Charles Bukowski...recommendations?

James Jeans

Hey,
I just finished reading 'post office' by Charles Bukowski, and thought it was excellent...I was wondering if anyone could recommend any of his other books?

Joe Cool

Factotum, it's possibly even better.
Then go for Ham & Rye.

buck65

Funnily enough I would start with Ham and Rye, thought it was excellent. Better than post Office - dealt more with his youth.
Short stories - The most Beautiful Woman in this Town - great collection
Poetry - Play the piano drunk like a percussion instrument until your fingers bleed a bit.


Welcome to Bukowski land.

henryporter

Try Henry Miller instead - Bukowksi pales in comparison

James Jeans

Thanks for the suggestions, I'l definitely check all of them out.
I'l have a look at Henry Miller too...

bakkiesbotha

Opus Pistorum / Under the Roofs of Paris is Henry Miller's best book. All his other stuff is tripe.

ally2

Tales of Ordinary Madness is a good collection of his pieces that you can dip into.

AJG

bakkiesbotha wrote: »

Opus Pistorum / Under the Roofs of Paris is Henry Miller's best book. All his other stuff is tripe.

He basically got a dollar a page to write this stuff. Pornagraphic books for private collectors. Himself and Nin were forced to write this kind of over the top stuff to keep off the breadline. I hope the above is a joke.

As for Bukowski: Ham and Rye.

Earthhorse

Ham & Rye is refreshing as it doesn't deal with his adult life like almost all his other work.

For poetry I would recommend What Matters Most is How Well You Walk Through the Fire.

LiamMc

"He worked in a Post Office" - that is a big deal for readers

(Does this mean that Post Office workers are considered okay by those readers.... No! They hate Post Office workers.)

silvine

Tales of Ordinary Madness FTW.

He's the only author I've read who makes me feel like someone is picking a fight with me.

Earthhorse

silvine wrote: »

He's the only author I've read who makes me feel like someone is picking a fight with me.

Ha ha. That's a pretty interesting description of him.

I do love his stuff but I tend to be able to handle only so much of it at any given time before growing a little tired of it.

meenmore

Oh Yes

there are worse things than
being alone
but it often takes decades
to realize this
and most often
when you do
it's too late
and there's nothing worse
than
too late.

Charles Bukowski

Mr Hyde

Hey, While you're at it, skip Miller and take yourself right along to Hemmingway, Faulkner and Sherwood Anderson, this is pretty much where Bukowski started out from.
But more than anyone John Fante, it's like reading a purer version of Bukowski (albeit without the poetry...) I think Colin Farrell was even in a disastrous adaptation of something liek Ask the dust bandini. I need to go back and re-read these myself again actually!!

James Jeans

Thanks for that, I will definitely look into John Fante too...

bakkiesbotha

AJG wrote: »

He basically got a dollar a page to write this stuff. Pornagraphic books for private collectors. Himself and Nin were forced to write this kind of over the top stuff to keep off the breadline. I hope the above is a joke.

Certainly not. Who cares what he got paid to write it and why? It is better than his other books. It is more entertaining, and more honest. Have you read it?