -- stumbles around Paris alone in search of his ancestry. Pic, on the other hand, is very interesting and completely unlike anything else he ever wrote. Unfortunately, it feels rushed and unfinished. But it gives a glimpse of where Kerouac's career could have been headed if not for his tragic death.
These shorter “novels” were surprisingly enjoyable. I was not expecting much due to the lukewarm reputation of Kerouac’s later work, and they certainly weren’t among his best, but Satori in Paris, especially, had flashes of the old brilliance (specifically Chapter 25).
Satori in Paris and Pic are both fairly mundane stories, though. Satori in Paris, as I said, boasts some well-written passages, but nothing really happens in the story.
I was nervous to read Pic, which seems like the literary equivalent of blackface, but it was more of a flop than an affront. Pic is similarly mundane, though - I didn’t struggle as much as I expected with it being written from the perspective of a black child, but cultural appropriation and stereotypical African-American slang aside, the plot here is also fairly thin. Some of the writing, again, is exciting, specifically the chapters about Slim playing the saxophone and the Ghost of the Susquehanna, but, ultimately, there isn’t any content nearly as engaging as is found in his best work.
Satori in Paris and Pic are both fairly mundane stories, though. Satori in Paris, as I said, boasts some well-written passages, but nothing really happens in the story.
I was nervous to read Pic, which seems like the literary equivalent of blackface, but it was more of a flop than an affront. Pic is similarly mundane, though - I didn’t struggle as much as I expected with it being written from the perspective of a black child, but cultural appropriation and stereotypical African-American slang aside, the plot here is also fairly thin. Some of the writing, again, is exciting, specifically the chapters about Slim playing the saxophone and the Ghost of the Susquehanna, but, ultimately, there isn’t any content nearly as engaging as is found in his best work.
Satori in Paris is absolutely fantastic. A deep look into the workings of Kerouac’s constantly churning mind. Pic was a much more bizarre read
adventurous
challenging
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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:
Yes
medium-paced
This is actually two books combined in one publication. Satori in Paris was good. Different, more melancholy and an easy read. I liked it.
Pic was almost embarrassing. Written in the voice of a southern black boy. I'm not how this was received in the late sixties, but it feels racist, and in poor taste to read it now. Add to that the story is pointless.
Pic was almost embarrassing. Written in the voice of a southern black boy. I'm not how this was received in the late sixties, but it feels racist, and in poor taste to read it now. Add to that the story is pointless.
emotional
reflective
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:
Yes