The Dharma Bums

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It's a hit!

Here, "The Dharma Bums", presents more spontaneous prose from the master himself, this time with Japhy Ryder, the spiritual equivalent of the Gary ... (show more)

Here, "The Dharma Bums", presents more spontaneous prose from the master himself, this time with Japhy Ryder, the spiritual equivalent of the Gary Snyder, the famed beat poet. While in search of spiritual Dharma, Ray and Japhy travel the ups and down of life and mountains in northern california and the American northwest. While equally lyrical and beautifully honest as "On the Road", I find that "The Dharma Bums" lacks the directive focus that was found in Jack's travels to and from California. While perhaps a metaphor for the spiritually Buddhist theme of the novel, the lack of focus at times got me bogged down in places of no purpose or reason, and struggling to free my interest. Overall, a solid follow up to "On the Road" and perhaps, in some places, even more poetic and true to the nature of Kerouac's mind and writings.
"There's nothing wrong with you...your only trouble is you never learned to get out to spots like this, you've let the world drown you in its horseshit and you've been vexed . . . though as I say comparisons are odious, but what we're saying now is true." (p. 51) (show less)

 

 

by Felix Joseph Heremans

No, it's a flop!

While I recognize that Kerouac was deliberately developing his own literary style of spontaneous prose, I couldn't help but wince at all the missin... (show more)

While I recognize that Kerouac was deliberately developing his own literary style of spontaneous prose, I couldn't help but wince at all the missing commas and semicolons. There are some beautiful moments in this book, especially the poetic descriptions of the outdoors. However, this book was not as emotionally moving to me as it is to others. Ray Smith was rather unlikeable, self-involved, and places a high value on being drunk. When it comes to Zen Buddhism, outdoorsmanship, bumhood, even Christianity, he seems to take the parts he likes and ignore the rest. Also, there was a tone of misogyny throughout the book that was hard for me to get past. (show less)

 

 

by Jessie Peacock

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  After finishing this novel, a huge sense of wanderlust filled me. Kerouac's detailed descriptions of Matterhorn, Muir Woods and Desolation Peak make you want to head out to the West Coast and see these landscapes for yourself. This novel is not on the same level as On the Road, but a much easier read.

  The one thing that I did not totally enjoy was Kerouac's take on Buddhism and Zen. When he is trying to explain Buddhism to his family back in North Carolina, I, at points almost had to agre... (show more)

  After finishing this novel, a huge sense of wanderlust filled me. Kerouac's detailed descriptions of Matterhorn, Muir Woods and Desolation Peak make you want to head out to the West Coast and see these landscapes for yourself. This novel is not on the same level as On the Road, but a much easier read.

  The one thing that I did not totally enjoy was Kerouac's take on Buddhism and Zen. When he is trying to explain Buddhism to his family back in North Carolina, I, at points almost had to agree with his family. I'm not sure I understood fully what he was trying to explain at points and almost felt like he was preaching to the reader. Although it was at points difficult to understand, the explanations and stories of his meditations left even me at peace as it did the author.

  All in all though, I'm a big fan and can't wait to read more Beat authors and biographies! (show less)

   

   

  by Jerry Dy-Johnson on Feb 15, 2009 at 04:56PM

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  "The Dharma Bums" should have been a quick read for me. I loved being introduced to a young Gary Snyder in the form of Japhy Ryder--Mr. Outdoorsman & American Buddhist. Every time Japhy comes into the story, the style & my interest picks up. Not that the other sections don't have merit, also, but the character of Japhy illumines the whole thing. It's almost as if Japhy gives shape to the life of Ray (our narrator) and, thus, the whole story. Japhy has beautiful women fa... (show more)

  "The Dharma Bums" should have been a quick read for me. I loved being introduced to a young Gary Snyder in the form of Japhy Ryder--Mr. Outdoorsman & American Buddhist. Every time Japhy comes into the story, the style & my interest picks up. Not that the other sections don't have merit, also, but the character of Japhy illumines the whole thing. It's almost as if Japhy gives shape to the life of Ray (our narrator) and, thus, the whole story. Japhy has beautiful women falling in love with him, Japhy hikes the Matterhorn like it were a Sunday walk, Japhy teaches Ray how to exist in the woods, Japhy inspires Ray to get a job as a fire lookout in WA, and Japhy haunts Ray's thoughts even after leaving for Japan. One point that became an essential twist to the plot (though minor to most people) was when we find out that Japhy is a decade younger than Ray. Suddenly, I didn't feel so bad about not placing Snyder as one of the Beat poets. If we consider the range from Burroughs to Snyder, the Beat generation was actually more like three generations. Who knows? Maybe that opens the door to a fourth or fifth Beat generation.
  One reason this short book took me over a month to read was because I kept looking up all the Buddhist vocabulary and I kept looking at Google Earth and Mapquest to see the places where Ray was traveling. Then, also, in true bum fashion, I stopped using a bookmark and just allowed myself to repeat passages. I was enjoying my dalliance in Kerouac's world. (show less)

   

   

  by Facebook User on Sep 26, 2009 at 11:36AM

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