Naked Lunch: the Restored Text

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

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

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

Hard to read. Strange.

I think I've officially given up on this book. I've been trying to read it for over three months now and it's only 200 pages long. I understand that William Burroughs was a homosexual, but the fact that he dragged anal, necrophiliac sex into it was appalling. I understand that he was trying to be shocking (because books with shock value usually sell), but this is just too much. I would read...more

I think I've officially given up on this book. I've been trying to read it for over three months now and it's only 200 pages long. I understand that William Burroughs was a homosexual, but the fact that he dragged anal, necrophiliac sex into it was appalling. I understand that he was trying to be shocking (because books with shock value usually sell), but this is just too much. I would read twenty pages at a time and could go no further because I was left with such a feeling of filth and uneasiness. Besides the sexual encounters, this book makes no sense. There is really no sense of a plot, as I believe Burroughs just took a bunch of heroin one day and starting writing. Ramblings of a heroin addict should not be published, let alone be hailed as literary genius. He even admits to his readers in the restored text that he has no recollection of even writing this book. What a joke! I think the thing that bothers me the most about this book was that one of my professors recommended it to me and told me I would LOVE it. I had such high hopes for it and then I was let down immensely. I love beat authors, but Burroughs is one that I will never go near again.   hide

La première impression a été une répulsion, provoquée par le récit d'un avocat bourgeois qui découvre les violences policières. J'avais eu la même réaction en lisant "L'horreur économique" de Viviane Forrester. La comparaison s'arrête, car autant le deuxième est d'une profonde inutilité, le premier s'avère très intéressant concernant l'attitude...more

La première impression a été une répulsion, provoquée par le récit d'un avocat bourgeois qui découvre les violences policières. J'avais eu la même réaction en lisant "L'horreur économique" de Viviane Forrester. La comparaison s'arrête, car autant le deuxième est d'une profonde inutilité, le premier s'avère très intéressant concernant l'attitude à avoir pendanty une garde-à-vue arbitraire. L'aspect juridique du livre s'avère utile et donne des armes pour briser l'omerta qui règne dans certains commissariats. Je n'ai pas compris grand chose...   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

Don't read before bedtime or around meal time - I for sure lost my appetite and couldn't get a lot of these awful images out of my head. Fascinating, indescribable, vivid, disturbing, a wild ride through a nightmare. I doubt I'll read this book again - but it's worth the ride - it's to be "experienced" more than read.

I like the style of this book though and ""think i understood most of it but it was pretty hard work.I had to get my mind in a particular way of seeing things and then it all clicks into place albeit at a slow pace for me meaning i had to reread some parts.I think this book truky changes the way you see things and can be pretty unsettling at times.Not a book for those without the time to...more

I like the style of this book though and ""think i understood most of it but it was pretty hard work.I had to get my mind in a particular way of seeing things and then it all clicks into place albeit at a slow pace for me meaning i had to reread some parts.I think this book truky changes the way you see things and can be pretty unsettling at times.Not a book for those without the time to dedicate to it.which was an issues my 1st time around but definatly worth the effort for a unique and very expressive style of writing. Taking awhile to get though can be difficult but rewarding and mind warping...   hide