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Big Sur
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
"Each book by Jack Kerouac is unique, a telepathic diamond. With prose set in the middle of his mind, he reveals consciousness itself in all its syntatic elaboration, detailing the luminous emptiness of his own paranoiac confusion. Such rich natural writing is nonpareil in later half XX century, a synthesis of Proust, Celine, Thomas Wolfe, Hemingway, Genet, Thelonius Monk, Basho, Charlie Parker, and Kerouac's own athletic sacred insight."Big Sur's humane, precise account of the extraordinary ravages of alcohol delirium tremens on Kerouac, a suerior novelist who had strength to complete his poetic narrative, a task few scribes so afflicted have accomplishedothers crack up. Here we meet San Francisco's poets & recognize hero Dean Moriarty ten years after On the Road. Jack Kerouac was a 'writer, ' as his great peer W.S. Burroughs says, and here at the peak of his suffering humorous genius he wrote through his misery to end with 'Sea, ' a brilliant poem appended, on the hallucinatory Sounds of the Pacific Ocean at Big Sur." Allen Ginsberg"
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Sydneypaige
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
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I was in Big Sur about this time last year and saved this for a nostalgia read in hopes of a love letter to a place I love. And how disappointed was I. This book is barely an ode to such a stunning landscape and part of the world. It is about a drunk sad lonely man unsure and unhappy with fame. Racism and misogyny abound through its pages and the lyrical lines and descriptions do not outweigh the worse parts of the book.

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HeatherBlue
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
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Sunday afternoon adventures to a new (to us) coffee shop.

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TheEllieMo
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
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I‘ve read some Kerouac but not the tagged one. I‘m contemplating adding it to the TBR pile based on the above quote from it about #SomethingGood.

#AyUpAugust
@squirrelbrain @Cinfhen

squirrelbrain I tried On The Road but I think I was too young to appreciate it... (it was a looong time ago!) 5y
Cinfhen Nice find 😃👍🏻♥️ 5y
TheEllieMo @squirrelbrain I read it a few years ago. There‘s not one likeable character in the book but Kerouac could definitely write. 5y
36 likes3 comments
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PaperbackPirate
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
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I still need to read this one, but based on On the Road I‘m going to guess there‘s a cast of #wildones.
Taken in Belmont, California.
#songsofsummer
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Pretty pic ❤️❤️ 5y
OriginalCyn620 Beautiful! 💙 5y
26 likes4 comments
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Jen_Reads
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
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Big Sur is absolutely gorgeous and amazing. Totally worth being cut off from the world for a few hours due to no cell service.

mcipher Wow!! So gorgeous!! ❤️ 6y
Burghbookaddict Love! 😍❤ 6y
TheWintergarden I don't live in the United States but I love maps and have obsessively researched my dream road trip. Starting in L.A. following the coast north (where possible) and taking in the gorgeous coastline finishing up in Oregon. I have been in love with your beautiful country since I was a kid. 💖 6y
margreads So beautiful. We drove along it at sunset. Great for me as a passenger. Not so great for the driver!! 6y
LauraBeth Big Sur is my all-time favorite spot in the entire world - so beautiful 6y
39 likes5 comments
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MLRio
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac

We all agree it‘s too big to keep up with, that we‘re surrounded by life, that we‘ll never understand it, so we center it all in by swigging Scotch from the bottle and when it‘s empty I run out of the car and buy another one, period.

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MEGR
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
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This is my first time reading Jack Kerouac. Let‘s see how it goes 🤷🏻‍♀️🤞🏽

Victoriahoperose I really like The Beats. Kerouac has a lot of really strong connections to Buddhism which is really interesting and I really liked The Dharma Bums by him. But, out of all of them, I enjoy Allen Ginsberg the most. Hope you enjoy this and get to explore more of this generation 😊 6y
MEGR @Victoriahoperose I really liked aspects of his writing. Im going to have to put Ginsberg on my list! Thanks for the recommendation 🤗 6y
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Pickels437
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
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Geeking out at City Lights in SF. Bought my sweet daughters their very first Jack Kerouac. We‘ll start a new #rucksackrevolution.

6 likes1 stack add
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OrangeMooseReads
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
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#audiostitching this morning. 😢 I have to start all over because I didn‘t center it right and don‘t have enough room to finish the top of her hair. I decided to use a bigger piece this go round. Maybe it will go faster lol.

Foxyfictionista Oh nooooo! 😮 Cool picture though. 6y
tpixie I hate that. Try to brush it off. It‘s going to be awesome!! XS ❤️ 6y
OrangeMooseReads @Foxyfictionista thanks, found it on Pinterest 😁 6y
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OrangeMooseReads @tpixie it will. I‘m just mad I used all that thread lol. Eventually I‘ll pull all the stitches out so the thread and fabric don‘t go to waste. (edited) 6y
tpixie @OrangeMooseReads ❤️❤️❤️ I remember Cross-stitching one time and thinking how great it was that I finally sat down one evening and spent two hours cross-stitching & what an enjoyable experience it was—\u000 and then I realized that I had made a mistake at the very beginning and I had tear all that out. I had to really work hard to tell myself I did not erase those happy two hours! 6y
OrangeMooseReads Oh no! But those were 2 good hours of relaxation @tpixie (edited) 6y
34 likes1 stack add6 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
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#audiostitching while waiting for the Man Cub. I‘m extra early because of course this time my oil change didn‘t take as long as usual.
Side note: the new overlays for the iPhone are cool

34 likes1 stack add2 comments
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rockpools
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
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Robothugs What a neat cover! 7y
britt_brooke I bought this during an ebook sale not too long ago, but haven't read it yet! I still haven't read any of his books. 😵 7y
rockpools @Robothugs It's certainly something! I got it for my Mum years ago - not sure if they'd been out of print here, but I hadn't been able to buy them in bookshops. She's always wanted one with a slightly less 😨cover - I should try again now! 7y
rockpools @britt_brooke I read a bunch of them as a teenager, but remember so little, it's probably time for a re-read. 7y
34 likes4 comments
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elephantparty
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
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"When you remain in solitude, do not think of the amusements in the town...You should turn your mind inwardly, and then you'll find your way...

