Sorry for this oddly specific request, but I've suddenly developed an interest in hippie culture and the general atmosphere of the 60s to early 70s. Does anybody have any good book recommendations with stories set in that time frame?
Not so much hippie, but definite 60s London vibe - Third Girl by Agatha Christie. Released in 1966. Interesting thread. I will keep an eye out for other recommendations, as I like this era too.
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe (nonfiction). Been Down So Long it Looks Like Up to Me by Richard Fariña. A Separate Reality by Carlos Castaneda The Way the Wind Blew: A History of the Weather Underground by Ron Jacobs Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig also On the Road, by Jack Kerouac. This is a 1950's novel, but a huge impact on the 60's culture. Neal Casady, who traveled with Kerouac and was the inspiration for Kerouac's character Dean Moriarty, is a legendary figure in the Merry Pranksters story.
Okay, I've heard tons about the On The Road novel, but wow, thanks for the reminder Cogito! That's a lot to look into. The Crying of Lot 49 rings some bells, Lemex, I'll definitely check that out. Oh, and thank you very much VM80 for the recommendation. I am interested in the general time frame, and I've been wondering about England during that era as well.
"Go Ask Alice" is another 60s book, but it's very dark and gritty. I also would second "On the Road."
Hah, I was going to list these myself. Might also want to try anything by Ken Kesey, a bit of a definitive icon for the times (even if he did not identify entirely with the 60s culture himself). One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Sometimes a Great Notion (if you're feeling ambition, as the latter one -- while excellent -- can be a bit... disorienting.) Oh, forgot to add -- I've not yet read it myself, but it's been recommended more than once: Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, by Hunter S. Thompson
The Long Firm by Jake Arnott, though it's set in Britain and is about a gay gangster. I thought it was a really good book, so I'm just trying to have it gain some popularity
Thanks again you guys for all the book recs! I LOOOOOOVED ONE WHO FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST! It was the very first play I worked on in my school. Ahahaha, sorry I had to comment on that.
