Hunter S. Thompson's first attempt at a novel based upon his life experience living on the island of
Puerto Rico in the 50s while working for various rags like the
San Juan Star. It is heavily laced with subtle references to
The Great Gatsby, a novel which Hunter typed over himself many times in order to get a feel for what it felt like to write such great words.
Lost in obscurity for year and years, it eventually reached published form finally in the last few years of the 20th century.
I prefer my
paperback version over the
hardcover. Easier to fit in my
backpack.
The story itself follows
Paul Kemp through numerous misadventures as a journalist working for a dying American-language newspaper in Puerto Rico during its boom of the late 50s. Many of the characters in the book are both shades of
HST and his friends and the more times you read it, the more times you'll find some deeper meaning to relate to.
Far from the usual
gonzo journalism most people turn to the good doctor for, it's still a read worth its own weight -- especially considering how much
time and effort HST put into it.