On the Road by Jack Kerouac Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of On the Road
Book Review: "Adios, King"
Summary: 4 Stars
I'd like to recommend "On the Road" for a certain wild energy and spirit it describes. It has something to do with Kerouac once saying, "That was the year we decided we would say hello to everyone we met on the street"; or the time when he and a friend toasted in New Year's by crawling under a grand piano and talking wildly for hours; or the many times he followed Neal Cassady (Dean Moriarity)down the road. As Jack K. said himself, the book is really about friendship. However, years ago I would have glady put five stars here, but I can't quite do that anymore. It's crazy to think, when thinking of Jack Kerouac and the Beat Generation and "On the Road," but Jack never took it far enough (both in the book and in his life). After each part of the book, regardless of whether he had started out or come back alone, or whether he had gone to the west coast or the east coast or to Mexico, Jack always ends up coming back and living his self-described sad life with his mother on Long Island. He should have tried it longer in Denver or San Francisco, or he should have married Terry and tried that. That's the problem. He was supposed to 'burn, burn, burn like a roman candle,' but he only got close to doing this with Dean.Book Review: "I dig it!"
Summary: 5 Stars
Yes! In Kerouac's own words, "I dig it!" This book is fantastic. I mean, i may not be the best judge of literature since i'm only 14 but this book rocks. It is written beautifully, how everyone wishes they could write (or how i do i guess). It is written not how one speaks or even writes normaly, but how one thinks. It is unfiltered turthful straight from the mind rant against conformity, and hate. This book shows the crazy life inthe 50's of the beats. A wonderful tale of Kerouac and fellow friends crazy lives on the road, traveling from east to west then west to east and then to south and even further south to mexico. Absolute must read for anyone with seeking a creative alternative spirit... or go live it yourself. But maybe take a few tips from the book first, or learn what not to do. Who knows? Kerouac at his best!
PEACE and LOVE
Book Review: "On The Road" An American Adventure by Kurtis Reeme
Summary: 4 Stars
The book "On The Road" by Jack Kerovac entails an amazing story of 1940's travel. The main Character Salvatore Paradise, an inspiring writer, meets the enigmatic Dean Moriarty after the break up of his first marriage. In New York, Dean begs Sal to let him live with him and study his writing style for his own knowledge. Sal agrees and they become close friends, when Dean decides to move back to his home town of Denver, Colorado he also convinces Sal to leave as soon as he can and meet Dean in Denver for a adventures change in there life styles. Not only is Sal meeting Dean in Denver but he is also reuniting with a fellow group of friends from his past. Sal's journey from New York to Denver consists of hitchhiking with bums and hoboes from point A to point B. This journey alone tells a story in it's self about the crazy acquaintances and means of transportation. After Sal's arrival in Denver he finds his friends have split up and he stay's there for as long as he can take it and then decides San Francisco will be his next adventure to work with an old friend Remi as a security guard. After the whole journey to San Fran. And the hectic life style of Remi and his mistresses, Sal once again finds him self-leaving one place determined for another. Personally I found this part of Sal's travel to be the most interesting and descriptive. Unlike some authors Jack Kerovac Really steps up his writing pace and excitement towards the middle to end of the book. Sal's next journey brings him to a young Mexican lady by the name of Terry, Sal immediately falls for her and spends a good deal of time living with her and her cotton picking brother. Sal finally decides that winter has arrived and decides he needs to start his travel back across the U.S. Once again in Virginia Sal and Dean meet up for Christmas at a relative house and they again decide to move back to New York. After there move the two men relax. After the New Year they both set out to New Orleans to pick up a fellow friends wife. After a crazed adventure with Old Bull Lee the husband of the wife there picking up dean once again leaves Sal stranded and Sal's Aunt sends him a check so he can have significant funds to travel back home. The next year he again goes back to Denver to start a job but lacks happiness with out his friend Dean. Once again he sets off back to San Francisco. There he finds Dean and they hitch hike back to New York. The Next year Sal goes back to Denver with the intention to end up in Mexico, Dean drives him from Denver to Mexico city and just drops him off there. Sal and Dean are now separate and only meet again at a concert for Remi, after this they never see each other again. This concludes the book and Jack Kerovac's wonderful story. I would like to make a valid recommendation to all to not only read this book but also apply it to your daily lifestyle and own personally adventures.Book Review: "Some's bastards some's ain't. That's the score."
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the greatest books I've ever had the pleasure to read and it will be one of your favorites too. Oh, the quote was from one of the colorful characters in the book, Bull Lee. Jack Kerouac's On the Road is one of the greatest examples of modern American Literature.Book Review: "What's your road, man?"
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't think that I have ever read a book that has caught me so off guard. From the start, I was not that excited about the story in Jack Kerouac's On the Road, but as I read further into it, I was captured by this fantastic tale that molds the quintessential representation of the beat generation. Kerouac beautifully captures his life's experiences, as well as the essence of this time period's spirit, and his characters are so intricately represented that you are overwhelmed by the feelings of joy, sadness, rage, disappointment and excitement of all of them through the interesting perspective Sal Paradise provides. Sal and Dean Moriarty travel and hitchhike all over the States exploring every nook and cranny of this country, as well as a brief visit to Mexico, and spend the majority of the book yearning to experience every breath of life passionately and completely. They are ultimately searching for something that always seems to be somewhere out there on the road-themselves. They are constantly looking for more, and want to make sure that they get what they want out of life. What this book ultimately reveals is that you do not need to be having a good time in order to have a good time and love life. On the Road makes you become so connected to Sal and Dean's experience of living a life of chaos, and by the end of the book you almost can reminisce about the same experiences of these two remarkable characters.