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lilyprimeaux's review against another edition
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This honestly just felt like a poetic manifestation of Bukowski’s later novel, Women, including
the same old misogynistic plot points and ideas as pretty much every other book he has ever written. I can understand how a writer like bukowski might seem inspirational for the men that long for a time when beating women and drinking beer were considered respectable pass times, but I just don’t understand how any woman could genuinely enjoy his work? Sure it may be “raw” and an “authentic” depiction of one struggling to survive in a big city, but even he understands that he was no where near struggling. It almost feels like a parody to me, a let me just live as if i’m still poor and down on my luck so that i can keep writing the same shit that brought me fame in the first place. I guess you could call the poetry somewhat well written in a demotic sense, but he’s no ginsberg.
the same old misogynistic plot points and ideas as pretty much every other book he has ever written. I can understand how a writer like bukowski might seem inspirational for the men that long for a time when beating women and drinking beer were considered respectable pass times, but I just don’t understand how any woman could genuinely enjoy his work? Sure it may be “raw” and an “authentic” depiction of one struggling to survive in a big city, but even he understands that he was no where near struggling. It almost feels like a parody to me, a let me just live as if i’m still poor and down on my luck so that i can keep writing the same shit that brought me fame in the first place. I guess you could call the poetry somewhat well written in a demotic sense, but he’s no ginsberg.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Sexual harassment
thedistortionist's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Moderate: Pedophilia and Stalking
laurencelitdeslivres's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
gorgnzla's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
I would give this zero stars, except it was so impactful that it made me never want to read anything by Bukowski ever again. So I guess that’s something?
Highly do not recommend. His writing felt lazy and uninspired, not to mention the blatant pedophilia and misogyny. This book was essentially him griping about “his wh*res,” shitting, and people obsessing over him. Not sure why, when he mentions every other segment that his underwear has shit stains. Not much to adore there. It feels like a case of narcissism to me, but that’s just my opinion.
It’s got to be some dedication that he wrote over a hundred pages of (subpar, mind you) poems that essentially boil down to “I have a red hair fetish.” I finished the book out of pure spite. And, out of even more spite, I don’t think I’ll ever pick up another one of his books again.
Highly do not recommend. His writing felt lazy and uninspired, not to mention the blatant pedophilia and misogyny. This book was essentially him griping about “his wh*res,” shitting, and people obsessing over him. Not sure why, when he mentions every other segment that his underwear has shit stains. Not much to adore there. It feels like a case of narcissism to me, but that’s just my opinion.
It’s got to be some dedication that he wrote over a hundred pages of (subpar, mind you) poems that essentially boil down to “I have a red hair fetish.” I finished the book out of pure spite. And, out of even more spite, I don’t think I’ll ever pick up another one of his books again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual content and Excrement
inlaraland's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-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
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny and Pedophilia
constantbookover's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexism, Sexual content, Vomit, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Cursing, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Suicide attempt
maryxdarko's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Charles Bukowski... what a vile, vile man but man, could he write (and he was funny). But let’s make it clear, I wouldn’t be reading his works if he was alive, he was a raging misogynist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Pedophilia and Sexual content
eepi's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Stalking
fatimaarif's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Alcohol
Moderate: Pedophilia
avocadoontoast's review against another edition
2.0
To me, it feels like a misogynist alcoholic wrote this. It's all about objectifying women and how screwed up everything is.
I get what he means, and very few of his poems are good but, at least for me, it's not worth the read.
I get what he means, and very few of his poems are good but, at least for me, it's not worth the read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia