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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
fast-paced
First of all, Bukowski is a misogynist. In this book, he is also a misanthropist. Still, as a fellow author, I have to admire his work. His writing style is confrontational, completely honest, and his self-assessment is brutal. He is not afraid to repeat statements (sometimes in the same paragraph), to write short sentences that hit like a bullet, or to suddenly break off a narrative thread in the middle and then change the subject. Through these writing techniques, one first notices his abilities as a poet; especially as a poet who is not afraid to step on stage in front of an audience (even drunker than he was). Second, he is a master storyteller. All in all, this makes for a highly interesting, engaging read.
This book describes his career of about twelve years with the U.S. Postal Service. Curiously, as a student, I did the same jobs: delivering the mail and sorting the letters in the sorting office. Back then, these were very boring, underpaid jobs, and the coworkers were boring and underpaid too. I was amazed at how Bukowski managed to turn this pale experience into a truly powerful, emotional book. It contains (social) criticism of the postal service, addresses the hardships he went through during the extremely long working days, while playing horses and writing poetry in his little free time. A very interesting read that is hard to put down. I found one scene disturbing: the rape of a psychotic woman was perhaps unnecessary - it is probably an exaggeration to show his frustration with the system.
This book describes his career of about twelve years with the U.S. Postal Service. Curiously, as a student, I did the same jobs: delivering the mail and sorting the letters in the sorting office. Back then, these were very boring, underpaid jobs, and the coworkers were boring and underpaid too. I was amazed at how Bukowski managed to turn this pale experience into a truly powerful, emotional book. It contains (social) criticism of the postal service, addresses the hardships he went through during the extremely long working days, while playing horses and writing poetry in his little free time. A very interesting read that is hard to put down. I found one scene disturbing: the rape of a psychotic woman was perhaps unnecessary - it is probably an exaggeration to show his frustration with the system.
I actually kind of loved this read but it was so offensive I feel I can only rightfully give it 3 stars.
funny
fast-paced
dark
funny
medium-paced
dark
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Post Office" by Charles Bukowski is a romp in the world of a middle aged post office employee who lives for booze, women, and horse racing. It isn't a pretty life but Bukowski keeps the reader interested because one never knows what will happen next. It's usually worse than what you expect. I think this book could have just as easily be titled "The Fine Art of Not Giving A F..."
Recommended to the cynic in all of us.
Recommended to the cynic in all of us.
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes