Junkie (Kawade Bunko) (2003) ISBN - 4309462405 [Japanese Import]

I enjoyed this edition of Junky, the introduction by Oliver Harris was very thorough, and perfect to offer the reader the basics of Burroughs' life and prepare them for the world of an addict. The stories showcase many big players: everything from heroin and cocaine, to weed and alcohol, to bennies, goofballs, peyote, and yagé.

Through simple, unemotional accounts of experiences with the various drugs, the author is able to pull the reader into his world and emphasize the overpowering nature of habit and addiction. One example is the absence (avoidance?) of mentioning family, other than a couple of sentences to explain how he was able to get a script or why he had moved forward in his pursuit of finding the ultimate kick. The various instances help the reader experience the simple thrill of scoring, and the overwhelming pain and misery of withdrawal. The only concern is junk, everything else is secondary. The law and incarceration, hygiene, friends, family, and health. The junkie is a common character in literature and movies, but this work explains the reasoning behind the behavior. The complete and unmoving need for that effect, that feeling, as the drug takes hold.

This edition has portions included that were initially removed or explained away in the previous versions. Missing chapters, the author's original introduction, and various notes have been included to give you the most complete experience of Burroughs' debut as possible. This is an enjoyable ride, and a fictional narrative, based on his personal experiences with opiates, holds an authenticity not found in many stories.

No lie about it, I am a devoted Burroughs fan and this is one of his better works. This is a more mainstream book than something like “Naked Lunch” or “The Ticket That Exploded,” but it doesn’t lose the Burroughs touch. It is a nasty, dark-edged realistic portrayal of the life of a Junky. No punches are pulled and Burroughs tells of his role as a Junky. This is precisely the book’s appeal. The author is living the story and telling it all while in the gutter. All efforts are into getting the next high. Burroughs even gives great insight into how a junky goes about his daily routine; if you want to call it that. Horrible life, but one that has to be told. Great writer and bad junky.

Junky is future Naked Lunch author William Burroughs' (mostly) autobiographical account of his early years as a druggie, and it offers proof positive that the 1960s didn't invent the hard drug subculture, since the book's narrative takes place mostly in the 1940s. Frankly, I have little sympathy for the Burroughs described here as he is not a child of poverty who takes to drugs to deal with life's hard knocks. Rather, he is a son of a prosperous family who takes to drugs because he is bored. He then gets numerous chances to dry out but repeatedly backslides, mostly because someone offers him a hit.

To his credit, Burroughs doesn't seem to blame anybody else for his addiction, so I guess there's that, but I do blame him for the series of petty crimes he gets involved with because the victims are generally people less fortunate than he is.

All that being said, this is ultimately a book review, not a character review and I must say that I found Junky highly readable. Given that this was Burroughs' first published work, it is very impressive indeed. In fact, it easily betters The Town and the City, the debut effort of Burroughs' pal Jack Kerouac, which had come out a few years earlier. Where Kerouac is verbose and undisciplined, Burroughs is taut and immediate. To me, there's no comparison.

One caveat for those who look to the bisexual Burroughs as a kind of early gay pride pioneer. In this book at least, he repeatedly drops the three-letter f-word along with other rather nasty synonyms for homosexuals. Though he does describe (not very explicitly) one encounter with a young Mexican male prostitute, his general attitude toward gays here is not exactly what you'd call tolerant.

A fairly short read, Junky is well worth a reader's time both for its sociological and literary merits.

I struggled with this book, which is the first Burroughs novel I'd read. I think this can be largely attributed to the unsympathetic protagonist. His voice and affect are both flat and matter-of-fact about himself, his behaviour and everything that surrounds him. I understand that this is probably a stylistic decision by Burroughs to emphasise just how monotonous and tedious the life of a heroin addict is, yet it soon became tiresome to me. I can't imagine an intelligent person reading this book and deciding that the lifestyle portrayed by the protagonist is appealing; if anything, its greatest success is to warn the reader off making the same mistakes as the narrator. A life defined by 'junk' doesn't seem like much of a life at all, and none of the characters we meet are happy or fulfilled.

William Burroughs, Junky

This compelling autobiography of the leading Beat writer is for me reminder that gold often lies among the trash in the centre of the city dump. Years ago I sampled Burroughs' The Naked Lunch, but gave up in despair at its incongruities, its sudden passages of brilliance being insufficient to compensate for what often seemed mind-wandering drivel. I thought I'd never touch Burroughs again. Junky, however is something else; its sad-eyed, intelligent and honest writing strikes a melancholy chord. I might even try him again.

Like much American autobiography Junky captures the reader from the start with its tough no nonsense, stick to the facts approach to story-telling. Open the book at any page and you find passages like this: `I was in a cheap cantina off Dolores Street, Mexico City. I had been drinking for about two weeks. I was sitting in a booth with three Mexicans drinking tequila. The Mexicans were fairly well-dressed. One of them spoke English. A middle-aged, heavy-set Mexican with a sad, sweet sang songs and played the guitar.' It's difficult not to want to know more. Burroughs sets the scene, then focusses on one character, a well-dressed musician in a dive bar. What will happen? This deadpan, Hemingway style never becomes monotonous. The reader believes in the writer's integrity and trusts him to tell it like it was.

Of course, the writing is not as artless as it seems. As in Hemingway, in a story such as `The Killers' the quietness conceals an underlying threat, a suggestion of desperation and violence. This is Mexico, dammit, and our narrator is a wily and possibly dangerous psychopath.
The surprising thing about this notorious drug-fiend and burnt out literary genius is that he came from a highly respectable middle-class background, attended `one of the Big Three universities' and later `saw a way of life, a vocabulary, references, a whole symbol system, as the sociologists say.' Hence this prose in a paragraph from Burroughs' Prologue is, compared to the rest of the narrative, sophisticated, well-muscled, just as sharp and cynical, but more inclined to elaboration, yet ending colloquially, `But these people were jerks ... and I cooled off on the setup.'
I could guarantee that once you pick up this book, the Penguin edition of which bears the warning or invitation `Keep out of Children's Reach,' you will not easily put it down.

Junky is a frank exploration into drug culture and a somewhat incomplete autobiography of Burroughs as he grew up through adolescence and adulthood addicted to Morphine and Heroin in the heyday of drug culture and drug reform. The book is very interesting as a triumphant exploration into the reality of addiction and the effects of the choices that drug addiction and abuse brings to the victims.

What is most interesting about this book is how direct Burroughs' approaches his addiction, and how stylistically he is able to present an entertaining narrative while injecting his own personal philosophy on treatment and American culture. He understands the nature of addiction by being a willing participant as writer - cataloging all of his experiences and building a profile of the addict as victim and criminal in an America that continues to neglect to understand addiction and substance abuse. While I never lived in a world that was pre-prohibition, I have heard from many of my elders about the world that once existed prior to the criminalization of substances, and their diatribes seemed to practically mirror those of Burroughs as he defines the substances and their users from innocuous victims of circumstances to raging junkies with fingernails digging into their palms awaiting their next fix. It is as much a study of drug culture as it is a convincing thesis on the unreliable, ridiculous, and inept cycle of ineffective treatment and criminal prosecution that does nothing to solve the national crisis and help people get better.

His portrait of his addiction and of the addict are socially astute and appropriate rather than clinical and criminal, and his tone and diction approach the subject in a populist and accessible manner. I understand that the book immediately made it to dime novel racks after its publication, and it is clear that with the exception of those who might not be interested in an engaging narrative deals with the struggle with addiction and drug culture, this book has a very large audience easily steeped in the historical time and culture afforded by its publication year. It is also a convincing argument for reform and attention to the underlying details. I was shocked with the amount of times that he referred to meetings with doctors, clinicians, and psychologists, and the recurring first question was something along the lines of, "so why do you feel the need to do drugs?" I know very little about addiction and the treatment of addition - but what I do know matches up with Burroughs' political and personal thesis in this book, and I sympathize with his frustration and accusations of the system which surprisingly changed very little over the past fifty years.

Putting this book in contrast of the only similar book I have ever read - A Million Little Pieces when it came out - Burroughs makes Frey’s character in that book look like a brat in many ways, and where I found absolutely no sympathy for Frey's experience (which we later learned was fabricated and rife with hyperbole), I found wanting there to be respite for Burroughs even though he presents himself as a less than savory character. The honesty and intellect bleed off the page, and he recreates the world that has only dissipated in its aesthetic setting but remains in the underground activity.

In many ways, I wish the book went on from here, and I revisited his biography on Wiki and a variety of other sites. In the remainder of his life, there were many aspects of his experiences that at times seem to be the only logical end of the road for him, many of them horrifying, but this book easily remains a classic in many ways because of its stylized and stark approach to a very difficult subject.

Junky, William S. Burroughs' first published novel, displays none of the experimental writing techniques that characterize Naked Lunch and other later novels. It is simply a straightforward, hard-boiled autobiographical novel about drug addiction. It begins with the narrator, William Lee's, first experience with morphine. It follows his career as an addict and occasional dealer in New York City, New Orleans, the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, and Mexico City, ending abruptly when Lee decides to leave for South America.

