The Basketball Diaries by Jim Carroll
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Book Reviews of The Basketball Diaries
Book Review: I thought that the book was very well written.
Summary: 5 Stars
In my opinion this book was very good. I thought that it was very well written and gave in-depth descriptions on what growing up is like for some people. Some people grow up on robbing stores or selling weed and smokling stuff all the time. I believe they do this for a way to survive because they have no place left to go. I believe this is a good book for people to read if u are at least 15 because of the language and the more grown-up things discussed in the book. I thought that the book needed to be more about his basketball career or his poet career. The book is called Basketball Diaries and the main points in the book were about sex, drugs, and an occasional basketball game here or there. Many kids may read this book and be like that will never happen to me i won't do any of that bad stuff but when I read this book i couldn't believe half the things kids would sink to just to get an ounce of weed. At the begining of the book Jim's mom found heroin and Jim said that is was only weed that you get addicted to. It turns out that Jim wasn't only addicted to weed but also the heroin. Kids are always like well if I try it i won't like it so I guess it doesn't matter and they try it and the next thing they know is that they are addicted and can't stop. So again I thought that this book was very good but the author could have fixed the book more to concentrate more on basketball instead of weed and sex.Book Review: Chasing The Dragon
Summary: 5 Stars
The Basketball Diaries by New York City Punk Poet Laureate Jim Carroll is a diary of his life between the ages of 12 and 16. The literary level he achieves is stunning given his youth. The subject matter, while serious, is not near as dark as other reviewers have suggested. Although drug usage plays an ever increasing role in Carroll's life to the detriment of his grades, sports, etc., many parts of the diary are laugh-out-loud funny. The "anything for a laugh or a high" ethic of Carroll and his buddies is something that many of us can relate to as we think back on our youth. Usually with a mixture of regrets and smiles. It is a perilous journey that does end in ultimate tragedy for some. But not Carroll. He has survived (and thrived) for years now as a poet and musician. In light of this knowledge, his diary doesn't seem as desparate and moribund as it could have been. This is in no way an affirmation of drug usage and I'm not trying to minimize its potential dangers. Jim Carroll's account of his descent into mainline heroin addiction is somewhat harrowing. But this book is much more than just a junkie's story. It is wonderfully written and is very effective at conveying not just the trials of youth but some of it's joys as well. Highly recommended.Book Review: Still not dated even though written over 30 years ago.
Summary: 5 Stars
The Basketball Diaries is an amazing book. It was very well written. Even though it was written over 30 years ago, the book isn't dated. Young people still face today many of the problems that the author had to deal with more than three decades ago. Today's teens can easily connect to the book because they feel in a similar way as the author did, too. Furthermore, it also helps today's youth to realize that drugs aren't all fun and that they can easily get addicted to narcotics, too, because the author gives an amazing insight of how living with a drug addiction is really like. He doesn't glorify the use of controlled substances, rather, he plain and simply writes the truth about drugs. The Basketball Diaries is the book I've ever read and I strongly recommend it to everybody!Book Review: finally got to read it!
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw the movie, The Basketball Diaries, years ago, and subsequently kept hearing how awesome the book is. But I never got around to actually reading it. Until, I was in a friend's house recently and perusing her bookshelfs saw it. I borrowed it and within 2 days read the entire book. It's quite disturbing, even more so because I live a few blocks above Inwood - - where Carrol lived and where much of the book took place - - in Kingsbridge . Reading The BD's I felt like, 30 years later, I know a bunch of Jim Carrol's running around playing the same downward spiraling game. Carrol has an amazing ability to capture his own life on paper. I'm just wondering Jim, are you pure yet?Book Review: Stunning Realism
Summary: 5 Stars
The movie inspired me to read the book. Many people were reluctant to see the movie because they didn't think Leo DiCaprio would play a good part. He did a great job! For those who still won't see the movie, you have to at least read this incredible book. It's unforgettable...and that says a lot considering the hundreds of books I have read. This book has made me a big Jim Carroll fan. This book is based on his life. However, instead of getting stuffy background information and dates easily forgettable, you get a simple "this is how it was." Since he is a poet, the book has a beautiful flow of words and vivid detail. A must read!