*What book are you reading? (part 2)

[belboid]

Daughter got me a couple of Bukowski books as a belated birthday pressie, so started Women last night. Never read anything by him before, and read most of it last night.

Yeeees. Hmmmm. It's not intellectual, but he appears to be opposed to that sort of thing anyway. The text can be irritating in its sparsity, and not brilliant like Elmore Leonard. From a feminist perspective he's a terrible cunt...and yet, and yet...I had to admire his opportunism. It's a lot like my own

I find his dislike of people in general, his disregard for superior intellectual attitudes, and his love of booze quite attractive too

He is a brilliant writer, but I'd try and avoid too many of them at once. Less life affirming literature it would be hard to find, the misanthropic barstool

But do read Post Office next

 

[sojourner]

He is a brilliant writer, but I'd try and avoid too many of them at once. Less life affirming literature it would be hard to find, the misanthropic barstool

But do read Post Office next

I wouldn't call him brilliant - not yet, and certainly not on the basis of Women.

I have a short story collection to read next - Tales of Ordinary Madness, I think.

Am intrigued by Post Office - the 21 day/1st novel thing.

 

[Dirty Martini]

I read "on the natural history of destruction" and then "austerlitz" both which i loved

Ah, not read the Natural History. I've read the big four, though, plus Campo Santo.

I say Rings of Saturn is my favourite, but actually it changes as I go back over the books in my mind. I love them all.

 

[sojourner]

What do you reckon to Bukowski DM? I'd be interested in hearing your opinion of his stuff

 

[belboid]

I wouldn't call him brilliant - not yet, and certainly not on the basis of Women.

mmm, if you dont like that.....actually, if you dont like that you're very sensible, as it's hate filled bile. but it (along with PO) are deffo his best novels, the ones that show his wit as well as his misogyny.

 

[sojourner]

mmm, if you dont like that.....actually, if you dont like that you're very sensible, as it's hate filled bile. but it (along with PO) are deffo his best novels, the ones that show his wit as well as his misogyny.

Well I've said why I like it above - I don't not like it! READ the fucking post dear boy

I don't even think it's hate filled bile.

 

[belboid]

true true...consider my head banged against a brick wall. And rephrase my post to 'if you dont love that...'

 

[Dirty Martini]

What do you reckon to Bukowski DM? I'd be interested in hearing your opinion of his stuff

Not read a single line of Bukowski actually. Should I?

I've read a fair amount about him, articles and interviews and so forth, and he always comes across as such a dick. Not that it should matter, of course.

I guess I'll get round to it one day. Kind of had my fill of Americans for the time being.

Last mention I was of him was on the back cover of the Julian Maclaren-Ross biog I'm reading atm -- now there's an impecunious alcoholic speedfreak bohemian you should read, soj

 

[belboid]

I've read a fair amount about him, articles and interviews and so forth, and he always comes across as such a dick.

as Modest Mouse put it, And yeah, I know he's a pretty good read. But God who'd wanna be? God who'd wanna be such an asshole? God who'd wanna be? God who'd wanna be such an asshole?

 

[Dirty Martini]

as Modest Mouse put it, And yeah, I know he's a pretty good read. But God who'd wanna be? God who'd wanna be such an asshole? God who'd wanna be? God who'd wanna be such an asshole?

Fine song that, always raises a chuckle. With added banjo too

 

[chooch]

Just started 'Rings of Saturn' by WG Sebald

Is brilliant. There's nothing else quite like him for a constant nudging into gentle gloom.

Just about to start Daniel Pennac The Fairy Gunmother.

 

[Lakina]

Not read a single line of Bukowski actually. Should I?

I've read a fair amount about him, articles and interviews and so forth, and he always comes across as such a dick. Not that it should matter, of course.

I guess I'll get round to it one day. Kind of had my fill of Americans for the time being.

Last mention I was of him was on the back cover of the Julian Maclaren-Ross biog I'm reading atm -- now there's an impecunious alcoholic speedfreak bohemian you should read, soj

Try Post Office - it hilarious

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Still reading that book on the Korean War. Fuck I'm learning a lot about Harry Truman, James Forrestal, George Marshall etc.

 

[sojourner]

Not read a single line of Bukowski actually. Should I?

I've read a fair amount about him, articles and interviews and so forth, and he always comes across as such a dick. Not that it should matter, of course.

I guess I'll get round to it one day. Kind of had my fill of Americans for the time being.

Last mention I was of him was on the back cover of the Julian Maclaren-Ross biog I'm reading atm -- now there's an impecunious alcoholic speedfreak bohemian you should read, soj

Ah okay - well this is the first book of his I've ever read too. Just thought you might have read something by him. Erm...should you? Your life won't change whether you do or not.

He's always there, if you ever want to read something that isn't challenging . Writing's not terribly good tbh, like I said, his sparsity is shite compared to the genius of Elmore Leonard.

I only really decided to read something by him cos he's mentioned so much in that Tom Waits biog.

Shall look out for the JMR book then!

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Book with pictures

Maus

My preconceptions of this meant that I have not been even slightly interested in reading it for 20 years. Shame, it's really very good and nothing at all as I had imagined. It's leapfrogged all the other 'real' books I have been reading and I don't think will continue with any until I am finished (which will be this afternoon anyway).

 

[Dirty Martini]

Shall look out for the JMR book then!

You could even start with the biog, as a pretty good description of the Soho/London literary scene of the 40s and 50s. Or the Collected Memoirs, or Of Love and Hunger, a scandalously underappreciated novel

I'll search out Post Office then, as recommended by Lakina above.

