Wednesday 21 November 2012

Devouring Books: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson

"Every now and then, when your life gets complicated and the weasels start closing in, the only cure is to load upon heinous chemicals and then drive like a bastard from Hollywood to Las Vegas... With the music at full volume and at least a pint of ether."

Every now and then, when you start a new job and don't really know what you're doing with your life, the only cure is to stay completely sober and then read like a bastard through Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Or, at least, that's what I did, and I'm not sure I'd recommend it as a soothing read when you're in a new situation, but it definitely kept me entertained through a few lunchbreaks, and made me giggle in public, so... It's pretty great.

I may have said before, on the evidence of reading a really little bit of The Rum Diary that I wasn't sure that Hunter S Thompson was my bag, but now that I've read this... I kind of want to retract that comment. Because his writing is not only funny, it's also interspersed with moments of righteous anger (not in an annoying way), disturbing yet hilarious drug fuelled paranoia, and, even though there's no overriding narrative, everything still ties together in a sometimes-coherant way that just seems to work. At least for me.

Frankly, this book would still be good if it was just one drug fuelled anecdote after another, and the great majority of it is that, and frankly I might have learnt more about the effect of ALL THE DRUGS from it than from any other source, ever. But what made it even better, for me, were those moments where, in the calm in the middle of the grasp of some drug or another, he gets a little serious, and takes things to another level. Like this:
"No doubt they all Got What Was Coming To Them. All those pathetically eager acid freaks who thought they could buy Peace and Understanding for three bucks a hit. But their loss and failure is ours, too. What Leary took down with him was the central illusion of a whole life-style that he helped to create... a generation of permanent cripples, failed seekers, who never understood the essential old-mystic fallacy of the Acid Culture: the desperate assumption that somebody- or at least some force- is tending that Light at the end of the tunnel."
Where, in spite of all his cynicism and paranoia, it feels like he really cares about somethings, at least some of the time. Until the next hit kicks in, anyway.

Possibly my favourite thing in the book though, and trust me, it's really a very little thing, was the part where Thompson talks about Las Vegas and it's kind of awfulness. I feel like there's this whole 'thing' about 'Vegas' at the moment, where people think it's the absolute ultimate place to go and PARTY and frankly, the entire idea of it makes me a little bit ill. Until now, I kind of thought I was alone in this thought, (cause who doesn't like PARTYING for days on end and never seeing sunlight? Only weirdos, right?) but Thompson speaks to me from all the way back in the seventies, and makes me think that I'm ok:
"A little bit of this town goes a very long way. After five days in Vegas you feel like you've been here for five years. Some people say they like it- but then some people like Nixon, too."
I know I've been kind of brief here, but this is my way when I really really like a book. It's funny, it has its moments of depth, and it's really really difficult to put down once you start reading. Who knows why I put off reading it for so long, but let me advise you now- don't make the same mistakes that I did! (If you've been putting off reading it and all. If not then, you know, don't worry so much about it. But still read it.)

24 comments:

  1. I love this book and I adore HST. People usually discount him because of the drugs but I find him refreshingly honest, even when he's being incredibly cynical and the man can write. Glad to hear you enjoyed the book!

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    1. Also, I've never understood the Vegas thing. It all seems kinda sad to me. The glitz and the lights just emphasises the disgust and hate and sadness bubbling underneath. Like they're trying too hard, y'know?

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    2. For some reason blogger posted both your comments twice, and I didn't read the emails with the comments in cause I was at work, SO I basically got 4 comment emails from you and went 'blimey, she's a bit keen!' Hahahahaha.

      People discount him because of the drugs?! But the drugs are what make him sort of crazy paranoid (which is AMAZING) and then he has moments where he gets all sober (well, maybe not all sober) and discusses things and stuff and then takes some more drugs! (I realise you know this, but this is what I like about it!) But yeah, DAMN can he write! I loves it.

      It IS like they're trying too hard! I do sort of want to go there, but I don't know that I'd ever want to go back, you know? I'm saying all this, but I'd probably LOVE it and develop a gambling addiction or something haha

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    3. I think it's because I posted off my phone, it happened when I replied to a post on my blog once. Weird.

      Yeah, mostly it's people who haven't read any of his work and just seem to think that the reason he's popular is because a. people like drugs (?) or b. the drugs make it edgy. Basically, people are pretentious and obnoxious sometimes.

      Also, I'll probably go to Vegas, but I think it'd be more interesting to check out the suburbs/areas around the strip and see how it must be for people who live there. Bet it's super bizarro.

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  2. I totally agree with your Vegas comment - the thing for me is, I always wonder what it looks like in the daytime? You always see it on TV or whatever at night, all wildly fabulous neon lights and cocktails, but eurgh imagine the daytime? I feel like Vegas would be ...sticky, like the floor of an old cinema but a hundred times worse. I love this book, by the way, always makes me giggle too!

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    1. I bet it looks well depressing in the daytime. And I guess you can either stay inside all the time in perpetual nighttime, which would MESS YOU UP, or go outside and be really depressed by it. Your cinema analogy is AWESOME, by the way. 100 points for that!

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  3. No, I thought this was a pretty good length for communicatin' what you wanted to here. HST's never been that appealing to me (surpriiiiise), but I've heard this is the main thing to read of his. So mayyybe someday.

