Junky: The Definitive Text of "Junk"

Rating:
Summary: Powerful and scary
Review: "Junky" is a look at William S. Burrough's heroin addiction. Its a simple but powerful book that you should read if you want a raw un-bias look at drug addiction. Burroughs basically states to the reader that heroin addiction is not a "kick" but a way of life. This book neither condemns nor gloriufes the junkie or its drug. I won't say "Read this book to see why drugs are bad" but If you are thinking of the choice or want to know more about the real facts you should read this book. I actually learn alot of facts that I could use If I were ever in a bad situation. This book is much more educational than all the D.A.R.E. rubbish in school that just look at drugs in a light tone therefore giving kids nothing to fear. I can't say drugs are bad or good because its up to the personal indiviual to choose for himself. Burroghs traps the reader into a world of madness and no sleep and forces the reader to look at what he doesn't want to. However I gave this star one less because I thought the ending was weak and flat. However this still is a great book to read( and its short)but make sure you also read "The Naked Lunch".

Rating:
Summary: Flunky.
Review: I read Junky over the course of two days and I cant say it was a complete waste of time, but i'm no better for the experience. "Junky" is a narrow, flat, and ego-centric account of a creepy man and his pathetic heroin addiction. I did appreciate Burrough's moral ambiguity, but thats easy to achieve. If I wanted a to learn a slew of outdated heroine slang I would of ordered a chicken fried steak at Denny's. Whatever that means.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Few Accurate, Honest Depictions of Addiction
Review: As a recovering addict myself, I was blown away by Burrough's brutally realistic depiction of drug addiction as shown in this novel. Many others have tried to recreate the pain and horror of full-blown addiction, but none have come even close to the accuracy of Burrough's novel. A must for any fan of Burroughs or his fellow Beats; a must for the recovering addict.

Rating:
Summary: Trainspotting, eat your heart out!
Review: To those of you who say that Burroughs is juvenile and disgusting, I say: read this book! It's frank and, at times, ugly - but hey! That's life. A truly thought-provoking read - definitely one of the greatest books ever, from one of the best and most sorely missed authors.

Rating:
Summary: If you haven't read this book, you haven't read at all....
Review: A taste of self destruction....William S. Burrough's greatest book ever. A hard look into the life of an opiate addict based on the life of the author itself. It should be praised for it's realism and honesty, as it was written in a time when drugs should not have exsisted. Burroughs tells it all, and tells it like it is. Junky paints the sad life of a Junky perfectly, and still manages to throw in the classic black humor that made Burroughs famous. This is one book everyone should read, own, and reread....

Rating:
Summary: A Shocker for the Fifties:Middle-Class Whites Addicted to H!
Review: Burroughs must be Commended for Writing this book when he did - the Fifies! I grew up during this era, and back then we all assumed that everyone lived life like "The Leave It to Beaver" show. From the very first lines of this book Burroughs tells us he came from a wealthy midwestern home - and, horrors, became a heroin addict! The book reveals great details of what life was like: carefully rolling drunks in the subways for wallets with another junkie pal, going from kicking heroin to getting drunk day and night, and staying away from "pigeons", other addicts who would squeal to the cops. This was probably the first book to take off the wraps concerning the day-to-day life of heroin addicts. The style is dated, and at times it bogs down in its repetitiveness, but we should take our hats off to him for writing about exactly how life was for him. Sometimes even wealthy, white men on trust funds end up badly hooked.

Rating:
Summary: junky not junkie
Review: I read this book at least two years ago and it opened my eyes to things I did not even know existed. I was only 16 and had read other stories of drug addiction, but nothing touched me like this story. The story is such a sad tale and tells you of what weak persons we are - all of us! To me, it is something everyone should read. It gives you a better understanding of drug addicts and why they do things they do. Before reading this book, I had a very low opinion of addicts and could never understand why they did the things they did. Having known one or two didn't help me as much as the book did. Stealing, suffering, and sordid sexual encounters are just a few of the things these people encounter on their hard journey through life. I would recommend this book to everyone!

Rating:
Summary: Better than Junk
Review: Some people need to get there kicks by thinking that life is exciting for them. Well if you are afraid to try the real life, this is the best way to dive in (no fuss, no fuzz).

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully accurate description of Heroin addiction
Review: Burroughs bears his soul in this semi-autobiographical descripton of heroin addiction. While the story is fictionalized, the reader gets the point of the pendulam-like life story of the author. I love this book and have read it several times since the initial opening of the cover. I would say that this is one of Burroughs's finest works. A must read if you are interested in the Beat Generation whatsoever.

Rating:
Summary: the reason people read books
Review: This book will take you right to a real world you've never seen & couldn't even imagine...a complete world of lowlifes hidden(in plain view) just below the surface of the 40's & 50's.Stealing overcoats from cafeterias in beat-down postwar New York...Burrough's writing here is lean,compelling and propulsive-too bad he didn't continue in this vein...Written with such credibility and authenticity that you KNOW that's what it was really like.