Reviews

Septuagenarian Stew by Charles Bukowski

pandasekh's review against another edition

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4.0

Altre recensioni sul mio blog: https://www.artedellalettura.it/

Recensione Niente canzoni d'amore (senza spoiler)

Niente canzoni d'amore è una raccolta di racconti brevi contenente storie caratterizzate dalla prosa tipica della narrativa di Bukowski, con frasi brevi ma d'impatto, e da argomenti come alcolismo, lavori pessimi e vite insoddisfacenti. tipici dell'autore.

Dopo aver letto tutta la narrativa autobiografica di Bukowski, questa raccolta di racconti risulta essere una piacevole sorpresa.

Ho trovato i racconti angoscianti, a tratti opprimenti. I protagonisti delle storie ricordano molto Henry Chinaski, alter ego di Bukowski, sia per carattere che per le vicende che li coinvolgono.


Conclusioni

Niente canzoni d'amore è una raccolta di racconti di veloce lettura e godibile, sopratutto se già si conoscono lo stile e i temi di Bukowski.

baskeemink's review against another edition

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3.0

Bukowski blijft een van mijn literaire helden. Zijn rauwe en directe stijl zorgt ervoor dat zijn romans, zijn verhalenbundels en zelfs gedichtbundels vaker wel dan geen pageturners zijn. Al zijn boeken zijn een herhaling van dezelfde onderwerpen. Het is vrijwel altijd autobiografisch en gaat veelal over drank, vrouwen en gokken in combinatie met een gebrek aan geld en ambitie. Desondanks verveelt het mij nog steeds niet.

Dit boek is een verzameling van korte verhalen en gedichten. Hoewel zijn stijl en ritme het best aankomt in de Engelse taal, kan ik nog steeds enorm genieten van zijn vertaalde romans en korte verhalen. In deze uitgaven lees ik voor het eerst ook vertaalde gedichten en daar beleef ik helaas weinig plezier aan. Zonde, want in het Engels zijn het juist zijn gedichten die mij pakken om zijn eigenaardige stijl.

Het kan er ook mee te maken hebben dat dit boek geschreven is in een periode dat ook Bukowski de computer omarmde. Als ik kenners mag geloven is hij toen, als het om gedichten gaat, helemaal losgegaan. Zo is de kwantiteit van zijn gedichten in de laatste jaren van zijn leven schijnbaar enorm omhooggegaan maar hebben zijn gedichten flink op kwaliteit ingeleverd.

yeahnaar's review against another edition

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dark funny lighthearted reflective fast-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

3.75

It’s not the best collection of bukowskis poetry or short stories, but there are some good ones in there. If you’re already a fan then it’s worth reading, but if you haven’t read bukowski before then there are better collections of his work to read

pheenx's review

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dark funny reflective sad medium-paced

3.75

peixinhodeprata's review against another edition

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4.0

This was different than the last Bukowski book I've read (Love is a Dog From Hell), in the sense that it contained poetry, but also some short stories.
The stories follow different characters but they all show us some insight into human behaviour. We have the bum, the movie star, the factory worker, and they all share more than meets the eye.
I liked it, but maybe due to my lack of knowledge in sports like boxing or baseball, some stories had hidden meanings for me.

night_owl's review against another edition

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4.0

Not my favorite, but still has a lot in it that makes it a worthwhile read. He complains about being old and wealthy far too often, and many of the random short stories don't really go anywhere. But it has moments of brilliance, most often in the brevity of his haiku-like poems.

ellioth's review against another edition

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4.0

I loved it, more than "Fuck machine" and other books from old Chinasky. Imagination, whisky, talent, beer, literary madurity and beer made an awesome book.

heleendb's review against another edition

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3.0

There's some really good stuff between all the misogynistic bullshit.

a_witthuhn's review against another edition

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4.0

VERY interesting. This is a charming collection of poetry and a few stories, but it's definitely a bit... toothless for the Buk. Having recently seen "Born Into This" and knowing now about the Buddhist turn he took near the end of his life, this collection actually makes a lot of sense. This book is essentially a meditation on death and his acceptance of it - quiet, pretty and satisfying once you get past the lack of "beershit" contained within.
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