I mean that with the utmost endearment.
I'm really sad that Hunter S. Thompson committed suicide.
I read Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas when I was about fifteen and it was probably the first book I ever read that made me laugh out loud until I could barely breathe. I couldn't even contain myself. The images that he was able to create with just a few words were priceless and I was compelled to read many passages out loud to family members who found them as hysterical as I did. To this day I will highly recommend that book as one of the funniest I've ever read. Of course it's only a fraction of his work, but will forever be a gen-x classic.
It's sad to think that someone who could write such outrageous comedic fiction would be so tortured, but that seems to be the way that it often is. Those who are the most skilled at making others laugh have the hardest struggle when it comes around to their own happiness. But I can't help feeling angry at people who kill themselves. Apparently, HST had a back surgery that left him in persistent pain. I'm sure that had something to do with his desire to die, but I imagine it also had plenty to do with a feeling that he was done here, nothing left to give, not enough love left for the world to want to keep living in it.
He was a one of a kind. This uptight world needs more Hunter S. Thompsons. Scowl and all.
I think it's time to dive in to that copy of "Curse of Lono" that my friend Alexa loaned me.
RIP HST.
Posted by Maria at February 22, 2005 07:58 PM | TrackBackif you haven't read fear and loathing in america you need to. It was on super sale at powells two weeks ago, but I can't imagine it is going as cheap now.
Posted by: geeekgirl at February 22, 2005 11:27 PMThompson was so honest and wasn't afraid to tell anyone what he thought. It was a sad day when I woke up to the news of his death. I think that the world is a little darker as a result. Hopefully his death will inspire more journalists to take on his style of writing. I agree that the world needs more Hunter S. Thompsons, a bright honest opinion in a world so conformed to the ideas of superiors and editors and public opinion. I also liked the link to the NYT article. I didn't know that he almost won a vote for sheriff, how great would that have been? Keep on kicking ass Maria.
Posted by: Ashley at February 23, 2005 06:34 PMDarcie, thanks for the tip. I'll pick it up when I'm done with this one.
Ashley, there isn't nearly enough notable renegade journalism out there. I think blogs are close to making the leap though. There will never be another Hunter S. Thompson. The era that fueled him and molded him is a thing of the past. I imagine he found that really depressing. The NYT article kind of touched on that. America had a period of high speed progression and it's winding back down into a hopelessly ninny-ish society. People are so uptight. It's my biggest pet peeve. One of my ultimate goals in life is to make sure that I never become one of those people. Uptight. It's not easy to stay cool in this straight and narrow world.
Posted by: Maria at February 24, 2005 01:22 AM