The Rum Diary (novel)

The Rum Diary is an early novel by American writer Hunter S. Thompson that was written in the early 1960s but was not published until 1998. The manuscript, begun in 1959, was discovered amongst Thompson's papers by Johnny Depp. The story involves a journalist named Paul Kemp who, in the 1950s, moves from New York to work for a major newspaper, The Daily News, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is Thompson's second novel, preceded by the still-unpublished Prince Jellyfish.

Background

Set in the late 1950s, the novel encompasses a tangled love-story involving jealousy, treachery and violent alcoholic lust among the Americans who staff the newspaper. Thompson himself travelled from New York to San Juan in 1960 to write for an ill-fated sports newspaper on the island of Puerto Rico. Thompson had unsuccessfully applied to work at the larger English-language daily called The San Juan Star which novelist William J. Kennedy edited. While in Puerto Rico, Thompson befriended many of the writers at the Star, providing the context for The Rum Diary's fictional storyline.

The Rum Diary (band)

The Rum Diary is a California-based indie rock band. Its members include Daniel McKenzie, Jon Fee, Joe Ryckebosh, and Schuyler Feekes.

History

The band formed in Cotati, California in 2000. Since then the group has released one EP (A Key To Slow Time), three 7-inch singles and three full-length albums. All members of the band play multiple instruments, however, vocals and guitars are primarily performed by Jon Fee and Daniel Mckenzie.

Since 2007, the band was put on hiatus while Fee and McKenzie started a new project, Shuteye Unison, a group that has since disbanded. McKenzie now focuses on his electronic project, Identical Homes. Fee now focuses on his solo project, The Things of Youth and helps run indie-eco label Parks and Records.

The band's name comes from the novel of the same name by Hunter S. Thompson. Their music is heavily influenced by noise rock.

Discography

The Rum Diary (disambiguation)

The Rum Diary may refer to:

The Rum Diary (film)

The Rum Diary is a 2011 American film based on the novel of the same name by Hunter S. Thompson. The film was written and directed by Bruce Robinson and stars Johnny Depp. Filming began in Puerto Rico in March 2009. It was released on October 28, 2011.

Plot

Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp) is an author who hasn't been able to sell a book. He gets a job at a newspaper in San Juan, Puerto Rico. There, he meets Sala (Michael Rispoli), who gets him acclimatised and tells him he thinks the newspaper will fold soon. Kemp checks into a hotel and while idling about on a boat in the sea, meets Chenault (Amber Heard), who is skinny-dipping while avoiding a Union Carbide party. Kemp is immediately smitten with her.

Kemp and Sala immediately go on a drinking binge, which earns Kemp the enmity of his editor, Lotterman (Richard Jenkins). Kemp also meets Moburg (Giovanni Ribisi), a deadbeat reporter who can't be fired. While waiting for an interview, Kemp meets Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart), a freelance realtor, who offers him a job writing ads for his latest venture. Sanderson is engaged to Chenault, who pretends not to know Kemp.