|
Post by Jeffrey on Mar 1, 2004 18:54:14 GMT -5
Re-done and re-vamped because I'm the only fiend that does this. I seem to only read HST books right now, so why not dedicate this entire thread to him since that's all that's really down here? Talk about the Good Doc here, instead of those books that you're not reading.
|
|
|
Post by Jeffrey on Mar 14, 2004 20:25:19 GMT -5
EEE!!! *dies* What a happy little fangirl I am, I finally was able to purchase Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson today (Along with The Rum Diary coming out in '05 with Johnny in the position to play Thompson again. Happy!) Ah, I love the movie and am so far digging the book. The opening line is classic, I swear it: 'We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold.' The movie swiftly goes down hill (not in a bad way, but in a trippy, drug way) from there and the movie is very faithful to the book. And, while it may seem otherwise, this book does not advocate drug use. Really the complete opposite if you're openminded enough to pick up on it. Like the cover says, it's 'a savage journey to the heart of the American dream' (sorry Brits and other nationalities out there). Will update when finished. So excited!
|
|
|
Post by Jeffrey on Mar 17, 2004 19:51:50 GMT -5
It's official now--
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas~ Hunter S. Thompson Oy, what a fine book. Loopy, crazy, thought provoking. If I had it on hand, I'd quote it, but it'd get too far out of hand. I have decided that when I own a car, it will be a fireapple-red convertable and I will name it the Red Shark. And I will not do ether in Vegas. And many other cautionary things. I just have to say, I kind of liked the ending to the movie a bit better than in the book (even though the book is what really happened *shrug*) because it was just so free and had 'Jumping Jack Flash' as theme music. Such fine literature and it's all true. Next time I have to do a biography project, I'm all set. *grin* it's not like English teachers have a clue anyway *rolls eyes*
Sidenote: The Rum Diary (the movie) is going to start shooting in May (again, close to my b-day! it's a sign from god, man!) and will be released someday. Benicio Del Toro's directing and it will feature Johnny Depp as Paul Kemp, Benicio Del Toro as Bob Sala and Josh Hartnett as Yeamon... I really don't agree with that... oh well... *grumble* Funny book though.
|
|
|
Post by Jeffrey on Mar 25, 2004 16:56:52 GMT -5
The Rum Diary~ Hunter S. Thompson Another brilliant Hunter book that is his foray into the realm of fiction. Whoa boy, buckle your seat belts and place trays in the upright position. The story takes place in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In a nutshell, there's heinous debauchery (I love that word), gratuitous nakedness, a failing paper and of course, lots and lots of RUM. Don't skip this because it is fiction, but also don't assume it will be completely true Thompson fashion. Paul Kemp (more than likely) was probably based on the young Hunter who did spend time in San Juan as a freelance journalist. Wonderful story. Very good. I hope that movie gets started SOON. (DAMMIT!)
|
|
|
Post by Vivian Astley on Mar 27, 2004 15:07:16 GMT -5
*pokes the happy fan girl*
Stop being so darn happy happy fangirl
|
|
|
Post by Jeffrey on Mar 27, 2004 18:35:14 GMT -5
No, man! I'm too happy! I feel faithful and excited... I need more Thompson books!
|
|
|
Post by Jeffrey on Apr 18, 2004 18:16:59 GMT -5
And I got more! Yay! Coming soon: Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 and Hell's Angels, both fine novels in Hunter's large repetoir.
|
|
|
Post by Jeffrey on Apr 26, 2004 14:33:59 GMT -5
Bad craziness right now, folks. I go to reply to something and I just happen to look up at the advertisements (totally useless, nobody looks at them unless they've got nothing better to do) and I notice the strangest thing they're trying to sell: I'm really not sure what it means when a Harry Potter fansite tries to sell me Hunter Thompson literature in all its Gonzo goodness. Does it mean I'm on the right bandwagon and you all need to hop on? Or is it just a coincidence? Very freaky.
|
|
|
Post by Jeffrey on May 13, 2004 20:21:28 GMT -5
Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72~ Hunter S. Thompson
What an awesome book. It easily ranks right up with Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Granted, it's more based on politics, the structure and what was happening with all the candidates through out the foul year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy two, but it's not all like that. Some of it's a bit hard to read without the background of the candidates and the underhanded tactics employed by Nixon and Humphrey, which is only to be expected. There are a lot of tangents taken in describing stuff that Hunter himself was doing while dogging the steps of McGovern or Muskie and other candidates (even Nixon in '68), like a good story about Nixon and Hunter talking football and Hunter bringing up an obscure pass an unknown made in a Superbowl and Nixon not only remembering the play, but the guy and where he went to college. It's soon followed by Hunter almost blowing Nixon and the rest of the contigent of people up by leaning over the gas tank of the plane they were leaning on with a lit cigarette in his mouth. Too funny. Featuring several guest appearances by the Doctor of Objectivity, Raoul Duke himself. If you are interested in the election of 72, or just appreciate Hunter's writing, you can't miss this book. Features lots of awesome art by Ralph Steadman.
|
|
|
Post by Jeffrey on May 27, 2004 23:09:42 GMT -5
Soon to come in order (I think): Kingdom of Fear (50 pages left), Hell's Angels (maybe) and Better Than Sex (have yet to start). With a bit of luck, I can read the Gonzo Papers in order so Better Than Sex may not be started for awhile. If this is the case, The Great Shark Hunt will probably be next. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, let it slide.
|
|
|
Post by Jeffrey on May 28, 2004 20:59:07 GMT -5
Time for the long awaited (though perhaps not as long awaited as Hell's Angels... whoops) addition of Kingdom of Fear. This is to be read in the middle of the night at highspeeds for the best results. There's no time to think too deeply on what you've read the first time through; that's not the spirit of this book. Hunter makes a point of saying he likes speed and lots of it, why not oblige? If you own this book, there's plenty of time to turn back and analyze to the heart's content, but the first should be read as prescribed. The moments in this book are exquisite from stealing Johnny's Porsche and identity for a day, getting arested at age 9 for pushing a mailbox into the middle of the road to (PETA, I didn't write this!) using a giant heard of sheep as speed bumps to go from 90 mph to a stop on an icy highway. A sort of biography with minimal politics (less thinking) and totally worth reading for the humor alone. Like going to Jack Nicholson's house in the middle of the night to deliver a present and getting pegged as an assassin. Whoops. Mahalo.
|
|
|
Post by Jeffrey on May 28, 2004 21:14:16 GMT -5
Oh yeah, and another thing worth mentioning, though not entirely book related, most definitely Hunter related: The Criterion Collection DVD version of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Mein Gott... it's fantastic! You've got your movie (which alone is a pretty good deal, just not for almost $40... *twitch*), and you've got 3 different commentary tracks (Terry Gilliam; Johnny Depp, Benecio Del Toro and Laila Nabulsi; and Hunter) on disc one. A lot? Not really, but we haven't gotten to the second disc. Storyboards (with a really freaky looking Duke), Steadman drawings from the original Rolling Stone printing, trailers and TV commercials ('This is not Jurassic Park, nor is it Godzilla...'), Oscar Zeta Acosta info, 2 documentaries: Hunter Goes to Hollywood (Hunter shows up on the set of F+L to shoot his scene and criticise the work) and Fear and Loathing on the Road to Hollywood (BBC follows Hunter and Ralph Steadman as they take a trip to Hollywood, includes lots of interviews (not to mention the one about rolling your ice in chlorophyll before drinking ;D)) and a booklet of Hunter's thoughts on the story. Is it worth it? Well, that depends on your devotion to the movie and/or the Good Doctor. You decide. For me? Definitely. Abso-friggen-lutely, Bubba.
|
|
|
Post by Jeffrey on May 31, 2004 15:32:28 GMT -5
Good news/Bad news time, peepshows. Good news: Started The Great Shark Hunt and I'm a little more than halfway through it. very interesting stuff. Bad news: Going to take me a little while to read it yet, it's one of those read a bit and really think about it. Good News: I've got 2 checks and another (late) gift certificate to B+N to splurge on the missing books if necessary. Bad News: My dad's paranoid of the area where B+N is so it may be awhile yet til I get there. Good News: I can drive there. Good News: The Once and Future King is DONE! FINITO! WOOHOO! Now I can devote my much valued time to the Gospel of the Good Doctor. ;D Bad News: Benicio's no longer directing The Rum Diary anymore and he may not even act in it! Another step backward for the production of the movie. *sob* Good News: (Must end on good news!) I made a really nifty handkerchief today and it's all psychedelic and tie die style and what's more, it's a hand-drawn (by me) pic of Hunter based loosely off Ralph Steadman's original drawing (the really famous one). I also helped a fellow Fear and Loathing movie fan create a shirt in a similar fashion that was a psychedelic bat with 'Buy the ticket, take the RIDE' on the back. The bat outline and RIDE were drawn by me with my mad Steadman skills. Pics coming soon, hopefully. They are so nifty! I'm never leaving home w/o my handkerchief again. I'm sure Hunter always aspired to be on someone's snot rag... Edit: We've got more good news that bad news! Woohoo! I'm still disappointed about The Rum Diary though...
|
|
|
Post by Jeffrey on Jun 15, 2004 18:03:15 GMT -5
Okay... no pics of the handkerchief because Photobucket's freaking right out and for some reason, my USB ports aren't working right now so I can't up load them anyway. However, how about some really droolworthy Hunter in San Juan pics? Mmm... yummy. *drool* Anyway, onward: The Great Shark Hunt, at 589 pages was Hunter's longest book (until Fear and Loathing in America in 2000). It's a collection of some of Hunter's earliest articles, 'essays' and features the birth of Gonzo journalism: 'The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved'. Perhaps the quintessential Thompson book (aside from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas o'course), in order to become familiar with his writing, ideas and the theme of the times, one must read this book. Features works about Oscar Acosta (the basis of Dr. Gonzo of Las Vegas), lots of stuff on Dick Nixon, some Jimmy Carter and a few chapters from different books he had published by then. If you're not into straight journalism and critiques of the 60's, this isn't the book for you. However, if you can keep an open mind about it, it is excellent and filled with thoughtful material. Not one of your standard 'blow it off in a week' books.
|
|
|
Post by Jeffrey on Jul 3, 2004 0:43:11 GMT -5
Oh gosh... I'm still floored by those lovely pictures... *swoon* Hey, Hell's Angels is DONE! Yay!
Hell's Angels is, as the title suggests, about the notorious biker gang out of California. As Hunter's first published novel, it dates back to the middle 60's and is his travels with the gang during that period. He shared a Memorial Day run up to Bass Lake with them, many a beer and questionable past time. With names like Terry the Tramp, Tiny, Magoo, etc. you know you've entered no man's land. This book is not only about the habits of the Angels, but how the media manipulated their image to that of bloodthirsty beasts. The Angels became weary of media and it was incredibly hard for Hunter to get close to these fiends. Yes friends, another must read from the Hunter arsenal. It's a slow read if you're not into the commentary of the times and want more play by play action, but it's a good mixture of both and one of the first (if not, THE first) Gonzo book ever published.
Sorry that book took so long. I could never read it in one shot. I really did like it, but I always got interrupted by other books or past times, you all know how it goes. Eng.
|
|