The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac

The introduction to this book provided the clear case that it much of Kerouac's work was autobiographical, based on both his own experiences and those of his friends. This book serves as a journey of self discovery for the main character, Ray as he becomes familiar with a changed life under the multicoloured aura of Zen Buddhism.

When I first started reading this I thought it would be very full of facts about Buddhism, as I have never read Kerouac before. Although it did give a lot of insight into the philosophies surrounding it, the book itself was about the joys that immersing yourself in nature can bring you. The prose in this book is absolutely amazing, akin to that of Virginia Woolf, very visual, very powerful and wholly beautiful. Looking around my surroundings after reading some passages from this book really makes you realise the beauty that the main character, Ray is able to find within himself, his friends and the world around him.

Keeping in mind the autobiographical stance of (apparently) most of Kerouac's work, the only thing I didn't like in this book is the way women were treated. It may be a signal of the time in which it was set, or of Kerouac's beliefs and I'm not well read enough to say which one. His fellow traveler Japhy comments at one point in the book about having to get someone drunk before she'll give up and have sex with him, all the females in the book are used by the men, although it gives a reason of women being celebrated, it didn't quite sit right with my inner feminist.

The book explored very well the experience of solitude. At one stage, Ray climbs up to Desolation Peak and spends too months there by himself, something that preceding his own spiritual journey throughout the book he would have found very difficult. His experience of this complete solitude is very well mastered in this book, through the poetic style of writing and the clear enjoyment (although not at first) of Ray's experience.

The character of Ray is also evolved brilliantly, describing himself as old at the beginning you soon forget this as he travels the country, enjoying every minute and discovering who he really is and what sort of life he wants to lead. The issue of suicide is also taken into account, and the possible reasons behind it as well as the utter distress of the people involved.

I would recommend this book, definitely, it was a beautiful read and it really did make me look at things a little differently.

NEXT: Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil by Hannah Arendt.