Charles Bukowski - Where do I start?

[Madusa]

It's the classic. Reader emphasizes with the underdog. The unlikely hero..except, many times, he's actually not that likeable. Strangely charming though. Could easily be a wholly fictional character.

But then if you listen/see to his poetry readings, he reads a bit like he's a bored of it all.. monotone and maybe a bit too subtle but it works.

 

[chazegee]

I got into him whilst living in a bedsit drinking eight ace a day and working for the post office.

I loved it, but circumstance made all the difference I'm sure.

 

[Yossarian]

Definitely prefer the poems to the books myself, ace as the books are.

 

[rutabowa]

for the novels, i woudl go Women, Ham On Rye, Post Office, Factotum... well you shoudl read all of those really, it's not like they take long. Pulp maybe, don't bother with Hollywood.
His poems are very different depending on when he wrote them. I like Love Is A Dog From Hell for being closest to the novels, but with extra poetix, and Burning In Water, Drowning In Flame, whcih is a collection of earlier poem books, and show why he started getting recognised critically... they are more difficult and kind of "poetic" poems

 

[goldenecitrone]

My route was; Post Office, Women, Factotum, Ham on Rye and then all the short stories and a few of the poems. I also liked Ochsentour about his trip to Germany for general mayhem and poetry readings. It's funny, at first I thought most of his work was autobiographical, but then I realised that Hank Chinaski is the man he wanted to be, I don't think Buk was half as hardcore as Hank. But a brilliant writer, nonetheless. Always made me smile.

 

[purves grundy]

Post Office and Women were enough for me.

From there, I moved onto the brilliant short stories of Raymond Carver.

 

[rutabowa]

ohh i forgot the short stories... South Of No NOrth is a good collection, or one of the anthologies would do.
Yes Raymond Carver is better but then he is the top.

 

[mrs quoad]

start by drinking so much you throw up every morning. After a year of this come back and ask again.

RIGHT.

Been there, done that.

Where do I start.

Must admit, I've been tempted for some time too Always the next-author-on-my-list

TY, OP!

 

[tufty79]

women! women!

 

[lobster]

similar authors that either inspired or influenced Bukowski that i would recommend are : John Fante: Ask the dust Hubert Selby Jnr : Last exit to Brooklyn , Celine : any of of them .. , Henry miller : Tropic books , 'Rosy Crucifixion , Knut Hamson: Hunger, Mysteries , Billy Childish: my fault , any of his poems , Dan fante : Mooch, Hunter S. Thompson : Fear and loathing in las vagas , better than sex .

I am sure i am missing more, that's what i got through.
I have 'king of the poets' its a recording of him reading out poems, its a good experience , the way he reads and talks was not what i imagined.

I got the idea from reading interviews and articles about him that he never actually like the character he wrote about.

 

[tufty79]

definitely john fante too. the copy of ask the dust that i have, has a foreword by bukowski (if i've got that right. i might not have )

i've also been recommended 'the rum diary' by hunter s. thompson along with it, but i'm not entirely sure... .

right! off to insert me brain

 

[Leica]

I can't stand Bukowski, and I really don't see how he can be compared to Jean Genet.

 

[Madusa]

I can't stand Bukowski, and I really don't see how he can be compared to Jean Genet.

Well, I dont see the comparison myself. I like genet, but I think they're totally different. Im sure JC2 will be around later to clear this up for us...

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Well, I dont see the comparison myself. I like genet, but I think they're totally different. Im sure JC2 will be around later to clear this up for us...

Look at their early lives. Their work is different, and Genet was more political, but imo, they are the French vs the American versions of each other.

 

[CharlieAddict]

'6 inches' is one of my favourite stories of his.
was thinking about that in the supermarket tonight.

 

[Madusa]

Look at their early lives. Their work is different, and Genet was more political, but imo, they are the French vs the American versions of each other.

You reckon??

*sleeps on it*

 

[Leica]

Look at their early lives. Their work is different, and Genet was more political, but imo, they are the French vs the American versions of each other.

How do you look at someone's life then?

They have nothing in common. Bukowski would love to be seen as the American Genet though.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

How do you look at someone's life then?
.

Did you actually not understand what I meant, or are you just being a twat?

 

[Leica]

Did you actually not understand what I meant, or are you just being a twat?

You said that they are versions of each other because their early lives are similar.

What makes you think you know enough about their personal lives to reach that conclusion ?

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

You said that they are versions of each other because their early lives are similar.

What makes you think you know enough about their personal lives to reach that conclusion ?

What stops me from holding any opinion I choose?

 

[Leica]

What stops me from holding any opinion I choose?

Nothing.

My opinion is that your opinion in this case is an empty phrase.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Nothing.

My opinion is that your opinion in this case is an empty phrase.

Well there you go!