Thread: Kerouac

I've learned that it is always best to learn from personal experience than anothers. A Lit professor of mine, who is still my favorite and most influential in my life, once said the Vonnegut's Slaughter House IV, was not worth the read. Well, I decided to read it, and to this day it stands as the my favorite novel. This of course also applies to life.

The prose in 'The Subteraneans' was really hard to get through.
Anyone read it? It was the first instance where his usually whimsical style felt grating, and actually pulled me out of the scene. It's not unreadable or anything, and it certainly has its moments, but all up I was really grateful it was only a short novel.

I liked Kerouac a lot more before I watched the documentary and actually listened to him. The myth is so much more interesting than the real thing.

I have to diagree with you C.M.C. I found after watching the documentary, What Happened to Kerouac, it only increased my admiration for him. The way he read aloud some of his writing, it made the text and everything tie together, hearing how it should be read. The meaning seems to comes through his words and his voice, it's something I cannot explain but it is ultimately quite moving and real.

I had always read his work as having a manic, frenetic energy, so hearing him reading it more as a hipster did little to impress me. What he may have been giving the text in terms of swing destroyed the essence of what I had found in my own readings. I prefer to think of a book like On The Road as a man gasping to keep up with the energy of life, instead of a rhythmic long-form piece of free verse.

Originally Posted by The Wrong Writer

BUT, by no means as over-rated as Ginsberg, possibly the most over-rated writer in the history of the world. Ok, Ok, there's Milton.

Do you mean John Milton? Paradise Lost is boring me to tears!

I think it's supposed to. That mincing little creep coming off with all that verbosity?

Thought he was a genius because he crossed classic and christian mythology (or got them mixed up) TERRIBLE book.

I too prefer reading his work than hearing him read it. I feel that way about most authors, though.

The beats I've always felt were far more interesting as a concept , a charicature , than they were as writers. On The Road was okay. Howl was a work of genius in my opinion.
But it's the idea that four men , whether they make a generation or not , could so radically change human thought at the time that creates a legacy and is truly impressive.

Originally Posted by Oliver-Milne

...four men ... could so radically change human thought at the time that creates a legacy and is truly impressive.

And the realisation that it can never happen again is particularly devastating.

Originally Posted by Oliver-Milne

Howl was a work of genius in my opinion.

Whereas I would say it's a load of self-important tripe.

Finally got a hold of Desolation Angels, chanced upon it at a new bookstore in my deliciously culture-less town. Shall provide my impressions once I finish, though I'm reading a few things first.
I'm basically expecting it to be the spiritual successor to Dharma Bums.

Since I was about 20 and given my first, dog-eared, copy of On the Road, I have loved and been influenced by Kerouac's writing.

The paperback I received then, was already revered by the guy whose pocket it had travelled around in - a young man typical of Devon in those days, not quite hippie (too late) and not quite bum (too middle-class) but interesting enough to my green poet-in-a-bed-sit mind. I was moved by the kindness of this stranger (friend of my room-mate's) in parting with his treasure, for me.

And later, after an hour or two's reading in the gloom of an out-of-work (college came years later) afternoon, I was thrilled. And all the lights of Kerouac's poetry - the rhythms and the beats - were dancing in my mind - and calling me to create my own. I had found a soul-mate.

When I was at uni. in my 40's, I volunteered to give a presentation of On the Road. In the intervening years I had read the book several times, brought my son up on passages from it and written lots, for my own entertainment, about the text and others' writing on it. I remember critiquing a biography I had read, for fun!

But it was a sad day, that day at uni. None of the younger (all of them) students seemed to appreciate what I and the tutor recognised. I was devastated... Oh, I can see the drug-carrying-on isn't good, and I certainly don't condone the immorality, or what-could-be-seen as misogyny, of the characters. But, guys! What about the cadence of the thing? Don't you hear it, feel it, especially in those pieces where the jazz is described so well [Part 2, chp. 11] that it comes alive in your veins? As it does for Dean Moriarty, fevered with ecstasy in the "Frisco" Club. Aren't you standing there with him? Understanding?

Oh golly gosh! I love On the Road - haven't read any of the others by Kerouac, just love this one too much (and sadly can't read so easily any more - MS). I've watched all the interviews I've come across and enjoyed biographies on him. Does this qualify me to add to this tapestried thread? I'm not sure, but I want to, and this is my third draft... I post then, wishing I could do a better job, in honour of JK. But, at least saying, "Thank you!"

I owe him that.

Virginia

Originally Posted by Oliver-Milne
Howl was a work of genius in my opinion.

Whereas I would say it's a load of self-important tripe.

Well, the "work of genius" label is certainly the official opinion. Handed down largely by NYC literati who would have paid no attention to Ginsburg's rant had he not be Jewish and gay.

The "self-indulgent" tripe is the more obvious interpretation, and very usual among those not hypnotized by reputation.

What's interesting is that the "Howl was genius" people can never really tell us why. Or even quote a passge that impresses us.

I can see the drug-carrying-on isn't good,

Say WHAT??????