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Lostinanovel's Reviews > On the Road
On the Road
by
by
I personally can't stand the characters. They cover up irresponsibility and real hurt to people in the guise of being artists. However, I do think there is more to this story.
Sure, they are jerks and they are bums and they are full of a lot of BS but as the book progresses, it becomes clear that they know it. These guys are also WW2 vets, and very dissimilar to the hippies who follow them, they do not have any anti-American or anti-establishment feelings. Also, they show a deep remorse and guilt over their actions. There is a shame, because they recognize what jerks they are. After several weeks of living with the mexican girl and her son, the narrator deserts her and he knows that he'll never live up to his promise to come back. He hates himself for this but it doesn't stop him. While he so desperately seeks to squeeze the wonder out of life, he lets everything really beautiful-such as love with a woman or any real human relationships slip from his careless grasp. The narrator as more of a terribly sad man, not just a happy-go-lucky thrill seker.
I do wonder about the real life Dean Moriarty. Did you realize that he was the bus driver in Wolfe's Electric Kool-aid Acid Test as well as mentioned in several Grateful Dead songs? Something about that guy really insprired the artisits around him.
As for the writing, it is beautiful and I think some of the best writing ever done about America. Googgle "On the Road Quotes" and reread a few of those. Its beautiful stuff.
Sure, they are jerks and they are bums and they are full of a lot of BS but as the book progresses, it becomes clear that they know it. These guys are also WW2 vets, and very dissimilar to the hippies who follow them, they do not have any anti-American or anti-establishment feelings. Also, they show a deep remorse and guilt over their actions. There is a shame, because they recognize what jerks they are. After several weeks of living with the mexican girl and her son, the narrator deserts her and he knows that he'll never live up to his promise to come back. He hates himself for this but it doesn't stop him. While he so desperately seeks to squeeze the wonder out of life, he lets everything really beautiful-such as love with a woman or any real human relationships slip from his careless grasp. The narrator as more of a terribly sad man, not just a happy-go-lucky thrill seker.
I do wonder about the real life Dean Moriarty. Did you realize that he was the bus driver in Wolfe's Electric Kool-aid Acid Test as well as mentioned in several Grateful Dead songs? Something about that guy really insprired the artisits around him.
As for the writing, it is beautiful and I think some of the best writing ever done about America. Googgle "On the Road Quotes" and reread a few of those. Its beautiful stuff.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
March 1, 1995
–
Finished Reading
May 6, 2008
– Shelved
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Neal Cassidy is also mentioned in Hunter S Thompson`s book`.hells angels.
Dean Moriarty (Neal Cassidy) was most definitely a muse for up-and-comings of the beats.
Sal Paradise is of course Jack Kerouac.
Dean Moriarty is Neal Cassidy of Further and "Cassady" by the Grateful Dead. It was always curious why Kerouac picked a pseudonym for Cassidy that resembled death.
Carlo Marx is Alan Ginsberg who wrote the great poem "Howl".
Bull Hubbard is William S. Burroughs who wrote "Naked Lunch" and killed his wife in a tragic "William Tell" accident.
The scroll version is also way more explicit about the homosexual relationship between Dean and Carlo (Neal and Alan in the scroll version). I remember reading the novel and not really picking up on that.
I love Sal's first trip out west best. His description of going from the verdant east to the stark west is just awesome. I also love the part with the Mexican girl. I think that is where Sal is the happiest but he just can't bring himself to commit to it. The lure of wild adventures with Dean is too strong. Also, Jack has mommy issues. He would never leave is Mom long term for another woman. Jack had some issues. He has an incredible man crush on Neal. He idealizes him as the living, breathing, embodiment of Jazz. Always moving, always burning. Neal can't really live up to that. He really does not mind being a husband and Dad. He deserts Sal in Mexico City to go back to Carolyn and their friendship is never the same.