The Great Night by Chris
Adrian
I
posted an individual review on this book here.
The Monkey Wrench Gang by
Edward Abbey
Claiming
to be the book that sparked the environmental movement in the 1970s, this novel
traces the journey of four misfits across the barren south-western United
States as they attempt to demolish dams and bridges that are being constructed
and are interfering with the nature in the area. The characters, a doctor, an
ex-army man, a young woman, and a hobo Mormon, are very well developed, so much
so that in the long sections where there are no dialogue tags it is easy to
discern who is speaking. An anarchic novel with a solid message and many
notable quirks, The Monkey Wrench Gang
is an enjoyable and fun read.
Cubop City Blues by Pablo
Medina
Hoping
to ease the pain of his dying parents, a blind young man tells stories to them
at their bedside. Buzzing with the jazz culture of New York City, these stories
are all interconnected by The Storyteller’s, as he calls himself, passion for
words and his deep understanding of human nature. This novel reveals that the
world we inhabit is only as big as our imaginations will let it.
The Sea Is My Brother by
Jack Kerouac
The
lost manuscript of the first novel Jack Kerouac ever wrote, The Sea Is My Brother is an intriguing
read with classic Kerouac style and themes, and though it is reminiscent of his
later works, it is not as well-written. It should be remembered that he wrote
this when he was only twenty-one years old, and considering the fame and
respect he would later earn, I can see how this book could have been a
launching pad for his career if it had been published when it was written. The
story follows a young man named Wes who is about to embark on a journey on a
naval ship, but before he goes, he goes on a drunken escapade, similar to those
of Kerouac’s other novels. Unlike his other works, this book has a more
conventional writing style, and I find it fascinating to read something he
wrote so early in his career and to see how his talent developed over time.
Even though it is not as well-written as his more well-known works, I would
still recommend to Kerouac fans that they read this book.
Peace, Aimee
