Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Ham on rye by Charles Bukowski

6 reviews

_bxllxe_'s review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny reflective 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

3.5

It’s hard to put into words how this book made me feel. I could relate to the passages that reminded me of the “numb” stage of depression. For example:

“I knew that I wasn’t entirely sane. I still knew, as I had as a child, that there was something strange about myself. […] I needed an isolated place to hide. Skid row was disgusting. The life of the sane, average man was dull, worse than death. There seemed to be no possible alternative. Education always seemed to be a trap. The little education I had allowed myself had made me more suspicious. What were doctors, lawyers, scientists? They were just men who allowed themselves to be deprived of their freedom to think and act as individuals.I went back to my shack and drank…”

Bukowski intrigues me even though his words sometimes offend me. I wonder at what ratio nature and nurture influenced his rebellious personality and flaccid outlook on life. He reminds me of Otessa Moshfegh. They write simply but impactfully. Their characters almost uniformly revile humanity, struggle with addiction, and prefer isolation. If I were to start writing, I’d probably write in this same vein. Maybe they reflect my darkest parts back to me. Maybe I take comfort in this recognition.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

lillibooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark funny sad tense 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

3.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

lesyich's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad medium-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

2.5

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

crystxlxsxd's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark sad tense 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

3.0

I can’t lie, this was quite disturbing at many points and I’m sure you’d have been able to read my face during these parts. Though I wouldn’t say any of it is sinister or horrific, just uneasy insight to how things could be during this era in particular. I was as satisfied with the ending as I could have been, though you aren’t really getting a plot so much as a walkthrough of a saddening coming of age.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

sugar_pill's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

1.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

jessicat103's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
More...