Satori in Paris

Fairly disjointed novella that captures a drunken and drink damaged Kerouac on a ten day bender in France in 1965 (originally intended as a longer trip around Europe that he cuts short, because), a trip he takes to track down his roots, following a strange obsession with the history of his name. You feel a certain pity for a confused Kerouac as he wanders from bar to bar in Paris and Brest, visits a couple of libraries for info, misses airplanes and trains, can’t find hotel rooms and is often fearful of getting mugged, wandering in the rain. Nonetheless, there’s a certain Kerouac magic in some passages (getting drunk on the train, riding a cab across Paris), but you have to wade through some babble, some boring drunken disquisitions on the history of the name Kerouac and the sort of exhausting confusion of a middle aged alcoholic. Seemingly unintentionally, the book does a great job of capturing the tragedy of alcoholism.

I'd forgotten about this little book for a long time so was delighted to be reminded and to be able to buy it so easily and effortlessly and for a very good price. The service from the seller was excellent.

It arrived soon in perfect condition. I am totally satisfied with the sender and planning to ourchase more novels. M. V.

This is Kerouac's incredibly drunken account of his time in Paris as middle-age consumed him. It's a witty, amusing, and thoroughly irrelevant story, but it showcases his alcoholism in full flow. Satori (kick in the eye) In Paris has very little to do with Zen Buddhism (the cover picture is thoroughly inappropriate) and is all about his inebriated trivails around Paris attempting to piece together some family history. He engages with locals rather unsuccessfully, marvels at the Parisian lifestyle, and provides a very entertaining piece of writing.This isn't for anyone new to the writer; purchase On The Road or Dharma Bums before coming to this. Big Sur is also a vital read to show his terrible suffering at the hands of his drinking problem. Once you're done there then Satori is a funny little aside in the life of a great, and ever endearing, writer.

Great read!