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| Plot Summary of Junky |
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"William Burroughs writes about how he got introduced to drug use. He describes his time in New York City selling morphine and then using it. The story takes the reader through his thoughts and through his journey done to Mexico. He went to Mexico to avoid the law because he shot his wife. In Mexico, he lives a junkie lifestyle and discusses the damage drugs can have on the body. He also participates in homosexual sex. "
Kristy Pastore, Resident Scholar
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""Junky" by William S. Burroughs is a bleak take on heroin addicts during the 1940s-50s. The story tells how the main character, William Lee, goes from a middle-class existence in the Midwest to pushing/using drugs in New York City, from morphine to marijuana to cocaine to (mainly) heroin. The book discusses almost every aspect of a junkie's life, from obtaining their drugs, to using them, to avoiding the police, to "Junk Sickness" (withdrawal), to prison time for drug possession, to other vices a heroin junkie will engage in to get drugs (such as prostitution, sodomy, pawning heirlooms). Burroughs discusses most memorably throughout the book how heroin is not "a kick, or a means to increased enjoyment of life. It is a way of life"."
, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Junky |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Phys disability/mental struggle?
Yes
Struggle with
- drugs
Taboo Sex Story?
Yes
Kind of sex:
- gay guy
Period of greatest activity?
- 1900+
Subject of Biography
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- thief/con artist
- writer
Age:
- 20's-30's
Eccentric/Mental
Yes
Eccentric:
- eccentric
- emotionally unstable
- wild
Ethnicity
- White
Nationality
- American (!)
How sensitive is this person?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other people
Physique
- druggie/wino disease
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 3 (some)
The Americas (not US):
Yes
The Americas:
- Mexico
City?
Yes
City:
- New York
- New Orleans
Misc setting
- prison
- sewers/subways
Century:
- 1930's-1950's
Style
Person
- mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Book makes you feel?
- thoughtful
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- male homosexuals doing their thing
- vague references
- main character serviced by prostitute
Lot of foul language?
Yes
Commentary on society?
Yes
Commentary on
- justice system
- dying
Unusual Style:
- a lot of play on words
- a lot of flashback and forwards
Writer's slant towards subject:
- favorable
Story of entire life, or part?
- story of set of events during life
If this is a kid's book:
- Age 16-Adult
Autobiography?
Yes
Pictures/Illustrations?
- None
How much dialogue in bio?
- significantly more dialog than descript
A LOT of info about personal vices?
Yes
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life?
- 26-50% of book
How much is philosophy rather than life story?
- 0-25% of book
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Click here for more information about this book
William S. Burroughs Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
SCHOLARS: Kristy Pastore
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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