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Jack Kerouac Message Board 6/3/2005 2:07:37 PM
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Kerouac has written!

Author Kerouac's Book Reviews

Big Sur
Jack Duluoz travels to San Francisco to head down to a friend's cabin in Big Sur. Once at the cabin, he meets up with other friends. During his stay, the effects of alcohol abuse are apparent. He goes into detail about his paranoia and shows that he can get himself into quite a delirium. The upbeat side to the book is the beautiful descriptions of Big Sur and the poem, "Sea" at the end....
Dr. Sax
Dr. Sax is about Jack Duluoz growing up in Lowell, MA. Dr. Sax is part of Jack's imagination as well as other ghosts and demons. Kerouac combines his memories with his creative style of writing to create a weird book about the imaginations of a young boy. ...
Lonesome Traveler
Lonesome Traveler is an autobiographical work about Kerouac's life but it is made to read like fiction. He discusses his writing and the affects it had on the public. He relives his years of traveling and the many odd jobs that he occupied over the years. ...
Maggie Cassidy
Maggie Cassidy is the love interest of a teenage boy growing up in Lowell, MA. The plot is a basic adolescent love story. The young narrator is active in sports, hangs out with his friends, and daydreams of being with Maggie. The writing is cut and dry which makes the novel a very simple read. ...

Kerouac booklist

On the Road
In the beginning of the novel, Sal Paradise, a young writer, is living in New York with his aunt when Dean Moriarty, fresh out of jail, arrives. Sal is fascinated with Dean, a very youthful and jubilant person, and their friendship is marked by three years of restless journeys back and forth across the country. The first year, Sal's dreams of traveling west come true when he joins Dean and more friends in Denver, and then continues west by himself, wor...
Orpheus Emerged
Orpheus Emerged is the story of a group of bohemians dealing with conflicts and friendships while studying at a university in New York City. The main connection between all members of the group is Paul. Paul is a young writer who is trying to discover his voice in the literary world. The major climax in the book is when the whole group gathers together for a party. During the party, tensions rise and secrets are announced. The whole purpose of the book i...
The Dharma Bums
Jack Kerouac's easy going book describes a year or so in the life of Ray Smith a poet and self professed Dharma Bum as he searches for the Meaning of Life by following the Buddhist Way. Ray hangs out with his friend Japhy and other poets in San Francisco getting drunk, going to poet evenings and generally having a wild Bohemian time. The friends take a trip to the High Sierras to climb the Matterhorn and get in touch with their spiritual side. Next Ray...
The Town and the City
The Town and the City is about the Martin family. Peter is the major figure in the novel. As he grows, he learns and absorbs the many lessons that life offers through his own experiences and that of his family. There is a sense of change occurring for the family as the children grow up and pursue their dreams. The narrative touches on each member of the Martin family and is thoughtful towards each characters triumphs and struggles. ...
Tristessa
Tristessa takes place in Mexico. The narrator describes the beauty of Tristessa and her addiction to morphine. They as well as other odd characters use drugs and have wild nights in a bedroom and out in the Mexican streets. The story is meditative and studys a few different animals throughout and reflects on philosophy and different religions. ...
Visions Of Gerard
In Visions of Gerard, Kerouac recalls the few years he spent as a child with his older brother Gerard before Gerard passed away. Gerard's life marked all the goodness in children and was seen as a saintlike figure. Gerard's memory is embraced and Kerouac learns to accept loss which is pivotal in his development as a child in understanding the ways of the world. ...