"Junk" is the term Burroughs uses for all opium derivatives. The novel dwells extensively on the various forms of the drug, the culture of addicts and pushers, laws and enforcement practices, and the various methods for breaking an addiction. He develops and expounds his own theories on the physiology of addiction and withdrawal, which he calls "junk sickness." He addresses a number of what he calls myths about drugs, explaining, for example, that marijuana and cocaine are not physically addictive and claiming that it takes at least two months of regular use to create a heroin addiction. He also castigates a society that treats addiction as a crime rather than a "condition of being."

Though Burroughs based Junky closely on his experiences, he screened out anything that wasn't directly related to drugs. He mentions a wife a couple of times, but we have no idea who she is or how she came into his life. Later there is a reference, and only one, to "the children." Nor is there ever the slightest hint that the protagonist is an intellectual associating closely with other poets and writers.

The writing in Junky is mostly cold, clinical and detached. The narrator provides extensive descriptions of his symptoms, but scarcely any of his feelings. Occasionally, however, when describing a setting such as the forlorn landscape of the Texas border, the lineup of addicts in a New Orleans jail, or the shady characters in a Mexican bar, Burroughs' prose ascends to powerful and poetic heights.

For all the notoriety surrounding Naked Lunch and the even more inaccessible Nova trilogy, William S. Burrough's most lasting work will probably be this, his first novel. Along with its sequel/companion piece, "Queer", "Junky" offers the reader an unapologetic narrative recounting the author's introduction to heroin and his subsequent addiction. While the book does not in any way glorify drug use, neither does it take any moral position against it. Instead, Burroughs relates in dry prose what it means to be a junky. If anything, "Junky" struck me as a fine rendering of the unvarnished truth behind a lifestyle (or as he called it in "Naked Lunch", "the sickness").

Burroughs peppers his narratives with an assortment of trenchant social commentary laced with wit. His observations about law enforcement and power brokers in general are as dead-on today as they were more than 50 years ago. He occasionally gets a bit carried away, offering his opinion as if he were a scientific authority on various drugs, but it's hard to dispute the wisdom he brings from his experience, sordid though it may be.

The rampant homosexual imagery that permeates nearly all of his later work is largely absent here, which will make "Junky" much more accessible to mainstream readers. Likewise, this book contains none of the "cut-up" gobbledygook which characterized (and in my opinion ruined) books like "Naked Lunch" and "The Soft Machine."

Ultimately, this book is not characteristic of most of Burroughs' work. By virtue of its straightforward narrative approach, the book allows the reader to see the rational side of the junky's mind - his insights may be colored by his heroin addiction, but they remain lucid and coherent. And the motley assortment of characters that Burroughs introduces serve as cautionary, though often darkly amusing, tales of life under the spell of narcotics.

This is a book that goes nowhere. It ends up right where it started. Every line in the book is about getting drugs and doing drugs then getting off drugs and back on drugs again with some sex thrown in. The only reason why I finished this book is because of my compulsion to finish books that I start and the only reason why I picked it up in the first place is because I wanted to know just who William S. Borroughs was and what he wrote. What a dissapointment and what a total waste of talent.

There is no other way that this novel could have been written. Having to read Junky was so believable that it did not feel like reading the entire time,it felt like reading the journal of Bill Lee and his confessions about drugs. I enjoyed reading the novel because you learn so much about what it is like to be a drug addict.It is a truthful book and part autobiography, a novel that does not hide any secrets or lies about drugs. Junky makes the reader have a different view of drug addicts. William Burroughs creates characters that are the opposite of what people imagine drug addicts to be in life. I recommend this book for those who are interested in knowing about the lifestyle of a drug addict, and the effects of taking drugs.This book has a unique take because there are so many problems that are issued. It not only covers about dealing drugs, it is about problems in society like corruption, political issues, and many more. As a reader, it is an entertaining, down-to-earth novel that captures your attention because it is based on the authors' life experience, which makes it believable. It is a novel that changes the ordinary view of a drug addict “Junk is not a kick, it is a way of life.”(Burroughs, 6).

After plowing through 'Naked Lunch' completely bewildered, 'Junky' was a much more palatable read. Also, as a former 6-year OxyContin Junkie due to my runaway rheumatoid arthritis and easy access to Oxycodone through my doctor instead of the shady characters detailed in this book, this was a great read for me and my amazing wife to understand the bizarre behaviors I was exhibiting during my 5 days of hell whilst kicking Oxy. (Not once, but twice. I took a year off and went back! No rehab, at home. In the winter.)
Oxycodone and Heroin have pretty much the same effect on the same part of the Junkie Lizard Brain, but Oxycodone has a much, much, longer half-life. So for anyone who thinks they have either of these drugs "Under Control", or just play around with them every now and then...Good luck with that.
Like the book says: (I'm paraphrasing) "One day you wake up sick and realize you are a Junkie." Truer words are rarely spoken.

Anyway, if you find yourself romanticizing the Junkie Lifestyle, stick to reading books about it. The buzz never lasts, and like the song goes: "I used to do a little, but a little wouldn't do it, so the little got more and more..." In other words, Welcome to Hell; if not now, very soon...

Like many, my introduction to William S. Burroughs was Naked Lunch; a book that may very well be the most authentic description of a drug addict's personal, nightmarish hell. I picked up Junky afterwards, not knowing what to expect, and came away disappointed at first. "That's it?" was the thought ringing through my head, as Junky comes off as a straight forward tale of a drug addict on the brink, compared to the picture that Burroughs so vividly painted with Naked Lunch. Deciding to give Junky another chance and putting everything about Naked Lunch on the back burner, the book now comes off as a cautionary tale more than anything else. Burroughs weaves a harrowing, autobiographical tale of Bill Lee: a man with an Ivy League background who discovers the highs and joys of morphine and other members of the junk family, and the experiences that Lee goes through as he tries to kick the habit, only to fall back into it again and again. As said before, Junky is a more straight forward portrait of addiction, and when read side by side with Naked Lunch, comes off as the reality of Burroughs' drug raddled Hell. It definitely doesn't have the kind of impact of Naked Lunch, or even some of Burroughs' other works, but there is still something about Junky that resonates a powerful voice that one should always open an ear for. All in all, if Naked Lunch was your introduction to Burroughs as well, don't let Junky's more straight forward narrative put you off, as it is definitely worth your time.

Until about half way through this book, one is able to grasp it as a "normal book", maybe with occasional laughs and occasional sighs of disgust directed towards the main character. However, there comes a time when one realizes that this is not a "normal book".
Of course, with Burrough's later works, this much is obvious from page one. "Junky", however, is written as a very basic first-person narrative and doesn't use the elaborate and often extremely disturbing language found in, for example, "Naked Lunch." Yet, nonetheless, the absurdity and no-holds-barred attitude is still present, albeit implicit. Although i do not have the book in front of me, i would venture to say that there are not 2 consecutive pages in this book that do not in some way relate to heroin or some other addiction (Burrough's even becomes an alcoholic to the extent that his skin yellows). The main character ends up merely searching for a new addiction; what is so troubling about this book (or, to say the same thing, what is so marvelous), is the apparent lack of concern it shows for what are usually considered to be rather disgusting acts. Addiction is described in a chillingly matter-of-fact manner. This is not to say that the horrors are not described as really horrible and disgusting. Yet Burroughs tells us of "junk addiction" and the "junk equation" as if he is telling us of his life as any man would, only that his life revolves around heroin (we could say "addiction", but Burroughs believes that we are all addicts in some sense of the word). Overall, this is a book that should probably be read at least twice to grasp to the pyschotic nature beneath the dry, gray surface.

Junky is a first hand tale of one man's life and drug addiction. It is a show of a slide into a world that most of its readers will never experience. It was something that at its time. immensely shocking. Beside these things, it is a really compelling tale and a wholly worthwhile read.....
BUT it is also a book that is of a tradition: Burrough's was largely borrowing the style and tone of the French author Louis-Ferdinand Celine (i.e. straight ahead, haunting, almost profane at every instance, black humor at its finest). Even though the author was a drug addict, he was a HIGHLY erudite and educated drug addict-- and because of that, the bitterness of his life is interpretted in a way that comes from a man who was influenced by the doom of Celine and the historian Spengler (another must-read) as well as the sort of devil-may-care attitude of Andre Gide....
Intellectual name dropping aside, this is a powerful book artistically BECAUSE of this stuff, the D.A.R.E. message aside (and I would suggest that other instances from his life-- shooting his wife in the head while playing William Tell foremost among them hint at a D.A.R.E. message better than the almost Trainspotting cinema-veritas stuff of this book). And it's a neat counterpoint to the writings of Kerouac for anyone who wants to run the 'Beats' together (but an interesting counterpart to Ginsberg-- who was, in a sense, Burrough's student as much as Lionel Trilling's....
I'd read this book.... it's good....

Burroughs' writing here is a unique and successful blend of autobiography and detached journalism, unprecedented for that time. The prologue gives Junky an air of authenticity from the outset as the author briefly describes his childhood before plunging into this narrative of a journey - teeming with colourful low-life characters - from the Midwest to New York to Texas to New Orleans, a farm in the Rio Grande Valley, & finally Mexico in his relentless pursuit of the heroin trip. There is a certain aloofness in the style, giving the reader the impression that you're only witness to a restricted part of the protagonist's experiences. For example, the text makes vague references to his wife who obviously journeyed and indulged with him, but no more is told of her, poor Joan. Although Queer, which is a more rounded novel, filled in many pieces of the jigsaw, it was only upon reading Ellis Ambrose's The Subterranean Kerouac, that this novel finally made sense and I began to see a fuller picture of Burroughs, his wife and their contemporaries. Anyway, this is a piece of brilliant writing on many levels. The book concludes with a glossary of "junk lingo" or "jive talk" - so that's what the BeeGees were singing about!

