With the field of Kerouac studies widening in the last ten years, an often overlooked aspect of his contribution is the spiritual nature of his art. Not to say that Kerouac hasn't before been regarded as a "religious" writer, but there has not yet been a thorough critical study of how spirituality and religion influenced Kerouac's fiction and poetry. Ben Giamo has broken a significant barrier with Kerouac, the Word and the Way. He uses The Dulouz Legend to explain Kerouac's spiritual progression, and the result is a strikingly unique study of Kerouac's fiction. By focusing primarily on the text, rather than on Kerouac myth, he shows us how spirituality manifested itself in Kerouac's novels, while linking the work itself to the inner struggles of a writer in search of meaning.
My only criticisms of this book are minor. First, Giamo doesn't give a strong enough definition of "Spirtuality." Any Kerouac reader would assume this term is a label for Kerouac's Catholicism/Buddhism, when in fact Giamo intends for it to be understood in broader terms: Not simply a search for salvation or enlightenment, but ultimately the search for understanding of self--the search for IT. Stating this more strongly would have provided a better context for the book.
Second, Giamo certainly digs deep into Kerouac's Buddhist studies and how they influenced his writing, but this same attention is not paid to his lifelong adherence to Catholicism. As he immersed himself in Eastern thought, seeking a path of enlightenment--even isolating himself from the world in this pursuit--Kerouac still acknowledged the importance of Christianity in his life. This is evidenced by the seeming dualism apparent in his "middle" novels. Giamo addresses the "split-self" of Kerouac, especially referring to Desolation Angels and Big Sur, but he manages to separate Kerouac's Christian and Buddhist beliefs, as though Kerouac went from one to the other with no blurring of the two in between. Really, The Dharma Bums is Kerouac's only novel that relies soley on Buddhist teachings. Nearly all of the others--excepting the early novels--portray a man attempting to blend the beliefs of East and West to create a unique sense of self.
Even so, this is an extremely important book. Giamo has opened the door to an area of Kerouac studies that has only been given passing reference. Kerouac, The Word and the Way, firmly establishes Kerouac as a Spiritual Artist--rather than an existential wanderer--and takes a major step in clarifying Kerouac's place as one of America's most important writers.
