College Students! discussion

Use this thread if you are reading through the book and you want to talk about it. For example, if you are anything like me, if something crazy happens in a book I always want to talk about it right after it happens! It's also nice to discuss with others who are reading through it. Please make sure at the top of every thing you post you have a SPOILER warning and say up to what page you are on.

I started reading this book my sophomore year of college and stopped about halfway through because some jerk who is no longer my friend talked me out of it. Since it's a group read and I feel remorse for never finishing, I'm going to read it this month. I've been reading a bit of Hemingway and Hunter S. Thompson lately, as well as The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test in December, so I'm looking forward to see how these books compare and contrast because I know that some of the people in this book pop up in the others and basic premise is similar. I can't wait to read it with everyone.

Jim Croce!! Nice!!

And I'm with you on that pet peeve!!

Snickers, His exact words were, "I thought this book was a waste of time."

Snickers, I remember a similar feeling when I got really far into it last time. It felt like it really dragged in parts because I didn't really care about the characters. I hope that this time it will be different.

I'll admit, I put this one down so that I could finish a few other books. I wasn't very far into it. I think that once I get home (and get a few things in order) I'll push through this book. It seems like a pretty quick read, but definitely addled. I think it shows that he stayed up for however many days in a row typing continuously, but I think that's part of what makes this book so widely read.

Did anyone else read the introduction? It mentioned that Kerouac tapes several 12 foot long sheets of paper together so that he wouldn't have to disrupt his flow to change the paper. I thought that was pretty cool.

Snickers, The intro was pretty cool. Long though. It tells about Kerouac's life and points out which events in his life are told in the novel. Might be worth checking at some point. I'll have to read further before I can comment on whether or not there's a flow to the story. I've read a couple of other books where the character/narrator/author were stoned out of their minds (namely, Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) and that's just part of it that you learn to accept or understand.

My copy of this book arrived in the mail a few days ago and I'm only on page 15. My friend has been talking about Kerouac for years, saying that he's her favorite author. But I find I have to keep reminding myself to keep reading this book. It's not one that I'm reluctant to put down...

I'm trying to get more involved in this group so that's why I'm pushing myself to read this book. I can't judge too much, though, seeing as I'm only on page 15.

And like someone else mentioned, I'm trying to adjust to his writing style. Sometimes I like it and sometimes it's kind of... annoying?

My book didn't come with any introduction.

I do find it interesting to read a book writing in this time period. To sort of "get in the head" of someone who lived at this time, who lived in this way. My life is pretty different, so yeah, it's pretty interesting.

I hope it gets better for you! This is one of my favorite books BUT I feel like it is one of those books that you either love it or hate it! I've had friends that I recommend it to and they didn't love it like I did.

Is anyone else reading the Original Scroll version? Not sure if this was such a good idea...

I'm not reading the Original Scroll version, but I imagine it was really difficult without paragraph breaks.

I'm having a really hard time getting into this right now. It's not that there's anything I'm picking apart in the text; I'm just not feeling it. I hope I'm able to pick it up soon and finish by the end of the month.

Lori said: I'm just not feeling it.

That's how I feel - great way to describe it. I read quite a bit last night and I'm enjoying it a bit more, though. So I'm optimistic. Maybe it's one of those books you kinda have to settle into and get the groove of before it starts feeling good...

True. I think a good day (or a few hours) of reading without distractions might help me get into this book.

I just started it, so hopefully I can finish by July! I've heard mixed things from "it's pretentious" to "it's amazing" to "it's boring" so we'll see how it goes.

The copy I got from the library starts with some introduction and explanation for the first 100 pages or so. I haven't read it yet but I'd like to after reading the story. It also has a pretty cool picture of Kerouac with the "scroll" on the back.

I was wondering whether this book was mostly considered fiction or not? It was in the fiction section but on the book flap it sounds like it's Kerouac's life story. It's also described as a "thinly fictionalized autobiography" in the Goodreads description.

April wrote: "Is anyone else reading the Original Scroll version? Not sure if this was such a good idea..."
I am! It's the only copy I could find. The lack of paragraph spacing and some punctuation definitely takes some getting used to.

