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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
I think he says it best himself:
He has moments of shocking brilliance and clarity that make wading through all the rest of the sexual innuendos (or sometimes straight up sex) and less conventionally romantic interpretations of love worth it.
Half the time, it felt like I was looking up at the sky through a kaleidoscope trying to count the birds with the sun in my eyes. Burning, Gratifying, Piercing, and a lot of What the fucks, why am I even doing this.
You can say a lot of things about this guy but you can't say he's not honest. And definitely locked in the arms of a crazy life.
if you see me grinning from
my blue Volks
running a yellow light
driving straight into the sun
I will be locked in the
arms of a
crazy life
thinking of trapeze artists
of midgets with big cigars
of a Russian winter in the early 40's
of Chopin with his bag of Polish soil
of an old waitress bringing me an extra
cup of coffee and laughing
as she does so.
He has moments of shocking brilliance and clarity that make wading through all the rest of the sexual innuendos (or sometimes straight up sex) and less conventionally romantic interpretations of love worth it.
Half the time, it felt like I was looking up at the sky through a kaleidoscope trying to count the birds with the sun in my eyes. Burning, Gratifying, Piercing, and a lot of What the fucks, why am I even doing this.
You can say a lot of things about this guy but you can't say he's not honest. And definitely locked in the arms of a crazy life.
I feel a bit torn about this one. I think the majority of these poems are what's called "dirty realism." Charles Bukowski is a guy living on the fringes of society and documenting the lives of marginalized people. I do not put Bukowski on a pedestal; these poems make it clear that he was not a good person. His references to pedophilia are particularly disturbing. He was blatantly misogynistic and sometimes racist. I found myself having some similar takeaways as William S. Burrough's "Naked Lunch," though I felt Naked Lunch had more literary and artistic merit.
That being said, I feel that, in a handful of poems, Bukowski's prose transcends. His hyper-authentic voice, his literary sensibility, and his emotional vulnerability come together to form moving works of genuine literary merit. I don't think Bukowski would have been able to make the handful of great poems without the many lackluster, dry, and off-putting ones. There is a substantial through-line in his work, a minimalist dirtbag-zen aesthetic that is moving and beautiful. He is essentially embarking on the same literary journey as the beat generation, except that the beats came down from the ivory tower of literary academia and Bukowski rose up from the dirt at the bottom of society. The difference is, that, while the beats were hyper-pretentious ivy-league poets, Bukowski lacks any pretense whatsoever. This means that, if you have to read nine cringy misogynistic poems and one great one, you'll know that the one is the real deal, no fluff.
Though Bukowski went on a similar journey to the Beat writers, he was also their antithesis, an anti-beat, if you will. I think this is why he resonated so much more with the following generations, the punk and grunge movements.
Bukowski's poems are hard as rocks but, when they shine, they are true diamonds.
That being said, I feel that, in a handful of poems, Bukowski's prose transcends. His hyper-authentic voice, his literary sensibility, and his emotional vulnerability come together to form moving works of genuine literary merit. I don't think Bukowski would have been able to make the handful of great poems without the many lackluster, dry, and off-putting ones. There is a substantial through-line in his work, a minimalist dirtbag-zen aesthetic that is moving and beautiful. He is essentially embarking on the same literary journey as the beat generation, except that the beats came down from the ivory tower of literary academia and Bukowski rose up from the dirt at the bottom of society. The difference is, that, while the beats were hyper-pretentious ivy-league poets, Bukowski lacks any pretense whatsoever. This means that, if you have to read nine cringy misogynistic poems and one great one, you'll know that the one is the real deal, no fluff.
Though Bukowski went on a similar journey to the Beat writers, he was also their antithesis, an anti-beat, if you will. I think this is why he resonated so much more with the following generations, the punk and grunge movements.
Bukowski's poems are hard as rocks but, when they shine, they are true diamonds.
I can read this book over and over and over and I will never ever get tired.
Bukowski's words are like magic done in plain sight. It makes you think as it opens your eyes to the world.
Bukowski's words are like magic done in plain sight. It makes you think as it opens your eyes to the world.
I have loved Bukowski since my early twenties, but I was never interested in reading his poetry. A new found love for the form has blossomed of late and on recommendation I decided to have a peek at some starting with this collection of his early 70s work.
There are a lot of poems in here compared with collections I've read up to this point, but a lot of the work is funny, poignant, human and scratches at the underbelly of life. Bukowski shows an ability to write about anything and make it great.
I'll definitely being go back for more Bukowski poetry in time, but I reckon I'll need to dig out my copy of Ham on Rye soon too.
There are a lot of poems in here compared with collections I've read up to this point, but a lot of the work is funny, poignant, human and scratches at the underbelly of life. Bukowski shows an ability to write about anything and make it great.
I'll definitely being go back for more Bukowski poetry in time, but I reckon I'll need to dig out my copy of Ham on Rye soon too.
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:
Complicated
dark
reflective
slow-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
Äcklig jävla människa
one of my favorite poems...
the flesh covers the bone
and they put a mind in there and sometimes a soul
and the women break vases against the walls
and the men drink too much
and nobody finds the one
but they keep looking crawling in and out of beds
flesh covers the bone
and the flesh searches for more than flesh
there's no chance at all:
we are all trapped by a singular fate
nobody ever finds the one
the city dumps fill
the junkyards fill
the madhouses fill
the hospitals fill
the graveyards fill
nothing else fills
the flesh covers the bone
and they put a mind in there and sometimes a soul
and the women break vases against the walls
and the men drink too much
and nobody finds the one
but they keep looking crawling in and out of beds
flesh covers the bone
and the flesh searches for more than flesh
there's no chance at all:
we are all trapped by a singular fate
nobody ever finds the one
the city dumps fill
the junkyards fill
the madhouses fill
the hospitals fill
the graveyards fill
nothing else fills
'If you think they didn't go crazy
In tiny rooms
Just like you're doing now
Without women
Without food
Without hope
Then you're not ready'
I think at this point I'm just going to collect every Bukowski poetry collection. I've made up my mind.
In tiny rooms
Just like you're doing now
Without women
Without food
Without hope
Then you're not ready'
I think at this point I'm just going to collect every Bukowski poetry collection. I've made up my mind.
god i have such a hard time determining my feelings on bukowski. as a man, i don't think i like him. but goodness he makes me laugh and makes me think.
// reading this out loud with someone you enjoy spending time with can produce some of the most bellowing laughter.
// reading this out loud with someone you enjoy spending time with can produce some of the most bellowing laughter.