Quickie Amazon Summary: In the summer of 1944, a shocking
murder rocked the fledgling Beats. William S. Burroughs and Jack Kerouac, both
still unknown, we inspired by the crime to collaborate on a novel, a
hard-boiled tale of bohemian New York during World War II, full of drugs and
art, obsession and brutality, with scenes and characters drawn from their own
lives. Finally published after more than sixty years, this is a captivating
read, and incomparable literary artifact, and a window into the lives and art
of two of the twentieth century’s most influential writers.
Insanely quick read. Love, obsession, murder, the 40's. It's the whole package, baby. So many thoughts on this one. First of all, I must commend Messrs. Kerouac and Burroughs for coming together on a novel. The only other novel I’ve read where two authors collaborated was Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan, which was such a treat to read. It’s such a trip to watch two authors move a story forward, each taking turns, and each complimenting each other all the while. Kerouac and Burroughs flowed together like bread on butter, but it was never stale. Both have noticeably different writing styles and neither was better than the other. It was so perfect to have two different perspectives in a plot that clearly benefited from it (seeing as there was, well, a murder).
Second, if you read this, I definitely suggest watching the
movie Kill Your Darlings starring Daniel Radcliffe and Dane DeHaan. It’s a
loosely based interpretation of the Carr-Kammerer murder involving Kerouac and Alan Ginsberg. Typically, I wouldn’t
suggest watching the film adaptation before reading the book. But it’s really
much more enjoyable if you do so in this instance. It’s because this isn’t the typical
murder-mystery novel. Those typically begin with a murder and end with finding
the killer. Here, it builds up to the murder. So by watching the film first,
you’ll get some insight into why and how the murder actually happened. Also be
sure to read the afterword at the back of the novel, as it delves into the
true story behind the murder. Who was involved, who said what to who, how it
happened, and why it took so long for this novel to be released (seeing as it
was written and unpublished before the author’s popularity).
Having visited New York City twice myself, the book became
twice as enjoyable. Not saying it’s a necessity to hop on the next flight over
there to like this book. But what I’m saying is as far as beautiful, artistic,
Tolkein-esque descriptions of New York that this novel deserves, there isn’t
much. The author’s style is such that the flow is rapid and ever-changing. The
characters are constantly in movement, forever on their way to this party or
that, or down the block to grab a beer here, or to the bay to see this person
there, and so on. So it’s helpful to already have a feel for their environment
and what it might have looked like through their eyes. Not that the version of
my NYC was the same as their 1940’s NYC, but it’s really more for the feel of
the city. That live-wire buzz that comes with stepping into the Big Apple. Watch
the film, and give it a read, if not for the wonderful collaboration between
two crazy talented authors.
Rating: 9/10
Quote: “We laughed a little bit, and then I gave him a
cigarette. I began to think about how I used to imagine what it would be like
to kill someone and how I used to write thousands of words to create that
pattern of emotions. Now here [he] stood beside me, and he had actually done
it.”
Purchase here and donate to a charity of your choice using
Amazon Smile! I choose The Foundation to Decrease Worldsuck!
Next book: The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Lates,
Tyler
Tyler
