What do you like about these guys? The Beats seemed to care more about what they represented than what they actually wrote.
Not a fan, so serious and braggy. Constantly showcasing their debaucheries... gets old.
When I read "Howl" all I can picture is that 9th grade English student who considers himself "A Nonconformist".
They were pretty influential for me during my formative years. Breaking out of the intellectual confines of suburban life and all that jazz...Also their Eastern leanings prompted me to explore that philosophy, which I'm fond of. But I hear ya, it's not for everyone. Yet their influence can't be denied.