Outside Looking In
2 journalers for this copy...
Found it yesterday in Bücher-Brocky :)
What happened to TC Boyle, my cherished chronicler of American history? He takes up the topic of psychedelic drugs, particularly LSD and the charismatic figure of professor Timothy Leary. However I have never read such a boring, plain portrayal by Boyle. His Leary is just not impressive, remains obscure and distanced, as if the author was reluctant to really know this person.
I mean, this is a story about psychedelic trips, about the first hippies, the Beat Generation, this tale should explode in your brain - but it appears more as a dutiful essay from somebody who is quite tired of these memories.
Maybe Boyle WAS tired and just didn't finish this book. It has no end, simply stops. Leary's life story actually went much further. He was prosecuted, imprisoned many times (once in the adjacent cell of Charles Manson with whom he often discussed), he fled the American authorities to Zurich (where I coincidentally met him once in 1972), to Vienna, Beirut and Kabul. He later became an advocat of space colonisation and life extension.
His whole life, Leary was surrounded by interesting celebrities; friends amongst many others were Allen Ginsberg, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Susan Sarandon, William Gibson, David Byrne, Johnny Depp. But in Boyle's story only Ken Kesey and Maynard Ferguson appear, rather pale and blurry, The Beatles and Joan Baez are mentioned. Anyway, lots of missed opportunities to bring a bit of spice into this shallow party.
Another detail which bothered me: In the hippie age we ate vegetarian or even macrobiotic, I remember well. Enlightened people strived for harmony and love, never would harm weaker beings like children or animals. In Boyle's story people mindlessly gorge mostly on meat, and there is a horrible teenager who encages or kills all animals in forest and sea he can catch, just for the fun of it.
I felt quite at a loss after this. Half of a story and no real message.
I mean, this is a story about psychedelic trips, about the first hippies, the Beat Generation, this tale should explode in your brain - but it appears more as a dutiful essay from somebody who is quite tired of these memories.
Maybe Boyle WAS tired and just didn't finish this book. It has no end, simply stops. Leary's life story actually went much further. He was prosecuted, imprisoned many times (once in the adjacent cell of Charles Manson with whom he often discussed), he fled the American authorities to Zurich (where I coincidentally met him once in 1972), to Vienna, Beirut and Kabul. He later became an advocat of space colonisation and life extension.
His whole life, Leary was surrounded by interesting celebrities; friends amongst many others were Allen Ginsberg, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Susan Sarandon, William Gibson, David Byrne, Johnny Depp. But in Boyle's story only Ken Kesey and Maynard Ferguson appear, rather pale and blurry, The Beatles and Joan Baez are mentioned. Anyway, lots of missed opportunities to bring a bit of spice into this shallow party.
Another detail which bothered me: In the hippie age we ate vegetarian or even macrobiotic, I remember well. Enlightened people strived for harmony and love, never would harm weaker beings like children or animals. In Boyle's story people mindlessly gorge mostly on meat, and there is a horrible teenager who encages or kills all animals in forest and sea he can catch, just for the fun of it.
I felt quite at a loss after this. Half of a story and no real message.
in the fridge
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Dear finder
Thank you for looking up Bookcrossing and entering the number. Please, kindly write a short journal entry, that you own the book now. You can do this anonymously, but it's much more fun if you'll become a member and write under your nick name. It's still anonymous, but you'll get a notification every time somebody writes a new entry. You are able to follow the book's voyage and read the opinions of other readers. Bookcrossing is fun, it's free and free of spam. Try it, it might change your life. Or at least your bookshelf ;)
happy reading
=^,^= spy
---------------
Dear finder
Thank you for looking up Bookcrossing and entering the number. Please, kindly write a short journal entry, that you own the book now. You can do this anonymously, but it's much more fun if you'll become a member and write under your nick name. It's still anonymous, but you'll get a notification every time somebody writes a new entry. You are able to follow the book's voyage and read the opinions of other readers. Bookcrossing is fun, it's free and free of spam. Try it, it might change your life. Or at least your bookshelf ;)
happy reading
=^,^= spy
Took it home with me from our vernissage of the Cool Books fridge.
