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50 reviews for:
Erections, Ejaculations, Exhibitions, and General Tales of Ordinary Madness
Charles Bukowski
3.3 AVERAGE
50 reviews for:
Erections, Ejaculations, Exhibitions, and General Tales of Ordinary Madness
Charles Bukowski
3.3 AVERAGE
This whole book was a struggle for me. But like - a bad struggle. I didn't find whatever people find in Bukowski's prose. I had marked a sentence, that perfectly described this whole book to me. It was something about being lost and confused. I lost the marker and this book ain't worth enough for me to look for the line.
The only reason I'm giving the book 2 and not 1 stars is the last story. It was the only one, that I enjoyed and found something for myself. I guess I was expecting more madness and less drunk ramblings.
Also - if you're a grammar nazi - brace yourself.
The only reason I'm giving the book 2 and not 1 stars is the last story. It was the only one, that I enjoyed and found something for myself. I guess I was expecting more madness and less drunk ramblings.
Also - if you're a grammar nazi - brace yourself.
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As always with short stories, some are excellent and some downright shit. I'd say the best stories are definitely saved for the end, with the weird, disgusting yet endearing 'Animal Crackers In My Soup' as my favourite.
Bukowskis - vienintelis ir nepakartojamas rašytojas chuliganas. Jį galima arba mylėti arba nekęsti, bet viduriuko nerasime.
Shouldn't really rate this because I haven't read all of the stories, but oh well! The first couple of stories I really enjoyed. There is such realism in Bukowski's writing, and he writes with unflinching honesty - I'll give him that. He tackles alcoholism, poverty and relationships head on, and his dialogue, and the way he establishes characters in such short bursts can be spot on.
But a couple of stories in and the subject of rape was brought up, or alluded to, several times in one story, and then in the next one, and again... It was too much. And the way he talks about women (and treats female characters in these stories) frankly disturbs and unsettles me.
Even though going into this I was expecting the writing to be quite harsh and brutal, I wasn't really getting much else from reading these stories apart from, well, disgust. I couldn't relate to his many male (often misogynistic) voices, and their lives filled with alcohol and violence. And although I believed in these characters, and felt for them slightly in some situations, none of them really stuck with me.
I figure that Bukowski's is probably an acquired taste, but I'm finding it hard to see how he has such a cult following at the moment. Maybe he is just not to my taste. Having said that, I will still give him another go in future, probably one of his novels and some poetry. For now though, maybe I got unlucky with this collection, but I just didn't want to invest any more time in reading these sadly!
But a couple of stories in and the subject of rape was brought up, or alluded to, several times in one story, and then in the next one, and again... It was too much. And the way he talks about women (and treats female characters in these stories) frankly disturbs and unsettles me.
Even though going into this I was expecting the writing to be quite harsh and brutal, I wasn't really getting much else from reading these stories apart from, well, disgust. I couldn't relate to his many male (often misogynistic) voices, and their lives filled with alcohol and violence. And although I believed in these characters, and felt for them slightly in some situations, none of them really stuck with me.
I figure that Bukowski's is probably an acquired taste, but I'm finding it hard to see how he has such a cult following at the moment. Maybe he is just not to my taste. Having said that, I will still give him another go in future, probably one of his novels and some poetry. For now though, maybe I got unlucky with this collection, but I just didn't want to invest any more time in reading these sadly!
I know Bukowski is cancelled, but I still wanted to see on my own what he is about.
Well……. I understand the hate towards him now. I read 55 pages of this short story collection and DNFed it, because I’m simply not interested in reading more. Every tale is filled with misogyny and even though I was prepared for it, I cannot stand reading it.
It brings up a really interesting discussion: are character’s thoughts and actions separated from the writer’s? Normally, I would say, yes. I think someone can compose disturbing characters without having to be morally wrong him/herself. But when every short story is filled with r@pe and hateful thoughts towards women… I just cannot justify it anymore. And he even names some characters after himself
Well……. I understand the hate towards him now. I read 55 pages of this short story collection and DNFed it, because I’m simply not interested in reading more. Every tale is filled with misogyny and even though I was prepared for it, I cannot stand reading it.
It brings up a really interesting discussion: are character’s thoughts and actions separated from the writer’s? Normally, I would say, yes. I think someone can compose disturbing characters without having to be morally wrong him/herself. But when every short story is filled with r@pe and hateful thoughts towards women… I just cannot justify it anymore. And he even names some characters after himself
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
22 cuentos impregnados de realismo sucio. Una prosa minimalista y burda, donde abundan seres abandonados a cualquier tipo de adicción (Quién no lo está?). Humanos, animales y entes imaginarios que se cuelan entre los pliegues del establishment para garabatear historias que pueden o no representar "algo". Una apuesta por solo tener voz en un mundo aparentemente normal, aparentemente limpio y ordenado.
Bukowski sorprende y sonsaca sonrisas con Veinticinco vagabundo andrajosos, detona ternura con Un lindo asunto de amor y asquea hasta lo más profundo con el oscuro cuento El malvado (alerta de contenido delicado). Otros cuentos suman, otros sencillamente son para el olvido.
Bukowski sorprende y sonsaca sonrisas con Veinticinco vagabundo andrajosos, detona ternura con Un lindo asunto de amor y asquea hasta lo más profundo con el oscuro cuento El malvado (alerta de contenido delicado). Otros cuentos suman, otros sencillamente son para el olvido.
Can there be such a thing as too much Bukowski? This collection of short stories (some extremely short) may be better to pick up once in a while rather then read (or listen to as I did) back-to-back. The stories seemed to run together and they all sounded the same about half-way through. Still a classic and fun Bukowski romp and rant as always.