The Rum Diary: A Novel

Name: The Rum Diary: A Novel
Price: 2.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.3 (3291 reviews)
Author: Hunter S. Thompson

by Hunter S. Thompson

Contemporary Fiction Literary Fiction

4.3 (3,291)

4.3 stars from 3,291 reviews. Top 67% of Contemporary Fiction books we track.

204 pages~3.4 hr readPublished by Blackstone AudiobooksPublished 1998-01-01

$2.99Deal81% off peak

Last checked: Jun 9, 2026

Price history: $1.99 – $15.99

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Price range: $1.99 – $15.99

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Perfect for you if...

You love Thompson's gonzo style but want something less psychedelic and more grounded in character and place.
You're drawn to stories about ambitious young men who discover the world is far uglier and more complicated than they expected.
You appreciate dark comedy and moral ambiguity, where the protagonist is flawed and the stakes feel genuinely dangerous.

Maybe not for you if...

You're looking for a straightforward romance. This is a love story told sideways, through jealousy, deception, and self-destruction.
You prefer Thompson's essayistic, reality-based writing. This is fiction, and it trades his trademark anger for a different kind of unease.
You want a tidy ending or meaningful character growth. Paul Kemp learns hard lessons, but redemption isn't on offer.

About this book

Hunter S. Thompson began writing The Rum Diary in 1959 at age twenty-two. Set in late 1950s San Juan, Puerto Rico, the novel follows Paul Kemp, a freelance journalist who becomes drawn to a mysterious woman. As he is pulled into her world, Kemp encounters corruption, get-rich-quick schemes, and situations where violence becomes commonplace. The story explores themes of jealousy, treachery, and alcoholic excess against the backdrop of a Caribbean boomtown. Thompson combines youthful energy and dark comedy throughout the narrative, creating a work that balances exuberance with madness. The novel was recognized as a New York Times Notable Book and became a national bestseller.

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Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

$1.99 – $15.99

Currently on sale at $2.99 — 81% off peak. Price has dropped 6 times over the last 6 years. Goes on sale roughly every 357 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

Currently around #14K in the Kindle store — a steady mid-list seller. Climbing the charts — 26% improvement recently.

Rating & Reviews

Purple line = star rating over time. Blue area = total review count growth.

Currently 4.3★ from 3,291 reviews

Gaining approximately 19 new reviews per month. Rating has remained stable at 4.4 over the tracking period.

Sale Prediction

Actual Predicted

This book is currently discounted at $2.99. It typically returns to around $15.99.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.