Thread: Books: "On The Road" - Jack Kerouac
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Old 10-03-2012, 01:15 PM
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Theta Z Theta Z is offline
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: GulfCoastSouth .... April 2014 rudely displanted to the cold wet windy gloomy NW coast.
Posts: 675
10 yr Member
Wink If you love Dylan ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lara View Post
I have been feeling a little embarrassed to ask this here actually but finally put fingers to the keyboard.

Did anyone else who read this find it really difficult?

I wonder if I'm having so much trouble going from chapter to chapter because I'm not from the USA and so much of the narrative is lost on me? What am I missing? Is it a tiny snip of history of the '50's over there for real or is it distorted?

I find it uncomfortable reading and awfully sexist (amongst other things) actually. I guess it's because of the time when it was written?

So many questions. I would love to hear from anyone who has read this book.
Hi Lara -
So glad you asked!
One of my fave literary topics!
Am myself a 50s American Babyboomer generation, no children.

While I know the difficulty of the reading, e.g. the stream of consciousness style that was uniquely
a-signature-first, Kerouac's journalistic style.
(More on that & perhaps why so ... if you care to hear, discuss. Just ask, I'll be glad.)

"My problem really was in the reading. I just have had such a difficult tiime reading the book... the way it is written."
I hear ya and can comprehend, e.g. at time plain brutal, gruesome, violent, pornograhic, etc.

Glad you continued in your literary online research re: Kerouac and On The Road, and are hanging in there to continue reading it, to discuss the book with your daughter. Kudos!

Any desire for thorough knowledge of traditions of American music and/or American literary, journalistic development, style, and impact on the American culture, one *must needs* read Kerouac! It was, pardon the awful pun, a seminal work of American literary style.

Seeing that you are fond of perhaps All Things Dylan? or American Folk or protest songs? May I recommend to your attention to google "William McKeen + Kerouac On the Road + influences on Dylan + Ramblin Jack Elliott + Woody Guthrie.
Some very good Good Reading, re: American musicphilia and literary jounalism studies.

Hope that you may enjoy the journey!
I look forward to your hopefully keeping us posted from your Queensland perspective!

Also http://www.answers.com › Library › E...250; Musicianswww.answers.com › Library › Entertainment & Arts › Musicians

Sincerely,
Theta
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50s Babyboomer; 2008 high-impact rear-ended/totalled-MVC, closed-head injury->pcs ... "Still dealing with it."
1993, Fell on black ice; first closed-head injury; life-altering. // 2014 Now dealing with Peripheral Neuropathy, tremors, shakiness, vestibular disorder, akithesia, anhedonia, yada yada, likely thanks to rx meds // 2014: uprooted to the cold wet gray NW coast, trying to find a way back home ... where it's blue sky and warm!
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Each and every day I am better and better. I affirm and give thanks that it is so. // 2014-This was still true for me last year, I truly felt this a year ago. Unfortunately it holds no meaning for me now. Odd, it was the Theta mantra for years. Change change change.
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"Thanks for this!" says:
Lara (10-12-2012)