Fariña's tragic premature death, so soon after the publication of this novel, likely has something to do with its enduring cult status (the Pynchon personal connection doesn't hurt, either). The novel is full of the kind of supreme bullshit mock-heroic bravado that you would expect from this kind of book, but it all just feels so amateurish. The campus novel / microcosm gambit is pulled off so much better in Giles Goat Boy, and a lot of that has to do with the lack of posturing in Barth's novel. I've seen it remarked that the book is full of cool lapidary wit, but all I found was smug and derivative nonsense. "Life is a celluloid passion". ok. and what of it?
that being said, page to page this is a pleasurable enough read. I found a copy quite cheap, but looking quickly online I see used copies selling for around $100 a pop, and I do not think I would suggest it at that price

Gritty and real. Not a work of great sophistication, but engaging. It does capture and convey a mood and attitude.

My regret, on reading this, is that Farina didn't live to make it his first novel of dozens. I think he would've outgrown the Beat-era-narcissism while carrying on its beautifully woozy libido.

One of my all time favorite novels. Part of my outlook growing up; the rebel and outsider.

Gnossos is the hero between beatnik and hippie days. Farina's book is hilarious, thoughtful and makes you wish he had not been killed. Married to Joan Baez sister Mimi, Farina went to college with Thomas Pynchon, and had a similar feel for contemporary phenomena.

A staple of my youth.

Read this book three or four times ... good prose.

I read a different edition back in the 70's but did not see it listed.

I would just put this book on the must read list for anyone who likes Brautigan, Kesey, or other writers of that style.

quite possibly the most underrated book written in and about the sixties.

Started out very confusing, but I soon got the hang of the writing and thought this was a very interesting portrait of its time.

Another favorite! Farina was poised to be a great author, but died 2 days after this was published. He bridged the gap between post beats and pre hippie.

Sort of this hazy shambolic riff of the campus enlightenment novel. I think it views late 50s Bohemia/Beatnik culture as sort of this fleeting refuge against Ivy League meritocracy and sort of the darker forces at play in life, hence the constant allusions to demons and morality. It kind of sucks because this reads as like a legendary author’s first really good novel instead but Fariña didn’t live long enough for that. You can see how this is sort of the missing link for between Pynchon for V and Gravity’s Rainbow too and how Fariña personally was an influence on Dylan’s 65-66 era and stylistically a huge influence on Hunter Thompson.