On The Road Your Opinions Please

[ZaraW]

OK it's supposed to be a cult book, I read it when I was 18 and got half way through and couldn't continue......... nearly 25 years later I read it again to see what I am missing. This time I managed to read it to the end, some parts are beautifully written especially describing the American landscape BUT none of the characters are in the least bit likeable and just seem to be middle class kids bumming around.

Being a life long fan of Bob Dylan I have just read Woody Guthrie's Bound For Glory it's got everything beautifully written, he goes through some tough times but writes about it so well without being depressing, he takes the hard route and sticks to his beliefs. So much more of a road trip than OTR.

I love this book and I don't say that often.

It's been a while since I read it but I remember feeling like there was something missing- it seemed to lack heart. I was also looking forward to reading it as am a Dylan fan and have travelled a bit in the US but I think what I found most frustrating wss that it wasn't a road trip as such but a lot of aimless to-ing and fro-ing. Anyway, in summary it's not just you.
I will read Bound for Glory now!

I really hated On the Road. Heartless and irritating. I always hate books, like On the Road tho, ones that are 'revolutionary' for their time. I'm sure the first 'stream of consciousness' (or whatever exactly the hype was) novel was great at the time because it was, well, novel. But years later? There has to be a bit more than a new 'form' to keep a book interesting and On the Road just isn't really. I hate woolf's Mrs Dalloway for a similar reason. I. Just. Wanted. It. To. End.

mewkins & phoolani that is exactly what I think there is no heart to it and the characters are just awful. It's one of those books you are expected to love because its considered a cult classic. Glad it's just not me.

mewkins hope you like On the Road, I can't say how much I love this book especially the part where he manages to get an audition in the Rainbow Rooms in NY when he has "made it".

phoolani LOL I guess I won't be reading Mrs Dalloway either!