Little of the sprawling, stream-of-conscious style that would define William S. Burroughs's later work is found in his superb first novel, Junky. The narrative is straightforward, grim and dark. No spice is necessary is to intensify the subject matter. Junky is the story of Bill Lee, an aimless drifter who lets opiates or "junk" take control of his life. "You become a narcotics addict because you do not have any strong motivations in any other direction," Burroughs explains in the prologue, "Junk wins by default." It is upon that idea that Junky progresses. Little about how the main character feels or thinks is discussed, but information about the effect of junk, how it is peddled, how cure programs work and how junkies form subcultures in inner cities is revealed in great detail and that is Burroughs's masterminding. Junk has taken control and Lee's being slowly becomes a mere vehicle for his addiction. It becomes the main character. The effect is one of harrowing sadness for the reader and one of fascination for those of us with an interest in narcotics addiction. Junky is less a book I would recommend to fans of beatnik or other experimental literature and more of a novel I would highly endorse for readers who enjoy works, which are highly pungent and affecting.

Burroughs' writing here is a unique and successful blend of autobiography and detached journalism, unprecedented for that time. The prologue gives Junky an air of authenticity from the outset as the author briefly describes his childhood before plunging into this narrative of a journey - teeming with colourful low-life characters - from the Midwest to New York to Texas to New Orleans, a farm in the Rio Grande Valley, & finally Mexico in his relentless pursuit of the heroin trip. There is a certain aloofness in the style, giving the reader the impression that you're only witness to a restricted part of the protagonist's experiences. For example, the text makes vague references to his wife who obviously journeyed and indulged with him, but no more is told of her, poor Joan. Although Queer, which is a more rounded novel, filled in many pieces of the jigsaw, it was only upon reading Ellis Ambrose's The Subterranean Kerouac, that this novel finally made sense and I began to see a fuller picture of Burroughs, his wife and their contemporaries. Anyway, this is a piece of brilliant writing on many levels. The book concludes with a glossary of "junk lingo" or "jive talk" - so that's what the BeeGees were singing about!

Pretty crazy read. This guy has seen and done some s*** and most of this book, as the title suggests, is about his experiences with drugs, particularly Heroin.

We follow him as he goes through his daily quest to get high. Sometimes he is selling and we learn about the hassles and pitfalls of dealing with customers who are always asking for something on tick. We hear his opinions on weed, coke, speed, time spent in jail.

It is quite sobering and something that takes you down into the dirty parts of this lifestyle. Nothing is glorified and polished and if you ever to know what this world is like, this guy has done it so you dont have too.

Burroughs' tale of the life of a herion addict. Unlike other stories on this subject; this tale is drawn from the personal experience of the author and gives an interesting perspective.
This book is not a glorification of herion use, or much of a condemnation of it either. "Junk is a way of life," says the author, and the narrative seems to prove this rather well.
A small book, the one major failing, that it seems to be much longer than it is. With no definite chapters or sections, the book drawls on at some points, only broken up with little markers that appear to be like scene changes in a film script. This marker tell the reader that time has passed, or that the landscape is going to change.
This book is fascinating, and does tell an interesting tale, but because it was written a couple of generations ago, it moves a bit too slowly at times and holds very little of the meaning that it would have for the Beat, or even the Hyppie generations.
Burroughs' theme and characters are both very interesting, but the prose style drags on. This book should not be read on a rainy day: it may take a bit of time to get through it, but it will bring the reader down.

Junky is definitely an essential book for anyone into all types of literature. It's a candid and graphic tale of bohemia and self-destruction dealing with William S. Burroughs' addiction to narcotics, or 'junk.' Here, you get a graphic and disturbing account of the symptoms of withdrawl, being an outlaw, financial problems as a result of addiction, and what it ends up doing to yuor life. The breaking point is rather late at the book, which heartbreakingly depicts Burroughs living in Mexico, going through tremendous withdrawl, and many of his friends either dead from overdoses or incarcerated due to selling or possession of illegal substances.
This new version of Junky shows the text in the original form, as Burroughs edited it, with none of the omissions from other publications of the book, and includes many articles that serve as 'forewords' to the book, as they were published in Junky's many versions, some by Burroughs himself, one by Carl Solomon and 2 by his longtime mentor, Allen Ginsberg.There is also a terminology, making it easier for the reader to understand the dialogue and the rather 'secret' words for drugs, sex and the like. Burroughs also wrote a 'myth VS reality' piece which is very interesting, to say the least. Junky may be an unpleasant read for some, but it is a very candid and amazing book, and one of the best novels of the 20th century.

Burroughs' tale of the life of a herion addict. Unlike other stories on this subject; this tale is drawn from the personal experience of the author and gives an interesting perspective.
This book is not a glorification of herion use, or much of a condemnation of it either. "Junk is a way of life," says the author, and the narrative seems to prove this rather well.
A small book, the one major failing, that it seems to be much longer than it is. With no definite chapters or sections, the book drawls on at some points, only broken up with little markers that appear to be like scene changes in a film script. This marker tell the reader that time has passed, or that the landscape is going to change.
This book is fascinating, and does tell an interesting tale, but because it was written a couple of generations ago, it moves a bit too slowly at times and holds very little of the meaning that it would have for the Beat, or even the Hyppie generations.
Burroughs' theme and characters are both very interesting, but the prose style drags on. This book should not be read on a rainy day: it may take a bit of time to get through it, but it will bring the reader down.

Junky is definitely an essential book for anyone into all types of literature. It's a candid and graphic tale of bohemia and self-destruction dealing with William S. Burroughs' addiction to narcotics, or 'junk.' Here, you get a graphic and disturbing account of the symptoms of withdrawl, being an outlaw, financial problems as a result of addiction, and what it ends up doing to yuor life. The breaking point is rather late at the book, which heartbreakingly depicts Burroughs living in Mexico, going through tremendous withdrawl, and many of his friends either dead from overdoses or incarcerated due to selling or possession of illegal substances.
This new version of Junky shows the text in the original form, as Burroughs edited it, with none of the omissions from other publications of the book, and includes many articles that serve as 'forewords' to the book, as they were published in Junky's many versions, some by Burroughs himself, one by Carl Solomon and 2 by his longtime mentor, Allen Ginsberg.There is also a terminology, making it easier for the reader to understand the dialogue and the rather 'secret' words for drugs, sex and the like. Burroughs also wrote a 'myth VS reality' piece which is very interesting, to say the least. Junky may be an unpleasant read for some, but it is a very candid and amazing book, and one of the best novels of the 20th century.

If I could give this book zero stars I would. I ordered it merely because it was mentioned on the back cover of "A Million Little Pieces" by James Frey. This book was a waste of money and lacked any form of a climactic storyline.

Although this is an incredibly short read, one cannot deny that Burroughs is a fantastic writer by the way he packs so much into a story so short. This is not only one of the most hilarious stories that I've ever read, but also one of the most interesting. After seeing movies such as Requiem for a Dream and Trainspotting, it's incredibly fascinating to hear the other side of the story from a credible source (since Burroughs draws greatly upon personal experience). Also, the appendices in this text are worth reading because they not only give one a glossary of the "jive talk" (for those who aren't familiar with drugs and whatnot), but also more succinct opinions and information. This story may not be the clearest depiction of all of the horrors of the junky lifestyle, but it certainly gives a highly introspective view, as well as something to ponder further because of background facts about the character (such as his wife and children that are most likely purposely excluded for the most part).

If you're looking for something different, check out this impressive first novel. Although not a long novel (about 120 pp.), it's wildly original, highly descriptive writing begs a second reading.

_Junky_ is surprisingly well-structured. Believe it or not, there is a plot!

Characters drop in and out of the story, so that the novel itself feels like some sort of crash pad. Everyone is fair game for Burrough's observations; many are described in a surreal, hilarious way. I like the way Burroughs varies sentence and paragraph length, giving an improvisational feel to the book, as if it's a be-bop record or a Jackson Pollock drip painting. (And maybe that's the intent?)

Again, nothing escapes Burrough's critical eye. Although he is homosexual and a junkie, he shows contempt for some of the trappings and adherents of these 1950s subcultures.

Some of my favorite lines include:

- "Waves of hostility and suspicion flowed from his large brown eyes like some sort of television broadcast."

- "'You're both mother (expletive deleted)ers.' She was half-asleep. Her voice was matter-of-fact as if referring to actual incest."

- "A young man lurched in with some object under his arm." (Burrough's word choice is hilarious - "lurched"!)

- "The place looked like a Chop Suey joint. ... The walls were painted black and there was a Chinese character in red lacquer on one wall.

'We don't know what it means,' she said.

'Shirts thirty-one cents,' I suggested."

Perhaps Burrough's self-observation and sense of humor likely contributed to his longevity. It's hard to believe he lived to age 84!

