31 pages • 1 hour read
The Basketball Diaries: The Classic About Growing Up Hip On New York’s Mean Streets
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Book Brief
224
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
New York City • 1960s
1978
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Jim Carroll recounts his teenage years through a series of diary entries in The Basketball Diaries, detailing his experiences growing up on the lower east side of New York City during the 1960s. His narrative explores his passion for basketball, his descent into heroin addiction, and the crimes he commits to support his habit, all set against the backdrop of the Cold War and Vietnam War. The book addresses issues including child abuse, sexual assault, drug use, and derogatory language/racial slurs.
Gritty
Mysterious
Dark
Melancholic
Unnerving
Reviews & Readership
31,134 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Jim Carroll's The Basketball Diaries has been praised for its raw and unflinching portrayal of adolescence and addiction. Critics commend its vivid and poetic prose, capturing the tumultuous inner life of its young author. Some find its unrelenting bleakness overwhelming, though others argue this brutality underscores its authenticity. Overall, the memoir’s stark honesty deeply resonates with readers.
Who Should Read The Basketball Diaries?
Fans of gritty, autobiographical narratives detailing youth rebellion and artistic exploration will appreciate Jim Carroll’s The Basketball Diaries. Comparable to Jack Kerouac’s On the Road and Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, it appeals to readers interested in counter-culture, coming-of-age stories, and raw, poetic prose.
31,134 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
224
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
New York City • 1960s
1978
Adult
18+ years
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