Experiencing the Fifties in America

       What interests me most about the novel so far is that it seems to be an honest snapshot of a period of time we have never experienced. Kerouac’s use of slang that is strange and foreign to members of our generation gives it a genuine nostalgia; I feel as if I miss a time that I never experienced. The brave spirit of traveling on one’s own, and the endless possibilities and ideas that are associated with the West makes the time period sound extremely inviting. Sal’s descibes Tim Gray’s apartment as “swank”, and mentions Dean and Carlo dancing like “dingledodies”. It is almost comical how differently people used to converse. 

       I particularly enjoy Kerouac’s descriptions of writers in the time period, and young men and women who want to be intellectual. Sal describes Roland Major sitting in his silk dressing down “composing his latest Hemingwayan short story” (p 36). It seems like a bright period; especially in contrast to Atlas Shrugged’s current tone of imminent doom. 

       I enjoy reading On the Road because I feel the characters are fresh and exciting; I am particularly curious about how Dean will continue to develop throughout the story. Will we learn to love him as Sal does? Or will we come to hate him?

       In a way, On the Road reminds me of The Catcher in the Rye, because it is so honest and unapologetically laid-back. Kerouac uses the language of the time, and describes his characters as they truly are, which allows the reader to feel as if he/she is authentically experiencing the time period.