_Naked Lunch_ is next on my list.

Burroughs must be Commended for Writing this book when he did - the Fifies! I grew up during this era, and back then we all assumed that everyone lived life like "The Leave It to Beaver" show. From the very first lines of this book Burroughs tells us he came from a wealthy midwestern home - and, horrors, became a heroin addict! The book reveals great details of what life was like: carefully rolling drunks in the subways for wallets with another junkie pal, going from kicking heroin to getting drunk day and night, and staying away from "pigeons", other addicts who would squeal to the cops. This was probably the first book to take off the wraps concerning the day-to-day life of heroin addicts. The style is dated, and at times it bogs down in its repetitiveness, but we should take our hats off to him for writing about exactly how life was for him. Sometimes even wealthy, white men on trust funds end up badly hooked.

Originally published as a "pulp novel" (its lurid cover showing a man grabbing a voluptuous blonde from behind, drug paraphernalia strewn on a table in front of them), Burroughs's first full-length work of fiction and its Hemingway-style noir prose are quite unlike his more famous nonlinear works. The book was so shocking for its time (1953) that its publisher censored portions of the writing and peppered it with parenthetical disclaimers. The book starkly tells the story, based largely on Burroughs's own experiences, of the life of a junky--or, more accurately, how a junky's life revolves around nothing but junk.
While the book is disquieting and dispassionate--and it's certainly more accessible than Burroughs's other works--it is interesting more as a historical document rather than a literary treasure. Much of the book (and not simply, as others have pointed out, the language) is dated. We, as readers, have become somewhat immune to such portrayals, and the shock value and aesthetic appeal of Burroughs's debut has been diminished over time by not only the works of other authors but also his own later works.
The book's narrative is too disjointed to feel like a "novel," in part because Burroughs is so didactic. He correctly assumes that readers in the 1950s will know little if anything about drug culture, and his narrative is interrupted by lecture-like sections. While he pulls no punches in his bleak depiction of addiction, he boasts some acutely ill-informed opinions (for example, his claim that cocaine is not addictive: "once the C [cocaine] is out of your system, you forget all about it. There is no habit to C.")
And "Junky" should not be read as entirely accurate autobiography. Although Burroughs never glamorizes addiction or its effects, his narrative does embark on an extraordinary episode of wishful thinking. During a particularly nasty binge in Mexico City, his wife intervened, throwing his spoon and drugs on the floor; in retaliation, he "slapped her twice across the face." In the book, a few days later they separated, and she was living happily in Acapulco. In real life, however, during a similar dispute, Burroughs shot and killed Joan Vollmer--an event that damaged his reputation and haunted his reasoning for the rest of his years.
Yet, in spite of its obsolete style and its disjointed narrative, its didacticism and its half-truths, "Junky" is still a powerful reminder of the monomania of addiction.

This book is a literary masterpiece and should be read by everyone. I first read this book when I was sixteen years old, and I read it from cover to cover in one night. I expected to do my usual chapter or two a night, and move on; that wasn't possible with this classic. Junky sucks you as quickly as possible and keeps you hanging at the end of every single chapter. I cannot express enough how good this book is.

The book is dated, technically, but believe me when I say it was decades before its time.

Burroughs' first book is an autobiographical tale of how he first came to try heroin and his travels across North America as, to paraphrase the author, junk became his life. To those who know Burroughs as only the writer of Naked Lunch, the straight-forward and precise prose of Junky may come as a surprise at first but, upon careful reading, all the same concerns and motifs are here. Basically, Junky tells what was happening in the real world while Burroughs was hallucinating the junk-fueled world of Naked Lunch. While it may deceptively appear to have no real structure, its meandering style instead perfectly embodies the drug-fueled lifestyle of its protaganist. Its a fascinating read that reveals that, despite beliefs to the contrary, there has always been a drug underground in the United States where junkies remain easy scapegoats for other societal problems. While Burroughs does't condemn drug use, he can hardly be accused of promoting it either. Instead, in the best libertarian tradition, he promotes only the freedom of the individual to be able to determine his own fate.
However, beyond any possible political or philosophical interpretations, this is a fast-moving, informative book with a dry wit hidden amongst the deadpan prose. What is often forgotten is that Burroughs' first known stories were all parodies of other genres and in many ways, Junky is a dead-on imitation of the hardboiled, pulp novels that were also prominent at the time.

I bought this book a few years back and found it to be a very sad window into Burroughs drug use.
He doesn't glorify junk but rather warns the reader of the control drugs can have on you a must read for anyone interested in 40s drug culture or a window into the timeless effects of addiction.

Burroughs writes pro-actively and this book is no change. Following Ginsburg 'Semi-compiling" Junky and Queer from letters whilst Burroughs was Opiated up, I knew what to expect. Mexico, The law, Drunk with Guns, Farming cotton, shooting up and New York with the hustlers and pimps in Bars. It's easy to note that Burroughs had an interesting life but experienced through the eye of Junk hazed addiction and vision. Noting anti-estblishment view on matters (namely 'The Junk') which he had first hand experience was not a matter to be taken lightly in 1950's America. This book is accessible and easy to read, the world in Burroughs head is clear and concise. Written in the first person, yuo travel to beat junk time and life with a detail for details. A drugs journey only to be rivaled by Hunter S. Thompson's 'Fear and loathing In Las Vegas', but with a much darker wit.

Junky could be the most effective anti-drug book ever written.

This is not the William S. Burroughs of The Wild Boys: A Book of the Dead (Burroughs, William S.) and certainly not the same guy who wrote Naked Lunch: The Restored Text. This is a Burroughs who's not talking to himself or talking to his admirers. Instead this an author who is stretching to reach the reader with the actual smelly, lonely, desperate, empty reality of the junky.

It's a reality that Burroughs has explored in his fiction and that he has occasionally mined for characters and atmosphere. But nowhere, not even in Exterminator! has he come as close to offering up this direct-if bleak-conversation with the reader. It's worth noting that, outside the world of book-lovers, this may be his most well-known work because it does such a stark and effective job of describing the day-to-day world as it's experienced by the junky.

Lynn Hoffman, author of the somewhat different bang BANG: A Novel

3.5 stars. William Lee has two strikes against him, he is addicted to morphine and heroin, and he is a homosexual. Coming from a wealthy family and with an allowance that enables him to be idle, Bill finds purpose to his existence in the form of drugs. This is the semi-autobiographical account of the real William S. Burroughs life as an addict and, what at the time, was called a 'deviant'.

What's amazing about this account is how little things have changed in regards to scoring their drugs, getting doctors to write prescriptions, and staying beneath the radar of the cops. This book is a sharply poignant journey back through time examining a still-modern habit. Only the background and some of the terms have changed.

Burroughs' writing is skillful and clever, but the story itself comes across just a little flat. I found that there was little emotion in the telling of his tale, even the withdrawal symptoms portrayed very little pain. There is nothing in the text of the haranguing he must have endured being a homosexual, but since a specific point is made of his 'deviancy' in the description of the book, I thought that there would more to this angle in the story. Burroughs' description of the Rio Grande valley is wonderful, but there is little description of either NYC or New Orleans, much to my dismay.

On another note, I wouldn't bother with the 50th Anniversary Definitive Edition. It contains the Introductions from all the other editions (not very enlightening), a glossary, and a few notes that Burroughs wrote to his publisher. You won't miss anything by picking up a regular copy of just the story. All in all, not bad, but I expected more. Enjoy!

In "Naked Lunch," William S. Burroughs used hallucinations, sexuality, and nightmarish imagery to string along a 'plot' that was anything but traditional. While I found the book to be a gripping, thought-provoking read, I was downright surprised at the clear-headedness of "Junky," which is essentially a window into the life of a heroin user, circa early 1950s. Burroughs (as Bill Lee) illustrates his descent into addiction, from his first fix up until his habit builds to staggering proportions; the descriptions of a junkie's daily routine, from shaking down drunks in train stations to eluding police, are done using precise dialogue that incorporates a considerable amount of slang (an informative glossary is included in the book). "Junky" is a hypnotically engrossing read, a book that sucks you into the world of addiction and leaves you clamoring for more.

Although it was written earlier, Junky (and other such autobiographical works) will probably always play second fiddle to the outstanding Naked Lunch. Those who enjoyed Naked Lunch may be relieved to see a 'frank' novel from Burroughs (although the type of person who was totally at home with Naked Lunch may find 'frank' novels incomprehensible -- who knows?), but it is important to take Junky as a far more realistic book than Naked Lunch. Gone are the haunting landscapes of Interzone and Freeland; Junky is a real journey through real cities, with real people, one of whom is the author. Any interested in 'beat' novels or those concerning drug use may find Junky a let-down; however, as a reader of Naked Lunch a foremost a Burroughs reader, I found Junky a fascinating insight to the workings of his mind. [The glossary at the back may also help with interpreting his other books.]

