On the Road

Jack Kerouac‘s On the Road is travel writing as it should be. It is a vivid description of interesting personalities partaking in bizarre adventures that cause them to criss cross the United States for no other reason than to be somewhere else, to experience life in a different place. And that, in my opinion, is exactly why traveling should be done.

Early on in my reading the idea crossed my mind that this is quite a simply written story and one that anyone could really do. But, then I recalled all of the times I’ve heard people tell me they can’t appreciate an artist like Jackson Pollock since what he does is something that their child could do just as easily. And as someone who appreciates fine art, I had to take a moment to chuckle at my naivete for thinking such a thing about this story.

I marveled at Kerouac’s writing and loved the turn of every page. He paints such a clear picture that I almost felt as though I was along for the ride. I felt as though I bounced along with he and his friends on their adventures through New York, Denver, San Francisco and the rest of the United States, and part of Mexico.

Honestly though, I didn’t particularly care for the story itself. The idea of hitchhiking across the country never appealed to me, nor did the culture that Kerouac was a part of. But that’s what makes this book so special; I was enthralled with a story that I wasn’t overly interested in because the writing was just that good.

On the Road is a beautifully written book that can cross generations. It is a story that I can’t recommend enough for anyone interested in traveling or, if nothing else, a bizarre story. It is a much for any traveler to have read and to keep on their home bookshelf for occasional reference. In my opinion, it defines why we should go.