Reviews

Desolation Angels by Jack Kerouac, Joyce Johnson

lillianglippold's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted reflective slow-paced

0.75

this was a nightmare book. this was the biggest waste of a month of my reading life. why. why was this published. is this like just our obsession w making writers into figures and then naming everything they write interesting and important. this was not interesting or important. 0.75 for the pretty sentences during the opening desolation peak sequences but the rest. damn. 

maryjf23's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

jedreads's review against another edition

5.0

The book immediately launches you into typical Kerouac musings on purpose and the cosmos, followed by traipses in the middle that has come to define his legacy as a traveler bookended by more, somehow deeper thoughts on the universe. If you took Dharma Bums and On the Road and combined them, you get Desolation Angels and the ending alludes to the darkness of Big Sur. If you like Kerouac, you’ll like this book. If you don’t like Kerouac, start at part four of this book. If you don’t even want to attempt it, listen to the song of the same name by Reckless Kelly.

nicolas00's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

clix1700's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

andyc_elsby232's review against another edition

1.0

Me, 5 pages in:
"OMG what style!! This is gonna be fun, can't wait to read a whole book written like this!!"

Me, one month and 400 pages later:
"I have never so desired death."

hayleyreadwhat's review against another edition

5.0

Every word to plummet gracefully out of Kerouac's typewriter is pure genius.

rcthomasthings's review against another edition

4.0

Four stars instead of five, as the views of women became a little too derogatory for my taste, but stylistically, Kerouac's unique, earthy and soul-seeking poetic prose is too indulgent to pass up.

kb_208's review against another edition

3.0

This book captures Jack's journeys from working a watch tower in northwestern Washington to another journey around the country and then down to Mexico and then to Europe. I do like reading about the travels and experiences, but I feel like some of the "beat" poetry and existential rantings are above my head. I guess I cannot truly understand it like some of his diehard fans. But it is still a good read.

samikoonjones's review against another edition

adventurous reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75