Currently reading Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and re-realizing what an amazing piece of literature it is. Really sums up an interesting time in American history - from my perspective at least - that hasn't been covered very well in our traditional history books - at least from what I've seen with my kids. Or, I haven't even seen many TV specials or anything that really cut the the heart of the matter like the great Hunter S.
I grew up in 1970s - I was born in 1967 and really came of age during that time period. So, I remember the '60s hangover that the '70s was and the way that Thompson depicts what really went down. I think the '70s, which spilled in into the '80s, were a very selfish time - of course, I was a kid, so I was naturally selfish as well - in the aftermath of a very community-oriented period. The '60s kind of ushered the spirit of individualism in America, but I think it went too far in some ways in rebelling against authority. Authority is often designed to maintain a communal spirit and that spirit I think got lost.
Thompson does a great job chronically all this in the form of a very entertaining story about a few days in Las Vegas. I am reading the book now after reading his Hell's Angels portrait that kind of broke Thompson into the mainstream. While that may have been a revolutionary book at the time, it doesn't really hold up that well. Fear and Loathing on the other hand, I think I could continue reading for the next 100 years at least. It's Thompson's perfect book. After that, he manages to get through about three quarters of Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail and then apparently has a breakdown of some sort and last quarter is just dictated and not nearly as tight or strong. After, that he seems to show intermittent brilliance in his column writing but nothing as sustained as his first two Fear and Loathing efforts.
So that's sort of a long prelude (in honor of Hunter) to my current list of 10 greatest fiction books I've read. Off top of head, here's what I got
1. On the Road - holds up on every read through
2. Brother Karamazov - so much depth
3. Catch 22 - black comedy as its finest
4. The Ginger Man - also great black comedy - kinda of a favorite theme for me
5. Sun Also Rises - Hemingway's best
6. Fear and Loathing....
7. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest -gotta have some Kesey
8. Crime and Punishment - I am a sucker for Dostoevsky
9. One Hundred Year's of Solitude - this should probably be higher
10. The Shining - great American Horror Story. I am thinking I am missing something that should replace this...
10a. I knew I was forgetting something - the Odyssey by Homer clearly needs to be placed near the top of this list.
but I have read all these books multiple times and will likely read them again and that is why they make my list.
Please share some I am missing and I will hopefully get a chance to check out.
I grew up in 1970s - I was born in 1967 and really came of age during that time period. So, I remember the '60s hangover that the '70s was and the way that Thompson depicts what really went down. I think the '70s, which spilled in into the '80s, were a very selfish time - of course, I was a kid, so I was naturally selfish as well - in the aftermath of a very community-oriented period. The '60s kind of ushered the spirit of individualism in America, but I think it went too far in some ways in rebelling against authority. Authority is often designed to maintain a communal spirit and that spirit I think got lost.
Thompson does a great job chronically all this in the form of a very entertaining story about a few days in Las Vegas. I am reading the book now after reading his Hell's Angels portrait that kind of broke Thompson into the mainstream. While that may have been a revolutionary book at the time, it doesn't really hold up that well. Fear and Loathing on the other hand, I think I could continue reading for the next 100 years at least. It's Thompson's perfect book. After that, he manages to get through about three quarters of Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail and then apparently has a breakdown of some sort and last quarter is just dictated and not nearly as tight or strong. After, that he seems to show intermittent brilliance in his column writing but nothing as sustained as his first two Fear and Loathing efforts.
So that's sort of a long prelude (in honor of Hunter) to my current list of 10 greatest fiction books I've read. Off top of head, here's what I got
1. On the Road - holds up on every read through
2. Brother Karamazov - so much depth
3. Catch 22 - black comedy as its finest
4. The Ginger Man - also great black comedy - kinda of a favorite theme for me
5. Sun Also Rises - Hemingway's best
6. Fear and Loathing....
7. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest -gotta have some Kesey
8. Crime and Punishment - I am a sucker for Dostoevsky
9. One Hundred Year's of Solitude - this should probably be higher
10. The Shining - great American Horror Story. I am thinking I am missing something that should replace this...
10a. I knew I was forgetting something - the Odyssey by Homer clearly needs to be placed near the top of this list.
but I have read all these books multiple times and will likely read them again and that is why they make my list.
Please share some I am missing and I will hopefully get a chance to check out.
