On the Road by Jack Kerouac Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of On the Road
Book Review: A fun and easy read!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'd just like to say that ON THE ROAD is an incredibly easy book to read -- at least, for me. I just finished it, and no matter how burnt out I was after work, how tired, I was always able to pick it up and enjoy it. This may be just a matter of style, I don't know. But for a purported "20th century classic," it was the most fun I've had reading a book -- any book -- in a while. The novel also seemed to contain an endless share of vicarious, life-affirming thrills. This book reminded me of why I used to love to travel, see new things, experience life -- damn, it's fun! I recommend this book to anyone; it truly is an exhilarating novel, and in reading it, you'll fall into a dream, a fantasy of freedom and the open road. Try it! Along with ON THE ROAD, I'd like to recommend THE LOSERS' CLUB by Richard Perez, another novel that re-kindled fond memories of my youth! (Jeez, I'm only 31 -- what happened?!)Book Review: A good read with a disappointing end
Summary: 3 Stars
The book was a classic story of a younge man out of school partying across the country without a care in the world. That was great the first time. But the second an third trip became a bore. The characters never grew from thier experiences. They had no future. When the end of the book came near there was no revelation, no moral. The last couple chapters were rushed and didn't fit in. It was quite disappointing.Overall it is a good read if you are in a travelling enviroment. The constant reference to trains was very relavent as I read it travelling back and forth to work on a comuter train.
Book Review: A good starting point
Summary: 4 Stars
This novel is a good first read to the uninitiated of the Kerouac writing style. It gives a sense of the energy that is conveyed in all of his writings. However, to get the true feel of Jack Kerouac this is only the beginning of the road. He has many other novels that were published un-edited which give a much truer sense of how he wanted to write, unfettered of style and rules. A good starting point for the new beat reader.Book Review: A journey and some free prose do not a classic make
Summary: 1 Stars
In college, even 40 years after this book was published, all the hipsters had a copy of On the Road. Everyone touted Kerouac as a rogue genius; everyone wanted to take a cross-country road trip to 'find themselves'.
Everyone, it turns out, is stupid.
This book, aside from a few snappy quotable lines, is insipid. It lacks any one relatable character, and instead spews out 15 generic young men's names as if from a database, which are difficult to keep straight since the author doesn't make you care about any of them.
Your own journey of self-discovery is interesting...to you; rarely to anyone else. Kerouac, in his youthful ambition, failed to realize this.
If you get down to the bare bones of Sal's "journey", he is a typical early-20-something, unsure of what to do with his life. He gets drunk, he takes a lot of naps, he hitchhikes. An apt representative of the beat generation? Yes. A novel that will change your outlook on life? No.
Book Review: A life changing masterpiece....
Summary: 5 Stars
Kerouac's On The Road is a classic example of one man doing what everyone else secretly wants to. His trips across the country have inspired many to follow his lead and just live. Although that Kerouac's lifestyle is much more difficult to achieve these days, his book still leaves a huge impact on whomever reads it. A must read for anyone who wants to get the most from life.