REVIEW: The Rum Diary: Chapters 11-21

                My review of the last half of The Rum Diary by Hunter Thompson: Well done. I was eventually finally engaged in the book as the pace finally picked up. My review, after finishing the book, as a complete novel: eh? It’s really not that spectacular of a book. And it’s advertised as an exciting book filled with lust, action, money, scandals and total drunkenness and bar fights. The most of these advertised by the covers of the book are the lust of a “mysterious, sexy woman.” This would lead the reader to believe, that main character, Paul Kemp, would get involved with some woman. But there is no other significant woman in the book other than Yeamon’s—fiance? Girlfriend? Wife? It wasn’t too clear on what Chenault and Yeamon’s relationship was. They lived together in a really nice beach house.

                Only towards the very end of the book does Paul get involved with Chenault when she gets separated from Yeamon at a party after they have a bit of an argument. The argument signifies the ‘final straw’ to Yeamon and Chenault’s abusive relationship. Paul comments at one point that “’he treats her like a slave.’” Chenault disappears and everyone goes back to San Juan, only for her to show up at Paul’s apartment one morning. Then, after a complete day of her silence, they sleep together and the lusting and sex part of the book that was advertised finally comes full circle—but only for her to flee Puerto Rico after a few days and go to New York. She does leave a very significant note with one hundred bucks. This note tells the reader what happens to Paul, or at least gives us material to infer what most likely happens if Paul follows Chenault’s instructions to meet her in New York and marry her.

                The most exciting part of the book, and the biggest action scene is when the paper folds and Lotterman refuses to pay any of the employees. Moberg, Yeamon, Sala, Segarra and many other of the employees agree to go after Lotterman at a party. Yeamon, a continuing symbol of anger and aggression in the book, beats up Lotterman and he ends up having a heart attack. Meanwhile, Paul is sitting alone at Al’s, the bar that has continuously symbolized neutrality and maybe even peace from the rest of the Puerto Rican culture and chaos. Sala and Yeamon show up and tell them what happened. Sala flees and Paul takes Yeamon about 45 miles down the coast so Yeamon can flee on a boat. The whole ride down is extremely ironic, because we know and Paul knows that Chenault slept with Paul and fled for New York. Paul is dropping Yeamon off and then leaving to go marry his ex-partner.

                Overall, I’ve read better books. I’ve read worse. I give The Rum Diary a 6 out of 10 and recommend it to anyone that enjoys reading a good, messy scandal.