Im not quite finished this novel...so i guess this review is a little premature. But i couldnt help myself. This isnt the most wonderful piece of literature. If i were reviewing this book based on its literary craftmanship, it would probably get 3 stars. But the genius of this book goes beyond the writing style and Burrough's (in)ability to write a classic, timeless novel (you know, something like Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky). Its genius lies in its ability to make you squirm. To make you feel really uncomfortable. And even to make you crack a smile in between. Reading this book puts me on a crazy rollercoaster of emotions and feelings. Not into the depressing crevaces of life like many great novels do, but more like....well, you know how rollercoasters sometimes take you out of your zone of comfort. That's what theyre made to do. Make you feel unsafe, because that's where the thrill comes from. This book, JUNKY, does just that. It takes you by the throat and makes you scream for more. Sick and twisted, but genius!
Of course, if youre a junky, or reformed junky, then the book might not have the same impact. Just all the talk about needles, mugging homeless people, etc etc etc...it all takes me into a world that i know exists (and existed) but have never experienced it so personally. Truly scary. Now that i think of it, i guess it all comes down to the way he talks about everything. Like everything they do in the book is so normal. It's almost like there's no emotion. Like he's reading off a grocery list. That's where the scary part and the uncomfortable feeling come in. I cant believe this stuff happened (and happens).

William S. Burroughs. I can honestly say I appreciated this book when I read it, for the chance to see the inside of a "hard" drug abuser's stand on things, without taking to the needle myself...
I agree with the other reviewer, whereas Burroughs does nothing to encourage drug use with this book, but rather explains certain causes and effects that pertain to users. 'Junky' is autobiographical of Burroughs' life, which is easily detected in the clarity he recalls events - not so much as a character telling a story, but how the deal REALLY went down. This book reminded me about another drug related book called 'Crack House,' but that was more of a documentary style book. The author of that was an outsider, not a user, but accepted in the house as he observed the crack junkies. William S. gives you the inside view.
While I don't recommend the needle, I would recommend this book as an alternative. If you must succumb to the call of the needle, read this book first, and get an idea of what you're getting into. yo.

This book is just hard hitting as they come. William S. Burroughs does not paint a pretty romantic picture of drug use. He shows the destructive nature through is own actions in this biography. This book goes into all aspects of opiate addiction including loss of lobeedo, total lack of higene and self respect.
This book is about scoring and the despreate naked dirty need of a junkie. This book mesmerized me as it horrifed with its narritive. One of the most truthful autobiographical looks at drug use in its most desprate form. From theft to fooling doctors into prescriptions Burrows commits many crimes, the worst of which is his own self distruction.
I like the book for not being a defense or a cautionary tail, just a graphic story which makes you see the results with your own eyes
this isn't a joy read it is quite enlightnening, it is easy to finish because even the pain of Burroughs experience draws you into the inexpicablity of the actions of a true addict.
This is well written direct and not beat poetry stream of consousness like so much of Burrough work is.
This is being a junky.

This early fiction piece by William Burroughs tells a story of a heroin addict in the 1950s, his constant chase for the fix, which must be attained at any cost. Set in New York City, New Orleans and then finally Mexico City, Junky paints a stark picture of the life of a junkie, with crime, paranoia, and sickness being common threads throughout the book. This was Burroughs' first book and a more cut and dried read than his very last, The Western Lands; even so much that I felt it was a bit boring at times.

This self-autobiographical story gets monotonous; where he went to cop dope, when he kicked, how he started again, who he robbed where, etc. It seems to go on and on. His biting judgmental style of writing was already starting to rear its ugly head.

For people who might be interested in Burroughs' personal history and to see his evolution as a writer, this would be an important book. For me, I think it helped give some insight into how to actually portray the mind of an addict in the written word.

By far, this book is much easier to follow than Burroughs' book "Naked Lunch". "Junky" gives a better idea of what the day to day life of a heroin addict is like. One thought which stands out in my mind is Burroughs' explanation of heroin addiction. At first, you take junk for the high, than you take the junk to prevent the sickness that comes from withdrawal. The high is non-existant at this important, and becomes irrelevant. The adventures of Bill Lee take him from New York to Mexico in "Junky". Bill seems to be consistently trying to kick the habit. However, the logic to his quitting is flawed because he tries to replace one addiction with another. This is the source of his adventuresin "Junky". One problem I have with this book is its lack of an apparent plot. However, this may be intentional because the life of a junky also lacks apparent meaning.

I guess the idea of 'Junky' is pretty straightforward. Burroughs tells us about his addict's life, his thoughts on different trips and a touch of politics.

I found the beginning to be the best part, hearing about how Burroughs got into the life, the reality of addiction and the communities/cultures around this were very interesting. I enjoyed Burroughs' perspectives on legislation and his explanation of different drugs was compelling enough.

Where the book lost stars for me is ultimately it meandered into vague anecdotes, and I found myself uncertain as to whether I cared or was interested as to where the book was going. I imagine the major appeal of this book is for those who find their jaws hanging open throughout the whole thing, or on the opposite extreme have some or more experience themselves and can relate. For myself, a relatively squeaky clean individual, but who is difficult to shock the book held little allure.

Most serious readers have experienced a Beat phase in their reading careers...or should. Mine mainly centred on the works of Kerouac and Ginsberg with a spat of McClure and Burroughs thrown in for good measure. Through the years ~Junky~ would make an appearance, however the opportunity never presented itself to crack its covers. The book would manfest from time to time, simply to remind me that it still existed. I finally read ~Junky~ last week and it blew me away.
Despite the fact that William S. Burroughs has been thrown into the Beat literati, ~Junky~ doesn't seem to fit. The book is a one off, an important artefact of history - a testimony to an unfortunate human predicament and a way of life that is all too real; and societies ignorance, intolerance and exploitation of the condition, and its continued hypocrisy.
What I found interesting is that nothing has really changed since ~Junky~ was first published two generations ago. Drug addiction is still a 'moral issue' for a lot of people, including the addiction to alcohol. To be fair, as a society, we've probably made a little progress in the last fifty years, in terms of our understanding and treatment of drugs, but there is still a long way to go.
William Lee, a middle class, educated individual of relative privilege, tells the story of his introduction to junk, subsequent addiction and his on-going hellish relationship with the demon. This testimony is not a posing, romantic portrayal of a hip drug user, living an artistic, bohemian existence amongst poets, painters and musicians, all creating great works of art and having a wonderful time. ~Junky~ is an honest account concerning the 'vicious circle' of addiction, and the many attempts by those afflicted to escape the circle, but once you're in it, there's really no getting out - entirely.
In fact it was Burroughs who coined the phrase:
"Once a junky always a junky." And this is the tragedy.
After closing the book, I had a eerie feeling that I was holding something important in my hands. It ceased to be merely a book and became something else...a relic of a bygone era, its peculiar venacular, attitudes, dreams and nightmares. I believe it would be a mistake to include this book in any literary category for it stands alone, without pretence or device...because with ~Junky~ what you see is what you get.

[He asked the question they all ask. "Why do you feel that you need narcotics, Mr. Lee?"
When you hear this question you can be sure that the man who asks it knows nothing about junk.
"I need it to get out of bed in the morning, to shave and eat breakfast."
... Junk is not a 'good kick.' The point of junk to a user is that it forms the habit. No one knows that junk is until he is junk sick.]

"Junky" by William S Burroughs is not much of a story- it's more of a documentary. It's a play by play of what Bill did when he first started using, to when his habit developed, to how he tried to kick the habit, to when he started using again, to when he tried to kick the habit, to when he started using again... etc etc. He never seems to actually want to get off it though. He seems content in his using and because of a small pension fund, he never even needs to work to support his habit.

His wife comes into the story about halfway through, when I didnt even know that he had a wife (as a character in the book). She is suddenly there, and then a few pages later suddenly gone. I don't know if it was poor editting, or if it was intended to show how fuzzy a junkie's brain is that he wouldn't even mention his wife unless interrogated by police. He moves all over the country and even into Mexico, and his wife is not mentioned again except as a side note.

[I knew that I did not want to go on taking junk. If I could have made a single decision, I would have decided no more junk ever. But when it came to the process of quitting, I did not have the drive. It gave me a terrible feeling of helplessness to watch myself break every schedule I set up as though I did not have control over my actions.]

"Junky" is a daily journal (basically) about a junkie's life. How he scores, what he misses, the feeling of junk sickness.

It is good- in an old time Beat Generation way. Better than Kerouac, but not for my tastes in today's day and age.

"The spike, the hose, the blackened spoon...spread eagled at death..." -Peter Murphy, Bauhaus . If you sometimes hate yourself, if sometimes you wish it would all wash away, if you like to lose yourself in the maelstrom of self desolation, if you believe heaven is a strip club where the DJ spins static-ridden first print Velvet Underground LPs amidst the christmas lights and cockroaches, if the ghosts of dead movie stars whisper to you in the night, if you light your life with blacklight, if thrill comes in illicit packages, if love left long ago, if dreams bring shrieks, if day is a myth, if the mirror cries Auscwitz, if your friends died prostitutes, if you've beaten habit with habit, if the walls breathe, if hell wears a badge, if the dead come back for a piece of your pain...Walk with me.

In his factual, autobiographical masterpiece depicting the life one leads on and off "junk", Burroughs bears his soul and sends an informative message about drugs to us all. Although the protaganist is a pathetic mooch who steals from drunks and alienates his wife, one can not help but feel a sense of love for him. That is one of the wonderful things about Burroghs' writing--while describing his life as pond scum, you still like him and feel his pain when off drugs and sympathize his with his unsatiable cravings while on. This book is not pro-drug use, but a rational, scientific look at drug use. It's great!

