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A review by h2oetry
Visions of Gerard by Jack Kerouac
3.0
3.5 stars
The first installation of Jack Kerouac’s “Duluoz Legend” offers a brief glimpse into the short life of his older brother, Gerard, whose death at age nine was a deep loss to Jack.
Jack viewed Gerard as a saint, and writes from that perspective throughout while he tries to cope with death, life, existence, meaning, etc, maintaining that what Gerard taught him can also be accessed through the passed-down wisdom from the past.
It’s got the expected Kerouackian flourishes, although it mainly displays young childhood rather than the freewheeling characters from his later oeuvre. Much of the book is touching, which I think is an overlooked aspect of Kerouac’s writing.
I plan on reading through the “Duluoz Legend” books in order, even though I’ve read a number of them already.
The first installation of Jack Kerouac’s “Duluoz Legend” offers a brief glimpse into the short life of his older brother, Gerard, whose death at age nine was a deep loss to Jack.
Jack viewed Gerard as a saint, and writes from that perspective throughout while he tries to cope with death, life, existence, meaning, etc, maintaining that what Gerard taught him can also be accessed through the passed-down wisdom from the past.
It’s got the expected Kerouackian flourishes, although it mainly displays young childhood rather than the freewheeling characters from his later oeuvre. Much of the book is touching, which I think is an overlooked aspect of Kerouac’s writing.
I plan on reading through the “Duluoz Legend” books in order, even though I’ve read a number of them already.