Naked Lunch (original 1959; edition 2009)

Since this really isn't a novel and even William S Burroughs didn't think this was a novel - I don't think one can really say they are ever done with this book. I did read it in order;something that Burroughs didn't even think was necessary and so I guess in getting from point A to point B meaning the last page then I am finished with this book but really finished with it.....nope..I don't think so. I think my next read of this book will be a random one just starting on any section and working my way through randomly. I liked this book although it was difficult to read at times but when I stopped thinking of it as a novel and more like a long poem or experimental writing I liked it that much more. It was a challenge. A challenge because if the vulgarities and vivid drug descriptions, a challenge cause of the use of the language. It is a great book but it is not for the prude or the faint of heart. ( )

Il protoplasma e la Scimmia

Prestato da una amica (in realtà sfidata: prova a vedere se riesci a andare oltre pagina 20) e finito.
Per come la vedo io è un flusso di coscienza ininterrotto di un tossico, e non ha alcun filo logico.
Il linguaggio è crudo e racconta (quando si riesce a discernerle) situazioni ancora più crude di violenza e degrado, il problema è che spesso è solo un susseguirsi di sensazioni e fugaci immagini, e questo modo di scrivere deve piacere (a me decisamente non piace).
Le appendici, invece, per me sono state boccate di aria fresca e di realtà comprensibile. ( )

It might help to understand Burrough's prose if approached from a state of mind otherwise altered (use Zen, Yoga, prayer or any other substance of choice). ( )

This book is like a puzzle that one is constantly trying to figure out what is happening. The narrative is like a drug induced psychosis of constructed word salads and vivid imagery. There is no plot and the narrators shift in time and place. Below is a loose book structure I came up with. Due to the way the book is written, others will have different takes and opinions.

* The street, drug addiction and its consequences.
* The medical establishment and their use of drugs for mind control.
* Disturbing sex acts and murders; anti-capital punishment message.
* Politicians use stereotypes to manipulate the masses for power.

Burroughs tries to make meaning of all this chaos, and makes several cultural and political statements. Sometimes he succeeds, but for the most part he fails. For example, the series of chapter’s involving disgusting sex acts and murders has nothing to do with capital punishment. It's like this author dreams up this kinky dark fantasy world, and then tries to associate it to something deep and meaningful.

The one place Burroughs did succeed was the sections on the medical industry, specifically psychiatry. In the real world, the 50’s were the decade of psychiatric disorders which also experimented with mood altering drugs. This begs the question, “What makes a drug dealer different from a medical doctor? “ I think Burroughs was ahead of his time in seeing the potential of addiction in the form of prescription drugs.

In the end, I thought the book was just OK. I did think parts were funny and others thought provoking. It did take me a long time to finish. Three weeks, for a two-hundred page book, is a long time for me. I got tired of the long drug laden narratives and the disguising sex acts. It just went on too long and gave me a headache. So I’m glad I finished it, but I will not be re-reading it anytime soon.






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How I added almost 400 books to this site and overlooked this one is beyond me. ( )