Considered to be Burroughs first published novel, this is the semi-autobiographical account of drug addiction. Though many of the experiences of the main character, Bill, are fictionalized, Burroughs himself states that many of the situations, especially the descriptions of the patterns of addiction, are based on his own personal experiences directly. The short novel (about 130 pages in total) follows Bill and a few of his companions through the initial addiction to morphine and other derivatives, and through a life that seems focused on scoring the next hit. Although "Bill" tells us that the addiction isn't hard to kick in terms of major withdrawals, and thus isn't addicting the way alcohol and other drugs can be, his actions seem to indicate otherwise. He seems lost when off the drugs, and finds it extremely easy to drift back into regular shoot-ups at a steady interval.

What made the reading more interesting for me were the appendices included with the particular volume I picked up from the library, which included correspondence between Burroughs and his agent, the agent and the publisher, various introductions included with different printings, and material that was excluded from the original publication. In that sense, the reader is able to get a glimpse of the process involved with publishing as well as some of the changing terminology over the decades between when it was first published, and later editions. My lower rating primarily involves the subject matter itself, since drug addiction isn't really a topic of interest for me...I found the endless conversations regarding junk and shooting up to be tedious after a while, and I was glad that the book was so short for that reason.

First time Burroughs reader here.

I couldn't put this book down. Burroughs' writing is honest and direct, and knowing that it is at least partially referenced from his own life gives it a whole other dimension than you would expect from straight-up fiction. I found his style engaging and entertaining, and the end result of reading this book is that I am now incredibly excited to dive deeper into his works.

Junky has been setting on my shelf for awhile. As a notated reader of the beat generation (Kerouac, Ginsberg, Ferlinghetti, Kaufmann and others...) this is a fantastic book. Yes Burroughs certainly has quite a reputation for being strange, perverted, disgusting etc... However, he certainty can write. This book is an excellent ride into the Junkie's whole world. It is strange, dirty, dark and somewhat humorous in a very weird way. This book stands the test of time and is perfect for a better understanding of what it means to be a junky. It is an honest and dirty look at what it means to be a junky. Just know that you are reading Burroughs and you won't be surprised. A must read for those who want to get into burroughs world or even that of a junky. It stands the test of time, still providing good insight into the junky's world. Readers be ware it isn't for the faint of heart. Grandmothers and church goers should probably stay away from this book.

Drugs take a cynical drifter through a path of hopelessness, addiction, police interrogations, unsuccessful treatments and the drug subcultures of New York, New Orleans and finally, Mexico City. Junky is a lite version of Borrough's classic, Naked Lunch, a version of Burrough's autobiographical tale that is easier to read without Naked Lunch's fanaticisms, savagery, wry humor and nonlinear story telling. Like Naked Lunch, Junky was first published under the pseudonym of Bill Lee, the name of the main character and the reader discovers little of Lee's personality and being. In fact, a common law wife appears suddenly and quietly during the middle of the Junky's New Orleans portion while countless detailed descriptions of the smallest aspects of drug addiction, withdrawal and culture appear throughout the book and that is the point. Lee's being has become a mere host for his addiction and that's what makes Junky such a harrowing, compelling and heart wrenching novel.

Fans of Burroughs' frantic stream-of-conciousness writing style may be put off by this autobiographical text, which is essentially a lurid dime novel. Burroughs shows us, over and over again, the pros and cons of heroin addiction; we get an idea of what the daily life of a drug addict is, and it's dull. Cutting edge when it was first released, the prose's dated slang gets in the way of the reader taking seriously Burroughs' message. However, those that aren't fans of his more abstract (and more pornographic) works may find this novel more accessible

What can I say?
"Junky" is Burroughs' masterpiece. We follow Burroughs' journey from drug-free to literal and physical "Junky", meeting a set of intriguing characters on the way. Taking place at a time when poverty was enormous and morale was low, we watch as Burroughs and various companions enjoy the ecstacy and pain of chronic drug addiction. I love the down-to-earth and honest prose, and I felt both pity and respect (if that's possible) for many of the characters, Burroughs included. "Junky" is certainly essential Beat reading, and it's one of my top 15 books of all time.

One of the most honestly written texts I have ever read. Junky chronicles Borrough's life on the streets of NY as a `junky'. The vivid and graphic details of how an addicted man makes it through daily life were a very eye opening experience. The story may be time-sensitive because but its basic voice is still as fresh as it was when first conceived by the author.
The reading is impressionable during and after. I did not want to put the book down during the read. After I was done, I had this bitter taste of junk in my mouth. That is enough said for Borrough's effectiveness as a writer.

I read this book several years ago and enjoyed the narrative style that Burroughs employed (a break from his cut up style).
For a tale of drug addiction its quite a leisurely read, though at the mercy of heroin William Seeward manages to do a lot of travelling and in certain respects this book is almost like reading the journal of an explorer or frontier man. That in itself is good but I think a more accurate reflection of the junkies experience is probably Wayne Grogan's recent 'Junky Pigrim' - that is truly bleak stuff full of all the brutal realities of junk sickness - it makes this book seem like a Disney fantasy.

This is one of my favorite works by William S. Burroughs; I have read it twice and probably will again. The hardboiled, Celine-influenced writing style suits the subject matter perfectly. There are some shocking episodes here, and no punches are pulled. Unlike much of WSB's later work, this one has an easy-to-follow narrative, and therefore might be a misleading introduction to Burroughs. If you enjoyed "Naked Lunch" though, take a step back and read this; you'll really enjoy it. This edition gives the complete novel, sans any censorship which marred the early (pre-1976) printings.

A taste of self destruction....William S. Burrough's greatest book ever. A hard look into the life of an opiate addict based on the life of the author itself. It should be praised for it's realism and honesty, as it was written in a time when drugs should not have exsisted. Burroughs tells it all, and tells it like it is. Junky paints the sad life of a Junky perfectly, and still manages to throw in the classic black humor that made Burroughs famous. This is one book everyone should read, own, and reread....

William Burroughs is known for his "cutting-up" style of novel writing. After reading THE WILD BOYS and NAKED LUNCH, I didn't think Burroughs was anything but a drug induced wannabe writer. Fortunately, I gave the cult icon one more chance and found out there is something to his ability. In JUNKY, Burroughs tells about his life while living under the influence of heroin and other drugs. He takes us all over the world with him and reveals truths about drugs that others ignore. A must read.

After trying to make sense out of his more surrealistic efforts for years to little avail and no enjoyment, I stumbled across this book and was immediately swept into the narrative of the world of drug addiction in a far deeper manner than his other works.
Perhaps I am too literal minded, but I find the other stuff terrible and self consciously obscure. Junky, however, is clear, concise, and with an internal logic all its own.
Recommended as a particular tour of hell.

This book lays out the junky lifestyle plain and true. Burroughs tells it like it is. There's no glamorization. If anyone thinks being a heroin addict is cool after reading this, he or she isn't paying attention.

From a journalistic point of view, this book is a triumph. It expresses the reality of being an addict without moralizing. Burroughs doesn't encourage the reader to use heroin anymore than he advocates against it. He simply tells the tale of what it was like for him to be an addict.

Everyone's experience is different, and this book was written about 60 years ago, but you certainly get a glimpse into the kind of life a junky leads, even today. The details may change, but there's not much about being a junky that Burroughs hasn't already expressed.

And to the person who wrote: "No high, no experience, no act of social rebellion, nothing heroin can give or represent can be worth what the junky lifestyle takes out of a person and makes the user become," it's obvious that you've never experienced the high of heroin. The best expression about the high of junk is in "Trainspotting," when Renton explains that if you take every orgasm you've ever had, multiply it by a thousand, you're still not even close to the high of heroin. You've never known true bliss until you've been on the nod.

On the other hand, you have a point. I wouldn't wish junk addiction on anybody. It steals your soul.

Junky: The Definitive Text of Junk by William S. Burroughs ***

To be honest I did not enjoy this very much. I am a massive Burroughs fan, he is easily one of my favorite authors of all time, and I have read nearly all his work, and enjoyed almost all of it. Junky is the exception to that. I at times felt the book to be, dare I say boring. Burroughs attempt at the occasional humor was dry and not witty like on most of his work. I found the plot, or lack there of really, to be bland and at times annoying. His style seems to even be strained here, which is sad considering he is one of the most original writers in American history, as well as one of the most underrated.

Now even this, the definitive text didn't save the story for me. I am not saying this was totally bad, so please don't get me wrong. Junky has lots of potential, and could have been one of his best works, but for me personally this just seems weak for an author of his stature.

This book lays out the junky lifestyle plain and true. Burroughs tells it like it is. There's no glamorization. If anyone thinks being a heroin addict is cool after reading this, he or she isn't paying attention.

From a journalistic point of view, this book is a triumph. It expresses the reality of being an addict without moralizing. Burroughs doesn't encourage the reader to use heroin anymore than he advocates against it. He simply tells the tale of what it was like for him to be an addict.

Everyone's experience is different, and this book was written about 60 years ago, but you certainly get a glimpse into the kind of life a junky leads, even today. The details may change, but there's not much about being a junky that Burroughs hasn't already expressed.

