In this one, Buk describes Chinaski's later life, when he already became a well-known writer and poet. However, he couldn't maintain stability on both fronts - work and love life. So, even in his fifties, he successfully continued to follow his dissolute style of living life to the fullest, including countless hangovers and a bunch of meaningless "ladies of the night. Accordingly, he described Chinaski's displeasure with every new woman he gets in touch with.
This is a follow-up story of his other two novels - "Factotum" and "Post Office. Buk dedicated it to his first love, Jane , and showed readers a more emotional part of his soul. He created this collection where he wrote tender words for Jane, but at the same time, we can feel his grief since she drank herself to death.
As we read those poems, we can see how Buk hides his softer side beneath the rough older man's mask. It consists of plenty of different articles in which he described his views on the world in those days.
Bukowski was writing honestly about various topics, not shying away from murder, abuse, rape, alcoholism, and many other controversial subjects. There are some very realistic and fantastic short stories , but also many chaotic and weird ones. Already in his seventies, he wrote it while giving his readers a throwback to his life in a unique way of writing. The book is about pages long and consists of numerous poems, including the famous "Bluebird.
Moreover, you can click on the video and listen to the beautiful narration of the "Bluebird" poem. Anyway, this is a marvelous collection of all things Bukowski wrote, from his sharp sense of humor to his most sincere confessions. The collection of poetry "Love Is a Dog from Hell" is a book Bukowski wrote in the mid-seventies, and it represents his signature style of creating poems.
Also, we highly recommend this book since it contains some of his best pieces of poetry. Buk had a simple writing approach, as he was direct and never used any complexity in his descriptions.
Besides, this quote from "Love Is a Dog from Hell" goes in favor of his simplicity: "It's so easy to be easy—if you let it. The story follows Buk's alter-ego Henry Chinaski, during his early years between and The last few paragraphs sting like few others.
I've read my first Bukowski book, ever - Ham on Rye. I understand that this is the last of his books with his alter-ago Hank Chinaski. I want to read the rest, but now as I have started with the last book, which takes place in the first part of his life, should I continue with "Factotum" isn't that the next step in his life? Does it matter? Doesn't really matter.
Do what you feel. I read them all out of order. Purple Stickpin. Thing about Buk is that his literary forms were so distinct. The novels are all about his experience, and the poems are surprisingly similar to the novels.
You can burn through his novels in a fairly short period of time, so you may want to save a couple I've read each of them three or four times over the past 20 years for later.
As Elise posted, it really doesn't matter in terms of chronology, as you can clearly tell what part of his life he is writing about.
Maybe try the poem. Again, many of them read like short novel chapters. I highly recommend "Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame" from It collects three of his early out-of-print works as well as some post-Mockingbird poems.
Great stuff. To me, the short stories are the weakest I use this term very relatively of his material, but don't think that they aren't good, and even great at times. Every word he wrote was important. Ninjaspliff said:. These guys were right. It doesn't really matter. Good start. I - personally - think, 'Post Office' would be a great choice to continue. That's because I find 'Factotum' weaker. But oppinions differ here. The screenplay to 'Barfly' is great!
Way better than the movie. If you ain't into poetry, I'd recommend to stay away from it at the moment. Later you'll get the taste anyway, since Buk has always seen himself as a poet. But no hurry. This is a autobiographical novel, so you will understand the author by his text.
A few years ago I faced the book Ham on Rye. In fact I had no idea who the author was and nothing about his life. I read and almost throw it away, then my wife brought other parts without knowing that I have already read one of them.
He turned my world vision upside down and now I want to read more and more his books. Unfortunately, there is a limited number of them. Just take one book and try to feel what he was writing about. Your way you describe them is unique. Go on, I will follow your reviews! Thank you for your kind words! I will continue, I have lots of ideas that I will implement here.
I will try my best to make happier my readers:. His books always remind me that I should stay away from my previous way of life. A must read. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. Your email address will not be published. Check Here 9. Pros Easy to read because of the form of writing Contains lots of moments which make the reader re-read Poems are full of wisdom.
Check Price on Amazon. Cons Too much debauchery The poetry is read like you are in a drug-like state all the time. Pros Honest and truthful literature This sample is worth being a bedside book.
Cons No apparent Bukowski pattern No dates and not chronologically ordered. Pros Great stories, full of details which make the reader a part of those stories Book absorbs and can be read in one shot.
Cons There is no logical order between the stories The plot is similar in all the stories. Pros This is a better novel as compared to others There are wonderful quotes which are applicable to life. Cons There is no obvious upshot. Pros This novel full of contradicting scenes, which always keep reader reading.
Cons There is not much plot in the novel, just stories without any common idea. Pros Intriguing love affair between Hank and Sarah. Cons Hollywood is not so full of wordplay as previous novels. Pros The stories are unedited, so they come with original language no vulgar words nor abuse was skipped. Cons This is a collection of unrelated stories.
Cons It has wide open gaps in the text. No one knows why Buddhists were involved, since Charles was indifferent to religion. Charles has only one child — a girl, Marina, with Frances Smith. He adored cats, and one of his poems, On cats, was dedicated to his beloved animal. Some of his besties were Bono from U2 and Sean Penn.
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