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inlaraland's review against another edition
1.0
Oh, man...this was...something.
This is my first Bukowski read, and I will admit that I had a very negative reaction to his work (similarly to my experience with Nabokov when I first read Lolita). I've had a few people let me know their own thoughts, but these selection of poems were not for me at all.
Beyond the writing style, I honestly could not see past the blatant misogynistic, pedophilic and vulgar messages. I think a part of me was trying to find purpose to the words, as I like to connect with poetry, and I really just couldn't.
Somebody said that Bukowski is meant to show the raw, ugly side of life - no filters, no pretty words to veil the bluntnes, but...I still can't bring myself to appreciate this.
I think what we consume has an impact on our reading experiences, and jumping into this work with no knowledge of what to expect but it definitely caught me off guard.
I may consider reading one of his novels in the future to see if my opinion my change - but this not my favorite.
This is my first Bukowski read, and I will admit that I had a very negative reaction to his work (similarly to my experience with Nabokov when I first read Lolita). I've had a few people let me know their own thoughts, but these selection of poems were not for me at all.
Beyond the writing style, I honestly could not see past the blatant misogynistic, pedophilic and vulgar messages. I think a part of me was trying to find purpose to the words, as I like to connect with poetry, and I really just couldn't.
Somebody said that Bukowski is meant to show the raw, ugly side of life - no filters, no pretty words to veil the bluntnes, but...I still can't bring myself to appreciate this.
I think what we consume has an impact on our reading experiences, and jumping into this work with no knowledge of what to expect but it definitely caught me off guard.
I may consider reading one of his novels in the future to see if my opinion my change - but this not my favorite.
aritacb's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
I usually enjoy Bukowski’s writing style, his realism, and his raw honesty in his poetry. However, the majority of the content in this particular book was absolutely deplorable. His later work from when he chilled out from his gross drunken man hoe years is much more readable. There was a handful of poems that were written in the way that made me like his work but I can no longer in good conscience keep this book on my shelf, if that tells you anything. I was already aware of his vulgarity but this was vomit inducing. His early work is definitely a no-go. This book was mainly comprised of the poems I would typically skip or hate in his other books.
Apparently Harry Styles loves this book (🚩) but I would never recommend this unless you’d enjoy the debauched poetry of a drunk, depressed, nearly destitute, middle aged man.
This only gets an extra half point for the very few poems l liked and because this was definitely reminiscent of beatnik literature. Kerouac would probably like this.
But in this era, only guys that hide how awful they are under being pretentious would like this crap. (like Matty Healy. iykyk lol)
Apparently Harry Styles loves this book (🚩) but I would never recommend this unless you’d enjoy the debauched poetry of a drunk, depressed, nearly destitute, middle aged man.
This only gets an extra half point for the very few poems l liked and because this was definitely reminiscent of beatnik literature. Kerouac would probably like this.
But in this era, only guys that hide how awful they are under being pretentious would like this crap. (like Matty Healy. iykyk lol)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Alcoholism, Rape, and Sexual content
abriil_'s review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
I started this book hoping it would be better since its consider to be a classic. There were quite a few good poems, most of them were just about sex/ woman/ beer others had a few good lines.
But what was hard to stomach for me was the sexual view of young girls by an old men, and the liberyu he took while writting about it. I get it was a different time as well as the social differences, still it felt kind of disgusting.
But what was hard to stomach for me was the sexual view of young girls by an old men, and the liberyu he took while writting about it. I get it was a different time as well as the social differences, still it felt kind of disgusting.
zoechatterton's review against another edition
1.0
I tried really hard to finish this book. Once I got about halfway through and it said “I stretched out and whacked-off thinking about a little girl I had seen on a red bicycle about a week ago.” it was over for me.
Bukowski is an egotistical asshole with no respect for women. I wanted to enjoy this book and it kept getting worse as I went along. Would not recommend.
