Hello again fellow literary agents.
In our last briefing, we discussed the merits of finding the Dharma and peace
in the world through the perspective of Jack Kerouac's "the Dharma
bums" for today's literary briefing. We are going to be discussing another
Jack Kerouac classic "on the road. The original scroll" the original
scroll is supposedly designed to represent the way the book was originally
intended by the author when it was literally one long continuous scroll of
paper before it was damaged (legend has it by a friend's dog) and rewritten and
edited into the original 1957 publication. As with the Dharma bums, and sure
some agents out there will be curious to know why. We are discussing such a
publication, but as with the Dharma bums this particular publication, offers
insights and very unique perspectives that can and should be translated into
modern times. For me on the road was read and viewed as something of an
allegory of Kerouac's search for something that couldn't be found. But
something that for which humanity should never stop searching, and that is, of
course, the ultimate truth and to live and interact with humanity any meaningful
way that will help all human beings to live the fullest, richest and best life
possible, without necessarily dwelling on past decisions and recognizing that
it is these decisions that make us who we are. I hope fellow agents that this discussion
and the following literary endeavor will help you all to discover what is worth
walking to the horizon for in your life...
What I find intriguing about this
book was how it was spontaneously written: 3 months on a scroll of papers. Jack
Kerouac (1922-1969) did not have formal training as a writer and he was probably
trying to make a statement by packing up his things and writing about his experiences
while on the road with a friend, Neal Cassady (1926-1968). The book was
largely autobiographical and describes Kerouac's road-trip adventures across
the United States and Mexico with Cassady in the late 40s, as well as his
relationships with other beatniks (a group of authors whose literature explored
and influenced American culture in the 1950's) writers and friends.
Compared to William S. Burrough's Naked Lunch (also 5 stars), the book is easier to read and the narrative is more straightforward. Though it deals on the same subject matters, e.g., drugs, religion, counter-materialism, etc., it also deals on relationships. I particularly liked the parts when Sal (Jack) tries to work as cotton picker and he realizes that he is not made for that kind of work. Because I think at one point or another in everyone's life they wish they could stop what they're doing. Grab a backpack and some notebooks and keep walking until they reach the horizon for no other reason than to see what's on the other side and soak up as many cultures and diverse experiences as possible, which is exactly what motivates Jack Kerouac distended a typewriter and type out a book in one long scroll in the first place. I believe he was trying to capture all of these emotions, experiences tastes, sounds etc. before they evaporated into the thorough memory, and he definitely accomplish that with this novel.
Central to the story is the strong male friendship between Sal (Jack Kerouac) and Dean (Neal Cassady). What is important to remember here that they are buddies, traveling together, fighting and pissing each other off, and generally putting undue stress on each other, I mean. There are several divorces, a passel of children (mostly as a result of Neal’s indiscretions). However in the closing scene of the book, when looking at the harbor, Sal uttered silently ". . . I think of Dean Moriarty, I even think of Old Dean Moriarty the father we never found, I think of Dean Moriarty." I mean it so poignant because I don't necessarily think he was missing. Neil's physical presence as much as what Neil was for Kerouac and his youthful adventures and might have been if things had turned out slightly different, later in life, most people tend to dwell on lost relationships that they had in their life. I think Jack Keroauc was struggling to summarize what is life (and that of humanities) is all about: Andy struggling to come up with the words to construct a satisfactory explanation, but he can't find them. So in the end, he focused on what he remembered best, which is what we all do, the answer becomes about the people he (we) loved and lost that made him (us) value those survived all of the greatest adventures. Life had to offer during the course of a misspent youth, and who still remain. When youth and adventure are nothing but faded memories and stories passed down to the next generation which after all is what I feel on the road. The original scroll is all about Kerouac is trying to pass on his experiences and stories for future generations so that they won't fade away, but also in the hopes that they might serve as an inspirational linchpin so that future generations will be inspired to walk to arise in with nothing more than a backpack and some notebooks. Just to see what's there so that they can grow and experience everything the world has to offer. And maybe just maybe, add something meaningful to the universal conversation of humanity.
Compared to William S. Burrough's Naked Lunch (also 5 stars), the book is easier to read and the narrative is more straightforward. Though it deals on the same subject matters, e.g., drugs, religion, counter-materialism, etc., it also deals on relationships. I particularly liked the parts when Sal (Jack) tries to work as cotton picker and he realizes that he is not made for that kind of work. Because I think at one point or another in everyone's life they wish they could stop what they're doing. Grab a backpack and some notebooks and keep walking until they reach the horizon for no other reason than to see what's on the other side and soak up as many cultures and diverse experiences as possible, which is exactly what motivates Jack Kerouac distended a typewriter and type out a book in one long scroll in the first place. I believe he was trying to capture all of these emotions, experiences tastes, sounds etc. before they evaporated into the thorough memory, and he definitely accomplish that with this novel.
Central to the story is the strong male friendship between Sal (Jack Kerouac) and Dean (Neal Cassady). What is important to remember here that they are buddies, traveling together, fighting and pissing each other off, and generally putting undue stress on each other, I mean. There are several divorces, a passel of children (mostly as a result of Neal’s indiscretions). However in the closing scene of the book, when looking at the harbor, Sal uttered silently ". . . I think of Dean Moriarty, I even think of Old Dean Moriarty the father we never found, I think of Dean Moriarty." I mean it so poignant because I don't necessarily think he was missing. Neil's physical presence as much as what Neil was for Kerouac and his youthful adventures and might have been if things had turned out slightly different, later in life, most people tend to dwell on lost relationships that they had in their life. I think Jack Keroauc was struggling to summarize what is life (and that of humanities) is all about: Andy struggling to come up with the words to construct a satisfactory explanation, but he can't find them. So in the end, he focused on what he remembered best, which is what we all do, the answer becomes about the people he (we) loved and lost that made him (us) value those survived all of the greatest adventures. Life had to offer during the course of a misspent youth, and who still remain. When youth and adventure are nothing but faded memories and stories passed down to the next generation which after all is what I feel on the road. The original scroll is all about Kerouac is trying to pass on his experiences and stories for future generations so that they won't fade away, but also in the hopes that they might serve as an inspirational linchpin so that future generations will be inspired to walk to arise in with nothing more than a backpack and some notebooks. Just to see what's there so that they can grow and experience everything the world has to offer. And maybe just maybe, add something meaningful to the universal conversation of humanity.
As always, agents, thank you for
attending today's briefing. Hopefully it will motivate you to keep looking over
the horizon. Just to see what's there. And remember "reading is just
recreation for intelligence."
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Hardcover: 416 pages
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Publisher: Viking (August 16, 2007)
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Language: English
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ISBN-10: 067006355X
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ISBN-13: 978-0670063550
Books like this intrigue me. I love when people share their experiences - especially when it involves travel. It encourages me to pursue my interests and maybe, someday, write them down. It is a gift to future generations when an author writes a story that embraces their experiences and encourages others to follow their dreams and share their stories. Even if a person does not have the gift of authorship, they can still write down their experiences and leave those inspirational pages for their loved ones to read and learn about their ancestor's own story.
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