Naked Lunch: the Restored Text

oh boy....this book is like a puzzle you can't solve...its the most bizzare, outrageous, bitterly funny, disturbing, thing I've ever read.....its something else.....the chapters are all scattered and unorderly....people who say they don't get the point of this book are just being honest...I'm gonna have to read it again when I have the time...I guess its more about the style...more

oh boy....this book is like a puzzle you can't solve...its the most bizzare, outrageous, bitterly funny, disturbing, thing I've ever read.....its something else.....the chapters are all scattered and unorderly....people who say they don't get the point of this book are just being honest...I'm gonna have to read it again when I have the time...I guess its more about the style of writing....the way its written is completely different than anything you'll ever read...I would say Naked Lunch is not for everyone....doesn't mean you don't give it a try at all....   hide

This book is one big psychedelic head trip. It is by no means an "easy read" and should not be read by minors. You either love it or hate it...and I love it. Tyler summed it up perfectly when he said "Bizarre, disturbing, humorous, disgusting, difficult, putrid, shocking, controversial, satirical, thought-provoking, brilliant, and must be read more than once. I have to admit, I had...more

This book is one big psychedelic head trip. It is by no means an "easy read" and should not be read by minors. You either love it or hate it...and I love it. Tyler summed it up perfectly when he said "Bizarre, disturbing, humorous, disgusting, difficult, putrid, shocking, controversial, satirical, thought-provoking, brilliant, and must be read more than once. I have to admit, I had to put the book down numerous times while reading it. It's tough to read because of the graphic content."   hide

I use to own this, but it's in Vancouver with the rest of my abandoned things like audio cassettes and clothes I don't want anymore. The author was on drugs at the time, so this book is one long trip. It's full of imagery and some misogyny too. If you're easily offended by homosexuality, then don't read it and complain about it. It was hard to follow, as there's no real plot to it. I was shocked...more

I use to own this, but it's in Vancouver with the rest of my abandoned things like audio cassettes and clothes I don't want anymore. The author was on drugs at the time, so this book is one long trip. It's full of imagery and some misogyny too. If you're easily offended by homosexuality, then don't read it and complain about it. It was hard to follow, as there's no real plot to it. I was shocked when David Cronenberg was doing a movie on this because I couldn't figure out how this book could be filmable, but he just took William S. Burrough life story and wove it into some of the images mentioned. Not bad, but I think you'd have to be a fan of WSB's to like it, or part of the Beat Generation to understand it.   hide

I always thought the 1950's beatnik was so sexy. So I was looking forward to getting into their books. Hated them all. I love those girls with racoon eyes and black hair. Hated "On the Road." I love cigarettes and coffee in cafe's. Couldn't even finish "Naked Lunch." I worship the image of James Dean playing the bongos. Beat poetry makes me puke. Burroughs admits in the preface...more

I always thought the 1950's beatnik was so sexy. So I was looking forward to getting into their books. Hated them all. I love those girls with racoon eyes and black hair. Hated "On the Road." I love cigarettes and coffee in cafe's. Couldn't even finish "Naked Lunch." I worship the image of James Dean playing the bongos. Beat poetry makes me puke. Burroughs admits in the preface to not being able to remember writing "Naked Lunch." Why on earth would I want to read something the author can't even remember writing?! I'm disapointed in myself for not being hip enough to enjoy this book. It's too bad, because that whole beat mood fits me so perfectly. I can be very pretensios, I look sexy in all black, and I love to smoke!   hide

In the immortal words of Nelson Muntz “I can think of at least two things wrong with that title”. This book has very limited artistic value. The graphic violence, torture, rape, murder, and drug abuse is so outrageous that it feels juvenile. Burroughs tries so hard to be offensive that it comes out sounding silly more than obscene. The erratic flow of the novel was another...more

In the immortal words of Nelson Muntz “I can think of at least two things wrong with that title”. This book has very limited artistic value. The graphic violence, torture, rape, murder, and drug abuse is so outrageous that it feels juvenile. Burroughs tries so hard to be offensive that it comes out sounding silly more than obscene. The erratic flow of the novel was another annoyance, other authors have used this technique brilliantly but once again Burroughs tries too hard and fails. The only thing that keeps you reading this book is the few snippets of absolutely brilliant writing. About 5% of this book consists of fantastic writing and insightful depositions about human nature, government, authorities, and the struggle for success. These brief creative moments leave you wanting more, but sadly they do not last long. I am uncertain if these moments of brilliance are a result of Burroughs’ easing up on the drugs he took, or hitting them harder. (After reading this book I will never listen to the band “Steely Dan” the same way…..)   hide

Hard to read. Strange.

this books is very very strange. psychotic homosexual ramblings of a junkie. it doesnt flow. theres no story TO flow...but parts of it border on profound. most of the positive reviews are all puff and blow of people trying to think they get something just to feel good about themselves. it doesnt make sense, most of its not social satire (though some is), its the inside of a sick mind. which...more

this books is very very strange. psychotic homosexual ramblings of a junkie. it doesnt flow. theres no story TO flow...but parts of it border on profound. most of the positive reviews are all puff and blow of people trying to think they get something just to feel good about themselves. it doesnt make sense, most of its not social satire (though some is), its the inside of a sick mind. which is all of our minds...   hide

From franic scenes of graphic rape to junky's drfiting to get there fix giant black centipedes crawling searching for young boys This book is a tough read that will often cause odd sensations. Yet you can't put it down, requires at least a 2nd read if not more, and reading the appendix and outtake chapters (in this print/copy) helps gain more understanding to the text.

There is absolutely nothing that I have ever read that compares to Burroughs' work. Be prepared to enter some strange territory when you read Naked Lunch or pretty much any of his work. Also, leave pre-conceived notions of a cohesive plot behind because basically this entire book is a collection of vignettes and nothing really connects together in any conventional sense. My reactions ranged...more

There is absolutely nothing that I have ever read that compares to Burroughs' work. Be prepared to enter some strange territory when you read Naked Lunch or pretty much any of his work. Also, leave pre-conceived notions of a cohesive plot behind because basically this entire book is a collection of vignettes and nothing really connects together in any conventional sense. My reactions ranged from chuckles to utter disgust with some of the material in this book...and I couldn't put it down because it was so well written and shocking.   hide