post office: A Novel

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  Bukowski's breakout novel, Post Office, is Charles “Hank” Bukowski in maybe his purest form. Why should you like Charles 'Hank' Bukowski, you ask? You shouldn't. In fact, you should hate him. You should revile all that resembles him. Even the mention of his name should raise the hair on your back in the idea that this man was allowed to live in our society. But I'll tell you what, it won't. Everything he does salts the earth, but when he tells the story, you'll laugh. You'll find yourself fee... (show more)

  Bukowski's breakout novel, Post Office, is Charles “Hank” Bukowski in maybe his purest form. Why should you like Charles 'Hank' Bukowski, you ask? You shouldn't. In fact, you should hate him. You should revile all that resembles him. Even the mention of his name should raise the hair on your back in the idea that this man was allowed to live in our society. But I'll tell you what, it won't. Everything he does salts the earth, but when he tells the story, you'll laugh. You'll find yourself feeling sorry for him. You'll start to identify with the worst enemy to your sense of decency that you could possibly imagine. You'll cheer for the devil. If ever you've doubted that a lotus can thrive in a pile of mud and shit, let Bukowski show you the limitlessness of compassion by being the best human to never hold an ounce of humanity. Then read more, and never judge so harshly your reflection again. (show less)

   

   

  by Nic Hampton on Jun 03, 2009 at 08:19PM

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  My first outing with a Charles Bukowski novel. No poetry of his in my past. I watched Barfly on cable about seven or eight years ago. That was my only previous exposure, and I can't remember a thing about that movie.

  The book is a quick read. As you can see from my profile here, I consumed it in a day. His vocabulary is small, but that's what usually makes a book quick. The writing is punchy and terse.

  The story, which is very auto-biographical, is highly entertaining. Buko...more My first ... (show more)

  My first outing with a Charles Bukowski novel. No poetry of his in my past. I watched Barfly on cable about seven or eight years ago. That was my only previous exposure, and I can't remember a thing about that movie.

  The book is a quick read. As you can see from my profile here, I consumed it in a day. His vocabulary is small, but that's what usually makes a book quick. The writing is punchy and terse.

  The story, which is very auto-biographical, is highly entertaining. Buko...more My first outing with a Charles Bukowski novel. No poetry of his in my past. I watched Barfly on cable about seven or eight years ago. That was my only previous exposure, and I can't remember a thing about that movie.

  The book is a quick read. As you can see from my profile here, I consumed it in a day. His vocabulary is small, but that's what usually makes a book quick. The writing is punchy and terse.

  The story, which is very auto-biographical, is highly entertaining. Bukowski/Chinaski is a rough and ready drunkard, working at the post office in order to buy booze, buy things for his women, and bet on horse races. Sounds riveting to me!

  As this was Bukowski's first novel, I can't help but feel that it originally lacked a message, a purpose. Sure, the purpose is he took all this experience and made a novel out of it. Since he is now a renown author the message makes sense, but only in retrospect. Oh well, some people can predict the future I guess. (show less)

   

   

  by Nathan Roberson on Sep 07, 2009 at 07:31AM

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