"You can tell in one sentence if what you're reading is by Thompson," Lawrence says of the late journalist's gonzo style. Published in 1998, nearly 40 years after it was begun, this fictionalized memoir—released as a film with Johnny Depp in 2011—contains all the Thompson trademarks: drunken excess; surreal, violent episodes; fascinating, often despicable characters. "You read a Thompson book because of his voice. He's always getting wrecked in San Juan and reporting on cockfights. He's just hilarious."
