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Kent Peterson's avatar

Yet another example of Kerouac being a jerk. While I like his writing (I have damn near all of his books) and I thank him for turning me on to a bunch of better Beat writers, Kerouac is one of my prime examples of a negative role model, someone I consciously try to not be like.

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Dan Roman's avatar

Pretty much! Some may say the same about Hemingway.

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Björne's avatar

He’s saying writing really well requires commitment and focus. You can’t focus on several things (that is the opposite of focus). He is also saying: recognise the cost and sacrifice required. If it is true, or he at least believes it to be true, then he is not being a jerk.

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Dan Roman's avatar

Valid points. I do doubt however staying late at a party makes anyone better at their craft or Parenting.

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Björne's avatar

If there are other writers there, I think you are wrong.

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Woke Marxist Pope's avatar

I had a few self-hating Quebecois mill town uncles just like Jack Kerouac, so he doesn’t scare me. He was really good at one thing, but otherwise a mess. I bet Diane saw right through him.

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Dan Roman's avatar

She definitely appears to be confident in herself. And definitely saw through jack.

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