‘Naked Lunch’ by William S. Burroughs

Over the weekend I was overcome with a sudden desire to read a book of particular notoriety, and so whilst standing before my bookcase, Naked Lunch seemed to me to be the best option. Knowing that this was Kurt Cobain's favourite book, I expected a great deal from William Burroughs' most famous work, and it certainly did not disappoint.

From the outset, Naked Lunch reads like a rampant fairground ride. While on the back cover a quote from J.G. Ballard likens it to a rollercoaster, I would argue that it feels more like a high speed Haunted Mansion (or Phantom Manor if you're feeling more European), as you are privy to a whole host of depraved and lurid episodes on every page, much like seeing a counterfeit corpse popping out of an MDF coffin.

There is no clear storyline to grapple with, so what you are left with is a literal feast of maddening images that are not by any means for the faint of heart. As Naked Lunch defies so many established literary conventions it feels foolish to go about reviewing it in a conventional manner. All I can say succinctly is that, if you've got the stomach for it, this is one of those seminal works that you ought to read at least once.

This piece was originally published on alisonlaurabell.tumblr.com in November 2011.