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Summary: Legend and Truth a little different
Review: I just read the book for the first time. I didn't find the characters the type I would like to emulate, too much alcohol and destructive behavior. Destructive behavior to yourself is bad, to others, well that's nothing to be emulated. The legend that it was written in one three week period is just that, a legend. Kerouac worked on it for years. Read this article from the NY times, I found it interesting.August 22, 2001 New York Public Library Buys Kerouac Archive By THE NEW YORK TIMES
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Summary: Great Book for Growing Up
Review: I found this book wonderful to hold on to while spending a few years of my life traveling throughout the states, with no stable home.
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Summary: good. A little long. A little overated
Review: This book has some great passages. And they will stay with me, but the book could have been 100pgs shorter and had more of an impact. Dean is an amazing character. Although my favorite would be old bull lee, based on the strange and wonderful mr. burroughs. Yeah decent book, should read it, but don't believe ALL the hype
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Summary: Altering
Review: Jack Kerouac seriously changed the way I looked at life. This books fills you with such a sense of the romance of bleakness, the drug-addled joy of the Beat way of life, that it's all you can do to stop yourself hitchin' a ride there and then to the American West. Kerouac's lyrical evocations are mesmerising, and gives you a real sense of "outside chic". This is the book that got me into the Beats, and I would say it's as good a place as any to start.
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Summary: It's More Than Just Typing
Review: As a mystery author with my debut novel in its initial release, I am a sincere admirer of ON THE ROAD, as well as Jack Kerouac's works in general. While it was once said that Mr. Kerouac's work was not writing--it was typing--that statement does not give ON THE ROAD and Mr. Kerouac fair shakes. This book and his works defined the Beat Movement. They captured a sense of an entire generation. They have had a major impact on American letters and intellectual thought. ON THE ROAD should be read by every person who wants to consider herself a well-read individual.
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Summary: Probably not the best use of your time.
Review: With nearly 300 reviews for "On the Road", I figured one more can't hurt. One of my favorite teachings of our Savior, Jesus the Son of God, is that we shouldn't worry about the future or where we're going to live in ten years or what how we're going to find something to eat or will my boss get mad at me, etc. etc., because our Father in Heaven is looking out for us. A sparrow can't fall from the sky without the knowledge, moreso, the will of God. And what is more important in God's eyes, a sparrow, or man, who was created in God's image? Why do I refer to the Bible? Because above is the main theme of the book, as expressed (secularly) by Dean Moriarty. However, while Jesus used this example to illustrate God's love and encourage Christians to focus on serving God and helping others (not worrying about money and such), Sal and Dean use it as an excuse of sorts to be irresponisble, hard-drinking, sex-driven guys on four very impressive road trips. As Dean says, it's silly to worry because whatever you do or whatever happens to you, everything is going to turn out just great. While the hedonism displayed in the book is not exactly my favorite aspect of it, the book also has other qualities worth discussing. The pace of the book is interesting. Kerouac tends to use a quick pace when important or painful events are discussed and omits emotion and detail (e.g. Lee's wife overdosing, a bar fight in Colorado), but other, seemingly less signifigant details are emphasized (e.g. the opera seen in Colorado, the nature of grapes in Southern California, the all-night debate between Moriarty and Carlo Marx). It serves two points: it keeps with the themes of finding pleasure and tries to show that even the seemingly earth-shattering events in one's life are just part of the flow or continuing story. I ramble on. I think the book might be worth a read if you're interesting in reading about the exploits of the above mentioned men or if you're interested in the above mentioned theme. However, if you're looking for descriptions of places in America or something along those lines, don't bother. I found this book only moderately worth reading.
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Summary: Beyond Envy
Review: Fantastic tearing across the continent, bashing against an ocean and turning right back again, always in search, looking for something, that extra thrill, that wild ride, that amazing love. Go! Kerouac wrote On the Road in two weeks, inserting an endless roll of paper into his typewriter and just going. The result reads like all of youth distilled into one tall glass of red, red wine. This is a one-of-a-kind purely American classic. The only book I can think of in the last ten years that compares in terms of great writing that is ALIVE is Brauner's Love Songs of the Tone-Deaf. These writers are beyond my envy.
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Summary: Great book
Review: On the Road is filled with inspiration for any body that has ever dreamed. It brings you back to an art loving,enlightend generation that we seem to have forgotten in this time we are in now. If you know the feeling I'm talking about when you read poetry...When you see a magnificent performance...When you see the irony of life for the first time...If you know what it's like to get drunk off of all these things...If you know what it's like to be high on life, I strongly suggest you read this book. This book is for writers.
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Summary: Plain fun!
Review: This book is just fun to read, from A-Z. Jack Kerouac tells such a refreshing, funny and beautiful story about his life on the road - it just reeled me in.
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Summary: Grammy
Review: This recording of Kerouac's "On the Road" by Matt Dillon was nominated for a 2000 Grammy.
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