This novel comes from not one great author but two! What is not to like? Two of the greatest writers of the 20th century writing one novel. This novel was based on the real life events that unfolded around Kerouac and Burroughs in the 40's. The raw and real events of a murder that shook the Greenwich Village and forever changed the two aforementioned authors.
Okay it may not have changed them forever but this novel really did give us a look into the underbelly that the Beats lived in. Also Burroughs became addicted to morphine after this incident so who really know how much this experience truly had on them. We also cannot forget that this whole incident really did really help spark the Beat movement. It introduced them all together(Burroughs, Kerouac an Ginsberg) and also showed them of the protege author relationship.
I am not going to say this is as good as either of the works each author is known for (On The Road by Kerouac or Naked Lunch by Burroughs) but it is a solid outing nonetheless. It can also be forgiven since the young age age of our authors, I think Burroughs was 30 and Kerouac was a mere 21. From this book you can see the seedlings that would make the authors literary powerhouses. For Keroauc it shows the descriptiveness he would show the bizarre nature of days spent and Burroughs his fascination with abuse of authority. For both it truly showed how much detail they put into every piece of writing and how precise they could be with their writing.
This story is written in a way that has not really chosen too often, for obvious reason it works. Each chapter swaps between being written by Kerouac and Burroughs. Burroughs writes as Dennison and Kerouac writes as Ryko.
Many people have described this book as simply a showing of post WW2 New York underground hipster scene but I found it too be more than that. I felt it read as more of a noir novel. Of course we cannot simply throw of the fact that it really is a book showcasing the Beat "scene". It reads as a memoir with some omissions intact so that they could cover the murder up. The obvious omission of Ginsberg and no overly homosexual activity since this would have been perilous for the murder trial of Lucien Carr since it was the 40's and homosexuality was not even close to being accepted.
It cannot be denied though that there is obvious homosexual undertones to this book. This are portrayed immensely through the Dennison character(surprise Burroughs wrote this character.) He often expresses homosexuality through his acquaintance Al. The homosexuality was obviously hidden so the cover up would succeed. It seeps through in a couple lines like wish "girls could just be done with" and also with Ryko going out to sea with the Navy which is classically known for its homosexuality romanticism. You can also see the satire in Dennison's voice when he wants to "get girls"(he reads like a Naked Lunch character who is subvertly homosexual.)
Some scenes that really stuck with me were the one where Dennison was rubbing the leg of a women in a New York apartment. This one stuck with me because it seemed so anti-Burroughs also the other scenes were the bars scenes with Ryko. Man at age 21 even Kerouac knew how to write with the best of them. The barflies and dives described rival Bukowski in there detail and realism. These men know detail!
You may have noticed the asterisk beside the date. This was because it was written in 1945 but was not published until 2008 at the wishes of Lucien Carr and also Burroughs did not think it was worthy of publishing. He said it was primitive and held no literary value. Mr. Burroughs I am sure there are quite a few people who would disagree!
From the two most important writers of the Beat Generation comes a novel of a harrowing murder and the events leading to this murder. It was the novel that is seen as a catalyst for the Beat Generation and it is a shame it took so long to be released because it is truly a gem. Also I am hoping this novel finally put to rest the ridiculous idea the Burroughs became influenced to write after the tragedy in Mexico. This book shows that Burroughs was simply born a writer.
86/100 A
-Hutz
Okay it may not have changed them forever but this novel really did give us a look into the underbelly that the Beats lived in. Also Burroughs became addicted to morphine after this incident so who really know how much this experience truly had on them. We also cannot forget that this whole incident really did really help spark the Beat movement. It introduced them all together(Burroughs, Kerouac an Ginsberg) and also showed them of the protege author relationship.
I am not going to say this is as good as either of the works each author is known for (On The Road by Kerouac or Naked Lunch by Burroughs) but it is a solid outing nonetheless. It can also be forgiven since the young age age of our authors, I think Burroughs was 30 and Kerouac was a mere 21. From this book you can see the seedlings that would make the authors literary powerhouses. For Keroauc it shows the descriptiveness he would show the bizarre nature of days spent and Burroughs his fascination with abuse of authority. For both it truly showed how much detail they put into every piece of writing and how precise they could be with their writing.
This story is written in a way that has not really chosen too often, for obvious reason it works. Each chapter swaps between being written by Kerouac and Burroughs. Burroughs writes as Dennison and Kerouac writes as Ryko.
Many people have described this book as simply a showing of post WW2 New York underground hipster scene but I found it too be more than that. I felt it read as more of a noir novel. Of course we cannot simply throw of the fact that it really is a book showcasing the Beat "scene". It reads as a memoir with some omissions intact so that they could cover the murder up. The obvious omission of Ginsberg and no overly homosexual activity since this would have been perilous for the murder trial of Lucien Carr since it was the 40's and homosexuality was not even close to being accepted.
It cannot be denied though that there is obvious homosexual undertones to this book. This are portrayed immensely through the Dennison character(surprise Burroughs wrote this character.) He often expresses homosexuality through his acquaintance Al. The homosexuality was obviously hidden so the cover up would succeed. It seeps through in a couple lines like wish "girls could just be done with" and also with Ryko going out to sea with the Navy which is classically known for its homosexuality romanticism. You can also see the satire in Dennison's voice when he wants to "get girls"(he reads like a Naked Lunch character who is subvertly homosexual.)
Some scenes that really stuck with me were the one where Dennison was rubbing the leg of a women in a New York apartment. This one stuck with me because it seemed so anti-Burroughs also the other scenes were the bars scenes with Ryko. Man at age 21 even Kerouac knew how to write with the best of them. The barflies and dives described rival Bukowski in there detail and realism. These men know detail!
You may have noticed the asterisk beside the date. This was because it was written in 1945 but was not published until 2008 at the wishes of Lucien Carr and also Burroughs did not think it was worthy of publishing. He said it was primitive and held no literary value. Mr. Burroughs I am sure there are quite a few people who would disagree!
From the two most important writers of the Beat Generation comes a novel of a harrowing murder and the events leading to this murder. It was the novel that is seen as a catalyst for the Beat Generation and it is a shame it took so long to be released because it is truly a gem. Also I am hoping this novel finally put to rest the ridiculous idea the Burroughs became influenced to write after the tragedy in Mexico. This book shows that Burroughs was simply born a writer.
86/100 A
-Hutz
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