I think Hunter Thompson is the greatest writer ever. Sure a lot of authors write good stories and write them well, but no one can compare the style of Thompson.
I agree with you. I think he's a genius and not a lot of people understand the depth of his knowledge.
I haven't read any of his other works other than Fear and Loathing, but after reading it I don't really have any desire to pick of anything else by Thompson. I found it extremely disappointing. Although it was funny, I felt it lacked substance and had to force myself to finish it.
No he is not. He writes like a journalist, which he is... which disqualifies him from ever being a "good writer". He creates no stories, he bases all of his work on non-fiction. He is an amazing journalist, maybe one of the best... but as a writer, no, never.
Are you writer? journalism is writing, obviously. Being a writer doesn't mean writing fiction. I'm not like a psycho HST fan, but I do take literature very seriously, and some of the best written works of the english language are only half-fiction. Just like Fear and Loathing, it's half-fiction, half-reality, half-is this really happening? And the fact that you can't tell which vignettes land in which category is what makes him a masterful storyteller. You want substance? Dont read narratives about recreational drug use.
"Are you a writer", if you take literature so seriously, start off with proper grammar. All HST writes are narratives; which are indeed extremely entertaining. The writing in itself is in no way "good", when speaking of quality.
you sould check out his book on the hells angels. he rode with them for awhile as a writer, he eventually got stomped though
I like him, he's cool. The movie version of his book "Fear and Loathing Las Vegas" didn't really do him any justice. In fact, I think they mad a pile of rubbish out of it. I mean, I love Johhny Depp and all, but he made Hunter S. Thompson look idiotic somehow.
I quite enjoyed the movie Fear and Loathing, but the book was so much better. I tihnk they are making a movie of the rum diaries but I am not sure. I read and interveiw with him he said that fear and loathing should have been done more like a documentary.
Well for the guy who said fear and loathing lacked substance, do you even know waht the books about? If you look at it like its a movie about cars, acid and running crazy frauds on hotels you're not looking at it right. If you just read his work and say its some guy pissed off about something you're right. But their is a method to madness. He sees things as a lot of people don't and why people appreciate his work so much is because they recognize that he's right but they never saw it in that light. He talks about; the downward spiral of dumbness and so few other people realize what that really is that whats is doing to the world. I say if you don't like his works then read them and try to actually understand what he's talking about then you'll realize what you didn't see before.
I apologize for my oversight in missing an indefinite article, I sincerely hope I didn't offend anyone. The point is, I think if you make a sweeping generalization like journalism isn't writing, maybe you aren't the sultan of what is "good" quality. You're criteria seems to stem from some sort of snobbery, although the details thereof I'm quite sure I don't understand.
Journalism is writing. I know, I do it daily. I live by my writing. I have writing awards on my wall and I have the honor and responsibility of taking a person's story and telling it so others read it and feel something about what that person has done. Yes, I have The Great American Novel on this computer. I also have a how-to book in the works. HST really pushed the envelope on reporting. I remember a talk he gave where he told us to use a number like 73, rather than 70, when mentioning audience numbers "for the feel of reality." Great words for the master I-wasn't-there reporting. Still, I read him from time to time, and I use his stream of consciousness style (and turning things in at the deadline to keep it from being over-edited) in features. I want my readers to smell the manure when I'm writing about an animal sanctuary. this post was written to AP grammar and punctuation guidelines.
haha don't call me a snob just because I have a strong opinion on whose the greatest writer. You have you're favourite writer I have mine. This is a forum to discuss things not to call people names for saying certain things
God you people are anal!!! We all have different opinions and we are all entitled to them. If you're going to have a friendly debate then fine, but tacking personal insults to your opinion of a journalist is quite boring to read and takes up space. Take it personal if you want to fight. I'm sick of reading everyone's little snide comments to each other.
find the Denver Post from Nov.18 and read about the Aspen Sheriff in the lifestyles section. good comments about Hunter (who once ran for the job) Hell, I've had a drink at the Jerome!
Ok I will ammend . . . it depends on your definition of journalism. To me, the broad scope of journalism today is probably more fictional than ever, however, at the same time there are also brilliant new journalist's emerging into the progressive mainstream. Like Amy Goodman ( http://www.democracynow.org ) or Greg Palast ( http://www.gregpalast.com/ ) for example.
That part is pretty funny, but the book is way more then that. To me its about the downfall of the sixties. In one part he talks about how they felt that whatever they were doing it was right. Now a days everyone has to feel guilty for something. Rarely you meet people that are genuinly care free. I've met people who pretend to be care free because they think its cool. Everything is a style now and you can't generalize anything. Black and white does not exist their is always gray in the middle. Everything has been done so it makes everything else genetic. At my shcool we have preps, hippies, goths, punks, three rednecks and the rest are half preppy kids. 95% of them joined one of these "groups" by dressing a certain way and liking certain things. It pisses me off damn people say they like certain bands but they don't even understand what the god damn songs mean or even talk about it, its just cool to them. Fuck everything has been raped and violated to the most extreme amounts, everyone is persecuted for everything they do. It's a strange world we live in and I don't understand how people live like this not noticing that their life is a trend.
