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Summary: Los Alamos 101
Review: Bukowski was the best and worst all at the same time. At his worst he was a caricature of himself...a cruel, disgusting drunk...a wasted talent. His writing a useless desensitized trail of semantics. However, at his best, Charles Bukowski wrote with the urgency, honesty and clarity no other artist has achieved in the entire ludicrous history of literature. Ham and Rye is an example of the latter...a thinly disguised auto-biography, it is the prose of a writer at the peak of his craft. Each sentence resounding with a voice and character that readers immediately recognize as Bukowski. It is sad and humorous at the same time and it is unimaginably good. Without a doubt, the best novel ever written by a man who you will find to be one of the most engaging authors of all time.
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Summary: "For All My Friends"
Review: Bukowski's words leave an imprint not unlike the cystic acne which shaped his youth.
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Summary: My goodness, I am reluctantly in love with Bukowski.
Review: This book told it all. I have a deep and smoldering affection for Charles Bukowski and his work, all because of THIS BOOK. I don't recommend Hank to anyone because he is addictive as heroin. You'll hate him to death and need to read more.
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Summary: *Bukowski's careless and blunt attitude, finally explained!*
Review: Ham on Rye is a great informational novel on the background of Bukowski's childhood, adolescence, and evolution into the great writer he has become. His intoduction to alcohol is a significant experience that led to years of constant drinking and eventually his death. It is great background for a Bukowski fan or even a first time reader. I would recommend reading this novel first and Women soon after. They both explain his life well. Enjoy!
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Summary: Everything you always wanted to know...
Review: Bukowski's greatest achievement... of a great many excellent works. If you read this book you have all the information you need to know to understand what made Charles Bukowski Charles Bukowski. From the opening pages, Bukowski sets the tone of loneliness, apathy and sadness that prevailed through most of his work. Sprinkled throughout is that old Bukowski humor, the flair for the surreal that's made Bukowski and his alter ego, Henry Chinaski, a hero to millions. I love his poems, but this bittersweet story of a young man coming to age is a classic. Highly recommended for Bukowski fans and any who are curious just what the hell the fuss is all about. Hank Lebowski
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Summary: Classic Bukowski
Review: This is so far my favorite Bukowski book. It brings in Henry Chinaski, a character Bukowski uses in many stories. A must read, but with an open mind.
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Summary: Ham on Rye in Czech Reublic
Review: I have started with Bukowski books 3 months ago, and Ham on Rye and Notesof a dirty old man is the best I have ever read from him. Hank is unsortable author and in Czech Rebublic he became to grow favorite.
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Summary: Moments, but i didn't think it was great
Review: This book is pretty cool, its an account of Bukowkski's childhood and school years, and while there are interesting little experiences along the way, i didn't find it all that enthralling. You'll read it anyway, because you like Bukowksi, but if you are just starting out with him, try one of his other novels, like Post office or Women so you can get a full appreciation of it. I don't know i think this book is good after you've got an overall picture of who the writer is, rather than going in head first without knowing.
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Summary: King of the Miserable Drunks
Review: Favoring prose over poetry I am a big fan of Bukowski's novels. Although all of them, other than Pulp, are exceptionally good, Ham on Rye is by far his best work. Autobiographical and concentrating on his childhood it is filled with a sense of sadness and wasted potential. Bukowski's prose has a wonderfully stripped down, honest quality to it; almost an antidote to the pretentious side of modernist writing. As for Bukowski himself, he is one of those writers who never got over the basic stupidity of everyday life. His other novels are often a blurred cronology of odd jobs, troubled women, and near suicidal benders. This one is a departure from that pattern because it is about his childhood. Lets make one thing clear, Bukowski was a tough, unhappy, Alcoholic who just wanted to be left alone and also happened to be exceptionally talented at putting words together. He is an excellent writer and should be given due respect but I have no interest in reading work by other miserable drunks. Bukowski's writing works partially because his brutal self deprication compliments his writing style. I appreciate the fact that (in his novels) he avoids flights of fancy, flowery elaboration, heroism, and adventure. As I read his work I am very amused, saddened, and thankful I am not him. This is a great book.
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Summary: Straight from the hip
Review: Bukowski is the master. He defies categorization. In a book that describes so much ugliness, Bukowski proves that the only beauty in life is truth. However, I am forced to split hairs and say that POST OFFICE is my favorite thus far.
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