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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i read this immediately after finishing junky. doing this definitely helped add a lot of dimension to "queer" because i already was familiar with burroughs & his addiction. i have come to dislike burroughs as a person quite a bit, but i was really intrigued by the idea of being "disembodied" in relation to queerness and sexuality.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racism, Toxic relationship, Alcohol
dark
did not interest me nearly as much as the film, sorry to say but daniel craig’s portrayal of lee far excels beyond anything i can conjure up in my head. and i guess drew starkey is there.
anyway, i would recommend reading only if you’ve read Naked Lunch and Junkie first (i haven’t read either).
listened while crocheting heart-shaped coasters <3
anyway, i would recommend reading only if you’ve read Naked Lunch and Junkie first (i haven’t read either).
listened while crocheting heart-shaped coasters <3
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Damn Burroughs really was a miserable old codger
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A complex novel that tells the story of a protagonist (Lee) who is emotionally broken and obsessively seeks to fill his emotional void through a bond with another person (Allerton). It also explores the theme of desire and the pain of not fulfilling it. The story reminded me of the philosophical concept of the absurd, since all the suffering the protagonist experiences and the unmet expectations do not crush him but instead lead him through a process of transformation and acceptance. At times it is terrifying, as falling in love with someone can become unhealthy, which can be seen in some of the nightmares Lee experiences that are connected to his obsession with Allerton.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-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
This was the most conventional Burroughs novel I’ve ever read, and that made this a pretty quick read. It was painful to read about his experience of unreciprocated queer desire, but this made the narrative voice more personal than the voice of Naked Lunch or Exterminator (the only other two WSB works I’ve read.) I have a difficult time with surrealism, but some of Lee’s routines were quite funny. I’m hoping to read Junky next, re-read Naked Lunch, and then delve into some of WSB’s more challenging novels (the Nova/cut-up trilogy, for starters.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes