Customer Reviews

Hunter The Strange and Savage Life of Hunter S. Thompson

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Since E. Jean Carroll's biography is rated the worst of available biographies, things are looking very good for my study of the gonzo master. Her fictional accounts of meeting with Hunter are funny and strange much like the events of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Perhaps more interesting to Thompson's fans are the quotes from his friends and colleagues that fill the pages up. Sit back, make yourself a dozen Bloody Marys and have a few laughs. I'm very excited about reading the "superior" biographies after enjoying this one so much.

Anyone who enjoys Hunter's wild scribblings about drugs, politics, and everything else that doesn't matter as much as drugs and politics will get a kick out of this book. As they say, imitation is the highest form of flattery. Thompson is well-flattered by this obscenely brilliant biography. Even if you disagree, you can still enjoy the magnifient cover of this book: he's wearing his trademark multicoloured jacket and holding a gun. A fitting tribute to the Good Doctor of Outlaw Journalism.

I read this book well before the internet came my way, and thus without the benefit of all these negative reviews. Wow, was that lucky! I LOVED this book! It is written in a bizarrely humorous fashion. It essentially mimics (if not mocks) Hunter's writing style,as well as Hunter's paradegenerate personality. It is almost completely fictional (as I recall), and yet it captures all kinds of fundamental truths about HST.

I read this as I was recovering from a surgery, and I would laugh so hard that I thought for sure I was going to rip stitches and spill guts. I later loaned the book out and never saw it again. Only today was I able to identify it again--I recognized the cover. I am totally dumbfounded by all the negative reviews; just goes to show there is no accounting for taste.

I guess if you go into a book expecting one thing and it turns out to be another, disappointment can emerge. So, go into this realizing it is a satire/parody of HST and it makes good-natured fun of him. HST is not a God, for goodness sakes, and the humor here captures the man's well recognized devious personality.

This is out of print, but if you can ever grab a copy, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU DO SO. This is indeed gonzo reading. I've read a high percentage of stuff by HST and about HST and this is one of the best!

I have to take issue with the other reviewer who called Carroll's attempt at a bio on the un-dooable 'trite'... bollocks.
Yes she tries to emulate her mentor, no it's not as good as Hunter himself. But, the blow by blow accounts arent what one would call lies, as that's what Hunter does best, politics aside. This is a fantastic little book of insights, many of the stories already exist in one form or another, and it's nice to have them in one little compendium. The real stories of his adventures far outweigh the stories told about him, anyway.

"E. Jean Carroll is the female answer to Hunter Thompson."
- David Quamman, 'The New York Times'

"Carroll's approach is novel .... it's gonzo biography."
- Indianapolis Star

"A hilarious version of Sade's 'Justine'... Echoes her wild subject well, while framing some serious interviews with drug dealers, politicians, childhood friends, and, notably, Thompson's ex-wife."
- San Francisco Chronicle Review

"Uproarious fun... Perhaps E. Jean Carroll's wacko-wanton biography is the only way to throw a net over the cavorting career of Doctor Thompson... Carroll... out-gonzos the master."
- Albuquerque Journal

"Crisply edited reminiscences of his friends... make the book as irresistable as 'Edie,' the bestselling oral bio of Andy Warhol's starlet, Ms. Sedgwick."
- Entertainment Weekly

"'Hunter' is to other biographies what the Harlem Globetrotters are to Athletes for Christ."
- Tom Robbins

"He should have been dead 20 years ago!"
- HST's Private Physician

I enjoyed reading about the good, bad and ugly aspects of Hunter's lifestyle. In the end I thought it was harshly honest. Much like the man himself. It didn't make him look good. But you don't want to see Hunter S. Thompson do anything acceptable. That would spoil the fun of it.

This book is as funny as Hunter Thompson at his best. E. Jean Carroll is a terrific writer, hilarious and unafraid. She obviously have had a blast writing this and she takes the reader along for her freewheelin' ride. I was transported by this book's gutsy, irreverent spirit.

My goodness what is this world coming too. This book simply is the greatest. After watching Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, I simply had to devour all information I could find on this amazing man, Hunter S. Thompson.

I am so pleased to have found this informative work of art on such a legendary American figure.

Thank you E. Jean! Please never stop authoring books, you are wonderful.

I just hope this book is re-released so others can enjoy it as much as I have.

E. Jean Carroll takes a twisted look at one of America's most Twisted men. She, through extensive research, in depth interviews, and personal experience with Thompson himself, is able to show just how odd this man's life is. A fresh way of writing a biography. The other two books that came out about him at the same time pale in comparison.

If you have the misfortune of reading this book do yourself a favor and skip the fictional chapters, they are total rubbish. If E Jean Carroll is "the female answer to Hunter Thompson" than I'm the Queen of England. Her awful attempt at copying Thompsons style comes across as sophmoric and trite. I too recomend Paul Perrys book over this one.

When Hunter's friends and colleagues are reminiscing about the great man, this book takes off. When it's left to the author to ape Hunter's style (complete with embarrassing confidences shared with YOU, dear Reader), relating plainly ficticious tales of wacky hi-jinks with the good doctor, it's tedious. All things considered, you'd be better off with 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' or 'The Great Shark Hunt'.