 

[sojourner]

Book with pictures

Maus

My preconceptions of this meant that I have not been even slightly interested in reading it for 20 years. Shame, it's really very good and nothing at all as I had imagined. It's leapfrogged all the other 'real' books I have been reading and I don't think will continue with any until I am finished (which will be this afternoon anyway).

I hated that - mainly because of the layout. I really struggle with pictures and text, never know which bit to look at first and it annoys the shite out of me. Shame really, cos the story itself seemed to be good.

 

[sojourner]

You could even start with the biog, as a pretty good description of the Soho/London literary scene of the 40s and 50s. Or the Collected Memoirs, or Of Love and Hunger, a scandalously underappreciated novel

I'll search out Post Office then, as recommended by Lakina above.

Will stick it on my wishlist then, ta

 

[belboid]

He's always there, if you ever want to read something that isn't challenging . Writing's not terribly good tbh, like I said, his sparsity is shite compared to the genius of Elmore Leonard.

I think your being very harsh on him there. Sure, he’s not the greatest writer in the world, and certainly doesn’t have the zing of Leonard, but those sentences are powerful, simple and brutal. The depth of what they portray about him goes beyond the Mariana Trench. I think they kinda work better in Post Office, tho possibly only cos he seems less unpleasant in that one.

I hated that - mainly because of the layout. I really struggle with pictures and text, never know which bit to look at first and it annoys the shite out of me. Shame really, cos the story itself seemed to be good.

Doesn’t matter which you read first! Whichever grabs you, that’s part of the beauty. Tho if it don’t work for you, it don’t work for you. Shame cos they are a powerful and very moving couple of books.

 

[sojourner]

I think your being very harsh on him there. Sure, he’s not the greatest writer in the world, and certainly doesn’t have the zing of Leonard, but those sentences are powerful, simple and brutal. The depth of what they portray about him goes beyond the Mariana Trench. I think they kinda work better in Post Office, tho possibly only cos he seems less unpleasant in that one.

You think? Doesn't really matter does it? I'm not exactly gonna hurt his feelings That's my opinion mate - and like I said, I don't dislike him, there's a lot I do like about him. And this is only the first book I've read by him.

eta - I do like sparse texts. I love that about Annie Proulx, and Elmore. But they manage to pack so much more in. Sometimes, I get the feeling that Bukowski is actually taking the piss out of the reader, it's so very basic Dick and Jane

Doesn’t matter which you read first! Whichever grabs you, that’s part of the beauty. Tho if it don’t work for you, it don’t work for you. Shame cos they are a powerful and very moving couple of books.

I tried and tried, really I did. I tried reading text first, then pictures first, but it just did my fucking head in. I am so used to reading text only. It is a shame, because the bit I did get through was really promising. Maybe I'll go back to it in time.

 

[belboid]

You think? Doesn't really matter does it? I'm not exactly gonna hurt his feelings

He'd expect nothing more of you, after all you are..... a woman.

 

[sojourner]

He'd expect nothing more of you, after all you are..... a woman.

hehe

 

[Lincoln Rhyme]

I'm reading Meg: Hell's Aquarium, and Dexter By Design by Jeff Lindsay.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

I hated that - mainly because of the layout. I really struggle with pictures and text, never know which bit to look at first and it annoys the shite out of me. Shame really, cos the story itself seemed to be good.

Quite natural if you ask me.
I don't think maus could have worked as anything other than a comic book. I think it would make a fairly cool film if handled in the same way as persepolis but the writer has turned down many offers and even mentions it as part of the story (which is from a section that went a bit far for me and was unnecessary. I know he was trying to explain more of his emotions about the whole thing but the story suddenly 'clunked' for a few pages and felt more like a Harvey Pekar homage).

 

[llion]

One Day by David Nicholls. Much, much better than Starter for Ten.

 

[sojourner]

Tales of Ordinary Madness, by Charles Bukowski

Okay - now this is soooo much better than Women. I am really liking these. I need to read more of his stuff to see if he is just better at short stories, or whether Women was just his big splurge.

Had me chortling away last night. Couple of lines in particular stood out. On the sound of his mate eating: 'sounded like 12 rabbits fucking in straw'. And one of the multiple plates of party food being taken into a house: 'minced dove assholes'

Mucho impressed with this Everything about it is better than Women - the writing, the ideas, the structure...

 

[sojourner]

Quite natural if you ask me.
I don't think maus could have worked as anything other than a comic book. I think it would make a fairly cool film if handled in the same way as persepolis but the writer has turned down many offers and even mentions it as part of the story (which is from a section that went a bit far for me and was unnecessary. I know he was trying to explain more of his emotions about the whole thing but the story suddenly 'clunked' for a few pages and felt more like a Harvey Pekar homage).

Actually, I would really love to see it made into a film

Perhaps I'll give it another go someday...

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Actually, I would really love to see it made into a film

Perhaps I'll give it another go someday...

I was reading the last bit last night and out of all the comic books in the world this is about the easest to follow. There are no strange box formations. Read from left to right, top to bottom. Like words in books.

I would like to see it as a film, I'm not sure why because it works perfectly in comic from. Maybe it's just because I loved the way persepolis was handled, it looked so beautiful.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Tales of Ordinary Madness, by Charles Bukowski

..

I have never read any of his stuff but have always fancied it. Is this a good one to start with?

 

[sojourner]

I have never read any of his stuff but have always fancied it. Is this a good one to start with?

Well, it's only the second book of his that I've read, but yeh - it's a great one to start with