Freak Kingdom

Freak Kingdom: Hunter S. Thompson's Manic Ten-Year Crusade Against American Fascism
by Timothy Denevi
Expected Pub: Oct 2018

Freak Kingdom chronicles a decade in the life of Hunter S. Thompson amidst one of the more tumultuous and tense periods of American history. For how often HST found himself in the middle of cross-country era-defining adventures, he may as well be the political speed freak version of Forrest Gump (and I would so watch that movie). Partying with the counterculture Hells Angels and Merry Pranksters, calling out police violence in Chicago, running for Sheriff in Aspen, covering the Chicano Rights movement in LA, and even finding himself at the Watergate hotel bar the night of the infamous break-in.

 As someone who used to read Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas every summer break in college, I'm definitely an easy target for this action-packed biography. Still, Denevi's portrayal of HST is well-researched, honest and pulls no punches. I think the spirit of the text is best captured by the book's blurb: "Hunter S. Thompson is often misremembered as a wise-cracking, drug-addled cartoon character. This book reclaims him for what he truly was: a fearless opponent of corruption and fascism, one who sacrificed his future well-being to fight against it, rewriting the rules of journalism and political satire in the process." I was genuinely sad when it was over, I want to watch the rest of history play out through lens of this sardonic madman.

 // I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher: Public Affairs -- but you can also pre-order through IndieBound or my friendly neighborhood indie Brazos Bookstore

Ah, the Fourth of July.
There's nothing more American spending obscene amounts of money towards blowing pretty shit up to appease the masses. (Bread and circuses are sooooo Roman Empire.) Besides, fireworks show how much we truly care about the environment. And the poor. And our National debt. (Calm down and remember Rule #20 mmk? No matter how much I mock the holiday, I still ADORE it. Even if this leaves me slightly disgusted with myself...)

Buy the ticket, watch the FILM.
(Seriously though. Go do it. Now.) Gonzo, the Hunter S. Thompson documentary, came out today. I thought it was pretty amazing, especially since I didn't know most of his background story going in. Then again, I can't objectively say whether or not it was actually a good movie since I'd probably end up enjoying anything that has to do the good Doctor. (This explains why I intend to buy all promotional material for the flick: the movie poster pictured here and a handful of severed kitten heads seared with F&L quotes. Delicious.)

And then there was the BBQ,
and it was good.
Learned something new today: apparently they make jalapeño flavored burger patties. Apparently they are quite delicious.
Many props to Alex-Randy-Viren on being great hosts. I can't wait to kill you all and claim the house. *ahem* I mean, move in for the school year.
Daft Punk is Playing in My Head, MY HEAD.
The walk back to the Esplanade to watch fireworks was trippy as fuck. Mostly because the medical center at night is absolutely GORGEOUS. You lose yourself in the pretty colors. (And find yourself in the Bright Lights, Big City *happy sigh*) And just so you know, I did actually have Daft Punk and LCD Soundsystem reverberating through my skull the entire time. I was living a James Murphy music video. I can now die happy.

Fireworks. are. visual. orgasms.
I have just decided this.

Soulwax remix, anyone?

Look, there's two women fucking a polar bear!

DAY SEVEN

This was our first intentional trip to "The City, " so I was pretty excited (last time we ended up here by heading 40 minutes in the wrong direction.) Basically spent the day perusing Pier 39 which is a slightly classier, more commercial version of Kemah.
It's really too bad I've already filled my quota of Fear & Loathing references for the year, because Fisherman's Wharf was just asking for it. We rode a carousel. Got my picture taken with a Hannah Montana signed guitar. Fortunte told by Zoltar. Saw a store selling pearl-bearing oysters. Guaranteed. This is not a good town for psychedelic drugs. Reality itself is too twisted.

Though in the Pier's defense, I must add, the (completely sober, in case you were wondering) carousel ride was amazing. There's nothing like riding a creepy gem-encrusted horse spinning round and round to eerie tinkling background music. Just like the good ol' days. Besides, I enjoy wandering around these cute little tourist hot-spots, no matter how much I mock them. Besides, they served a mean clam chowder-bread bowl.


After the Pier, we headed back for the San Rafael Street Fair. Every Thursday, the city shuts down an entire street for people to set up tents and tables to sell their stuff. Fresh fruits, veggies, baked goods, earrings, hippie purses, clothing, vietnamese children. Really, something for everyone. I bought a sundress and a can of homeade mixed pepper preserves. Good day, it was.

Experiments in Consciousness Expansion Pt2

Currently Listening to: Chemical Brothers + Justice + Mars Volta's new album on shuffle
Currenty Reading: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas... again

It's interesting to note the different things you take out of books when you reread them. Maybe the first time you fall in love with the themes, funny quotes and dark satirical jabs at politics and society. But the second time you find yourself fixating more on how the author is someone you see yourself falling hopelessly in love with but never taking seriously. Or discovering how much you've personally changed in the way you interpret novels since high school. Or pondering the chemical basis for induced paranoid schizophrenia. Or thinking about what would you would do if you happened to acquire human pineal gland. And for that matter, what would Jesus do?

I think I'm in love with Jason's Deli. Their half-sandwich half-salad (aka stuff-a-togo-box-with-as-much-food-as-you-physically-can) is amazing. Oh yeah, and did I mention the FREE ICE CREAM CONE?

Did anyone else note that I fell in love three times in this note?
Is my subconscious pushy or what?