And to the person who wrote: "No high, no experience, no act of social rebellion, nothing heroin can give or represent can be worth what the junky lifestyle takes out of a person and makes the user become," it's obvious that you've never experienced the high of heroin. The best expression about the high of junk is in "Trainspotting," when Renton explains that if you take every orgasm you've ever had, multiply it by a thousand, you're still not even close to the high of heroin. You've never known true bliss until you've been on the nod.

On the other hand, you have a point. I wouldn't wish junk addiction on anybody. It steals your soul.

Junky: The Definitive Text of Junk by William S. Burroughs ***

To be honest I did not enjoy this very much. I am a massive Burroughs fan, he is easily one of my favorite authors of all time, and I have read nearly all his work, and enjoyed almost all of it. Junky is the exception to that. I at times felt the book to be, dare I say boring. Burroughs attempt at the occasional humor was dry and not witty like on most of his work. I found the plot, or lack there of really, to be bland and at times annoying. His style seems to even be strained here, which is sad considering he is one of the most original writers in American history, as well as one of the most underrated.

Now even this, the definitive text didn't save the story for me. I am not saying this was totally bad, so please don't get me wrong. Junky has lots of potential, and could have been one of his best works, but for me personally this just seems weak for an author of his stature.

Burroughs' memoir of his days as a Beat-era heroin user among fellow heroin users is sickening and depressing. For its realism it deserves more stars than the three I'm giving it but it was mentally corrosive to the point I can't like what I read. How I finished this at eighteen beats me today. The mid-last-century drug scene was a place of living death and deterioration of the mind, body, and soul. No high, no experience, no act of social rebellion, nothing heroin can give or represent can be worth what the junky lifestyle takes out of a person and makes the user become. True some genetically cursed with the addictive brain seek out chemical highs like an infant reaching for its mother, but others drift into narcotic addiction because they perceive it as glamorous, and THAT is the terrifying side to Burroughs' story of uttery lost human beings rotting in self-imposed damnation.

Junky is a novel i can relate to. The story Burroughs writes is not about heroin; sure, most of the characters are smack addicts but more importantly they are just addicts. I tried to read Naked Lunch by the same author a couple of years ago but had to finish on about the third page. For someone with an experience of the seedy world of drugs, Burroughs writing can be disturbing. I suppose if i was still on drugs while i tried reading Naked Lunch it may have seemed glamorous. That is the brilliance of Burroughs. He was a junky until he died - from morphine to smack to methadone. For an addict, life is junk. So in a sense, Burroughs does write a story about junk - he writes a story about life. Yet, not only the life of an addict; Junky is the tale of a journey. A man who needs to escape the meaningless existence of a junk virgin. Of course, not everyone will agree, maybe you never touched junk, maybe your life is full of existence, maybe you believe in God or get off on sky diving or whatever i dont know. I loved this book because in gets inside my head. The late William Burroughs sticks his hand through the covers, throttles me around the neck. "Read the ****** book, feel my pain, get off your lazy behind at live life..." I am an arrogant nasty man, i have a zest for suffering. I dont even bother picking up a book unless its going to make me work. I hate life and so did Burroughs; if there is a God and there is a Heaven, he doesnt like me and he doesnt like Burroughs, both of us are going to hell. Please dont feel sorry for this great man, and dont believe for a second that there is a moral to the story. I didnt use drugs for any particular reason but the way i used was destructive - an addict by definition is a bad person. It makes me laugh just to say that because i always try to convince myself its not true. All the same i may ask, what is bad and what is good. How can you judge me, why do i judge Burroughs. But the truth is, we all feel hatred - Life sucks. Go ol' Will' knew all this and thats why he kept sticking needles in his arms and drinking methadone till he found a better place. He was too unsure, he was afraid but accordingly to the rules we all lay down, he was a bad person. He was a user, not just of drugs but of people, he was a manipulator. He was a married man and didnt mention his wife but once in the whole novel. He was a self centered, arrogant, nasty piece of work - He was real - Burroughs was a real man and he was a damn fine writer...Sanity is the great barrier to fine art. Junky is a fine novel; a portrayl of a good, honest man living in a world of labels and regulations. You say he was insane, you that will read this review and hate me for wasting your time. And that guy over there and the girl across the sea, far, far away...they both think, wow...i really want to buy that book. Thanks Jason...your awesome. JUNKY - Its real.

I am a huge fan of the Beat Generation literature and after reading this and Naked Lunch, William Burroughs has become one of my favorite authors. Unlike Naked Lunch Junky is much more straight forward and literal but therein lies its strength. Burroughs makes no attempt to glamorize or demonize his drug use, he simply tells it like it is including the good times and the bad times. It is very much like a memoir that tells the story of his life through his alter ego William Lee. Junky is a fairly short read but still tells a great story. I have just finished reading it and already know that I will be re-reading it in the near future. Highly recommended, buy it now and enter "junk territory"!

Wow...this guy was something else. Here we have Junky: a novel written by one of the most twisted yet interesting writers of his day. Burroughs tells a story of what it was like to be a heroine addict in the 1920's and 30's. How he had to find crooked pharmacists and had to watch out for the cops. I thought it was interesting that he mentions how the use of heroine has strengthened him to living a long life. But who knows he did die at 89. So maybe he was right or lucky. He goes into quite a lot of detail regarding the ups and downs of heroine addiction. Never a dull moment.

Junky was written 40 years before Drugstore Cowboy was released. To lable Junky as "another shoot 'em up book" is dismissive and unwarranted. Junky was and is the first book of its kind. I'm certain Gus Van Sant realized this as well when he cast William S. Burroughs in Drugstore Cowboy. When you read "another shoot 'em up book", realize that these other pieces exist because Burroughs had the knowledge and the courage to write a piece this bold and in doing so, paved the way for other herion related works that might not have been published or released as films otherwise.

This is really one of my 2 favorite books by William S Burroughs, the other being Queer.

I'm not sure why this one stuck out so much too me, but I think it has to do partly with the time in my life that I first came across it and the subject matter in relation to that time.

I'm very sure that reading about drug use and using drugs isn't the same thing, but I think reading this book will give you a better perspective on drug use and the way that drugs play with the mind.

this is the first book by burrough's that i've read, and i have to say i wasn't dissapointed. it is an easily accessible book, something i was worried about from all i've heard of burroughs. he doesn't preach, either for or against the junk. i will say that it isn't as gritty as i was expecting, but at times you can see through the almost cheerful voice to the darker side underneath.

The piece that paved the way for Brett, Irvine and Hubert. I would like to think we've advanced since this was written. However I think we're all just looking for that thing that will take us away from this whatever this may be and make us feel better. Sure for straights today it might TV, Facebook, iPhones, etc. But for those of us not simply wanting escape, but wanting to feel better than anyone has ever felt before or since, it will always be the junk.

I read this book at least two years ago and it opened my eyes to things I did not even know existed. I was only 16 and had read other stories of drug addiction, but nothing touched me like this story. The story is such a sad tale and tells you of what weak persons we are - all of us! To me, it is something everyone should read. It gives you a better understanding of drug addicts and why they do things they do. Before reading this book, I had a very low opinion of addicts and could never understand why they did the things they did. Having known one or two didn't help me as much as the book did. Stealing, suffering, and sordid sexual encounters are just a few of the things these people encounter on their hard journey through life. I would recommend this book to everyone!

Junky was William Burroughs's first published novel and therefore his most cautious. Well before his use of the cut-up method in his other books, Junky provides experienced and novice Burroughs readers with an interesting change of scenery. Detailing the life of himself as a heroin addict, Burroughs creates a surrealistic world trapped within the confines of reality. Using his personal experiences and relaying them perfectly on paper is what makes this book so enthralling and utterly terrifying. Being submersed into the jerky, unpredictable yet regimented life of a heroin addict allows you to the experience Burroughs's life not by his rules but by the dictative and fickle rules of the drug itself.
Besides being an incredibly candid piece of art by itself, Junky is the perfect companion to contrast to Naked Lunch being as they both relate and exhibit the same drug-induced banter in the same chronological time frame.

I have to say this is the best drugprevention leaflet I have ever read. Sure Bill had some fun as well, but mostly he was sick, broke and in jail. And always looking for the next fix. Burroughs describes the lows and highs of a junkie's life, and reveals the process of addiction, in such a painstakingly detailed manner there really is no need left to ever go there yourself. My favorite scene is the one in which the heroin has left him so constipated he has to reach in with his fingers and pull 'it' out. This book is nowhere near as good as Burroughs' later work, but check it out anyway.

William S. Burroughs looked for America through an angry fix and apparently found it. His first novel is filled with beat-poet anachronisms and more. It is a diary of an unrepentant soul gone south into the depths of Hell.
My Review: Shocking, violent, beautiful and unhinged, "Junky" is the ultimate 50's beat-poet statement of rage, guilt, addiction and damnation-- worthy of Dante's "Inferno"...

