Charles Bukowski

You must check out some of Charles Bukowski's work if you can.

Check out one of his novels like Ham on Rye or Post Office. Check out Women or Notes of a Dirty Old Man.

Check out some of Bukowski's poetry, much of it can be found online.

Check out the 1987 movie titled Barfly, staring Mickey Rourke and Faye Dunaway. Mickey Rourke plays the role of Henry Chinaski (Charles Bukowski).

The writings of Bukowski speak to my soul.

This is my favorite Bukowski poem, titled 'The Genius of the Crowd':

"There is enough treachery
hatred, violence and absurdity in the average
human being to supply any given army on any given day

And the best at murder are those who preach against it
And the best at hate are those who preach love
And the best at war finally are those who preach peace

Those who preach god, need god
Those who preach peace do not have peace
Those who preach peace do not have love

Beware the preachers
Beware the knowers
Beware those who are always reading books
Beware those who either detest poverty
or are proud of it
Beware those quick to praise
for they need praise in return
Beware those who are quick to censor
they are afraid of what they do not know
Beware those who seek constant crowds for
they are nothing alone
Beware the average man the average woman
Beware their love, their love is average
Seeks average

But there is genius in their hatred
There is enough genius in their hatred to kill you
To kill anybody
Not wanting solitude
Not understanding solitude
They will attempt to destroy anything
that differs from their own
Not being able to create art
they will not understand art
They will consider their failure as creators
only as a failure of the world
Not being able to love fully
They will believe your love incomplete
And then they will hate you
And their hatred will be perfect

Like a shining diamond
Like a knife
Like a mountain
Like a tiger
Like hemlock

Their finest art"

Charles Bukowski (1920-1994)

 

yeah, his stuff is awesome. I have "what matters most is how well you walk through the fire." Never read any of his novels though, maybe I'll check them out.

 

Ohh yes, I adore Bukowski. Well, his poems anyway since I haven't read any of the novels.

 

Bukowski's novels are incredible, i couldn't imagine his way of writing, it's so direct, so straight, he says what he wants to say and in just the right words he must use. He changed my way of thinking about literature.
One of his novel i most liked is (i don't know his right title in English, i read it in spanish) something like "When the captain went out, the sailors took the boat", or something like that.
The only thing i don't like from him is that he's a very sexist, very male chauvinist.

 

After reading the poem (which is, of course, extremely good), I must say I am surprised you like something so passionate. I'd have expected you appreciate something cynical more. Or something elaborate (based on your taste in music)...

 

bukowski... one pillar during my high-school rebel period

 

I like Bukowski's style, but he is sexist. I think my favorite poem of his is "So, you want to be a writer."

 

Just finished reading "Women" last night. Loved it, depsite the misogyny.

 

So I've been hearing loads about this one author, charles bukowski, and started reading his "Sifting through the madness, for the word, the line, the way" I think it completely bites, his style of writing although it may be blunt (which i like) seems to be intended to capture an audience of troubled two year olds. However i did stumble upon a great poem called 'unblinking grief' which, seems to be the shortest poem in his collection.
This author doesn;t appear to have the slightest literary skill except his ramblings on gambling, fucking and drinking which sometimes leads to one sentence of relative insight that I am convinced was accidental. Anyhow I'm pretty disappointed with his works and undeserving fame, I may sound bitter but for good reason! a 24 dollar text of pure nothingness is a harsh drag. What are your opinions for those who have read his works?

 

Finally, someone who thinks he's shit. Now I know that not everyone has been completely brainwashed by him I might actually try reading his stuff.

But $24?! Get a fucking library card.

 

Well It was pricey but i enjoy keeping a collection of books because i tend to highlight, and source quotes i may use. Anyhow, bukowski is horrible for those who have some literary taste. I think it's a sad sad time for literature if a man as dry as bukowski gains recognition.

 

I gather it's simple stuff for simple people. Antony Kieldis says it's good, so I don't feel too inclined to change my mind.

 

in your signature, who is that artist? I think a friend of mine showed me a book on surreal art and those images were included. I may be wrong, help a girl out.

 

Francis Bacon. It's called something like "Three Figures At The Base Of The Crucifixion". He did it while hung over. It shows.

 

francis bacon! now i remember, because the name reminded me of a philosopher.

 

words.

 

hmm... i've only read one book by old Buk. it's called Tales of Ordinary Madness. it's a great book, in my opinion. each chapter is a sort of "tale" i suppose, but a lot of it is drunken/stoned ramblings and sex talk.

in one notable chapter he rambles about color TV and LSD and how they relate to each other as they came out around the same period of time. ("outlaw one and fuck the other one up.")

dig it.

 

interesting idea, still his style of writing is trash

 

you're all idiots, and i hate saying it, but bukowski's a goddam genius and idiots tend to hate the guy. you're bitter. he's captured a piece of modern america and put it simple, blunt, easy, understandable, rather perfect. i bet you're the kind of folks who like dylan thomas and his dead ghost who drinks dead whiskey all night in the land of the dead.

i will now quote the genius of bukowski as one should always keep great words close. now this is out of "The Roominghouse Madrigals/Early Selected Poems 1946-1966" he's got a ton more but i chose a short one for typing here.

...from "on the Failure of a poet"
"now i cling evilly to these walls
and stand before a mirror
examining my content:
i represent rent, cheap labor
and nickle-coffee nights,
dancer in the splendid hock-shops
and rooms that close across the throat
as words fly from my small white hands
as the master poet snore..."

ah ahahaha, now what do you have to say for yourselves?
send me disgusted words if you must, i like to laugh.

if you want to read somethinge else good, better than buk, read
"Gifted Disabilities" by Justin Blackburn. its on www.booksurge.com

 

I didn't know authors had e-teamers.