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138 reviews for:
Erections, Ejaculations, Exhibitions, and General Tales of Ordinary Madness
Charles Bukowski
3.63 AVERAGE
138 reviews for:
Erections, Ejaculations, Exhibitions, and General Tales of Ordinary Madness
Charles Bukowski
3.63 AVERAGE
He writes well, this much is obvious, but I really just didn't care about reading what felt like the same 'story' over and over again.
I enjoyed his writerly voice, the tone of the prose, the attitude of it all, it was so dirty and real as you would expect of somebody influence so obviously by [a:Ernest Hemingway|1455|Ernest Hemingway|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1175539371p2/1455.jpg] but, and maybe it is because of these expectations that I didn't love it, I was expecting more, something to make me want to keep turning the pages, plot maybe? And if that's so then I guess I leave myself open to criticism for it.
It very quickly felt like something of a chore to read, which is a shame. I feel bad about it. Usually I am filled with vitriol and bile when a book makes me want to give up. I don't hesitate to criticise it, tear it apart, throw it away but here, in this case, I am just sad.
I enjoyed his writerly voice, the tone of the prose, the attitude of it all, it was so dirty and real as you would expect of somebody influence so obviously by [a:Ernest Hemingway|1455|Ernest Hemingway|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1175539371p2/1455.jpg] but, and maybe it is because of these expectations that I didn't love it, I was expecting more, something to make me want to keep turning the pages, plot maybe? And if that's so then I guess I leave myself open to criticism for it.
It very quickly felt like something of a chore to read, which is a shame. I feel bad about it. Usually I am filled with vitriol and bile when a book makes me want to give up. I don't hesitate to criticise it, tear it apart, throw it away but here, in this case, I am just sad.
A collection of Bukowski’s short stories and essays published in 1984. Some stories feature Bukowski’s alter-ego, Henry Chinaski. Other pieces feature Bukowski himself in his late forties. Lots of sex, drinking and gambling. Liked about half of it.
Some of these stories went all over the place but I deeply enjoyed how each story led to the next. I enjoy that you can never really tell when Bukowski is being honest or when he is writing as if in a dream state narrating the nonsense his brain is coming up with.
The stories towards the end of this book were my favorites.
The stories towards the end of this book were my favorites.
funny
medium-paced
Beauty is nothing, beauty won’t stay
No one speaks to me like Bukowski. He's as horrid as he is insightful, and the brutally honest mixture combines into commentaries on humanity in a blunt and terrifying way that only Bukowski can get to. While reading I find myself disgusted and in love with him. He's philosophically nihilistic, but also capable of flipping into the converse of communicating that all is beautiful. He is a mesmerizing dichotomy of grounding and unnerving that looks into the deepness of the soul.
I guess Bukowski is not my style. I did not enjoy reading this book, but I can't say I hated it. Some stories were nice.
But I don't know, I didn't get the major part of it.
But I don't know, I didn't get the major part of it.
challenging
dark
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Rape, Alcohol, Classism
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment