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The good doctor sees himself, the sub-title suggests, as an outlaw journalist. He certainly wants to resettle his country, and in many ways these 750 pages read as a "Dear John" from an estranged and bitterly spurned lover, the offending suitor being the American Dream. It's no coincidence that Gatsby, that symbol of its empty heart, is a recurrent reference. In fact, a book about the Death of the Dream was the white elephant that stalked these years, the Big Work that never happened. At least this volume contains much invention, not least of the self, and, if not always sober, then certainly incisive thinking, whether he's addressing fellow Gonzoid Ralph Steadman, Tom Wolfe or the Alaska Sleeping Bag Company. He claims his business is "defusing bombs and disarming landmines", a disingenuous reversal of how he often seems to be acting. An iconic reputation became his ball and chain, and he grew into a love/hate figure, particularly to himself, resembling an outrageous uncle at a family party. He was to become worshipped beyond his means, but for this period, while he huffed and puffed to blow Nixon's White House down, he remained a legend in his own overblown inkdom, something these letters vividly capture. --David Vincent --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Publishers Weekly
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
God of Gonzo!,
By
This review is from: Fear and Loathing in America: The Brutal Odyssey of an Outlaw Journalist (Paperback)
I have been strangely influenced by this man since first picking up _Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas_ in my early teens. I grew up sheltered as a farm boy, and HST introduced me in a very tangible way to the dark underbelly of Americana. By the time David Lynch's film came along, I was no longer shocked by the whole rotten, weird world they portrayed. _Hell's Angels_ is a brilliant piece of documentary book writing and sociology as well as incisive commentary about our culture. HST, despite his rampant debauchery and drug use, is one of the clearest political thinkers out there. He was right about Vietnam before anyone listened. He was on to Nixon and his crooked cronies long before anyone cared. I have yearned in these strange and treacherous times for more clear criticism, for some explanation, for some straight-talking about the sick and twisted nest of snakes that's holed-up in Washington now... but, pending that, this book will do nicely.HST's correspondence shows the near-manic nature of his affair with written words. This collection gives us a picture of how he tosses off notes to friends and enemies alike, bantering, raving, ranting mainly to himself as a part of the process of sorting out his works-in-progress. Reading this has made me mindful of the value of correspondence, and my relation to it. It is revelatory and insightful, fast-paced and fun. I recommend this to any HST fan who wants to learn more about the vague personality we seem to have only so far caught glimpses of through his collected works.
4.0 out of 5 stars
I again can not think of a title,
By Vincent "Somethings could be better if we all... (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Fear and Loathing in America: The Brutal Odyssey of an Outlaw Journalist (Paperback)
Fear and Loathing in America is mainly for hardcore fans or people who after reading Fear and loathing in Las Vegas wanted to know what Thompson is really like and if all the strange myths and terrible legends they heard about Thompson are true or not, I myself am a big fan of Thompson and I enjoy this book quite a lot, I did not like it at the beginning, for two months is stood their on my bookshelf and one day, I gave it another go and I loved it, I was so surprised at how much I liked it, these days, I pick it up to a random page and read it. Long live Dr. Thompson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Some of the funniest reading ever...,
By Christian Hunter "Christian Hunter" (Austin, Texas Santa Barbara, California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Fear and Loathing in America: The Brutal Odyssey of an Outlaw Journalist (Paperback)
...'course you'll have to work for it. This is a massive book that in my opinion isn't meant to be plowed through, but rather enjoyed from time to time. A complition of his letters written over a decade or so (during his rise from a relatively obscure journalist/writer to cult hero) most every letter is interesting in one way or another, some are so funny that you'll be laughing about them for days. HST's humor is unmatched in my opinion by any writer I've read. This book is an extraordinarily private, very insightful, often hilarious glimpse into one of America's most interesting social figures. Enjoy...
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