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Summary: I need 45 days to sleep.
Review: Chuck Bukowski is the king of the dead and the dying
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Summary: Real literature for real people
Review: Someday, when the current crop of snobs and fuddy-duddies who run the English departments in American universities begin to die off or retire, Bukowski will be required reading for anyone who wishes to be considered an educated human being. When this happens, Ham on Rye will be justly hailed as one of the greatest novels of the 20th century. Until that happens, those of us in the know will just have to keep the faith, keep telling people of Buk's genius, keep praying for those poor, misguided Ph.Ds with their dry-as-death, dead-weight tomes and their sorry, miserable theories of literature.Bukowski is so real that he scares the phonies shitless. The king is dead! Long live the king!
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Summary: Another BUK classic, not for the average joe.
Review: Bukowski is king for those who don' t want to drive an SUV and go to Gordon Biersch on the weekends. Ham on Rye is a classic, one of BUK' s best.
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Summary: bukowski's masterpiece outdoes Salinger
Review: Move over, Holden Caulfied. In Henry Chinaski, Charles Bukowski has given American Literature what to my mind is one of the most devastatingly funny, sad, compassionate and wise portraits of adolescence we have. The book is packed with dozens of thumbnail vignettes that shine a tiny circle of light upon man's humanity--and lack thereof--to his fellow creatures. Think of Nurse Ackerman; the scene with the kitten trapped by the dog; the itchy ROTC uniform; Henry's beatings at the hands of his sadistic father; his friend with one arm...it goes on and on. To my mind, this book is Bukowski's masterpiece.
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Summary: Quick, entertaining, insightful read!
Review: My English major friend suggested this book and said the author reminded her of Hemingway. Although I felt sorry for Henry, the main character, and at times did not like him, I truely enjoyed this book. What a rough life the author must have lead. Unfortunately, Henry could not escape his upbringing. This book proved to be insightful to human nature. I especially enjoyed and identified with the part where he described what books ment to him. Any reader will love that part. Henry's frankness about life was refreshing. I almost thought he had a chance to escape his life.
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Summary: Wonderful Book
Review: This is the first Bukowski novel I have read and it is incredible. It gives an insight as to what his childhood might have been like. He describes it through the life of Henri Chanaski. One can't help but to sympathize with the main character. This book is wonderful and although I am not a very skilled reader, I found it very easy to read. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down.
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Summary: One of Bukowski's best works.
Review: This book is one of Charles Bukowski's best works. He describes his childhood in detail, giving the reader insight about the trials and tribulations which would so dramatically shape this author's life and way of thinking. Buk is brutally honest about his thoughts and actions concerning his miserable existence as a boy growing up in Los Angeles. His writing captures the true feelings of a childhood outcast, making the reader assimilate himself in Charles' role and confront the demons of his own past. Truly one of Buk's most moving works.
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Summary: Rainy Days and Mondays Always get me Down...
Review: It's been a cold, rainy week in Minneapolis and I've just finished Ham on Rye, which I've torn through. I do not know what to make of this book. It's quite disturbing, in terms of the frankness, and finishing it actually made me cry...especially the ending, which of course I will not give away. The main character, henry Chinaski is more disdainful than Holden Caulfield. He is so hard, yet I know he has a sensitive soul. Anyways, as I patronized the local record store I noticed one of the local bands in Minneapolis is called Chinaski and that spooked me. So, in all, I recommend this book, you will become attached to Henry, I promise
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Summary: a refreshing crisp read that you can't put down
Review: It's strange to read Bukowski as a woman. You feel as if you should throw his books across the room in disgust, but instead find yourself chuckling and even empathizing. Then you want more. Very few authors are capable of laying down a good clean sentence like Bukowski could. Once you take guilty pleasure in his writing, it's difficult to read most other authors. They seem to use too many words. Ham On Rye will give jaded readers new hope.
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Summary: brutally honest
Review: My buddy said "here, read this book" so I did. I loved it ,I read the whole book in one day. This was the first book in a long time that actualy made me laugh out loud.I've read a lot of his other books since and felt the same way. Charles was a total lush, and it all started in this book, when he told of his first glass of wine.Be careful, reading his books makes you wanna drink(a lot more if you already do)a lot. Charles bukowski was heavily influenced by Celine,and if you have ever read DEATH ON THE INSTALLMENT PLAN by Celine, you will notice some huge similarities in the way they were constructed,the short and abrupt sentencing, and tastful vulgarity and shameless self criticism. Read this book, then read WOMEN, then watch the movie BARFLY,(which is about Bukowski's life) then read HOLLYWOOD(which is about the making of the movie). Then read everything else. Bye, I,ll be home soon
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