THE BEACH BUMS

by Jack Owen ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 25, 1959

This first novel is not helped by its title for its picture of the aimless, drifting life on Honolulu's Waikiki beach exacts more from its material than The Beach Bums would indicate. Told by Roger Anderson, this covers the interlude when he is persuading himself that writing is his aim, that his love for Libby is real, and that his friendships with Bill, Pete, Jack and Bunny are more than bar-hopping, getting drunk and changing beds. Washed up with Libby,tagging along with Pete, making use of Bunny, Roger is forced to face Jack's affair with Libby and Pete's down-grading when he is ""dear-johnned"" by his stateside girl, and a street brawl precipitates a situation from which there is no recall for any of them. The wrong people meeting at the wrong time here ends a search for an answer which is only within one's self. For this type of book there is no tactile, visible sex, and its interest in ""some set of rules"" keeps its story from being utterly nihilistic. A young, almost thoughtful, expose of a certain atmosphere.

Pub Date: June 25, 1959

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Coward-McCann

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1959

Categories: FICTION