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A review by inlaraland
Love Is a Dog from Hell by Charles Bukowski
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