Hot Water Music

Ah, the Drunken Master his own self...here he is at his best, writing pleasingly spare and oft hilarious vignettes of his later life's ramblings through the bars and bedrooms of Hollywood's seedier avenues. Not recommended if you don't like to drink, laugh and/or are easily offended...Buk is as far from politically correct as Santa is from Antartica...but oh man, the laughs that his laconic delivery can produce! His genius also lies in his occasional moments of true clarity...once in a while he flat out nails what it is to be human, male, drunk, or just a bum treading water while waiting for St. Peter's inevitable rejection. Of the great writers in the English language, few other than Chaucer are this saucy and brazen and unabashed...and yes, I think Buk's best work can stand beside Joyce and Hem and Whitman and even the mighty Shake when it comes to revealing some of life's truths. Especially the antisocial male's truths. Bukowski keeps it simple and to the point, and has a special talent for revealing the joys of the mundane...his territory is very much his own, the hallmark of a truly classic writer. Be forewarned, there are some verrrrry edgy moments here...but CB's willingness to confront aspects of the human (well, male--very male) psyche that others dare not go near makes him the unique freak that he is. His poetry comes and goes, as do his novels, though Post Office and Women are classics. His short stories have the most humor and twisted pathos, and this is the best collection, methinks. "The Great Poet" alone is worth the price of admission. Buk loves to hold the idiocy of fame and our culture's shallowness up to the light...usually the barroom light...and no one else has quite his way with love scenes...if you can call them that... Many women find Bukowski to be a pig. Fair enough. But when you're wondering if your new girl will put up with you in the long run, give her this and wait for the reaction. If she laughs, you're good to go. Warning: this book will make you want to crack a cold one or three, or seven, just to enjoy the happily nihilistic thrill of not giving a damn. I don't reread many books...life is too short, with too many books left to enjoy...but this one gets read at least once a year, usually when I need the solace and joy of drinking a few too many at two in the morning while laughing my ass off. One of the funniest books of all time, if you like your laughs a little warped.

This work of short stories really got me more interested in Bukowski. I got started on the Buk addiction in a rather strange way - with his last novel "PULP" (which really is atypical of Charles). My second book was also a novel, "Post Office"- exquisite stuff. Anyways, these shorts are much more in-line with his Post Office days and leave you wanting to go on a bender and smash something valuable... in a good way of course. If you've never read Bukowski then this book should give you a pretty good flavor of his style (straight-from-the-(beer)-gut, unforgiving amusement for the soul). From my perspective, you can read Bukowski 2 ways: for sheer amusement of a great story teller or as a poet-by-compulsion (or both together, as I prefer). Either way - he's good!

I recently saw the movie barfly and I was totally entertained and wanted to know more about the person behind the script, hence, Charles Bukowski. His writing is rapid fire and from the gut. I have a tape of his from when he gave a poetry reading and you can tell he talks like he writes. Truly a significant talent. I am now reading one Bukowski after another. Another favorite of short stories is "Tales of a dirty old man". There are some stories I have read from him that STILL have me laughing at just the thought of them, 3 months after reading them. He is the underground genius of American literature.

Gripping stories and poems from a man forged by the tragedies of life. I've read nearly 2 dozen of his books and this is my favorite.

This collection of short stories is very interesting. It provides a different look on life and the quirky things that happen. Everyone should at least read 1 Bukowski and this is definitely a good one.