Question Jack Kerouac and William S Burroughs

[ChemicallyEnhanced]

I have the same question about both of them: are you supposed to read their books in a certain order, or is it better to? Amazon and Goodreads seem to suggest (for each author, separately) that many of their books are somewhat connected and should ideally be read in a particular order?

Can anyone help me with this? Is it correct? Even if it doesn't THAT much, I'd still prefer to read them in the intended or ideal order??

So far, of Jack Kerouac, I have just read On the Road and then Doctor Sax.

So far, of Burroughs, I have read: Junky and then Queer (Queer definitely being a direct sequel to Junky) and am currently reading Naked Lunch.

 

[deficiT]

Not as familiar with Burroughs work, but I really don't think Kerouac's work needs to be read in order. They are all fairly self contained stories. I mean they relate, as in they're about a lot of the same characters and they're all semi autobiographical, but I don't think one needs to read them in any chronological order.

 

[neversickanymore]

Thoughts as far as you have read?.. id would just roll Kerouac first.

 

[deficiT]

Thoughts as far as you have read?.. id would just roll Kerouac first.

I've only read Borroughs quotes and things, I'm a Kerouac guy through and through, probably my favorite author, if ya couldn't tell. Captures the essence of threading the needle between the American spirit and the American underworld like many others have failed to do.

 

[deficiT]

From Kerouac I have read On the road, Big sur, some of the subterraneans and currently reading Dharma bums, albeit slowly. Idk the Borroughs killing his wife thing kinda leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Although Kerouac was also involved in the cover up of a murder, as documnted in "the hippos boiled in their tanks" or whatever it's called, But I think all that happened was his friend killed someone in self defense and he helped him out somehow, haven't read much into.

This is coming from a staunch socialist, of which Kerouac was very much an anti-communist, so that should tell you how much I care for his words, he really had a way with them.

 

[deficiT]

Also older but I'm a massive John Keats fan. Ode to a Nightingale is my all time favorite poem, almost elicits tears every time.

 

[simstim]

The only Kerouac book I have read is the one that he and Burroughs wrote together: And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks.

It's pretty good. They took turns writing alternate chapters in the book. It's good because you get the story from both their perspectives.