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I've only read two of his novels, "Women," and, "Hollywood". He was quite a prolific and celebrated poet as well. What I immediately liked about his prose style was the bare-boned honesty of every line. What I didn't like was both plots were predictable.
Can anyone recommend other novels of his?
I haven't read any of his novels. I do like his prose though.
The guy can get pretty raunchy at times so beware. He was a serious drunk was practically homeless at some points of his life.
The man was an absolutely talented writer. Matter of fact I'm looking at his book of poems and prose right now called "Love is a dog from hell"
You know, I used to be a lot more enamored with Bukowski than I am today. All that pubescent nihilism tends to get old after a while.
I don't know how much of a nihilist he was, he seemed to me to be a really troubled guy, I guess that's part of what makes some of the greatest writers of our time, Hemingway, Plath, Woolf among others.
Maybe it is the cosmic trade off, talented and troubled or normal and a little less talented??
I don't know how much of a nihilist he was, he seemed to me to be a really troubled guy, I guess that's part of what makes some of the greatest writers of our time, Hemingway, Plath, Woolf among others.
Maybe it is the cosmic trade off, talented and troubled or normal and a little less talented??
Could be. But, IMHO, two of my most recent reads, "Portnoy's Complaint" and "A Clockwork Orange," along with most of Nabokov do a much better job of depicting the tortured soul than Bukowski.
I'm not a big fan of decadence. I think it's the easy way out. I do think Bukowski was an unhappy guy. Seems like he had a pretty rough childhood, and while I understand it and sympathize I am a sucker for Hope. It is all that we have at times.
The thing I did about Bukowski is the honesty of his language. To me he makes Hemingway sound labored.
b. Frank, I liked the poem. I don't have sound on my computer today, so i don't know if I missed anything. I'm usually not a real big fan of poetry, most is pretentious and cute and intentionally obscure, but I do like his stuff. It is accessible and then takes you somewhere worthwhile. Thanks for that.
And Chow, I know his language is a bit on the raunchy side. It's impossible to shock me at this stage of the game, but I just don't need to hear about some of the stuff Bukowski seemed obsessed with; but what I meant about the honesty of his language was its directness, its lack of pretense or subterfuge. Whereas a lot of writers will go to great lengths to describe simple, everyday actions in a unique way Bukowski will just say, "He walked through the door. He sat down. Looked around. Noticed the whiskey on the table." Not overly creative, but it does evoke pure images that tend to stay with a reader.
And Chow, I know his language is a bit on the raunchy side. It's impossible to shock me at this stage of the game, but I just don't need to hear about some of the stuff Bukowski seemed obsessed with; but what I meant about the honesty of his language was its directness, its lack of pretense or subterfuge. Whereas a lot of writers will go to great lengths to describe simple, everyday actions in a unique way Bukowski will just say, "He walked through the door. He sat down. Looked around. Noticed the whiskey on the table." Not overly creative, but it does evoke pure images that tend to stay with a reader.
Yes, I agree about the pretensions sometimes in poetry. He in my opinion comes up with some very interesting takes on "everyday" situations. Yes I do like his simple way of describing things.
Although he does get pretty creative with descriptions sometimes.
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