by Jack Kerouac
|
| List Price: | $12.00 |
| Amazon Price: | $9.60 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. |
| You Save: | $2.40 (20%) |
| Average Rating: |  |
| Lowest New Price: | $6.58 |
| Availablitiy: | Usually ships in 24 hours |
|
 |
|
Product Description
Written over the course of three days and three nights, The Subterraneans was generated out of the same ecstatic flash of inspiration that produced another one of Kerouac's early classic, On The Road. Centering on the tempestous breakup of Leo Percepied and Mardou Fox--two denizens of the 1950s San Francsico underground--The Subterraneans is a tale of dark alleys and dark rooms,of artists, of visionaries,
Customers who bought this item also bought
Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 A Great Work by Kerouac, 2008-04-08
The Subterraneans is a wonderfully written masterpiece. Having finished it, I can hardly bring myself to read any other author because the images are not as fresh. Kerouac paints a picture, or rather opens a window, to allow the modern reader to view what it was in the Beat generation. Written from the point of view of the author, this book gives an interesting perspective on not only his personal romance (as it could be taken to be a romance novel, although certainly not sappy, and has a good deal of ordinary commentary) but the struggle which falls upon many young lovers. In his relationship with the girl Mardou, we can see everything from his point of view, why he did things, how they turned out, etc. Being written from a perspective of a man at the end of his romantic journey, it looks back on the past with a two-pronged approach. We are able to see his perspectives as he was involved with the girl, and in a way only Kerouac could provide, his feelings of remorse after the fact. At the same time, you fall in love with the characters, feel as if you'd known them personally. It is a great book, and a necessary read for Beat-style fans!
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Just A Good Little Book, 2008-03-24
Other reviews here for this book are great and very detailed. But I wont waste time with the usual cliches that come along when one describes Kerouac and/or his books. I wont try to be cool and hip like TOO many people do when they THINK they know about Kerouac and his work. Kerouac wouldnt be very fond of all that garbage either. Its what killed him. But the Subterraneans is just a great story that keeps your attention from start to end. Its fast paced and memorable. If youre new to Kerouac and/or you want to go beyond "On the Road" and have a peek into more Kerouac- this is the book for you. Its not a long one- but its one you wont soon forget.
There- a simple review. God Bless you Jack.
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
 Incoherent rambling, 2006-12-21
Loved Dharma Bums, can't forget On the Road, enraptured with Desolation Angels, and bored to death with the Subterraneans. Only read the first 20 pages, though. Couldn't get farther then that, so maybe it really picks up. Love the first page however. It's really Kerouac at his nonsensical worst.
1 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
 Arrogant and overrated., 2006-04-25
I wouldn't say that the book is wholly without merit, but it left me with an eerie feeling, and a suspicion that it was an advertisement for a certain lifestyle, a cocktail, or god forbid khakis. It's a shameless embrace of impulsive living, embodied in the stylized way this book is written, and which was eventually Kerouac's undoing.
Is he fleecing the lowlifes he socializes with by writing down their stories? Is he glorifying, and capitalizing on, disfunction? It's difficult to answer those questions, but a more meaningful or entertaining book would preclude their asking.
Capote said of Jack Kerouac that he was "typing, not writing." That may have been unfair, but reading the Subterraneans, I felt I knew where he was coming from. That said, I kinda liked the ending. Gosh, I'm a sucker.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
 Kerouac, 2005-06-27
I liked "The Subterraneans" enough, even though it's not nearly on my list of best works by the author. But I'm hot penning these few sentances for peeps who have read this book. This is for the one's who are interested.
If you haven't read anything by Jack Kerouac before this is NOT the place to start. Though a good book with a good story, "The Subterraneans" is a hard read and not a great introduction to the author. Note I said hard in the previous sentance because this novel was written over three days and three nights and reads that way. Kerouac's prose is right on, as it usually is, but more dense this time, probably because the man was on speed when he penned it.
If you are new to this world of Kerouac then may I recomend to you the always popular "On the Road" or "The Dharma Bums" before this. They both show what Kerouac does best and are two of the best books he ever wrote. Poetry in the form of story.
"Subterraneans" is a good Kerouac book, not the best, not the worst, pretty much residing in the middle of his catalog, hence the three star rating(three to me means good, but there are better books out).
So there you go. You should read "Subterraneans" because again it is a good book. But I think it could, and probably would, turn off newbies to the Kerouac legend(there are always exceptions mind you), and it would be better to start off with one of the aforementioned titles first. Thanks.
Price is accurate as of the date/time indicated. Prices and product availability are subject to change. Any price displayed on the Amazon website at the time of purchase will govern the sale of this product.
|
Store Categories
|