On the Road
By Jack Kerouac
You can view this book's Amazon detail page here.
Tags: Banana King, Big Slim, Carlo Marx, Chad King, Dean Moriarty, Des Moines, Galatea Dunkel, Jack Kerouac, Jaok Kerouao, Larimer Street, Lee Ann, Mexico City, Mill City, Montana Slim, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Old Bull, Ray Rawlins, Roland Major, Roy Johnson, San Antonio, San Francisco, Tim Gray, Times Square
- Started reading:
- 18th April 2008
- Finished reading:
- 19th April 2008
- Type:
Paperback
- Pages:
352
- Publisher:
Penguin Classics; New edition (December 31, 2002)
Review
Rating: 9
On the Road has always been a classic American novel which I’ve wanted to read and never got around to. Finally I have gotten around to reading what many call the “great American novel”. Though that statement is very subjective the novel definitely has good qualities and I can see why some may label the book in that manner.
This book changed (or in some peoples minds created) an entire culture and generation when it was published in 1957 known as the beat generation. On the Road focuses on two main characters, Sal Paradise, and Dean Moriarty both alter egos of real world counterparts. The book captures the restlessness of the American people in the 1940’s and 50’s, the desire to “just live” and the excitement of the open road. The writing though at times uses too many literary devices in my humble opinion tells a great story, it may even spark the desire for some readers to go in search of the revelation the characters in this book were looking for. It really is one of the great works in history and love it or hate it, this book should be read by all.