I've only read the Dharma Bums. I thought it was so amazing I re-read it right after...I started to read On the Road but it seemed to lack the Jack Kerouac authenticity that Dharma Bums had. I mean in the writing style.
What is your favorite Kerouac book and why?
Twelve answers:
pilgram92003
2006-08-20 17:20:46 UTC
Oh yes it was On the Road, a bit of insight of the era that was the Beat Generation. it opened the door for the following Hippie Generation to travel that road. Realize On the Road was only a part of the whole that was going on at that time,it loses it's flavor if one doesn't have a bit of understanding of a generation they called Beat.
Pema
2006-08-21 07:37:20 UTC
Dharma Bums. Read it loads of times; just makes me feel really good and then got into reading the work of Gray Snyder (Japhy Ryder) who I also had the really good fortune to meet some 20 years ago and boy did he ever look exactly like the description Kerouac puts at the end of the Dharma bums when he dreams about Japhy.
Not to say that I don't like his other books a lot but they are more hedonistic I guess and this has that feeling of liberation.
Andy benitez
2006-08-20 00:51:02 UTC
The Dharma Bums, even though I am currently considering reading on the road for the god knows how many-eth time. It worth reading every 5 or 10 years.
Oh, Why? Because you can't fall off a mountain, Japhy. Everything is alright forever.
cmilja m
2006-08-22 03:19:53 UTC
Well I liked On the Road. Do you have any chance to travel the American roads? It is not like it used to be, I believe, but it might help you to get the to the idea of freedom.
2016-11-05 09:06:04 UTC
The vacationer via John Twelve Hawks (pen call). in this very quick-paced and extreme-tech mystery, huge Brother is termed The Brethren, which I take to be a nod to Orwell. those 2 authors have/had similar concerns on the topic of surveillance and society.
not_wavin
2006-08-21 00:55:16 UTC
On the Road, of course. Jack always referred to it as "the book that made me famous". He spent the rest of his life trying to write something to compare with it. He failed.
mairimac158
2006-08-21 18:43:01 UTC
On the Road - teenage favourite. Pre university independence being accepted by parents and given leniency when they see you making your own choices in literature, icons, music, friends, choices of study etc.
2006-08-19 21:56:47 UTC
I've only read 'On the Road' and I loved it. Made me so restless for travel, experience, experimental jazz... suddenly the world was a lot more vivid, every person fascinating, every potential (the scarier, and more unconventional the better) begging to be explored. You've inspired me to go and find his other books, thanks! xo
plasticrooster
2006-08-19 21:00:08 UTC
i favor 'on the road' the best. no reason why, just liked the flow better than the other two books by him i have read.
2006-08-22 23:02:11 UTC
on the road for me
William G
2006-08-20 01:57:31 UTC
'On the Road' was very fast paced and really went nowhere. Brilliant.
It's Our Future
2006-08-20 05:04:38 UTC
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