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andrewsutton's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
etyrrell99's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mathman329's review against another edition
3.0
Typical Bukowski faire: the protagonist is a womanizing drunk who spends his days drinking, cavorting, and working (sometimes). Wash, rinse, repeat for about 190 pages. End scene.
If you've never read Bukowski, I feel like this book pretty much covers the vast majority of his writing.
Final rating: 3 stars. Nothing overly great, but nothing overly bad.
If you've never read Bukowski, I feel like this book pretty much covers the vast majority of his writing.
Final rating: 3 stars. Nothing overly great, but nothing overly bad.
jemin's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
offworldcolony's review against another edition
3.0
As usual, it is extremely insightful about human behaviour and self-knowledge. It's very much about what Bukowski does say that makes it funny, and what he doesn't say or what he deftly dances around that makes it painful and sad. The rambling and jumpy nature of the factotum subject matter isn't my favourite, I prefer his work like Women or Post Office with a throughline and arc that his ruminations and slice of life can hang off of. It's both an easy and a tough read. It's so evocative and disgusting and raw and human.
smilejosh's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It’s basically “Post Office” 1.5 but a lot looser in terms of plot and characters. It does feel too fast like “Post Office” at times but enough is provided to be enjoyable to the reader. It’s a bit better than “Post Office” but it does not hit the highs that “Women” or “Ham On Rye” hit. Not the most essential Bukowski, but it is a fun, depressing, and under talked about novel of his.
an_aim's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
allgutternopedestal's review against another edition
2.0
Like I said in my last update, I did not like the main character. He degrades women and seems to have nothing else to stand by besides drinking. It also seemed to have some gross moments, which I could handle, but didn't seem to have any significance to the plot or character development. I would've given this book 1 star, but I understand his attitude toward working for something you don't believe in, and I found myself laughing along with him at the people who seemed so eager to be recognized as perfect cogs in the machine. I would not read this book again.
bookzfanatic's review against another edition
1.0
Worst work of Bukowski I've read till now, It's just meaningless crap published for depressed people who couldn't even afford to be in a single job for a week. I mean, I get it, He tries to be raw and unfiltered in all his novels but I don't get why he decides to publish this crap.