Friday, August 13, 2010

The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac

The Dharma Bums is a semi-fictional account of two young men that alternates between their outdoor adventures, including their quest for dharma via Zen Buddhism and solitude in nature, and their more bohemian adventures in the San Francisco area, including wild parties and beat poetry readings. While I enjoyed the road trips, hobos, and mountain climbs, as well as examining rural-urban duality, this was a somewhat disappointing introduction to Kerouac for me that left me wanting something more meaningful. Though, I learned about the Asian passion for tea and that "you can't fall off a mountain!"

Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PS3521.E735 D48 1976
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Andrew Tessandori, Cataloging Assistant, Leatherby Libraries
Rating: Somewhat Recommended

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