Bukowski is an egotistical asshole with no respect for women. I wanted to enjoy this book and it kept getting worse as I went along. Would not recommend.
hmrogers's review against another edition
3.0
Stunning poetry. Grossly inappropriate content. Not for children, virgins, or optimists.
stealingyoursunbeams's review against another edition
5.0
I think I like Bukowski's poems even more than his stories. The way he writes is simple but what he says rings so true. I particularly loved "the crunch" and "462-0614".
specificwonderland's review against another edition
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Despite some of his beautiful turns of phrase, I can't fully endorse this weird, drunk, pedo.
You boys can keep your virgins give me hot old women in high heels with asses that forgot to get old.
Don’t undress my love you might find a mannequin; don’t undress the mannequin you might find my love.
Human relationships simply aren’t durable.
I loved you like a man loves a woman he never touches, only writes to, keeps little photographs of.
she has hurt fewer people than anybody I know, and if you look at it like that, well, she has created a better world. She has won.
Sometimes I get out of practice out of tune. That’s all right.
I’ve known too many women and instead of thinking, I wonder who’s fucking her now? I think she’s giving some other poor son of a bitch much trouble right now.
I wish I were driving a blue 1952 Buick or a dark blue 1942 Buick or a blue 1932 Buick over a cliff of hell and into the sea.
The human sewage system is the world’s greatest invention. And you invented me and I invented you and that’s why we don’t get along on this bed any longer. You were the world’s greatest invention until you flushed me away.
I don’t know why people fuck with the stuff, there’s not that much to it. I think they’re all losers and they want to lose real bad. There’s no other way, it’s like they can’t get where they’re going or want to go and there’s no other way. This has got to be it.
I am going to start selling air in dark orange bags marked: moon-blooms
There is a loneliness in this world so great that you can see it in the slow movement of the hands of a clock.
you realize that if I were an adding machine I might break down tabulating how many times you’ve used that light brown stare? Not that you’re not the best with your light brown stare.
Someday some crazy son of a bitch is going to murder you
Her kisses tasted like shitsoup.
read Hemingway only once, skip Faulkner ignore Gogol stare at photos of Gertrude Stein and read Sherwood Anderson in bed while eating Ritz crackers,
The bedpan is a merciless rock a horrible mockery because nobody wants to drag your failing body to the crapper and back.
So there we are: back to the barter system, the only way to beat inflation.
There is that which helps you believe in something else besides death:
You boys can keep your virgins give me hot old women in high heels with asses that forgot to get old.
Don’t undress my love you might find a mannequin; don’t undress the mannequin you might find my love.
Human relationships simply aren’t durable.
I loved you like a man loves a woman he never touches, only writes to, keeps little photographs of.
she has hurt fewer people than anybody I know, and if you look at it like that, well, she has created a better world. She has won.
Sometimes I get out of practice out of tune. That’s all right.
I’ve known too many women and instead of thinking, I wonder who’s fucking her now? I think she’s giving some other poor son of a bitch much trouble right now.
I wish I were driving a blue 1952 Buick or a dark blue 1942 Buick or a blue 1932 Buick over a cliff of hell and into the sea.
The human sewage system is the world’s greatest invention. And you invented me and I invented you and that’s why we don’t get along on this bed any longer. You were the world’s greatest invention until you flushed me away.
I don’t know why people fuck with the stuff, there’s not that much to it. I think they’re all losers and they want to lose real bad. There’s no other way, it’s like they can’t get where they’re going or want to go and there’s no other way. This has got to be it.
I am going to start selling air in dark orange bags marked: moon-blooms
There is a loneliness in this world so great that you can see it in the slow movement of the hands of a clock.
you realize that if I were an adding machine I might break down tabulating how many times you’ve used that light brown stare? Not that you’re not the best with your light brown stare.
Someday some crazy son of a bitch is going to murder you
Her kisses tasted like shitsoup.
read Hemingway only once, skip Faulkner ignore Gogol stare at photos of Gertrude Stein and read Sherwood Anderson in bed while eating Ritz crackers,
The bedpan is a merciless rock a horrible mockery because nobody wants to drag your failing body to the crapper and back.
So there we are: back to the barter system, the only way to beat inflation.
There is that which helps you believe in something else besides death: