44. "Really the only Kerouac you need to read is On The Road, Dharma" In response to In response to 30
Bums and Big Sur.
To me, that gives the three sides.....
On The Road: young, travel/excess/adventure. Dharma Bums: slightly older, still adventures but adding more spirituality to the quest. Big Sur: A little older still, bitter, dissillusioned, in the throes of alcoholism and lamenting lost youth/innocence.
And that's it.
After I read On The Road when I was 16 I went on a Kerouac tear for awhile......but those are the three books of his that actually stick with me.