'Visions of Cody' by Jack Kerouac is a novel that delves into the friendship between Kerouac and his best friend, Neal Cassady, known as Cody in the book. The writing style is described as unique and experimental, reflecting Kerouac's personal manner of expression. The book captures moments of deep introspection, drug-induced ramblings, and conversations between the characters, providing a glimpse into the Beat generation mythology and the jazz-influenced writing style of Kerouac.

Characters:

The characters, particularly Kerouac and Cassady, are portrayed through their deep friendship, but their conversations can be seen as tedious and disconnected.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by a mix of impressionistic passages and experimental jazz-like rhythm, often resulting in a challenging reading experience.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features the complex dynamic of friendship and introspection, intertwined with dense literary explorations and a controversial, long transcript of conversation.

Setting:

The setting captures New York City and the broader cultural landscape of the Beat Generation, resonating with themes of exploration.

Pacing:

Pacing begins promisingly but slows significantly in the middle with lengthy transcripts, before recovering somewhat towards the conclusion.

THIS IS AN OLD DINER like the ones Cody and his father ate in, long ago, with that oldfashioned railroad car ceiling and sliding doors—the board where bread is cut is worn down fine as if with bread d...

Notes:

Visions of Cody was published posthumously in 1972 after Kerouac's death in 1969.

Jack Kerouac's friendship with Neal Cassady (Cody) was very deep; he expressed his love for him in letters.

The novel contains a 130-page transcript of Kerouac and Cassady's conversations while high on marijuana.

Allen Ginsberg provided notes on the book, describing its unique features in six compelling points.

Kerouac wrote five drafts of On the Road, with Visions of Cody being the fifth draft where similarities can be found.

The writing style in Visions of Cody is experimental and sometimes dense, leading to mixed reviews from readers.

Many readers found the middle section of the book, described as 'gibberish', tedious and hard to get through.

The book includes taped conversations between Kerouac and Cassady, which some readers found to detract from the narrative.

Some reviewers recommend having a copy of On the Road for comparative study alongside Visions of Cody.

Despite the mixed reviews, readers find parts of the book, especially at the beginning and end, to be valuable and insightful.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains high triggers and content warnings related to substance abuse, mental health issues, and themes of existential crisis.

From The Publisher:

"What I'm beginning to discover now is something beyond the novel and beyond the arbitrary confines of the story. . . . I'm making myself seek to find the wild form, that can grow with my wild heart .

. . because now I know MY HEART DOES GROW." -Jack Kerouac, in a letter to John Clellon Holmes

An underground legend by the time it was finally published in 1972, Visions of Cody captures the members of the Beat Generation in the years before any label had been affixed to them, with Kerouac's trademark appreciation for the ecstatic and ephemeral moments of life

An experimental novel which remained unpublished for years, Visions of Cody is Kerouac's fascinating examination of his own New York life, in a collection of colourful stream-of-consciousness essays.

Transcribing taped conversations between members of their group as they took drugs and drank, this book reveals an intimate portrait of people caught up in destructive relationships with substances, and one another. Always transfixed by Neal Cassady-the Cody of the title, renamed for the book along with Allen Ginsberg and William Burroughs-Kerouac also explores the feelings he had for a man who would inspire much of his work.

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Visions of Cody

Jack Kerouac