Plot Summary

The Rum Diary: A Novel

Hunter S. Thompson
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The Rum Diary: A Novel

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1998

Book Brief

Hunter S. Thompson

The Rum Diary: A Novel

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1998
Book Details
Pages

224

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Puerto Rico • 1950s

Publication Year

1998

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In The Rum Diary: A Novel by Hunter S. Thompson, journalist Paul Kemp moves from New York City to San Juan, Puerto Rico for a job at a struggling newspaper. He navigates a tumultuous environment filled with heavy drinking, complex relationships, and ethical dilemmas, all while becoming entangled with colleagues, including the dangerous Yeamon and his girlfriend, Chenault. The novel involves instances of interpersonal violence and abuse.

Gritty

Melancholic

Adventurous

Mysterious

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

4.1

65,463 ratings

67%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Hunter S. Thompson's The Rum Diary: A Novel divides readers with its vivid portrayal of 1950s Puerto Rico. Positively, many appreciate the evocative, atmospheric writing and raw, engaging character development. Negatively, some criticize the plot as meandering and the tone as occasionally disjointed. Overall, it's heralded for its immersive narrative but might not satisfy all readers.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Rum Diary: A Novel?

Fans of Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas will relish The Rum Diary. Ideal for readers who enjoy gritty, semi-autobiographical tales set in exotic locales, akin to Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises and Kerouac’s On the Road. Expect a raw, boozy journey that delves into expat journalism and 1950s Puerto Rico.

4.1

65,463 ratings

67%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Fun Facts

The Rum Diary: A Novel was written by Hunter S. Thompson in the early 1960s, but remained unpublished until 1998, making it one of his earliest novels to be released posthumously.

The novel is inspired by Thompson's own experiences working as a journalist in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the late 1950s.

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Book Details
Pages

224

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Puerto Rico • 1950s

Publication Year

1998

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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