The Stray Bullet: William S. Burroughs in Mexico Paperback – October 1, 2013

If you've previously followed Burroughs closely it's kind of a been there/done that book. 1) Burroughs lives in Mexico to evade the law and score drugs easily with limited interference 2) Shoots his wife accidentally (yes, I believe it was an accident and not some telepathic communication to do so with Joan or a plot for some kind of freedom on his end) 3) Becomes a super depth narrator of his genius all encompassing mind creating wondrous works in which this book isn't close nor intended to compare with. It's a bit of a fluff piece, airline reader. Pictures are cool though.

If you are a Burroughs completist, then by all means purchase this book. Much like every book on Burroughs (minus Algebra of Need) there is very little information that hasn't already been covered in Barry Miles and Ted Morgan's biographies of Burroughs. A couple photos I've never seen before and Jorge Garcia-Robles' endless criticisms of Burroughs not being interested in Mexican culture are the only new things I came away with.

I don't know if it was originally written poorly or if the translator took liberties; either way, having read numerous bios on WSB, by far this one is the worst. For one, it's written at about a fifth-grade reading level which while making the book a breeze to go through, it's also a little insulting assuming most reading can't read words with more than three syllables. It is repetitive in many places (one too long paragraph starts EVERY sentence in it with the word, 'Nor') and the descriptions are either simple sentences or not much beyond place names. I can't recommend this book which is too bad because I was hoping to enjoy this but just could not.

Sheds light based on original research concerning Burroughs' time in Mexico and South America. Disproves the story that the shooting was accidental.

Not for the weak of heart. I live in Mexico and have been interested in WB's time here. Great read with concurrent Mexican Culture included.

sick mother (&*^&&*%&^$&%^$%^&#$^$

I haven't read any of William S. Burroughs' works, but his life has been a curiosity. I've been considering reading  Call Me Burroughs: A Life , but at 715 pages, I thought I'd test drive this first.This essay length book covers 3 pivotal years in Burroughs' life, the period Burroughs claims, made him a writer. The narrative, translated from the Spanish, is informative, and in some parts, poetic.It begins in New York with the well-chronicled events of the beat writers and their hustler friends. There are two life events for Burroughs in NYC. One is his introduction to Joan Vollmer staged by Alan Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac. The other is, Burroughs, along with Kerouac, hiding murder evidence; they knew the victim and showed no remorse.The move to Mexico, preceded by a failed attempt at growing marijuana in Texas, was inspired by a need to evade the law/family and have easy access to drugs.If the whole text doesn't lead up to the climax, the reader's anticipation does. The moment is short. A scant page sets the scene and in the next page Burroughs has shot his wife. It is this event that Burroughs said made him a writer (although he'd been working on a book). Why? Was it the tragedy? The guilt? The ease of his escape? I guess I'll have to read the long book to know. This book speaks only to the murder, his actions following the murder, his legal situation and how he left Mexico. While this event may have literary significance it is shocking and defines him forever.I don't know how much more there is to know about the Mexico years. The writing is good, but balance is missing. For instance, 3 pages of this short book are on a Lola la Chata, a drug dealer whom Burroughs never met. There is more description of the drugs/alcohol they imbibed and their house guests than of the dynamics of the marriage of the openly homosexual Burroughs and his once sexy wife. The closest the author comes to an analysis of the marriage is "Joan stayed with him because she wanted to die." There is nothing on how the two children were raised; it appears that they fend for themselves.There are a few photos reproduced from snapshots; two of Joan after the tragedy.The book fills a niche and it does pique my interest. I'll have to finally read some Burroughs and perhaps the big bio too.