Reviews - Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

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Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

This one reminds me of my experience reading [a:Jack Kerouac|1742|Jack Kerouac|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1430512644p2/1742.jpg]’s [b:On the Road|70401|On the Road|Jack Kerouac|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1413588576s/70401.jpg|1701188] – unless you admire and/or actively pursue a lifestyle similar to that of the main characters, it becomes nearly impossible to relate to them (or stop yourself from passionately hating them). In “On the Road,” the main characters are selfish a**holes who shirk responsibility and drive aimlessly across the U.S. In “Fear and Loathing,” the main characters are selfish a**holes who shirk responsibility and take death-defyingly large quantities of drugs. Potato patahto.

I will say this – I enjoyed “Fear and Loathing” a fair bit more than “On the Road.” It has a dreamlike quality that makes some of the more outrageous/offensive moments come across as tongue-in-cheek rather than stupidly out of touch. It has a unique way of conveying what it feels like to be wasted on a variety of drugs, which is kind of interesting even if you’re not into that sort of thing. It’s also quite funny at times, if you have a very dark sense of humor.

Still… The story itself grows repetitive and tedious quickly. About halfway through the book it feels like it’s coming to a natural conclusion, and then it doubles back and basically tells the same story again. By that point I was just counting down the pages until I could finally be finished with it. Another negative point – I did mention that the book was occasionally funny, but even dark humor has its limits. I draw the line at rape/forced prostitution jokes.

I’ve heard that this book is at least loosely autobiographical – if there’s any truth to that, then I’m amazed that Hunter S. Thompson made it as long as he did. This book glorifies excess at its most debauched and self-destructive. It’s a macabre, uncomfortable ride that puts you in a strange mood by the time you’re finished. I suppose it gets points for that..? 5.5/10.

P.S. The film version is an incredibly faithful adaptation – It blew my mind because I wouldn’t have thought it possible. Of course, that means the film suffers from all the same problems as the book.