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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
Bukowski’s poetry steals my heart all the time. It must be that it is so unapologetic, and unabashed, and uncomfortable. Here are some lines that I loved: 'she is a / child / and a mannequin / and death. / I can’t hate / that. / She didn’t do / anything / unusual. / I only wanted her / to.’ Then there are these: ‘in this land / some of us fuck more than / we die / but most of us die / better than we / fuck. / and we die / piece by piece too - / in parks / eating ice cream, or / in igloos / of dementia, / or on straw mats / or upon disembarked / loves.’ And last, these others: ‘there is a loneliness in this world so great / that you can see it in the slow movement of / the hands of a clock. / people so tired / mutilated / either by love or no love. / people just are not good to each other.’ Uncomplicated, honest, and penetrating.
he really put poems about sexualizing underage women next to poems about his daughter
Reading this was a mistake. If you *have to* read Bukowski then pick random poems, not a book. Certainty not this one. I still have a little fascination about how some of the things he has written are completely opposite of his thoughts and how reading one poem separately can make you feel different for him. I'll try again.
gosh i just couldn't get through the first poems. It just felt so disgusting to me.
Not quite sure what to say about this book. At first I wasn't a fan at all but near the end it got better.
He writes about strange topics and women as objects but somehow it makes sense through his eyes, because while doing so there is still some respect for them
He writes about strange topics and women as objects but somehow it makes sense through his eyes, because while doing so there is still some respect for them
fast-paced
There's two or three salvageable poems but honestly I feel like Bukowski just relies on the shock factor to pretend that he's actually good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Excrement, Vomit
Moderate: Drug use, Misogyny, Stalking
Not a big poetry reader, so this is my first time reading anything of Bukowski (per Harry Styles) & was taken by surprise how erotic and real his style is. As said by people i’ve known to have also read this, his style is very particular and song like (if that makes sense). It is not like other poems with metaphors, allusions, and so in ever line; his work is very real and raw, straight to what he is trying to get across which i actually liked. Very misogynistic, but getting away from that it was very interesting to read and take apart. I can definitely see the inspiration Harry took from him.
challenging
dark
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
His earlier work is better. Once accustomed to the fame his work deters into some 4chan-member type shit. Especially part four just describes the average white male boomer experience.