An influence on a generation. Working-class blues. Tired of the bullshit blues. Rather not participate in the bullshit blues. An obvious influence on Tom Waits. Jim Harrison once called him "the filthiest of us all"...meaning poets...and said it as a compliment. Found him in 11th grade and he opened a whole new world.
Hot damn! Bukowski is the reason I started writing. I used to think writing was for special folks. Those who think deeply or have beautiful sophisticated prose. Perhaps it is. Then I saw a documentary on his life when I was 20. Turns out he was as flawed as me. And wrote some of the best poems I have ever read. Bukowski’s words are addictive. Like a good coffee or whatever drug you prefer these days. I’ve read, heard, watched and even written at length about a crime from a criminal's perspective. I thought by now I was numb to it all. This short story had me twisting in discomfort. All it took was 5 pages. “the Definition of Life is Trouble”
Yeah, I loved Bukowski's writings too. He was a man going for man's stuff, drinking and women. The drinking part was easiest. The woman part... more complicated. But he didn't play by women's rules, or at least not for long. He'd just grab some ass, go in for a kiss, whatever he thought would work. If it didn't, well, he got slapped. If it did he got laid. But most women he didn't like. They were repulsed by him in high school, laughed at him, because of his acne. He found one women who was adrift from SS Humanity, like himself. They drank and screwed. Then argued and fought. They lasted years and then she died. His best writing was about the hard years. When they made a movie our of his life, Bar Fly, and the money came in, he 'moved up,' got a new woman, a new car. But the writing , now about the swells at the nice clubs and restaurants, was not as good as the old stuff about the hard life.
Men like Bukowski, but if they were/are married to a 'nice woman,' they'd have to keep that to themselves. A question for all the Bukowski fans. Could a Bukowski get a good publishing contract today when women rule the publishing empires? I think not. What do you think?
Oh Buk! Some writers just cut through the shit and wrap themselves around reality. Thank you for this.
An influence on a generation. Working-class blues. Tired of the bullshit blues. Rather not participate in the bullshit blues. An obvious influence on Tom Waits. Jim Harrison once called him "the filthiest of us all"...meaning poets...and said it as a compliment. Found him in 11th grade and he opened a whole new world.
Same!
Hot damn! Bukowski is the reason I started writing. I used to think writing was for special folks. Those who think deeply or have beautiful sophisticated prose. Perhaps it is. Then I saw a documentary on his life when I was 20. Turns out he was as flawed as me. And wrote some of the best poems I have ever read. Bukowski’s words are addictive. Like a good coffee or whatever drug you prefer these days. I’ve read, heard, watched and even written at length about a crime from a criminal's perspective. I thought by now I was numb to it all. This short story had me twisting in discomfort. All it took was 5 pages. “the Definition of Life is Trouble”
Really thank you for this.
Excellent critique and excerpt.... I'm darkly inspired by Bukowski and Harrison....over and over.
Charles Bukowski is a master.
He put me in each space, each thought. Thank you.
This was a powerful jolt to read first thing in the morning.
🖤
Bukowski is the only poet I listen to.
Bukowski's terse, to the point, prose always made me smile and chuckle.
So freakishly good. Cutting through everything. It feels real.
Or tune in, turn on and drop out back in the day.....
Yeah, I loved Bukowski's writings too. He was a man going for man's stuff, drinking and women. The drinking part was easiest. The woman part... more complicated. But he didn't play by women's rules, or at least not for long. He'd just grab some ass, go in for a kiss, whatever he thought would work. If it didn't, well, he got slapped. If it did he got laid. But most women he didn't like. They were repulsed by him in high school, laughed at him, because of his acne. He found one women who was adrift from SS Humanity, like himself. They drank and screwed. Then argued and fought. They lasted years and then she died. His best writing was about the hard years. When they made a movie our of his life, Bar Fly, and the money came in, he 'moved up,' got a new woman, a new car. But the writing , now about the swells at the nice clubs and restaurants, was not as good as the old stuff about the hard life.
Men like Bukowski, but if they were/are married to a 'nice woman,' they'd have to keep that to themselves. A question for all the Bukowski fans. Could a Bukowski get a good publishing contract today when women rule the publishing empires? I think not. What do you think?
I think it was you who introduced me to Bukowski. And now I can’t get enough of him. Thanks for today’s excerpt and brief bio.
Great no matter how many times I've read it