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Naked Lunch: The Restored Text

Questions About Naked Lunch: The Restored Text

by William S. Burroughs

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Answered Questions (11)

Am I the only one who hated this?
Nick Ross In response to Evan: I've heard people say the same of Joyce and Faulkner. Usually people who have short attention spans, closed minds, or no understa…moreIn response to Evan: I've heard people say the same of Joyce and Faulkner. Usually people who have short attention spans, closed minds, or no understanding of the text itself. If you aren't willing to read external material on Burroughs' literary styles, nor have any experience with the strain of modernism they were built upon (this is post-modernism after all), it's no wonder your experience was pointless. But the world (the literary world) revolves around more than just yourself and whether or not you are caught up to speed on the established innovations of the early 20th century, books are written in response to other books. Perhaps you haven't spent enough time at the forefront of style and have only exposed yourself to linear narratives with comfortably accessible narrative forms and are unable to note Burroughs' use of "cut-up" junky dialect; can't pick up on the fact that the plot is composed of sub-stories; that the book is opposed to chronology and linearity, mirroring Burroughs's own opiate-induced psychoses.
Each chapter is full of grotesque humor, political innuendo, and (albeit drugged) adventure. You just need to know what you're reading and who you are reading. (less)
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Has it been bowdlerized?
Buck The cover of the edition I'm reading says, "the restored text," so it may depend on which edition you have.…moreThe cover of the edition I'm reading says, "the restored text," so it may depend on which edition you have.(less)
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i'm starting to get into it, but i'm afraid i understand it due to it's non-linear nature? Anyone else feel the same way?
Johnny If you ask if people agree with you, the only people who will bother to respond are the people who agree with you.

Sure, somebody feels the same way. T…moreIf you ask if people agree with you, the only people who will bother to respond are the people who agree with you.

Sure, somebody feels the same way. That's a pretty low bar to set. Heck, even I have a mild dislike for non-linear timelines. Why confuse things during one's time of leisure?

But in any case, my point is that you should read it you want to, or don't read it if you don't. You'll find plenty of people to tell you they liked/disliked it, so asking isn't going to help, regrettably. And if you still have any doubts, there are hundreds of Reviews to take a look at.(less)
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Do you have to be under 21 to enjoy this book?
Johnny Absolutely. When I tried to buy it, they carded me and kicked me out because of my fake under-age ID. But hey, I guess I'll always have McDondald's Pl…moreAbsolutely. When I tried to buy it, they carded me and kicked me out because of my fake under-age ID. But hey, I guess I'll always have McDondald's PlayPlaces...(less)
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I'm a fan of Irvine Welsh. Would I like it?
Johnny Perhaps. Read it and find out. There are some abstract similarities to be found, but at the end of the day they are different authors. Heck, I'm sure …morePerhaps. Read it and find out. There are some abstract similarities to be found, but at the end of the day they are different authors. Heck, I'm sure you're not even a fan of all of Welsh's works.

Regrettably, no one is going to be able to tell you are going to like in advance. And arguably, the most refreshing works are those you thought you had no business liking in the first place.(less)
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