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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Impressive in its astute observations of a hierarchical corporate work structure, depressing in its defeated portrayal of the redemption-proof protagonist Henry Chinaski, but always captivating and funny throughout. It can be an unpredictable beast - never assume for a second that you have the measure of a chapter's feeling, for you'll jump from amusement to tragedy in the blink of an eye. Bukowski's matter-of-fact storytelling is light on emotion, it never tells you how to feel, and yet your journey through this short tale will wring out your feelings without you realizing.
Unfortunately, Bukowski was a man of his time, and the misogyny is pretty rife in this novel, but even so there are a couple of scenes which I think would have raised eyebrows even at the time this was published. So the rating was a bit of an inner battle as on one hand, I hate to gloss over some very problematic messaging - especially as SO often women were reduced to breasts and legs throughout - but on the other I feel like when you strip out the observations of our main character, a character who is by all accounts a failure in his society, then there are many deep and relevant points that different people will take away from this novel. So on this occasion I'm choosing to focus on what it delivered for me - a sad tale of the lack of fulfillment of a man who is for so long defined by his work, and the disappointing personal life carved out as a result of it. It delivered it well, so its 4-star rating is deserved.
Unfortunately, Bukowski was a man of his time, and the misogyny is pretty rife in this novel, but even so there are a couple of scenes which I think would have raised eyebrows even at the time this was published. So the rating was a bit of an inner battle as on one hand, I hate to gloss over some very problematic messaging - especially as SO often women were reduced to breasts and legs throughout - but on the other I feel like when you strip out the observations of our main character, a character who is by all accounts a failure in his society, then there are many deep and relevant points that different people will take away from this novel. So on this occasion I'm choosing to focus on what it delivered for me - a sad tale of the lack of fulfillment of a man who is for so long defined by his work, and the disappointing personal life carved out as a result of it. It delivered it well, so its 4-star rating is deserved.
I have a lot to say about this book and none of it is good.
To start off, nothing actually happens in it. There’s no real plot or climax, it just putters along. But the worst part of this book is every single character in it. The main character has to be the most unlikeable character of all time. He is an alcoholic, sexist, racist, gambler...oh I won’t skip over the fact that he is a literal rapist, like the book it. And I don’t mean some blurred consent read between the lines kind of rape but he straight textual rape and he’s not vilified for it. Everyone single woman in his life is only referred to by their ass, it’s flat out disgusting. Not to mention this guy would have been fired 10 times over with the behaviour and work ethic.
Also every supporting character is there to aid his sob story or his sex life.
I read another of Bukowskis works and I don’t remember it being this bad. I hope this awful work is an outlier, as he’s considered a great author, because it disturbs me to think that so many people love books about abusive, misogynistic men with nothing interesting to say.
To start off, nothing actually happens in it. There’s no real plot or climax, it just putters along. But the worst part of this book is every single character in it. The main character has to be the most unlikeable character of all time. He is an alcoholic, sexist, racist, gambler...oh I won’t skip over the fact that he is a literal rapist, like the book it. And I don’t mean some blurred consent read between the lines kind of rape but he straight textual rape and he’s not vilified for it. Everyone single woman in his life is only referred to by their ass, it’s flat out disgusting. Not to mention this guy would have been fired 10 times over with the behaviour and work ethic.
Also every supporting character is there to aid his sob story or his sex life.
I read another of Bukowskis works and I don’t remember it being this bad. I hope this awful work is an outlier, as he’s considered a great author, because it disturbs me to think that so many people love books about abusive, misogynistic men with nothing interesting to say.
dark
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Väldigt nära full pott. Jag läste den i början av förra sommaren efter att skolan slutade och innan sommarjobbet började. Sommarjobbet var mitt första (och enda?) som brevbärare på Bring Citymail. Jag kunde inte ha fått en bättre förberedelse än läsningen av Postverket!
Jobbet gick som en dans. Minsta motgång lindrades, magiskt, av att redan ha betraktat ruttna arbetsförhållanden från insidan, syrligt och humoristiskt skildrat av Bukowski. Inte ens min idiot till förman kunde dra ner mig, trots att han försökte.
Chinaski är en fantastisk antihjälte. Vidrig men ändå (med ett undantag) fantastisk. Skildringen av våldtäkten är det enda som gör mig bergsäker på en 4:a i betyg, egentligen.
Jobbet gick som en dans. Minsta motgång lindrades, magiskt, av att redan ha betraktat ruttna arbetsförhållanden från insidan, syrligt och humoristiskt skildrat av Bukowski. Inte ens min idiot till förman kunde dra ner mig, trots att han försökte.
Chinaski är en fantastisk antihjälte. Vidrig men ändå (med ett undantag) fantastisk. Skildringen av våldtäkten är det enda som gör mig bergsäker på en 4:a i betyg, egentligen.
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
