Big Sur is a very personal novel, a cry from a man on the edge of a alcohol induced nervous breakdown. It is somwhat sad in parts, altough there are many more jolly and even funny moments penned by Jack probably in less sober conditions. This book is all about getting behind the myth and understanding the real Jack Kerouac. As such, this novel will give a better insight into Kerouacs life than any biography, or even perhaps any other Kerouac novel.


beautiful   November 21, 2001
 2 out of 5 found this review helpful

This is the first of Kerouac's books I have read. Somewhat of a strange beginning being that it was towards the end of his life.

I was truly touched by Kerouac's prose and felt both enlightened and saddened by the content.

In all honesty I loved it, completely autobiographical I really felt I knew Kerouac. I felt that I had made a friend in him.


The story of Kerouac's descent into madness and alcoholism   August 5, 2001
 10 out of 10 found this review helpful

Like most of Kerouac's other works, this is autobiographical. Kerouac writes of his attempts to get away from the pressures of fame by hiding out in a friend's cabin, out in the wilderness of Big Sur. Unfortunately he finds himself still sinking into old habits and cracking up.

This is, in all honesty something of a difficult book in places - Kerouac's prose is somewhat unorthodox and may require some getting used to, yet this book is so vivid in some places that it is well worth the effort. It's like nothing I've ever read before. Although it's not a happy book, there are parts of it that are oddly sweet and touching.

I'd recommend reading On The Road first to put this all in some kind of context.