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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Ridiculous, hilarious, absurdist, this book is one of the most unique and radical of its time. Thompson's odyssey from LA to LV is rollicking, unreal, and exceptionally entertaining. Even though the book lacks of a cohesive "plot," it's understandable since this was originally published in newspapers as a short column about a dirt bike race that spiraled into a drug-fueled frenzy featuring some of the most unhinged first-hand drug accounts ever put to paper. Mixed in with this is a lot of social commentary, such as Thompson's ideas of the hypocrisy of the counterculture movement and the definite hedonism that it sparked up and never left behind, even to this day. One thing I can take away from this novel personally, though, is that sometimes we find ourselves in certain eras of time that are, really, unexplainable with images or words; in short, like Thompson and his attorney during this sprawling adventure, you just had to be there. Quite enjoyable and wholly deranged.
adventurous
fast-paced
Hunter S Thompson was and still is the truest American of all time
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I remember enjoying this when I read it (a year ago) but now I do not remember it well. That’s not to deem it unmemorable. Still, I don’t remember it.
I do know that it was short and I finished it in between one to three days. I liked the story and remember it involving lots of drugs. The idea of gonzo journalism is also cool.
Short easy read. It’s a classic in its own right and a very unique novel. Perhaps not a masterful work by a literary master, but still an iconic book. Highly recommend.
I do know that it was short and I finished it in between one to three days. I liked the story and remember it involving lots of drugs. The idea of gonzo journalism is also cool.
Short easy read. It’s a classic in its own right and a very unique novel. Perhaps not a masterful work by a literary master, but still an iconic book. Highly recommend.
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I might never claim this book as a work of great literature, but goddamn if I don’t think about it once a week. I read it before as an angsty teen and it still provides voice for the feeling of living as a worm in a rotting corpse of a country. The characters achieve their success by carving deeper into bone than the moral compasses of others will allow them. They are casually cruel to all around them and developing human feelings is characterized as a result of acid overdose.
It’s the perfect book for days when the feeble attempts to shift the overton window left are booted tenfold to the right, leaving those of us as termites feeding on the old wood frame
It’s the perfect book for days when the feeble attempts to shift the overton window left are booted tenfold to the right, leaving those of us as termites feeding on the old wood frame
I totally understand how this was groundbreaking in its time. There were parts of it that hit for me and made me laugh out loud, but it didn't blow me out of the water.
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very intense to read, but one of a kind in its style where you have to embrace the fever dream