A week or so ago I ordered three books: The Dharma Bums and On the Road, by Jack Kerouac (see his picture at right) and a book on Zen and the Art of Happiness. Since I started thinking about the mystical experience and near death experiences, I have gotten really spiritual again. I find myself again seeking spiritual truth, as I did when I was 19.
The Dharma Bums and On the Road are both classics from the Beat Generation of the 1950’s. Kerouac could write and I am enjoying The Dharma Bums now. I bought the books because I remember reading an excerpt of The Dharma Bums in my freshman year in college. The excerpt was included in a collection of essays to be read in my English 1-A class. I remember that Kerouac described his own mystical experience in that excerpt, though I didn’t know that was what it was at the time. I want to find that passage in the book and transcribe his mystical experience to my blog.
However, reading Kerouac’s prose is a treat in itself. Although the book was published 50 years ago (in 1957), it seems timeless in many ways. What I like about the Beat Generation that he describes is the same spiritual quest I am on myself, people with open minds seeking truth but enjoying life and nature with exuberant joy.
I should have read these books years ago, but better late than never.
2 responses so far ↓
David // August 1, 2007 at 10:48 pm |
You are exactly right, better late than never. I’ve been reading Kerouac and the rest of the Beats for many years, and have enjoyed them immensly. At one point I owned every published book Kerouac had ever written (but I always fall victim to loaning them out). Also, on my website where I sell Literary T-shirts, Kerouac and the Beat Generation shirts sell rather well.
Glad to hear the Beats have another fan — even 50 years later!
Gary // August 2, 2007 at 8:34 am |
David, I do like Kerouac. His writing is fun, his prose colorful and I understand the spiritual quest he was following. I like the whole scene of jazz, poetry and nature.
I will probably read all of his books. I already have “On the Road” and will read it next.