| "Junky" by William S. Burroughs is a bleak take on heroin addicts during the 1940s-50s. The story tells how the main character, William Lee, goes from a middle-class existence in the Midwest to pushing/using drugs in New York City, from morphine to marijuana to cocaine to (mainly) heroin. The book discusses almost every aspect of a junkie's life, from obtaining their drugs, to using them, to avoiding the police, to "Junk Sickness" (withdrawal), to prison time for drug possession, to other vices a heroin junkie will engage in to get drugs (such as prostitution, sodomy, pawning heirlooms). Burroughs discusses most memorably throughout the book how heroin is not "a kick, or a means to increased enjoyment of life. It is a way of life". | ||
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Plot & Themes Phys disability/mental struggle? Yes Struggle with - drugs Taboo Sex Story? Yes Kind of sex: - gay guy Period of greatest activity? - 1900+ Subject of Biography Gender - Male Profession/status: Ethnicity - White Nationality - American Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 7 () The Americas (not US): Yes The Americas: - Mexico City? Yes City: - New York - New Orleans Misc setting - prison - sewers/subways Century: - 1930's-1950's Writing Style Book makes you feel? - thoughtful Graphic sex in book? Yes What kind of sex: - How much dialogue in bio? - significantly more dialog than descript How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 26-50% of book |
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