Junky: The Definitive Text of "Junk" [Paperback] [2012] (Author) William S. Burroughs

by Unknown Author

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Reviews

[Carlos Guerrero · Rating 4 out of 5]

This edition includes an introduction that puts the book into context. This was originally published as a pulpy paperback and Burroughs wrote it in a way to play to the audience of these types of books. The introduction mentions other novels and pieces of media that formed the common understanding of junkies at the time and how this book went against those to set the record straight. The book reads as an honest depiction of that life and what sorts of trials and tribulations junkies faced in those days. The piece written by Kerouac (included at the end of the book) puts it more succinctly than I could and highlights why that approach from someone with the background Burroughs had is so revolutionary

Other thoughts: the publisher wanted Burroughs to attach Queer to the end of this book, but he didn’t want to get ripped off 2 books for the price of 1 so he didn’t include the whole thing. Excerpts from Queer are a part of this book’s ending and it’s clear what parts are Queer and what parts aren’t. Queer is much more narrative and descriptive whereas this goes for a more blunt approach. I was going to read Queer before this because I liked the movie so much, but the intro to that book mentioned that it was technically a sequel to this. I’m excited to see how he evolves his narrative techniques in the next book