The Curse of Lono
by Hunter S. Thompson
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 492)
Read in April, 2007
recommends it for:
Fans of H.S. Thompson and/or Ralph Steadman
I had seen this lying around the local Half-Price Books and snagged it with a coupon diminishing the hefty price tag. This is a gigantic book with huge beautiful prints by Steadman as well as the usual crazed drunken rambling of Thompson.
The whole thing is about a trip to Hawaii to cover the Honolulu Marathon that goes awry a la la Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and degenerates into a mescaline-fueled marlin hunt with a smattering of interesting pre-American Hawaiian history. The art is grea...more
The whole thing is about a trip to Hawaii to cover the Honolulu Marathon that goes awry a la la Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and degenerates into a mescaline-fueled marlin hunt with a smattering of interesting pre-American Hawaiian history. The art is grea...more
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Read in May, 1995
Aside from his SF Chronicle works from the 80s(Generation of Swine, etc.) I think this is as fun as HST gets. It is notable that HST is able to sprinkle/disperse accurate lessons on the history of Hawaii throughout his misadventures on the islands. I think it could be said this is typical of many of his works. A great mixture of comedy, history, and commentary on American society. Although, as a caveat I have to admit that the history part may not as prevalent as the comedy and commentary.
Al...more
Al...more
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This is the only Hunter S. Thompson I haven't read. Probably because it used to be extremely rare. A few years ago, the publisher released a limited 2000 copy edition of this, signed by Hunter and Ralph Steadman, for $400. Then, two months later, Hunter killed himself. And although I had pre-ordered a reserve copy from amazon, soon after I received a letter from them saying something along the lines of "sorry, but we just gave your book to someone else for more money." I got a fiv...more
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Read in August, 2007
A good friend of mine owns a copy... maybe second of third edition-- still cost him a fortune. We were talking recently about our love of the south pacific and plans for buying time share on the big island of hawaii or possibly kauai. He asks me if i've ever read Lono. I had read F&L in Las Vegas many moons ago and never went deeper into HST. So I located a copy of this sucker and enjoyed the ride tremdously. I just connected with the rambling, psychotic saga on many many levels. This acted ...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommended to Scott by:
It's Hunter Thompsonrecommends it for: PETA
When your helping babysit, and you find this on the shelf, read it. Turns out it is (or was) hard to get ahold of, and is still pretty expensive. This is a hard book to put down, and short enough that most people could finish it in one sitting. HST goes to Hawaii and does the type of things you expect him to do between insightful passages about the island and the U.S. in 1980; then he goes fishing. As good as Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, but the ugly streak runs deeper and will likely kee...more
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I think this is my fave HST book. Coupled with Steadman's delicious gonzo art, the writing and story really comes alive.
Its a crazy romp through Hawaii which no Thompson or Steadman fan should go without reading!
*If you're a fan of Steadmans art, as I am in a big way - look for a recently published version of Lono. Its a huge oversized hardback printed on high quality pages where Steadman's art really is given center stage. I keep it on display at all times!
Its a crazy romp through Hawaii which no Thompson or Steadman fan should go without reading!
*If you're a fan of Steadmans art, as I am in a big way - look for a recently published version of Lono. Its a huge oversized hardback printed on high quality pages where Steadman's art really is given center stage. I keep it on display at all times!
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Read in October, 2007
Part of a conversation about this book:
E: Just ate a sub-par dinner, reading Hunter S. Thompson, avoiding cleaning....I'm doing pretty good.
P: Fear and Loathing?
E: The Curse of Lono. Hawaii in the 80s, marathons, botched fishing excursions, mescaline.
P: Right up there with brown copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Exactly.
E: Just ate a sub-par dinner, reading Hunter S. Thompson, avoiding cleaning....I'm doing pretty good.
P: Fear and Loathing?
E: The Curse of Lono. Hawaii in the 80s, marathons, botched fishing excursions, mescaline.
P: Right up there with brown copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Exactly.
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Read in January, 2001
A great HST book. It's mostly unknown because it did not have many copies made and distributed but it is a fun book to read if you can get your hands on a copy. Details Hunter's trip to Hawaii to cover a sporting event (sound familiar?) and he ends up on a serious drug trip and curses the island the entire time. Loved it!
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Read in January, 2008
Sort of like Fear and Loathing but set in Hawaii, and not nearly as good (but then again *nothing* can compare to Fear and Loathing). Thompson once again brings to life crazy and bizarre characters though and Steadman's drawings add to the feeling of insanity.
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OK, I love all the HST stuff. Well, some of the old political writings are a bit out of date for my tastes. The illustrations were magnificent.
I'm bummed he's gone. Where's the authors with balls these days!?
I'm bummed he's gone. Where's the authors with balls these days!?
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Beautiful, coffee-table sized book with gorgeous illustrations by Ralph Steadman. Ah, Gonzo... lovely irreverence. I can't wait to ship all of my books to my current digs. I'll be happier than a pig in ish.
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A bit slipshod, which is understandable, considering how it was written, but that doesn't make it any easier to enjoy. The few passages that come together, however, do so in spectacular style and force.
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Read in July, 2003
Whoa this book is weird. I tracked down a copy and bought it before I read it - I just knew this was a book I wanted to own.
Weird, weird, weird book. I f'n love it.
Weird, weird, weird book. I f'n love it.
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The adventures of HST with his cover artist Ralph Steadman covering the Honolulu marathon in the early 80's and getting themselves in all sorts of weird shenanigans.
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the best literary purchase i've made in quite awhile. steadman illustrations like no other, and hunter's text, to boot!
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Read in January, 1992
recommends it for:
Ralph Steadman fans
The illustrations are almost more disturbing than the text. Not quite as funny as the Las Vegas trip, but it's close.
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Read in July, 2005
Downloaded a copy because cannot find this book in print without special ordering. Good read but not his best...
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You get a great Hunter S. story in this one, plus museum quality Steadmans - the whole package is worth owning.
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
People interested in the History of Hawaii
Finally re-released. Beautiful Taschen edition. Decent, but HST is on the brink of caricature at this point.
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Hunter in my home state. My favorite, after F&L in Las Vegas, and for me more entertaining cover to cover.
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