4 ms·
I remember discovering "The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test" in my high school library. I eventually stole it by taking out the plastic-encased metal security dingy
by wallflower 8y ago
I remember discovering "The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test" in my high school library. I eventually stole it by taking out the plastic-encased metal security dingy and devoured it more. I read it over and over until the paperback fell apart. It introduced me to a world so foreign and sparkly and rusty dangerous and yet so real. RIP Tom Wolfe for bringing us into your worlds of observation and intrigue.
- segmondy 8y agoYou denied other's the chance to do the same. You need to make amends.
- pboutros 8y ago"Repent, sinner!!!"
- rexpop 8y agoNo, no, a book wants to be read to exhaustion, and the new "you" who reads it a second time is as deserving as a stranger.
- dang 8y agowallflower has more than made amends by providing some of the best reading on Hacker News for many years.
- bch 8y agoI’m not really fussed by ‘wallflowers transgression, but I find rationalizing stealing from a public library by posting in an a Gucci tech/business website a bit problematic.
- dang 8y agoOh I agree, but was just trying to mitigate the harshness with a little good feeling. We all have enough to point fingers at ourselves about.
- wallflower 8y agoThanks, dang! I appreciate all you do for this community.
- bch 8y agoWell, I can get behind the intended spirit. Cheers
- coldtea 8y agoHe inspired others to do as he did -- and he added a nice story to the universe. That's more than non denying others the chance to read a specific book at the library -- which 99.999% wouldn't have read even if they could anyway.
- MisterTea 8y agoInformation wants to be free.
- syndev 8y agoBooks in a library seem more free than privately owned books.
- openforce 8y agoThe only copy in my local library had over 30 holds. They said they used to have a second copy until ...
- wallflower 8y agoI never really thought about it that way back then. You are right. I will buy a few copies of this book and leave them in the train stations or on park benches. Thanks.
- 52-6F-62 8y agoThe way you speak about that book reminds me of my equally teenage love of Kerouac (Might be a virtual right of passage for my age range). I got in well enough with the small Ontario town high school librarian to gain access to the “banned books” they stowed in the back but never disposed of. Wolfe lived back there as well as a number of notable Canadian and American poets. I hope I don’t sound too assuming when I say that I think I know exactly what you mean.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- mturmon 8y agoJust to chime in: Although I'm a big reader, I finally got to Kerouac when I was married and in my 30s. It simply did not click by the time I was that old! I agree that you have to hit it at the right time in your life - not necessarily a numerical age, of course.