'Junky' has been criticized for lacking form, or even tact, but in that is its beauty.
'Junky' does not possess the atypical story arc that we are taught in high school English class, but this mimics the junky lifestyle. There is no thought of adventure for the junky. There is no sense of purpose other than the constant search for more junk. Burroughs makes this abundantly clear without being repetative.
As for the graphic descriptions, this, too, adds to its atmosphere. Junkies in reality are not phased by their constipation, sores, or disgusting habits, and the matter-of-fact tone of the narration makes that clear.
This book is one of those rare and beautiful works that truly gives you a feeling for what it is like to exist in that world.

I was sitting in crative writing class, and a boy in my class yelled out something about a book Called "Junky" By William S. Bourroughs. I an also an avid guitar player and my biggest inspiration was Tommy Bolin who died of a Heroin overdose. This book truly show how the addict thinks, feels, and acts all while they are pushing their own demise along. At first it seems as though the book glorifies drugs, and thugs. But upon reaching the end of the book, you'll be convinced to never venture near the needle. I highly reccomend this book to anyone who has evr comnptemplatd ever becoming a user of Heroin, Opium, or any of the substances in this book. Bottom Line: Hard, Realistic Description of a broken life, Bourroughs best work by far!

When one reads books or articles on drug use, they usually boil down to either being in strong favor of the effects of drugs, or an attempt to convince others that drugs will ruin your life.

This book, however, is a blaring exception.

Drawing from personal experience in the junkie world, Burroughs creates a fresh insight into the junkie world. How things operate and why the things that happen go on.

Perhaps the most interesting of anything in the book is the first appendix, the 28th chapter (which was taken out for the original edition). Here Burroughs presents a hypothesis of his. He connects the purpose of opium in plants to the effects of opium in humans and sheds light to a truly interesting theory.

Rarely am I as enthused and captivated by a book like I was when I read "Junky".

Strongly recommended.

It is far more straight ahead than Naked Lunch, but with a clarity that has amaizng energy. I have not read everything by Burroughs but what i have read leads me to believe he made his greatest mark in my mind with Junky. Possibly completey autobiographical and therefore less artistic than Naked Lunch, etc. But it's wit, grime, and linear thought transcends.

I just finished reading this book and I have to say that it truly fascinated me! The reason why I only gave it four stars is because it does get boring here and there. But worry not because by the end of the book, when Mr. Lee gets to Mexico, it really picks up and the life style of a junky begins to take hold more stongly then the life of a common criminal! Read this book if you are into the whole 'beat generation' or anything that is unusual from the norms we set for ourselves withing this society. It may change some of they way you think!

Junky is Burroughs semi-autobiographical novel about being a Heroin addict cirka late 1940s/early 1950s in New York, New Orleans and Mexico City. This book is entertaining and interesting even if it paints a seedy and depressing picture of this lifestyle. Another thing I liked is he talked intelligently about Marijuana (which was rare back then) and there was a seemingly random tangent he went on for several pages about Wilhelm Reich. The thing is even though reading this would serve as a deterrent to Heroin use for any semi-normal person because he was a hipster/famous beat writer I can also imagine a certain portion of the population would consider Heroin a cool, hip thing after reading this.

What could I say? This is just the legend who read his own work. Nobody will ever be able to do that like him, his voice really brings you to the dark atmosphere the books builds up. Seat comfortably, have a drink, lower the light and listen..... This refers to the audiobook edition.

"Junky" is more of a curiosity than the 'classic' it is often billed as.

It details William Burroughs drink drug and sex addictions;the highs and lows,and is responsible for every urban myth ever uttered about drug culture!

The fact that Burroughs did everything detailed makes him,at best,a self indulgent hedonist,at worst,a complete imbecile.And his arguments against the admittedly OTT and reactionary laws rushed in against drug use being that they were like the anti-semitic German laws during the nazis shows how shallow Burroughs thinking and intellect really are.

Burroughs doesn't come close to Nelson Algren in 'beat' culture writing,and I can only presume people are awed by his Ivy League upbringing to award him such status.

Again;interesting as a curiosity,but don't fall for the 'classic'label.It's just a marketing ploy!

When I started "Junky," I didn't know what to expect. Very soon, though, I was attached to that book like a junky to a needle. Burroughs writes in such a way that brings you in, and forces you to finish the book. Most people I know read it in less than three days. I did. I wish that all people could read this book, and many others of Burroughs' works. This is a fabulous book.

A previous reviewer, who very much disliked the book, wrote, "...nothing heroin can give or represent can be worth what the junky lifestyle takes out of a person and makes the user become." Well, that's the point of the book. Were you expecting a romantic view of heroin? From William S. Burroughs? You don't know the man. Heroin is NOT romantic, despite what the current pop social climate might intimate. If you were turned off by what the book depicts, William S. Burroughs has done his job. Bravo! Burroughs saves another soul (and somewhere else, someone reading another of his books is busy being lost...). The Great Equalizer. Rise above...

Burroughs bears his soul in this semi-autobiographical descripton of heroin addiction. While the story is fictionalized, the reader gets the point of the pendulam-like life story of the author. I love this book and have read it several times since the initial opening of the cover. I would say that this is one of Burroughs's finest works. A must read if you are interested in the Beat Generation whatsoever.

What Burroughs fails to do in this book he does in "Naked Lunch". It is not the junk. It is the laws. We didn't have a junky problem before 1914 and the passage of the Harrison Narcotics Act. Read up on opium addiction on Nantucket Island in the late 1700s. It was not much of a problem. More of a curiosity.

burroughs' book is immature and extremely outdated (and in fact predated). While his story gets interesting a number of times, there are several books that are grittier, truer, and more poignant to the matter of heroin addiction. This is just another pretentious piece of pulp about a topic already exhausted by many people before his time, and i would say even jim carroll's work (a predecessor indeed) is a step up from this.

i would just like to say bottom line that junky is a great book. its a shot of reality that i think all should know. anyone who could read this book then turn to the needle is seriously wrong in the mind in the first place. unfortunately where i live the book is rather blacklisted as a bad influence on kids but i'm 17 and read it and i think that its a great book for anyone age 16-90

Junky is a very strong book and very fast paced. I hope it helps at least one person to stay off of drugs by seeing the unglamorous side of it. People and families get hurt. This book was very similar to another book I read on Heroin abuse. That book is called "This Ain't No Pocket Diary" Like Burroughs, Raul Maldonado the author of this book writes a journal of his life as a heroine addict for over 10 years. Goes to show you how horrible drug addiction really is. Both of these books are worth the money.

This was a short novel by Burrough's, but I thought it really connected with the reader. I've never used "junk" and never will. Burrough's writing is blunt yet descriptive. If you're looking for a book to read, it's Junky.

One of the few books I have been able to read in years. I do not know of any other writer who has done as much with language as Mr. Burroughs has done here-The fact that this is also a very funny book may pass unnoticed-

To those of you who say that Burroughs is juvenile and disgusting, I say: read this book! It's frank and, at times, ugly - but hey! That's life. A truly thought-provoking read - definitely one of the greatest books ever, from one of the best and most sorely missed authors.

I loved this book and anyone interested in the topic of drugs and the underground life will find this book very entertaining. Although this book takes place over 50 years ago it is very easy to read and understand and it is not so much out of date as i thought it would be. My only complaint is that the actual story is only 130 or so pages. I recommend this book!!!

Burroughs is a contemporary genius. How he melds travelling due to need for heroin thus kicking and restarting at the drop of a hat. Very socially conscious and amazingly written. Not as metaphorically political as Naked Lunch, he does the job.

I read Junky over the course of two days and I cant say it was a complete waste of time, but i'm no better for the experience. "Junky" is a narrow, flat, and ego-centric account of a creepy man and his pathetic heroin addiction. I did appreciate Burrough's moral ambiguity, but thats easy to achieve. If I wanted a to learn a slew of outdated heroine slang I would of ordered a chicken fried steak at Denny's. Whatever that means.

This book is about opiate addiction and the author (William Burroughs) was an ex addict.
Being I'm an ex heroin addict...it was interesting to me.

Also, my father (Don Swaim) interviewed William Burroughs, when my father worked at C.B.S radio and had a show called "Book Beat."

(...)

In closing,

Although the book is dated, it held my interest and it is a must for any William Burroughs fans.

D. David Swaim

This book is one of those books that shock you and stays with you for ever. It is such an effective book that we may feel compassionate and remorseful about the protagonist's actions. Borroughs' books are legendary and should be always used as a moral lesson for everyone. I advise to read "Queer" (by Borroughs). "Queer" is even more devastating and dramatic.

Junky was William Burroughs's first published novel and therefore his most cautious. Well before his use of the cut-up method in his other books, Junky provides experienced and novice Burroughs readers with an interesting change of scenery. Detailing the life of himself as a heroin addict, Burroughs creates a surrealistic world trapped within the confines of reality. Using his personal experiences and relaying them perfectly on paper is what makes this book so enthralling and utterly terrifying. Being submersed into the jerky, unpredictable yet regimented life of a heroin addict allows you to the experience Burroughs's life not by his rules but by the dictative and fickle rules of the drug itself.
Besides being an incredibly candid piece of art by itself, Junky is the perfect companion to contrast to Naked Lunch being as they both relate and exhibit the same drug-induced banter in the same chronological time frame.

Further evidence that the self-indulgent spoiled children of the beat generation couldn't produce a book worth reading. At least the unreadable Naked Lunch could be hated, but Junky is too meagre to inspire any emotion at all, even negative ones.