...The more Ups and Downs the more Joy I feel---The greater the fear...the greater the happiness I feel..."

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vivastory
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
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#riotgrams
#summerreads
I don't really change my reading according to the season. Although this prompt does make me think of Hesse's "Siddhartha" & Kerouac's "Big Sur" as these are the books I read during a summer vacation in Rhode Island & NYC many years ago.

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Oblomov26
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
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Pickpick

You either like Kerouac or you don't - and let's get this out of the way - I do. Stream of consciousness writing, from a man who has achieved the fame he has sought as a writer and now in his middle age is an alcoholic, trying at the same time to flee and to live up to his reputation. This story covers the period of a visit to a friends cabin on the west coast seeking to escape his fans and to find himself, a process that he seemingly sabotages.

Cinfhen Gorgeous photo 7y
Suet624 I want to be there. 7y
ReadingEnvy I've been watching Big Little Lies and this exact stretch of road is used frequently in the opening credits, in dream sequences, in scenes where the women are driving around..... 7y
Nebklvr I didn't think I would like this and the characters weren't my favorite;however, it really did feel like a road trip where everything is motion. I still think about it years later. Others have tried with no success to mimic this. 7y
Hobbinol I need to read Kerouac. 7y
72 likes5 comments
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Bethlind
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
Pickpick

Descending into madness and alcoholism and still able to find beauty in the world. Well, the world as it was in Big Sur.

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Rachael_reads
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
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#nowlistening #audiobook
I'm looking forward to this!!!

rachaich I really enjoyed this. I might actually read it again now! 7y
76 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Sharpeipup
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
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ReadingEnvy Oh are they bringing them back into print? I've been collecting them when I find them. I have Tortilla Curtain, The Bone People, and Justine. So gorgeous. 7y
Sharpeipup @ReadingEnvy I guess because the one I saw was 7y
12 likes2 comments
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elephantparty
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
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Wish I had my copy to read with this view right now...😩

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elephantparty
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac

"...after lights out and you're not sleepy there's ample time to just remember the world and indeed savor its sweetness if any..."

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Josemoran28
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
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"I've got to escape or die."

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Alma
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
Pickpick


*****Final review: I think this is one of those books that grow on you if you give it enough time! Halfway through I am amazed by how Kerouac managed to describe his descent to madness in such an endearing way you can't help but feel connected to him even if you can't relate nor have ever experienced anything like this. I definitely recommand this book, therefore it's a Pick for me!

ApoptyGina69 This is my favorite Kerouac for sure. 8y
Alma @ApoptyGina69 I am loving in it too! He sure was a genius in his own way ... 8y
28 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Alma
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
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Pickpick

Just started the book, so I am not entitled to review it yet, nevertheless I was wondering what you #littens think about it? I find Kerouac's style in this one a bit incoherent in some parts but then again I am aware of how drunk he was while writing it ... I'll have to finish it before finally making up my mind.

Kirstin This is my favourite Kerouac novel. I thought it was heartbreaking but beautiful. I loved the poetry of it. 8y
Alma @Kirstin I am halfway through now, and I think I just had to give it some time to grow on me! His descent to madness is sad but somehow beautiful as you said. :) 8y
23 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Alma
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
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Who's a happy girl?! 👯Thought I check the library, see if I'll find some new books and well ... I got out with an empty wallet! And guess what? I am not even sorry! Money well spent!! 😌🤑 #newbooks #brokebibliophile

I-read-and-eat No better way to spend your money! #nicestack 8y
Hobbinol Wow! (You got the better deal-- love your selections.) 8y
Alma @I-read-and-eat I couldn't agree more! @Hobbinol Thank you, I can't wait to read the whole stack 😄 8y
27 likes3 comments
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Willmjspencer
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac

Personally, I believe this book to capture the essence of Kerouac perfectly. At this point, famous, drunk, and downtrodden, we see the ultimate collapse of Kerouac's character that he created through Road. Highly recommend all Kerouac fans, or any beatnik enthusiast, read this one.

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Willmjspencer
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac

Personally, I believe this book to capture the essence of Kerouac perfectly. At this point, famous, drunk, and downtrodden, we see the ultimate collapse of Kerouac's character that he created through Road. Highly recommend all Kerouac fans, or any beatnik enthusiast, read this one.

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LionHeartLeo
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
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This is my second Kerouac book & I don't know how I feel about it quite yet. I find his writing style sometimes difficult to follow, w/ run on sentences & incoherent babble. I'm taking into account the fact he was piss drunk 1/2 the time, lol! Love to hear people's thoughts/reviews!! Chime in!

BookishFeminist I haven't read this yet but I have the exact same edition sitting on my shelf! 8y
2 likes1 stack add2 comments
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ohjennylamb
Big Sur | Jack Kerouac
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Something good will come out of all things yet - And it will be golden and eternal just like that - There's no need to say another word.

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