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A review by starvingsmellyfoot
Women by Charles Bukowski
1.0
I'll start off by saying that yes, I can hate the book even though I understand "what a deep troubled soul the author has". I am baffled to read the comments and understand that us, readers who didn't like the book, are being diminished as dumb or simple-minded. Apparently we didn't understand Bukowski's genius, his discontentment, his depth.
I get it. He had a rough childhood, he didn't get to experience love, he is hurt, he needs help. His straightforward, raw, naked writing style was what got me into him and the three books I read before this one.
Bu this book is different. From beginning to end, it purely talks about his dubious sexual experiences, which are oftentimes questionable, not to say rapey. "I stuck my 7½ inches of throbbing purple into her cunt" isn't the lyric poetry he, and some readers, seem to think it is. And there's little more to it. I read two good paragraphs that come closer to his poetry, immediately followed by wishes of "torning a 19yo's cunt apart".
He doesn't deserve my pity or my respect "just because" he was depressed and suicidal. That doesn't excuse any of his abusive, narcissistic, misogynist, manipulative behaviour throughout the book and apparently his life.
To all the people who excuse him: would you feel the same if he raped your sisters? Your mothers? Your daugthers? You? And to the person who said that "the woman looked nasty anyway": what if THEY had a rough childhood? Apparently that gives you a free pass, right?
My advice, stay away.
I get it. He had a rough childhood, he didn't get to experience love, he is hurt, he needs help. His straightforward, raw, naked writing style was what got me into him and the three books I read before this one.
Bu this book is different. From beginning to end, it purely talks about his dubious sexual experiences, which are oftentimes questionable, not to say rapey. "I stuck my 7½ inches of throbbing purple into her cunt" isn't the lyric poetry he, and some readers, seem to think it is. And there's little more to it. I read two good paragraphs that come closer to his poetry, immediately followed by wishes of "torning a 19yo's cunt apart".
He doesn't deserve my pity or my respect "just because" he was depressed and suicidal. That doesn't excuse any of his abusive, narcissistic, misogynist, manipulative behaviour throughout the book and apparently his life.
To all the people who excuse him: would you feel the same if he raped your sisters? Your mothers? Your daugthers? You? And to the person who said that "the woman looked nasty anyway": what if THEY had a rough childhood? Apparently that gives you a free pass, right?
My advice, stay away.