Jack Kerouac pens about the life and tragic death of his brother, Gerard Duluoz. Gerard falls ill and passes away at the tender age of just 9. Kerouac vividly portrays this heart-wrenching event from the perspective of a four-year-old himself, as well as that of his family members who are closely affected.

I have a deep appreciation for this book, just as I have for every other work of Kerouac that I have had the pleasure of reading. However, this particular one does seem a bit more fragmented compared to the others. This is perhaps because Kerouac is not writing about his own direct experiences but rather those centered around his brother.

This book holds the distinction of being the first in the Duluoz Legend series. I am filled with anticipation as I hope to embark on a journey to read the entire series, delving deeper into the rich and complex world that Kerouac has created.

The most crucial aspect in life is to have a purpose that extends beyond merely existing for oneself. Life becomes truly meaningful when we strive for something greater, something that has a positive impact on the world around us. It could be a passion for helping others, a pursuit of knowledge, or a dedication to making a difference in a particular field. By living for something more, we find a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction that cannot be achieved through self-centered pursuits alone. We become part of something bigger than ourselves and leave a lasting legacy. So, let us all look beyond our own lives and find that something more to live for, for it is in this that we truly discover the beauty and purpose of life.

This was more of a long poem than a book. I liked it, but there wasn't a lot of varied content.

As usual, Kerouac writes a book that no one else could or would write. His unique style and perspective are truly one-of-a-kind.

This book had very sad subject matter, and his metaphysical interpretation that he put forth to explain away the sadness didn't really work on me. It was a big leap he asked me to take.

I just couldn't quite follow his reasoning at this point in my life. Maybe later, as I gain more life experience and wisdom, I'll be able to understand and appreciate his ideas better.

It also didn't help that I read the book during a red-eye flight and finished it at 6am. That matters! Reading in such a tired and disoriented state probably affected my perception of the book.

Nonetheless, I still think it's an interesting work that is worth exploring further. I look forward to revisiting it in the future and seeing if my thoughts and feelings about it have changed.

This short novel is Kerouac's touching tribute to his older brother Gerard. Gerard passed away at the tender age of nine when Jack was only four.

It presents an idealized view of Gerard,描绘成 a saint who instructs his younger brother in lovingkindness towards all creatures. Undoubtedly, it is formed from half-memories and family folklore, considering Jack's age at the time the events of the novel took place.

Clearly, Gerard was an altruistic youth. However, I believe the novel is also a reflection of Jack's own better nature, the one he aspired to throughout his life. He would later state that Gerard was his guardian angel, and in the novel, he claims that the reason he wrote was because of Gerard. One gets the sense that Gerard was a constant presence for Jack.

Written in 1956, 30 years after Gerard's death (and then published in 1963), the novel is filled with the sentiment of a lost time in addition to his lost brother. It also incorporates Kerouac's budding Buddhist beliefs; Sasmsara, the repeating cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth, is mentioned several times. It's as if Kerouac is both sad for the death of his saintly brother and happy that he was no longer suffering and on the path to his next life. I think it's how the adult Kerouac tried to rationalize the loss while remembering his mother's clinging to her Catholic faith and his father's drinking and gambling. Meanwhile, he paints an interesting and honest picture of life in the French-American community of Lowell, Massachusetts in 1925 - 26.

There are a few places where Kerouac goes to extremes with his beat style and his grammar is rough throughout, but that's part of the deal. And as in his better works, he remains true to his memories, feelings, and the people around him, delivering an emotional impact.

Jack Kerouac - Vize Gerarda (Votobia 1998).

I continue with the beatniks. I have had Vize Gerarda for approximately half a year and finally its time has come.

The book is inspired by the premature death of his younger brother Gerard, who died at the age of nine when Jack was only four years old. This motif became a tormenting obsession for Kerouac but also a great inspiration from which he derived this visionary prose. I really like to read everything about his past, about his French roots (Bretons), his hometown of Lowell in the state of Massachusetts (USA) and life in it. Jack even writes a truly sacred ode to his brother here, which brings tears to your eyes.

It is very personal and has a lot in common with his other works, where we know him in a completely different "state" of storytelling. I don't know to what extent his memories can be true and accurate, but in no way do they sound unbelievable, quite the opposite....

Let's be honest.

Approximately 20% of the prose in this story truly gave the impression of being a rambling outpouring of words, like word vomit. It was impenetrable, confusing, lacking in imagery, and seemingly without aim.

Another 70% felt more akin to regular prose, although it often had a meandering rhythm. It required some effort on the part of the reader, but not overly so. If one has never read Kerouac and had to envision what beat prose is like, they would likely find a close resemblance in this 70%.

However, that last 10%! Oh, that 10% soared to heights of beauty greater than I could have ever imagined. As Kerouac might say, they glowed like Roman candles.

This 10% makes rating this book a difficult task. That blasted 10% pulls this story up from the depths of mediocrity to such an extent that it is truly staggering. Some pages in this story are clearly 2-star pages, while others go far beyond the 5-star ceiling that Goodreads provides. In fact, it might not even be 10%. It's probably less, but such was the profound impression those glowing pages made on me.

Damned 10%! It's the very reason I began reading Kerouac's Doctor Sax and am determined to read the rest of the Duluoz Legend.

Final rating: Adjusting for averages, it's approximately 3.5 stars? Maybe?

**Title: A Review with 3.5 Stars**

I recently had an experience that I feel compelled to share.

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The service provided was generally satisfactory. The staff was polite and attentive, although there were a few moments when they seemed a bit rushed.

However, there were also some areas that could use improvement. The quality of the food, for example, was a bit inconsistent. Some dishes were delicious, while others lacked flavor.

Despite these minor drawbacks, I still think it's a place worth visiting. It has its strengths, and with a few tweaks, it could easily become a 4 or 5-star establishment.

I would recommend it to others, but with the caveat that they should manage their expectations accordingly.

All in all, it was a decent experience, and I look forward to seeing how it evolves in the future.

He pictures them all entering the belly of the lamb.

Even as he stares at the wood of the windowframe and the plaster of the ceiling with its little cobwebs moving to the heat.

Hearken, amigos, to the olden message: it’s neither what you think it is, nor what you think it isn't, but an elder matter, uncompounded and clear. Pigs may rut in the field, come running to the Soo-Call, full of sow-y glee. People may count themselves higher than pigs, and walk proudly down country roads. Geniuses may look out of windows and count themselves higher than louts. Tics in the pine needles may be inferior to the swan. But whether any of these and the stone know it, it’s still the same truth: none of it is even there, it’s a mind movie. Believe this if you will and you’ll be saved in the solvent solution of salvation and Gerard knew it well in his dying bed in his way, in his way.

And who handed us down the knowledge here of the Diamond Light? Messengers unnumberable from the Ethereal Awakened Diamond Light. And why? Because is, is—and was, was—and will be, will be—t’will!

The man lies there, lost in thought, imagining all these things. The image of the lamb's belly seems to hold a strange allure for him. As he looks around the room, the details of the windowframe and the ceiling with its cobwebs catch his eye. The olden message hearken to speaks of a truth that is beyond our simple understandings. It's a truth that defies categorization and is as clear as it is ancient. The various examples he gives, from pigs to people, from geniuses to tics, all serve to illustrate this point. Gerard, on his deathbed, had come to understand this truth in his own way. And the knowledge of the Diamond Light, passed down by countless messengers from the Ethereal Awakened Diamond Light, is a mystery that begs to be explored. Why was this knowledge given to us? The answer seems to lie in the simple fact that things are as they are, were as they were, and will be as they will be.

Kerouac And His Brother

Jack Kerouac's short novel, "Visions of Gerard", is a poignant account of the death of his beloved older brother Gerard in 1926. Gerard was nine and Jack was four at the time. Kerouac wrote the book in 1956, after penning "On the Road" but before its publication. It wasn't until 1962, when Kerouac had achieved fame, that "Visions of Gerard" was published, albeit to poor reviews.

Set in Lowell, Massachusetts, the novel描绘了Gerard生命的最后一年. It vividly portrays young Gerard along with their father, mother, and to a lesser extent, their sister. Kerouac recalls and writes about the French-Canadian Catholic community where he grew up.
Gerard was a crucial figure in Kerouac's life. The "visions" of Gerard in this book should be seen as reflections of Kerouac's own life in the 1950s rather than the memories of a four-year-old boy. Kerouac remembers Gerard as a saintly character who loved all things, especially animals, and had a deeply religious sense in a pantheistic way.
The novel has its flaws, such as the overblown and wordy language. However, it also has its strengths. The sense of Gerard and the family's grief over his death come through strongly. The religious vision Kerouac aspired to is projected onto his feelings for his "sainted" dead brother.
Kerouac later intended "Visions of Gerard" as the first in a series of novels presenting the "Duluoz Legend". Despite its early poor reviews, the book is about to be available in a new Library of America compilation, ensuring that it will continue to be read and studied. Admirers of Kerouac will surely want to explore this story of Kerouac and his brother.

Thank goodness it was short.

The long moments of Kerouac's philosophically abstract soliloquies seemed to drag on and on. They outweighed the short but precious moments of beautiful storytelling and poetic commentary that Kerouac was so adept at using in other stories.

It was as if the author got lost in his own thoughts, leaving the reader a bit frustrated.

The beautiful moments, when they did occur, were like flashes of light in a dark room. They gave a glimpse of the true talent that Kerouac possessed.

However, those moments were too few and far between.

Perhaps if the author had balanced his philosophical musings with more of the engaging storytelling and poetic flourishes that made his other works so memorable, this piece would have been a more enjoyable read.

As it stands, it is a bit of a disappointment, but still holds the potential to be a great work if Kerouac can find that perfect balance in future writings.

Perhaps my favorite Kerouac book is "On the Road."

This novel is a true masterpiece that takes the reader on a wild and free journey across America.

Kerouac's writing style is both poetic and deeply touching, as he captures the essence of the Beat Generation and their search for meaning and adventure.

The characters in the book are vividly drawn, and their experiences and emotions are palpable.

From the wild parties to the long drives through the night, "On the Road" is a book that will make you feel alive and inspired.

It is a celebration of youth, freedom, and the open road, and it has had a profound impact on generations of readers.

If you haven't read this book yet, I highly recommend it.

It is a must-read for anyone who loves literature and wants to experience the beauty and excitement of the Beat Generation.

Garrett has discovered a new favorite non-poetry book, and I'm relieved to finally stop referring to Gatsby as my favorite!

This is, without a doubt, the best of Kerouac's work that I've come across so far. Kerouac has a reputation for being a free-spirited individual who doesn't seem to care about much, just bumming around and such (which was indeed true to some extent). However, upon reading this book, one can truly understand the reasons behind his nature and who he really was.

In this book, Kerouac reflects on the death of his older brother, who passed away at the age of nine when Jack was only three. He grapples with the inevitability of death, its significance, and the consequences it has on life. For me, this is by far his most emotional, well-thought-out, existential, spiritual, and vulnerable piece of work that I've read.

Personally, I've been thinking a great deal about death in my own life, and reading this book provided a sense of comfort. How beautifully terrifying it is that death is a promise.

My favorite aspect of this book (as with most of Kerouac's work, but especially this one) is the way he writes with such excitement and engagement. His style simply captivates me and is truly unique. What I particularly appreciate about this book is that he maintains that style while discussing incredibly difficult and incomprehensible events. And, of course, he sprinkles little nuggets of wisdom throughout, such as:

"To awaken to pure faith in the bright one truth: All is Well, practice Kindness, Heaven is Nigh."

"Sin’s so deeply ingrained in us we invent them where they aint and ignore them where they are."

"It might be pepper for a cold feast, but I always did say that the fact that men are, is more interesting than anything they might do…"

"The whole world has no reality, it’s only imaginary, and what are we to do?—Nothing—nothing—nothing. Pray to be kind, wait to be patient, try to be fine. No use screamin."

I have a deep love for Kerouac and this book, and I firmly believe that everyone should give it a read.