This is the book that I was reading when I started this blog. One line that caught my attention was on p.123. It says, "Of course world travel isn't as good as it seems, it's only after you've come back from all the heat and horror that you forget to get bugged and remember the weird scenes you saw." Hmmm.....I really don't agree with this at all. First of all, it seems like he doesn't like traveling, like maybe he's only doing it to write about it. Second of all, I don't understand what he means 'forget to get bugged'. Anyway.....Why don't I agree? Because I think world travel is as good as it seems. Yeah I guess you can be miserable sometimes while you're traveling if it is hot and horrible. But then, if heat and horror aren't for you, go somewhere that is for you. Duh. Traveling is the best. I wish I could go everywhere and see everything the world has to offer. That is another blog I would love to write if only I had the funds to go everywhere and see everything I want. (If anyone wants to fund me on such an adventure, I would gladly take you up on the offer.) But still, I have been really lucky to travel as much as I have so far. I say so far because I plan to keep traveling when and where possible...just gotta get out of debt first. Even before I moved to Scotland, giving me closer access to the rest of the world, I was lucky enough to travel to several countries (Canada, Germany, Spain, South Africa and Namibia) and I was able to travel and live extensively throughout the USA. I have traveled to many states and driven across country a few times. And I have lived in 7 different states (CT, NY, ME, TX, MA, ND, CO). Now that I live closer to continental Europe I have closer access to many of the places I do want to go. And although I haven't traveled nearly as much as I would have liked to by now, I have been to some cool places. I have traveled to Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, England, Norway and Sweden. I have seen so many cool things in these places and even when it was blazing hot and I got a horrible sunburn in Sweden, I still loved every minute of it. In fact, Sweden has been my favorite so far and I want to go back and visit more of it and live there too. You see, even when you are uncomfortable and feeling a bit miserable, you do remember how lucky you are to experience these things and see the things that you always wanted to. Unless you're traveling just to say you've traveled or so that you can write a book about it to make money (Bill Bryson), then my guess is that you'll probably enjoy yourself no matter what. And if you can't find ANYTHING on your trip to make yourself happy, then you need to give me that plane ticket and I'll write a book about it for you.
Second reason why I don't agree with Kerouac's quote on p.123: I think the opposite about 'remembering' things from my trip. As I've already established, I DO enjoy the trip while I am on it. But when I come back home from my trips, it is right back to reality. I guess Kerouac would remember his trip more when he came back because he had to write about it. But for me, although I do of course remember my trips after returning home, I have other things to do and think about and I can no longer wallow in that moment as I wish to do. On my most recent trip to Norway and Sweden, I was traveling for a week. In that week I was almost removed from my own reality. Of course I was in the real world and even had contact with friends and did realistic things. But I did not have one stressful experience relating to work. I was able to do the things I wanted and enjoy them. I didn't have to worry about going into work or paying my bills - I was removed from that reality for the time being - what traveling and taking holidays is all about for me. Which is why I want to travel all the time! So who's gonna pay me to do it?
not that i know from experience, but i have heard that people who have to travel for work, do not enjoy it all that much. deadlines, waiting lines, timelines, all add to their stress. as for me ? i'm with you ! if i could travel as much as possible, that would be great. to get paid for it . . . extra bonus.
ReplyDeleteI adored his worrd wearly wanderings and bleaking love of travel joys. To me, subjective acknowledged, he overstands; he's painfully aware, at all moments, unless utterly high/sodden of the futility, beauty and emptiness. His observations of wonderful, affirmative and wanderless travel, are complete, for him. Same same but different is the phrase that comes to mind.
ReplyDeleteMY VIEW IS THAT kerouac would have never watched tv, and struggled with the radio. He wanted souls, and even with a plethora of opportunities couldn't escape his own circle of thought, passion, escapism, fail, terror, escapism, write, drink, fuck, sleep - repeat. so wrote.
I'd say pretty honest.
Great points!!
DeleteI was just thinking, in On the Road, he seemed much more happy and to love the travel. By he time Lonesome Traveller came out, he seems totally burned out. That said, I am not sure if his adventures in Lonesome Traveller occurred before or after the events of On the Road.
Sounds like myself a bit, to be honest. Kerouac was definitely the hero of my youth and the reason my passion for travel was realised.
Thanks for the comments!!
Lonesome travel is significantly after 'on the road'. he creates a cormorant of a literary signpost, with a clear wish, that all his books should've had the same character names to make it absolutely clear he intended all works to be autobiographical.
Deletethere lies for me a satori sadness in his work, a knowing silence and futility, describing only what he saw, often longing and refering to the freedom and free wandering thought with neil cassady in youth.
Right, it was published 3 years later, but do you know if the events were before or after/simultaneous...i don't remember that/know of it was mentioned in Lonesome Traveller...I'll maybe google that
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