I'd say thinly fictionalized is the best description of it.

Oh, wow. That doesn't bode well for me. I'm heading out of town for a few days and guess what book I didn't pack.

Well, after 16 days, I'm on page 21..... We shall see. To be fair, though, most of those days have been spent planning/packing for a five-week road trip/camping trip, and actually taking said trip. I don't think many people like to read while camping.... I sure don't.

I'm debating whether I want to bring this with me to my grandparents' house today. It's either this or Revolutionary Road...or one of the 200 other books I haven't read yet.

I decided to put on my big girl panties and finish this book. I've been trying to finish it for years, so I should just do it.

I've noticed that once I get into the novel, as in I don't read anything else that day nor do I give myself the option of reading something else, I make quite a bit of progress and I enjoy it.

I'll go ahead and post a fourth comment in a row...This book is making me feel like I've wasted my time in college, like I should have been out exploring, living, rather than sitting in a classroom. Anyone else feel similarly? (And I'm definitely in a groove with this book and enjoying it)

Snickers wrote: "Caitlin wrote: "Well, after 16 days, I'm on page 21..... We shall see. To be fair, though, most of those days have been spent planning/packing for a five-week road trip/camping trip, and actually ..."

Hiking, swimming, exploring, all kinds of stuff! I also have a toddler who requires loads of attention. Also, when you're camping, you wake up with the sun, spend the day doing outdoorsy stuff, and you are in bed when the sun goes down. In this particular trip, we are camping in each place for one night only. Each day is spent driving for several hours to the next place. Each evening, you set up camp (which takes around an hour), start the fire and make dinner (another hour), and then clean up and get ready for bed (another hour). The next morning is the same deal, except you're packing up camp. So, yeah, not really any reading time. It has all been consumed by the child.

Well, except for the part about the child (sorry; I'm not a huge fan of kids yet) that sounds like a lot of fun.

It is a lot of fun! As far as kids, you don't always get a say as to when you wind up with one :). After we were married, we made a plan that had children in it years and years down the line. Of course, since we made a plan, nature intervened and turned that plan upside down. So, my advice... Don't make any plans regarding children!!! It doesn't work, lol!

On the bright side, it's awesome once you get one, regardless of how you felt previously. And, now we have an excuse to do all kinds of fun stuff, like children's museums and zoos, etc. That's another reason why reading is not really an option on this trip. After driving several hours to a new place, we check out a zoo, or museum, or science center, or whatever, so my son has a chance to unwind and be entertained.

I definitely plan on having them someday. But I'm not even willing to sacrifice my me-time to a boyfriend, let alone a child. I think it's great that you are taking your son to fun things. That's something I look forward to doing someday. I keep emphasizing someday because it'll happen, just not anytime soon.

I'm only about 100 pages in but I kind of get that feeling from it too, like I should be out there exploring! Though in reality it's not the safest thing for a teenage girl to do, haha. At least like Kerouac does it.

Some mild spoilers now!
I thought it was especially interesting how just noticing a girl on a bus and working up the guts to talk to her ended with them running around california, living in a tent, picking cotton, etc. Definitely shows how any little action can totally change your life.

I'm really jealous that I didn't live in that time. Nowadays, you can't just trust someone like that.

I tried reading this two years ago and just couldn't finish it. I really disliked all of the characters. Maybe I should give it another try, but I don't think it will do it for me.

Tahleen, I know what you mean. I had a really hard time at first, but I decided to grit my teeth and read it. As I've gotten deeper into it, I've loved the concept of traveling this way, even if I haven't loved the characters.

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear that Raquel!

I've got a little less than 100 pages left. I'll get to do some reading today at work. And then I definitely plan on staying awake until I finish this. The book and Dean have really grown on me.

I finally finished this book! I am so happy because I've been trying to read it for ages! I'll head over to the "For those who have finished" thread to post my final thoughts.

I just started this last night. I hope that it is good. I see a bunch say they lovee it (4 or 5 stars) and others not so much (1 or 2 stars). Funny, none of my friends gave it 3!