Go: A Novel

"Go" is a portrait of the post WWII beginnings of what became known as the Beat Movement in America complete with real first hand descriptions of the central founding characters, Alan Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, Neil Cassidy, and the author himself who lived, laughed, and gave us his account of how it was in those early days. Something new and exciting was being born in American society and culture in the fifties New York and elsewhere and we have John Clellon Holmes to thank for giving us this fine portrait of how it really was in those early days.

"Go" is an account of the days of a bygone generation of writers: The Beat Generation. The motives, both internal and external, of these young men and women are detailed on the page, and in such close detail. Besides being an interesting read, getting a look at some influential writers at their peak and in their element is worth the read.

The first novel of the Beats is an interesting one as John Clellon Holmes (using his alias as Paul Hobbes) gives one an insight on the Beats by someone more on the fringe of the Kerouac/Ginsberg/Cassady troika and thus giving more of an objective look than Kerouac who by reason of his centrality to the Beat generation gave more of a subjective view in On the Road or The Dharma Bums.

Well, folks, if you have read Burroughs or Kerouac you will probably find this somewhat illuminating as it fictionalizes the early days of the beat generation. That said, the writing varies quite a bit: from the cliche to some quite perceptive descriptions of the milieu of the Beat generation lifestyle, along with some judgmental moments that are charmingly naive. Hey, it was his first book, at age 22, so considering that alone, it is an impressive effort. However, it is tough going sometimes; just seems a bit melodramatic and overwrought. I had to work to get through it because so many things seem incredibly tame in light of the drug revolution of the 60s and today's drug crisis. But a piece of history

I didn't know how dated a novel about the beat generation would be, but I find that human relationships really haven't evolved much, and this writer knows how to dig deep.

If you read and enjoy Kerouac and Ginsberg, this book tells the story from a different perspective with some very powerful writing. Just like Kerouac, Holmes has a lot of those moments where you just have to stop and bask in the glow of the writing every so often.

This was a good philosophical novel on the beat generation. This was not a required read for the college course but was a good read.

At the moment of writing I have not finished John Clellon Holmes' novel yet. My reason for writing a review now is not to discuss the book (which seems to be quite eloquent and insightful thus far), but to warn potential buyers about the e-book. The Kindle version is horribly peppered with mistakes. It would seem that whoever scanned and uploaded the novel only wanted to make a quick buck. It has obviously not been checked for word/letter-recognition errors.The price for the digital version is more expensive than the paperback, and yet this mess would never have been scraped off on the boot of a second hand bookshop. I have only reached chapter six and have already encountered many obvious "typing" mistakes. The most ridiculous is an unintelligible fragment of a sentence shoved between two paragraphs. I sure hope it's not the remnant of a chapter the "editor" missed.Perhaps I should include my resume with this review. I'll be glad to clean up this mess if you can't do it, Amazon/Penguin.

'Go' is an autobiographical study: an honest and open account of a failing marital relationship between an unpublished bohemian author and his more conventional and career-minded wife. On this level it is well-written and perceptive, but doesn't say anything particularly original or interesting. The real value of this novel lies in its setting and its supporting cast of secondary characters. In the Manhattan of the late 1940s, Holmes was a member of a socially disaffected group of pot-smoking misfits who formed a nucleus that progressively expanded into the Beatnik subculture. Thinly-disguised versions of the core literary trio of Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and William Burroughs can easily be recognised, along with Neal Casady, their priapic and sociopathic muse. Numerous minor players on the scene are also depicted, taking part in a variety of tragi-comic episodes many of which would also appear in the literary output of the big three. This book is essential reading for anyone who is interested in the development of the post-war counterculture that would eventually become mainstream.

I was curious about Holmes and I bought this to have a look. I know John published this before Jack Kerouac published ROAD but I feel this was a weaker version of that book Jack never took it personal and always maintained friendship with Holmes so this is a part of that past---The Beat scene---for me it isn't a must read but I have read it. Form your own opinion, this didn't light fires for me.

Great book! Arrived promptly and in excellent condition

Reçu rapidement, beau livre qui nous montre le côté plus "sobre" des beatniks, un peu de mal à être tenu en haleine mais c'est le style