Product Description

This rich and compelling story of four traveling junkies who lives revolve around looting drugstores was made into the movie voted best film of 1989 by the National Society of Film critics and is published here for the first time.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #295230 in Books
• Published on: 1990-10-01
• Released on: 1990-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780385302241
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
Fogle's story of four marauding drug addicts who travel through the Pacific Northwest looting narcotics from drugstore pharmacies was the basis for the movie of the same name. Drawing on his own experience, the author, who has spent 35 of his 53 years in prison, has taken a decidedly downbeat topic--drug addiction--and transformed it into a wry, often satirical commentary on the potential for anarchy and aimlessness in the lives of American youth. Bob Hughes is the ringleader of the group, planning elaborate schemes to distract checkout clerks and pharmacists from the treasured--and locked--narcotics drawers behind the prescription counter. In one such incident, Bob has his "old lady" Diane set fire to a section of merchandise while his partner Rick sets off smoke bombs, with Rick's girlfriend Nadine screaming "Fire!" at the top of her lungs. Fogle's description of the thieves' drug use is realistic yet restrained. The dialogue tends to be hokey, with characters venturing into various ungrammatical speech patterns, and there is annoying sermonizing about rotten police, corrupt politicians and virtuous dope fiends. But overall this is an extremely likable, fast-paced, humorously wrought tale of losers living on the edge.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

A perfect companion to the film
How many times have you seen a film and then read the book on which the film is based and said to yourself, "God, that film was awful - the book is so much better!"? Rare are the cases where book and film compliment each other and live in harmony. Drugstore Cowboy is one of those rare cases. If you like the film, you will love this book. The lovable junkies, hilarious adventures, and poignant mishaps of Bad Bobby Hughes and cohorts are further fleshed out and even more entertaining in print.

Ride 'em Cowboy!
No one can accuse James Fogle of not having done his research. The man spent the majority of his adult life behind bars for apparently the exact type of lifestyle that he presents in DRUGSTORE COWBOY. I guess he took the lesson of writing what you know to heart.

Despite my lukewarm rating, which I base on an objective reading of the book, DRUGSTORE COWBOY is actually an enjoyable read. The cowboy himself, Bob, has probably ripped off more pharmacies than anyone else on the West Coast. We follow Bob, his lady Diane, and his compatriots Rick and Nadine on a few such romps. The situations they get themselves into, or more appropriately, that Bob gets them into, are often quite amusing and I laughed several times throughout. The book is easy reading and even a slow reader will be able to get through it in a few days.

What Fogle has in authenticity, however, is offset by the writing itself, which often feels contrived. This is particularly acute with respect to dialogue, which unfortunately often goes beyond contrived into flat-out cliched and even corny. The free-wheeling style of writing is usually not my thing but is probably appropriate for a novel such as this.

I am a bit surprised that the book DRUGSTORE COWBOY (as opposed to the movie) was never more popular. It has that Jack Kerouac feel to it that would seem to straddle the line between popular novel and cult classic. It may not be highbrow, but it is fast and fun.

Great
Drugstore cowboy is a novel about a crew of traveling junkies. the bands leader is Bob Hughes "one of the cleverest, ringiest, most notorious dope fiend drugstore cowboys on the entire West Coast, including Alska." It is an incredibly real examination of a dope fiends domain. Some how you can't help but fall in love with the charecters. They are portrayed acuratly without being betrayed or praised. James Fogle really knows what he's talking about.
You may have noticed that this is a kids review and may be wondering why it is here seeing how this is certainly not a kids book. I am 12 years old and live in the city so,as you can imagine, i have had some run ins with dope. Drugstore Cowboy had an impact on my life, for better or for worse i can not say, but i am glad i read it because there is nothing more honest out there.
i would recomend this novel to everyone at some point in their lives.