Rating: 
Summary: An easy, brilliant, and powerful read. Honest.
Review: Bukowski writes what he knows. His use of short sentences and chapters leads the reader to not want to put it down. On top of that, the novel is true and honest. This, being what is termed his autobiography, paints an acute picture of his life, which is nothing short of a masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: An insufferable pleasure
Review: I have not read this book in English, I read it in Spanish but I think this is not a problem to take delight in its reading. It is a book capable of make you smile, cry, vomit, enjoy, think, ...It has all the humanity, reality and cruelty than you can expect. A comfortant teethache, an insufferable pleasure.
Rating:
Summary: In the writer's own words, "Life is a continuation."
Review: This being my first Bukowski novel I had no idea what to expect. His poignant and often hysterical observations of adolescent life will keep me up thinking most of the night. A phenomenol read that has inspired to me to consume his other works. Henry's life was truly his own and conformity was not a luxury (or demon) that he would allow himself to experience. His life was harsh and on the edge, but it was 'his' life and as he grows he remains true to himself.
Rating:
Summary: Think you've read 'em all? Read ANY Bukowski book!
Review: I plow through Bukowski like I do Cap'n'Crunch. The man inspires drunken poetry on hot summer nights- while talking about women, booze, masturbation, classical music, & horse racing. This book is my new favorite. Why? Because while facinating the reader with lurid tales of a painful and depressing childhood, Bukowski makes us laugh, cry, and feel sorry for that kid we made fun of in 7th grade. We relive our adolecence through the eyes of an outcast in a way that no other writer could prepare us for. I only wish I could tell the man thank you for taking the time to put his thoughts onto paper. (But he's not the type who would have received it well.)
Rating:
Summary: The psychology and sociology of Charles Bukowski.
Review: The best sociological and psychological account of growing up in Hollywood fiction has ever produced. Charles Bukowski at his best.Ham On Rye by Charle Bukowski ISBN: 0876855583
Rating:
Summary: Henry Chinaski's addiction to love and lust
Review: Another brilliantly composed book by Charles Bukowski. Through excellent literary composition Bukowski shows a young man's struggle in a world full of poverty, pimples, and puberty. Henry Chinaski lives a life without love. His parents don't express their love for Henry and that lack of compassion leads him to find love in other places. Perhaps his confusion about what love really is leads his exploration of the female anatomy.
Rating:
Summary: HAM ON RYE, The American DEATH ON THE INSTALLMENT PLAN
Review: In all of Bukowski's work there is a constant search for truth and freedom. With every breath that Bukowski takes he is locked in a fevered struggle with the forces around him that contiually attempt to make him walk the path of the common man. Bukowski sees this as nothing more than falling into a lock step towards certain death. Though he portrays himself as a repulsive type of human being, he is able to convince us that it is the world around him that is far more repulsive. In Ham On Rye, we are lead through the more meaningful chapters of Bukowski's childhood and early adulthood. There are very few pieces of literature that reaches readers with more honesty. As we read Bukowski we may at one moment feel relieved that we do not have to live his life, but in the next moment, are envious of the freedom in which he enjoys. Ham On Rye is one of those extremely rare pieces of fiction that allows a great work of art to simply flow into us. Reading Ham On Rye is simply effortless. It is almost as if it passes directly into us. This is, without a doubt, the most important American novel of the last quarter century. How can the readers of great literature wonder, in horrific despair, with the passing of Salinger, Miller and Bukowski, if a truly great writer will appear in our lifetimes. I, for one, have very little hope, but continue to stand vigilant
Rating:
Summary: Such painful talent -- Such beauty from and ugly man
Review: Charles Bukowski appeals to the underside of us all. Love him or hate him, Ham on Rye has a piece of every American Family. From the torture of a neighborhood sissy to the beatings for leaving a few grass blades too high, Hank writes as it was. It's a wonder that after such a childhood, he held precious his daughter, his wife and his classical music. If you read nothing else this year, read Ham on Rye and Tales of Ordinary Madness. They'll change your views on EVERYTHING.
Rating:
Summary: If only more could read- and feel Bukowski's insight !
Review: I read most of his books. He has this extremely profane way of expressing. To say he was a great writer would terribly understate this beautiful intellegent mind of his. I was sad knowing that near the end of the book was an ending. I wish every one of his books were thousands of pages longer! I know I could never convey to any individual exactly what it is Bukowski's sharing with us, and like few other writers,i.e.J.D. Salinger, Ernest Hemingway ,et cetera, but if we could only realize that he's allowing us to better our lives with his non-chalant way of living and not particularly prizing anything too much we'd be happier individuals! It's funny how this great mind lived in the same era I did, and yet I never took the chance to congratulate him for him? that is how much this writer means to me, and not just Ham On Rye, but every single one of his books. To Charles, I'll bet a couple of horses for you the next time I'm at Hollywood Park homeboy. your homeboy, lil rod
Rating:
Summary: A silly dennis the menace sex driven drinking adventure*#!%!
Review: It was probably one of the first books that made me laugh out loud in a long time. i was sitting in the lancaster library and people were looking at me, wondering what the hell i was reading. it reminded me of me and the way i saw the world when i was a kid. i guess it still looks the same. the world that is........ i could read it again and again. sometimes i try to find some of the places he talks about. it's a must read boooooookkkk!!!!!!
|
