The Sea Is My Brother: The Lost Novel

by Jack Kerouac

Hardcover, 2012

Status

Available

Call number

2.kerouac

Genres

Fiction

Collection

BEAT GENERATION

Publication

Da Capo Press (2012), Editie: Reprint, Hardcover, 240 pagina's

User reviews

LibraryThing member miyurose

I’ve never read any Kerouac, so when this book was chosen for my book club I decided to give it a go.

I thought it was an interesting story, if a bit aimless. Its main purpose seems to be an exploration of two aspects of Kerouac’s own personality — the responsible, academic side, and the

nomadic free spirit that’s more evident in his later works. Each aspect is depicted as a different character. There is also a lot of rhetoric surrounding communism and fascism and the Spanish Civil War. Those are the parts of the book that didn’t really appeal to me. I’m not a fan of reading long-winded conversations and/or monologues regarding people’s personal philosophies.

Having never read Kerouac before, I had no frame of reference when it came to his writing style. However, according to others in the club who have read his works, this one isn’t as well written as his later work, though you can see the beginnings of his style.

I’m generally of the opinion that “lost” works were probably lost for a reason. But, if you are a fan of Kerouac, I think there’s enough here to keep your interest. Otherwise, you may want to start with one of his more known works.

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LibraryThing member ChrisNewton

Might not be for everybody but I enjoyed the hell out of it. Kerouac's first novel, written at age 21. His style hasn't developed yet, but it's Jack in there - the same kind of male friends, same confusion about women, same drinking too much, same wildness, same raffish charm. It's great to be in

his company again -- if you're the kind of person who likes to be in K's company.

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LibraryThing member Stahl-Ricco

I love Kerouac, so I was excited to read this, his first book. Well, I liked it enough. I enjoyed the action, especially the recklessness with which the characters behaved and lived. The philosophizing and long diatribes about certain beliefs felt heavy to me, and a bit boring. Still, I'm glad I

read it and could see the seeds of what would come from him!

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LibraryThing member joefreiburger

I picked this up simply because it was Kerouac's first novel. I knew that he wasn't fond of it but I have enjoyed his previous books and there is some similarity in this one with the others. It is written in the typical Kerouac style, a man searching for his peace and his place in the world. The

main character, Wesley Martin, is a wanderer. A man that, on the surface, appears to be a free spirited vagabond without a care in the world and tales of booze, music, and women. However, the story then begins to unload a deeper pain to Wesley as he brings along a new found friend, you see that the wandering has more to do with a longing for a place of peace and belonging.

The ending is somewhat abrupt, but this is a typical Kerouac novel. If you have enjoyed the author's previous works, you will enjoy The Sea is My Brother.

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LibraryThing member JBreedlove

If you like Kerouac you'll like this book. Jack's formative years from High School and college and early war years. Focused on being a writer early you can see the development of his style and life through the group of his HS friends, esp. Seb whose leters, most very whiney, make up the second half

of the book. Also a look at the pressures on mobilized troops going to war. We never think but his comments about the bad stateside conditions and the high number of suicides was a surprise. This is never mentioned about the greatest generation.

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