On the Road

Jack Kerouac

Sal Paradise is a struggling writer. He decides to leave his aunt's home in New Jersey and travel to Denver where some of his friends are living. He decides to hitchhike and discover the country as he travels. Dean Moriority is his friend who has profound thoughts, a free spirit and a wanderlust. Dean has divorced his first wife, Mary Lou, but still sees her almost daily. He also visits his girlfriend, Camille.

Sal falls in with Dean as they travel to San Francisco. Dean's schemes fascinate Sal as he is also discovering himself. Sal finally leaves the West Coast and returns to New Jersey. But he is drawn back to San Francisco. Dean shows up in a new car to take Sal for a "quick visit" to the city with the Golden Gate. During their travels they explore the meaning of life, relationships, and "it".

Hmmmm, I must either be the wrong generation or too old to appreciate this book. It is a classic view of the beginning of the Beat Generation of the 1950's. I could not follow their thoughts or discoveries. Instead I found myself reading a book of aimless young men who do not know what they are looking for, so will never be able to know if they have found "it".

Perhaps if I had read it in my teen years or twenties I might have been able to identify and appreciate the search presented here. Instead it all seems rather pointless. Too many critics and readers say this is a great classic. That's their opinion. In mine, I would suggest trying another one. (But you know, I reacted in much the same way when I read Catcher in the Rye about ten years ago...)

Notice: Suggestive dialogue or situations