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A review by thecolourblue
Love Is a Dog from Hell by Charles Bukowski
reflective
sad
slow-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
2.0
Yeah, Bukowski’s ‘I’m a pathetic drunk but tortured genius poet’ thing sure gets old fast. Basically just a book of verse-form whinging and bachelor-pad male fantasy liberally sprinkled with misogyny.
The sad part is that where Bukowski’s poetry is at its best is at the times (e.g. A Poem for Old Snaggle-tooth) where he is able to display some measure of self-awareness, regret, and portray women as actual full people rather than either sexual fantasies or tormentors. Unfortunately he doesn’t seem able to manage this for more than a handful of the poems in this book.
The sad part is that where Bukowski’s poetry is at its best is at the times (e.g. A Poem for Old Snaggle-tooth) where he is able to display some measure of self-awareness, regret, and portray women as actual full people rather than either sexual fantasies or tormentors. Unfortunately he doesn’t seem able to manage this for more than a handful of the poems in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny