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Summary: Good Writing but Didn't Speak to Me
Review: "On the Road" is the story of a man's physical and spiritual journey through life. I think it is one of those books that you either get, or you don't. I thought it was a good read, but it wasn't spectacular to me. Maybe I'm of the wrong generation. "On the Road" is written in a very flowing style, almost becoming poetic at times with it's description of music. I would recommend this book to anyone, if for no other reason, than to judge for yourself whether Kerouac is your kind of author.
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Summary: A book review by adam patel
Review: The novel by Jack Kerouac On the Road is the story of Sal Paradise, and his directionless travels around the country. The book revolves around personal interpretation of situations, and relationships formed with others. The seemingly purposeless life, and travels that Sal and his sidekick Dean Moriarty experience, was portrayed as the almost utopian lifestyle.
The book brings to mind a new sense and better understanding of the word freedom. Spontaneous sense of living based upon not the destination it self, but the journey and experience it takes to get there, is a concept we aren't always the most familiar with. The situational narrative seemed to be a bit heavy, and character dialogue a bit light. The story was very free flowing and in some parts carelessly put together as far as logical background knowledge and setting, which corresponds nicely with the theme of the book.
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Summary: A real adventure
Review: First of all, this is a very good book. Everybody may not like it because it's very special and different. However, I liked it very much. It will give you very much. You will be taken out on an adventure with a fun-loving guy in America. It's almost like youself have been there with him. As I said it's adventure you shouldn't miss.
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Summary: it won't change your life but it's a fun read
Review: i read this book when i was pretty young and couldn't appreciate it. when i picked it up a few years later, I could better understand its depth and the poetic writing. it is not the best thing i've read, it didn't change my life, and i agree, it is extremely overrated. its lack of plot made me sigh at times and I never really liked the characters. but that's what makes the book so captivating -- you're still drawn into their lives because of the sense of freedom and adventure and fun that comes with a road trip and it makes you keep reading. the book is good. simple conclusion: i never hated this book and probably could never bring myself to do so. it's just chaotic and enjoyable. give it a chance and ignore all these reviews!...
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Summary: Groundbreaking of a Literary Road
Review: It's been many years since I first read On the Road, but I wanted to reread it, refresh my memory, as Kerouac's name still comes up so often in the literary circles I respect and enjoy. That he left an impact with his work is undeniable. Any time that a writer breaks new ground in form or style, there is inevitably an uproar, as there was, still is, with Kerouac. He is either worthless ... or his work is a gift from the Literary God, a masterpiece like no other. As I reread this book, and yes, as I enjoyed it, my final sense of it is this: Kerouac's work breaks literary ground. It is not worthless. Neither is it a 'masterpiece like no other'. But it is an important work, and Kerouac is an important writer. He is the voice of a time period, and he is an original one. His writing style reflects that time and that generation of 'beatniks' as no one else had before him and no one else has since, if only in imitation of Kerouac. The book should be read as such, appreciated even for its lack of the usual grammatical constraints or usual strict plotlines. These are not heroes. These are just men who travel across America in some dazed quest for something, perhaps nameless, perhaps unknown even to them. If they come off the written page as chauvinists, as druggies, or as aimless bums, well, yeah, they are. This is their story. However 'free' Kerouac's style might seem at times (likening it to a stream of consciousness would not be unfair), it often shows literary brilliance. One of very many examples: 'We all jumped to the music and agreed. The purity of the road. The white line in the middle of the highway unrolled and hugged our left front tire as if glued to our groove. Dean hunched his muscular neck, T-shirted in the winter night, and blasted the car along. He insisted I drive through Baltimore for traffic practice; that was all right; except he and Marylou insisted on steering while they kissed and fooled around. It was crazy; the radio was on full blast. Dean beat drums on the dashboard till a great sag developed in it; I did too. The poor Hudson, the slow boat to China, was receiving her beating.' Kerouac evokes what these characters (and their real life models, including himself) are in his style of wandering ease. His words have fullness and color. His expressions are rich and alive. There is purpose to his lack of purpose. There is reason to his madness. There is great value in any art form to be a groundbreaker, a trailblazer. And Kerouac is that.
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Summary: Appreciation of Beauty
Review: Detractors of this book say that it has no inherent value for it glorifies irresponsiblity and aimlessness. Here is the truth. The characters from the "beat" generationask nothing of the world. They do not believe that those around them "owe them a chance". In fact, they make very little impact on society. Existence on the outer fringe of culture is harmless to everyone but those that do. The only element that these rootless characters want from the world is beauty. Inexorable joy for life is in every experience, and they've set off to find it in as many experiences (kicks) they can get. I suppose its a dangerous novel to read at my age, but heck what can you say. I've got to be off to California, see ya!
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Summary: On the Road, by Jack Kerouac
Review: ON THE ROAD AGAIN I CANNOT WAIT TO GET ON THE ROAD AGAIN LA LA LA LA LA LA ROAD AGAIN I CANTWAIT TO GET ON THE ROAD AGAIN! A WILD RIDE WITH THE MASTER OF THE FUNKY, JACK BEATNIK KEROUAC!!
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Summary: Rose Tinted Rearview Mirror
Review: "Highly acclaimed works" are so often touted thus, not because of their actual value but because they were consumed at an impressionable age. For example, the popular music we listened to in our late teens tends to be the "best" music and all before or after is measured against it. Kerouac's book falls firmly into this trap. This highly erratic narrative purports to reflect his own travels and experiences but can we really be expected to believe a three-day marijuana binge? Kerouac did his best to surprise the sensibilities of his mid-20th century audience but comes off to modern ears sounding forced and contrived. Sal and Dean's endless exploits and debris-ridden wake are more calculated to shock than speak to the reader. Witness the completely superfluous "pass out in the bathroom - get covered in excrement" passage at the book's close. For 300 pages our characters roam around the country "digging" the scene. Unfortunately digging beneath this scene we find unwanted and abused children, theft, drunk driving, larceny, racism, sexism, homophobia and a selfish disregard for all life. If On The Road were written today it would be held up as a symbol of all that is wrong with America and the so-called slacker generation. I suspect that many of the loudest critics would be those who acclaim this book. It's that rose tinted rearview mirror again. Not to say that this isn't enjoyable, read it for what it is, a ripping yarn, nothing more, nothing less. However, to see how this genre can really be done may I suggest some Hunter S, Thompson?
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Summary: sack of cack
Review: kerouac wrote this book in 24 hours straight whist on speed, and it shows. i threw it out of a train window.
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Summary: To Katie from Toronto & Viviiv from Lubbock
Review: Okay, I guessed I asked for feedback like yours. WE are all entitled...Katie, "spontaneous prose" or not, I still didn't like it. Viviv, you made me laugh!
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