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You'll Be Okay: My Life with Jack Kerouac
“You have a unique viewpoint from which to write about Jack as no one else has or could write. I feel very deeply that this book must be written. And no one else, I repeat, can write it.”—William S. BurroughsEdie Parker was eighteen years old when she met Jack Kerouac at Columbia University in 1940. A young socialite from Grosse Pointe, Michigan, she had come to New York t...more
Paperback, 200 pages
Published
September 1st 2007
by City Lights Publishers
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The writing is rather clunky and amateurish, but Edie has the really unique perspective of being married to Jack Kerouac before he gained notoriety as a writer. Their romance in WWII era New York City while Kerouac was a student at Columbia evokes a lovely nostalgia and although its obvious that Edie perhaps remembers things with "rose-colored glasses", I still found myself caught up in their romance. It was also interesting to hear about Jack's life pre-"On the Road" and to ...more
This has all the makings of a great book. The story of Kerouac, Burroughs, Ginsberg et al. during their early days at Columbia; the backdrop of World War II; a socialite from Gross Pointe who was there at the beginning; and even a homosexual love triangle of sorts, resulting in a scandalous murder. Really engrossing stuff.
Unfortunately, the creation of this book was mainly in the hands of said socialite, and she is not a writer. The writing is pedestrian and contains a lot of pointle...more
Unfortunately, the creation of this book was mainly in the hands of said socialite, and she is not a writer. The writing is pedestrian and contains a lot of pointle...more
Edie Kerouac-Parker was married to Jack Kerouac from 1944-1946. Her memoir focuses on their time together in New York during World War II when he was a longshoreman and she worked as a riveter. They were actually married in prison when Jack was being held for his involvement in the Lucien Carr case.(Whose son, Caleb Carr wrote The Alienist) They were married so that Edie could get an advance on her inheritance to get Jack out, how romantic. They were only together a short time after being marrie...more
When On the Road was published in 1957, America was exposed to prolific beauty within the riveting tale. This tale of life, throughout its triumphs and tragedies, left the nation both inspired and bewildered. However, as with any tale, the story has many parts. You'll Be Okay is a heart-warming, eccentric tale of Edie Kerouac Parker's life with the legendary Jack Kerouac.
I could have done a little less with what Edie wore while she was at Columbia and welcomed a little more of what she thought.
All in all, this was an original take on that period in time. I really do think she tricked Kerouac into marrying her. It was interesting to learn more about the Lucien situation.
All in all, this was an original take on that period in time. I really do think she tricked Kerouac into marrying her. It was interesting to learn more about the Lucien situation.
Edie Kerouac-Parker tells the story of her brief marriage to jack. These were very intelligent, yet troubled people. Jack's writing is great, but his life was a tragedy. Where would literature be without alcoholism and self-destruction?
it's cool to hear what kerouac was like, and to hear the other side of all his stories. it's gives you a whole new perception of kerouac.
The Memoirs of Jack's first wife. A really great look into pre On the Road Jack.
Laura Falby
added it
This is a great way to learn about a famous person. By what his former wife says about him.
An okay account of the Columbia and Greenwich days before they were the published, famous, murderous, alcoholic, cosmic deadbeats I also fell in love with. Found myself wishing, as ever, that the womens weren't always cast as the salon, setting or muse but in her candid way Edie grew up to be a writer too.
I read "On The Road" back in college, but I don't remember ever reading about his wife. So, I thought this might shed some light on their relationship. It was good but not very entertaining.
Good intimate look at sweet Jack from the early days...a good snapshot of NYC beat life during WWII.
DNF. I was so excited to read this, but the writing was so terrible I could not get into it at all.
Michael
added it
Interesting information on life during WWII for rich kids in NYC.
it was ok. nothing particularly new or interesting.
i stumbled upon this while looking to replace my copy of On the Road. always interesting to read another person's perspective and experiences, especially from a woman's voice. could've used something more though, but not a bad read
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