Amazon.com: On The Road, the most famous of Jack Kerouac's works, is not only the soul of the Beat movement and literature, but one of the most important novels of the century. Like nearly all of Kerouac's writing, On The Road is thinly fictionalized autobiography, filled with a cast made of Kerouac's real life friends, lovers, and fellow travelers. Narrated by Sal Paradise, one of Kerouac's alter-egos, On the Road is a cross-country bohemian odyssey that not only influenced writing in the years since its 1957 publication but penetrated into the deepest levels of American thought and culture.
Book Description: MAXnotes offer a fresh look at masterpieces of literature, presented in a lively and interesting fashion. Written by literary experts who currently teach the subject, MAXnotes will enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the work. MAXnotes are designed to stimulate independ ent thought about the literary work by raising various issues and thought-provoking ideas and questions. MAXnotes cover the essentials of what one should know about each work, including an overall summary, character lists, an explanation and discussion of the plot, the work's historical context, illustrations to convey the mood of the work, and a biography of the author. Each chapter is individually summarized and analyzed, and has study questions and answers.
Ehhh I hate reading the long reviews... If I want to know what a books about I can find it ABOVE all the reviews... Sooo... This book was alright. Not very exciting. Mostly plotless, in my opinion. They drive to the west where they attempt to seduce women, drink, and smoke. Then they drive to the east where they do the same thing. Then they head on down to Mexico where they do the same thing yet again. I don't understand all the hype...? The book is a bit pretentious. I prefer The Catcher in the Rye or Into the Wild to this.
The Day After Superman Died I began this book with weary thoughts, suspecting some Beatles, hippie mumbo jumbo about life, love and drugs. I was right but also dead wrong. After reading it I can fully understand why this is thought of as the definitive read from the beat generation.
It's basically a crazed story on life on the road, of two friends who for a brief period becomes soul mates and experiences the real world as it is meant to be, on the road. The prose is filled with energy and your own imagination rushes along with the author's and at places even goes beyond his. I have read few books that does this to me in the same way, perhaps even none. Similarly to one of those well written Hemingway travel stories, you want to get out there - it makes you want to experience life - to find and be inspired by Dean Moriarty, the mighty road God.
I can't recommend this book highly enough, it is one to be read over and over again. To remind us that life is holy and to help us fully enjoy every precious moment of it.
Now I know why the "beat" generation died out I had heard a lot about the book, and I decided to try it despite the mixed reviews on line. "Why not, it's a classic, Right?" Well, I found this to be a "classic" in the same genre as the modern artist who creates a "classic" by throwing oil point at a canvas. The two main characters, Dean and Sal, cross the country on a series of four escapades. The hero is Dean (I guess), a hard drinking, womanizing excon who for some reason Sal idolizes. Dean drives with a reckless abandon that would probably make Evel Knevel cringe, effectively destroying every car he gets his hands on but also finding time to father a few children on the way. Sal still adores him, in much the same way that the "good girl" falls for the "bad boy" in high school. By the last road trip, I really wanted the book to be over. I had lost interest in the characters, much in the same way that the characters appeared to have lost interest in themselves. They seemed to realize that despite all their traveling they were going nowhere. Was there any point to their endless drinking, womanizing, and other acts of hedonistic debauchery? Or was this Kerouac's point- "Since there's little point to life, we'll just make a big a mess for everybody else to clean up." Unlike the true classics, which left me pondering the meaning of life and probing the depths of human existence, this book had all the inspiration of an episode of MTV's "Real World". A redeeming factor is that I did enjoy Kerouac's colorful and descriptive writing style. He really made me feel that I was "On the Road" with him. Unfortunately, I didn't want to be there.
Last Great American Novel This book is the one that made me leave home. I first read this when I was elevan years old and I read it again when I was eighteen. I left my hometown shortly thereafter and have been running around the world ever since. I never tire of this book as it has reminded me that the only way to experience anything worthwhile is to get out there away from the mediocre people who you already know and lay some track. I am embaressed that so few people have read this book. I will always think of Jack Kerouac as America's last great writer and by far the best of the beats. The prose of this book fills my nose with the smell of the open road and my heart with the joy of seeing the countryside of my homeland. I think everyone should take time to drive cross country once just to remind themselves of why America is so great. To experience the freedom of the open road with no pressure and no schedule is a very liberating experience and well worth writing about.
A masterpiece "On the Road" is my all time favorite book. I bought this book for a friend and he loved it. I have read a few of his other books and eventually I would like to read his whole catalog. This book will take you on a journey and will motivate you to travel more.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tony's Online Tips
Trevor
