Drugs Forum - The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test

Drugs Forum (http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/index.php)

- Book reviews (http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=142)

- - The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36628)

The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test

The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
by Tom Wolfe

It's been many years since I read this book, but I remember loving it, and I have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone interested in the drug culture of the 60's. And apparently it's now being made into a movie! See the article below for more info on what it's about if you haven't already read it.

Quote:

Van Sant to Direct adaptation of classic Wolfe novel - The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test

August 2nd, 2007 by Lucy

It’s been almost 40 years since Tom Wolfe’s “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test” was published and is now set to get a big screen makeover. Attached to direct is Gus Van Sant with Lance Black (Big Love) writing the script.

The movie will be produced by Richard Gladstein who is currently in the process of setting the project with a financier.

The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test told the story of a cross-country road trip that author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Ken Kesey orchestrated with a group called the Merry Pranksters. Driving a psychedelically painted bus from California to the World Fair in New York in 1964, Kesey and his band used the trip to turn those they met along the way to the mind-expanding wonders of LSD.

Kesey took LSD while he wrote the famous “Cuckoo’s Nest” and credited the hallucinogen for many of the ideas in the book.

After the Wolfe book was published in 67, the film rights to the movie were snapped up by entrepreneur Alfred Roven. Alfred wasn’t a film producer and had many meetings over the years with filmmakers but was very protective over the rights. When he died, Roven left the rights to his children, Daryn and Alison. It was only then did FilmColony’s Gladstein get introduced to the children by attorney Peter Grossman and the rights were finally entrusted to a producer.

Van Sant was quick to sign onto the film who then enlisted Black, with whom he’s collaborating on a biopic slain San Francisco pol Harvey Milk.

Wolfe is unlikely to be a major part of the film, with focus being on Kesey and include events which occurred after the road trip.

Keep it locked at product reviews for more news on the adaptation of The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.

http://www.product-reviews.net/2007/...aid-acid-test/

Re: The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test - Tom Wolfe

Re: The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe

I love this book. Actually, according to the book itself, Kesey's inspiration for one flew over the cuckoo's nest came from mescaline, which he was taking around the same period of time as he was taking part in the clinical LSD studies. Anyhow, anyone who hasn't read this definitely should. The style of writing is just as good as the content (which is also interesting), and it seems to give a really vivid picture of the era (as well as i can tell, not having been alive then). I consider this a must read.

Re: The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe

Could you write your own book review on it and post this in a new thread, because the review above is just copied off a site. The book review section will become more advanced soon.

The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test

This is a classic. Apparently the author, Tom Wolfe, never actually took LSD, but he still does a great job conveying the mentality of the era through what is often called stream of consciousness writing (there's a journalistic term for this as well, but i can't remember what it is).

The book chronicles Ken Kesey's first drug experiences and continues through the beginning of the Merry Pranksters and the Acid Tests. It sums up the attitude of the era through the style of speech, and it also reminds the reader that all the characters who we know of as hippies, acid testers, etc. were also real, 3 dimensional people with personalities and feelings. It almost makes me feel like i'm there with the pranksters whenever i pick up this book.