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    1. Why thank you! It felt a bit brief to me, but there wasn't really anything I didn't say that I wanted to!

      I just can't BELIEVE HST isn't your ultimate writer. That's just CRAZY to me. Lol, jk, this is totally not your thing, BUT I reckon you'd probably enjoy it- it's pretty fun apart from the bits where it gets a tiiiiny bit serious and sad. But only a tiny bit! I'm fairly certain this IS the main thing to read of his, so yeah, get on that!

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    2. Read his books which are compilations of articles and letters! HST is best when he's being completely non-fiction-y, They've got a bit of the craziness (well, a lot compared to other writers) but when you read him write about politics it's insane, he's so intelligent and passionate and yeah, awesome.

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    3. I've got... Kingdom of Fear? If that's a thing? So I think I'll read that next. And by next I obviously mean very very far in the future.

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  4. I saw this movie in high school and was all WTF all the time. :) I've always imagined reading this book to be a bit like reading Palahniuk (just finished Fight Club and that was a trippy ride) and you know...I think this one might be on the 1,001 books you must read before you die list!

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    1. Hahaha, I was totally like that with the movie, only in a good way? I think... I definitely need to watch it again though, especially now!

      I have read Fight Club, and... This isn't really like that! Although I totally see your thought process there. Actually... It's not completely *unlike* Fight Club either... I JUST DON'T KNOW. Because I probably wouldn't compare this to anything because it's just so out there, but then it does have similarities to Fight Club, and now I'm just rambling so you should probably read this before I EXPLODE with overthinking!

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  5. Totally agree, with, like, ALL OF THE THINGS. It made me giggle, it made me feel like I've done all the drugs I ever need to do by proxy, it had these moments of sheer sober genius... I underlined some of these same quotes actually - like the Las Vegas one. I think I'd quite like to drive THROUGH Las Vegas, just for kicks, but then carry on out the other side until I got to somewhere quiet and lovely. :)

    I just bought a biography of Hunter Thompson from the bookshop down the road (which is looking seriously dilapidated right now so I thought I'd better take my chance) so I'm looking forward to finding out more about the man BEHIND Raoul Duke. Should be quite a ride!

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    1. Hahaha, I've totally done all the drugs I need to do by proxy. Yes. No more drugs for me! I feel like I'd really foolishly go 'yeah, I could spend 4 days in Vegas' or something, and then after like a day I'd be like 'nope. Nope. I'm going to have to go' It's totally not my kind of place, I don't think.

      I am exciiiited to hear about this biography! I've got like 2 other books by him, and now I'm definitely more like 'ooh, I should read those!' than I was before.

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    2. Yeah, now I've read one I'm thinking, "Why was I a bit daunted by this guy?" I mean, it's not HARD reading. It's... trippy. But not hard. I should go hit the liberry again at some point, methinks!

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    3. It's totally trippy maaaan. But yeah, definitely more HST in my future, I reckon.

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  6. I went to Vegas for three days with my husband's family and it. was. weird. Kind of awesome, because it was so ridiculous. But a weird place to go with a devout Catholic mother in law who doesn't drink. Also, daytime Vegas was drunk and porn-y, much like nighttime Vegas. But I'm glad I've been there. And I'm glad we saw so many Elvis impersonators (and also a roaming band of Johnny Depps).

    I've seen Fear and Loathing the movie and loved it, and the book sounds like it'd be a fun "Whaaaat?" too. And the bits of seriousness intrigue me.

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    1. That sounds like an aweeeeesome place to go with said mother in law. Although I'm thinking you kind of HAVE to drink in Vegas to get through it haha. And OMG ROAMING BAND OF JOHNNY DEPPS!! That sounds amazing. I kind of want to go 1) to say I've been, 2) Because the Grand Canyon is kind of close (I believe) and 3) to see that fountain thing that plays music? Because that sounds really cool. But other than that, I could probably do without it.

      The movie and the book are remarkably similar actually! I think I watched the like DVD extras and it was like 'this book was just unfilmable, but only Terry Gilliam could do it' or something, and he really did do it, and it's great! SO yeah, i reckon you'd like the book!

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  7. I really need to read this. I've been a little scared of it before because I don't usually get along with crazy, drugged-up type books but I've heard nothing but good things about it.

    I've flicked through my boyfriend's copy though and I might give it a go.

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    1. It's SO good! And it's totally not like 'oh woah man, I got so high and the colours- they were awesome!' it's all like 'ugh everything is so terrible, I'd better have some more drugs.' I don't know if that's better or not, actually....

      Anyway! Yes, it's fun, so I'd give it a go! :)

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  8. It's an ace book, isn't it? I think it might be the first book Tim loaned me, which was clearly a good sign for us working out. And I'm totally with you on Las Vegas. Does not appeal in the slightest.

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    1. Aw, that's so sweet! And yeah, it's awesome! BOOOO VEGAS haha

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  9. Not that I think drugs should be all fun and games, but this book DOES sound kind of fun. I think I'm worried that I'll just be annoyed with his druggy-ness instead of amused... hoepfully not.

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  10. Now you've made me want to read this. I actually haven't read any HST yet cos he's someone I want to like but I'm afraid I won't. It's weird.

    If you want a book that is really just one drug fueled anecdote after another (but that's still entertaining) there's a book called Flashbacks and Premonitions that is funny.

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