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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
“one can never be sure whether it's good poetry or bad acid”
Third year in a row started off with Bukowski. Tried poetry this time. Can't say I'm the one to rate poetry, my reading habits need some attunement, but I liked it. Same old rough and dirty Bukowski, but a little more gentle.
After reading Bukowski I always feel "yeah, was ok" and "a little too much lowlife drunktardness". But after a while for some reason my thoughts return to it and I need to read some more. And he is good with words, no denying it - to write a poem for beer that doesn't sound like Oktoberfest schlager is obvious talent. And also this:
“I wish I were driving a blue 1952 Buick
or a dark blue 1942 Buick
or a blue 1932 Buick
over a cliff of hell and into the
sea"
Third year in a row started off with Bukowski. Tried poetry this time. Can't say I'm the one to rate poetry, my reading habits need some attunement, but I liked it. Same old rough and dirty Bukowski, but a little more gentle.
After reading Bukowski I always feel "yeah, was ok" and "a little too much lowlife drunktardness". But after a while for some reason my thoughts return to it and I need to read some more. And he is good with words, no denying it - to write a poem for beer that doesn't sound like Oktoberfest schlager is obvious talent. And also this:
“I wish I were driving a blue 1952 Buick
or a dark blue 1942 Buick
or a blue 1932 Buick
over a cliff of hell and into the
sea"
I gave Bukowski another chance because Harry Styles draws a lot of inspiration from him. So I decided to give it one more go. But no. I-
I understand how accessible his works are and how "raw" and completely naked his writing is, but there is much more to life than sex, pubic hair and ejaculation ("like a whale?!"). I was literally dragging myself to go on to the next poem and to be honest I'm glad I read it online and didn't waste money on a physical copy. I'm pretty sure I won't remember a single line of not a single poem in this (or any other) collection of his. The one star is for the print and the paper (i know that's harsh but it's not like i can get back the time and the brain cell i lost while reading this)
I understand how accessible his works are and how "raw" and completely naked his writing is, but there is much more to life than sex, pubic hair and ejaculation ("like a whale?!"). I was literally dragging myself to go on to the next poem and to be honest I'm glad I read it online and didn't waste money on a physical copy. I'm pretty sure I won't remember a single line of not a single poem in this (or any other) collection of his. The one star is for the print and the paper (i know that's harsh but it's not like i can get back the time and the brain cell i lost while reading this)
"She's mad but she's magic.
there's no lie in her fire."
___
there's no lie in her fire."
___
10/10 he finds the beauty in the most common, sad and awfull things of life. This is exactly how an artist sees life
i literally love bukowski he is the most fantastic man. i love his references i love that he listens to classical while he has sex i love the vulgar and unapologetic way he writes. he is a great american poet
Oh, man...this was...something.
This is my first Bukowski read, and I will admit that I had a very negative reaction to his work (similarly to my experience with Nabokov when I first read Lolita). I've had a few people let me know their own thoughts, but these selection of poems were not for me at all.
Beyond the writing style, I honestly could not see past the blatant misogynistic, pedophilic and vulgar messages. I think a part of me was trying to find purpose to the words, as I like to connect with poetry, and I really just couldn't.
Somebody said that Bukowski is meant to show the raw, ugly side of life - no filters, no pretty words to veil the bluntnes, but...I still can't bring myself to appreciate this.
I think what we consume has an impact on our reading experiences, and jumping into this work with no knowledge of what to expect but it definitely caught me off guard.
I may consider reading one of his novels in the future to see if my opinion my change - but this not my favorite.
This is my first Bukowski read, and I will admit that I had a very negative reaction to his work (similarly to my experience with Nabokov when I first read Lolita). I've had a few people let me know their own thoughts, but these selection of poems were not for me at all.
Beyond the writing style, I honestly could not see past the blatant misogynistic, pedophilic and vulgar messages. I think a part of me was trying to find purpose to the words, as I like to connect with poetry, and I really just couldn't.
Somebody said that Bukowski is meant to show the raw, ugly side of life - no filters, no pretty words to veil the bluntnes, but...I still can't bring myself to appreciate this.
I think what we consume has an impact on our reading experiences, and jumping into this work with no knowledge of what to expect but it definitely caught me off guard.
I may consider reading one of his novels in the future to see if my opinion my change - but this not my favorite.
dark
reflective
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
I usually enjoy Bukowski’s writing style, his realism, and his raw honesty in his poetry. However, the majority of the content in this particular book was absolutely deplorable. His later work from when he chilled out from his gross drunken man hoe years is much more readable. There was a handful of poems that were written in the way that made me like his work but I can no longer in good conscience keep this book on my shelf, if that tells you anything. I was already aware of his vulgarity but this was vomit inducing. His early work is definitely a no-go. This book was mainly comprised of the poems I would typically skip or hate in his other books.
Apparently Harry Styles loves this book (🚩) but I would never recommend this unless you’d enjoy the debauched poetry of a drunk, depressed, nearly destitute, middle aged man.
This only gets an extra half point for the very few poems l liked and because this was definitely reminiscent of beatnik literature. Kerouac would probably like this.
But in this era, only guys that hide how awful they are under being pretentious would like this crap. (like Matty Healy. iykyk lol)
Apparently Harry Styles loves this book (🚩) but I would never recommend this unless you’d enjoy the debauched poetry of a drunk, depressed, nearly destitute, middle aged man.
This only gets an extra half point for the very few poems l liked and because this was definitely reminiscent of beatnik literature. Kerouac would probably like this.
But in this era, only guys that hide how awful they are under being pretentious would like this crap. (like Matty Healy. iykyk lol)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I started this book hoping it would be better since its consider to be a classic. There were quite a few good poems, most of them were just about sex/ woman/ beer others had a few good lines.
But what was hard to stomach for me was the sexual view of young girls by an old men, and the liberyu he took while writting about it. I get it was a different time as well as the social differences, still it felt kind of disgusting.
But what was hard to stomach for me was the sexual view of young girls by an old men, and the liberyu he took while writting about it. I get it was a different time as well as the social differences, still it felt kind of disgusting.