The Rum Diary

A really interesting short story and quick read by Hunter S. Thompson called The Rum Diary.  The book is actually being turned into a movie, starring Johnny Depp – we’ll see, not always happy with books that turn into movies, such as Never Let Me Go (saw movie last night… what a disappointment!).  Interesting fact, the book was written in the 1960s, but not published until late 1990s. The story chronicles the life of journalist Paul Kemp who leaves NYC to work in Puerto Rico during the late 1950s when PR is becoming more Americanized.  Kemp goes to PR to continue his journalistic journey to work for the fledgling PR Daily News, which is staffed by a cadre of former journalists from the States.  Kemp learns early on about the life of treachery, debauchery and drunkenness, (the life huh?) as his colleagues at the paper all join in on a regular basis to live the merry life as soon as the last story is written.  Kemp, a highly volatile guy starts off the story leaving NYC attempting to push a poor Puerto Rican guy out of the seat next to him so a pretty young woman can have the open seat next to him.  This woman, Chenault, plays a role later in the story as the lover of his friend, Yeamon, and eventually beds down with Kemp himself after a sordid carnival weekend in St. Thomas.  Partying, partying, partying that’s all these news reporters seem to do.  I guess work hard, party hard was invented by journalists.  Reminiscent of the infamous Gatsby.  The story concludes with the newspaper folding and the lives of the reporters left behind after an adventure of being jailed and fighting the current natives of PR.  How do the “crazy” Americans infiltrate and drive a culture mad with the carefree sex and alcohol induced culture?  The Rum Diary is the expose “tell all” book.  The characters are interesting as is the nomadic life of Kemp and his fellow Americans.  Three months go by quickly.  Very much like a 1950s version of the “brat pack.”  Good read!