3.5
And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks
ByPublisher Description
The legendary novel whose true events inspired the film KILL YOUR DARLINGS
In the summer of 1944, a shocking murder rocked the fledgling Beats. William S. Burroughs and Jack Kerouac, both still unknown, we inspired by the crime to collaborate on a novel, a hard-boiled tale of bohemian New York during World War II, full of drugs and art, obsession and brutality, with scenes and characters drawn from their own lives. Finally published after more than sixty years, this is a captivating read, and incomparable literary artifact, and a window into the lives and art of two of the twentieth century’s most influential writers.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesAnd the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks Reviews
3.5
“It's so interesting to read what famous authors wrote before they got famous.
I, having not read any novels from Kerouac or Burroughs, went into this novel with little expectations and a decent understanding of the Carr-Kammerer-situation. I would say it's almost best to go in blind considering the content, but it's fun to put the pieces together if you already know the true story that inspired this one.
Each author had a distinct voice and were able to capture 1940's New York as they were living it. Kerouac states that this book lived underneath floorboards for decades after multiple failed attempts at publishing. I'm so glad it eventually did reach the world and, because of this novel, I look forward to picking up more of their works.”
“I think I may be biased in my enjoyment here as a long time fan of Beat literature, but I think this novel provides such an interesting lens into the queer nature of the Beat movement that it’s worth reading even if the unconventional and “improper” prose of Kerouac and Burroughs isn’t for everyone. And I emphasize the queer perspective as that is what the narrative emphasizes as well, Kerouac and Burroughs (both bisexual themselves) use direct language and refuse to skirt around the topic, never simply implying it. This is a loudly queer narrative, of course a dark and gloomy queer narrative but one nonetheless.
The afterword making explicit reference to Carr’s bisexuality is also appreciated, I think there is something to be said about how the honor slaying defense he utilized required an erasing of his bisexuality and how his later rejection of the dedication in Howl is an extension of that. Now that isn’t to say that people make a habit of “straightening” the entire Beat movement, however, I think it is worth acknowledging that such a key incident in the movement does indeed get that treatment. By erasing Carr’s bisexuality the story is in a way sanitized, it is acceptable for Beat writers to be bisexual but ultimately Carr is deemed even more righteous and acceptable by assuming a facade of heterosexuality. He escapes any of the countercultural positioning and “problematic” behavior of his fellow Beat’s by retreating into conformist heterosexual society. Of course, doing so was initially necessary for his trial defense as honor slayings are predicated on the killer’s heterosexuality— but his further actions further the narrative even more so. The character of Tourian (Carr) almost perfectly reflects this despite being written before many of Carr’s “heterosexualizing moments,” characters provide alternating testimonies of Tourian’s sexuality, even himself flip-flopping on what he claims.
And of course that is also not to say that any of the other Beat’s were better or more righteous for being open about their sexuality. Most of them were, and forgive my hyperbole, horrible people. But the shades of gray here is why the story of Carr particularly interests me. Of course there are more well known honor slayings and the narrative of those committing such acts being closeted themselves is certainly harmful (even if it is the truth in regards to Carr), but that does not mean Carr’s case isn’t worth discussing.”
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