Charles Bukowski
Donne

It is said about Bukowski that you either love him or hate him. I loved him from the very first moment.

I met him many years ago, before I only knew him by reputation, I knew he had written some ordinary but crazy stories...

I was at a friend's house and he lent me this book.

I went home, it must have been midnight and I started reading.

I couldn't stop. It was funny, bitter, repetitive, straightforward. The identification was total.

I felt like him but I wasn’t at all like that. I wasn’t a drunkard, much less a womanizer, I didn’t bet on horses. However, I definitely became one of the many jerks with a brain stuffed with Bukowski.

Let's say at the limit I was and will become the Bukowski who worked for 11 years at the post office between 39 and 50 and then quit to not go completely insane.

Now I've been working at the post office for 15 years and, having not quit yet, I must already be insane, after all, Hank is never wrong.

On Debaser I've read nice pages about him, good reviews, nice comments, I have nothing new or worse “better” to add.

But Chinasky was undoubtedly my superhero. Actually, with that “I felt like him” I meant to say that I thought just like him.

What is “Women” about? If you’ve read any Bukowski book you wouldn’t ask me this question. Anyway, maybe because it was the first one (afterwards I read more or less all of them) but I consider it among his best, despite the length and repetitiveness.

As his entire work is repetitive, or rather "circular," a ramshackle and boisterous rondo of women, horses, alcohol (lots of alcohol) I wouldn’t know which one to start with to get to know him, just grab any one. My favorites are this one and “Factotum” but if you really want to act like you’ve read at least one Bukowski book, get his "Tales of Ordinary Madness" because at least they’re not just about him but are more varied, they’re some pretty good short stories... like the guy who turns green and then stations himself on a hilltop and shoots at people passing by.

Hey but where's the review of “Women”? …c’mon… this is the one where he had a crazy sculptor woman who made a sculpture of his big head and when they argued she smashed it or took it away. I don’t remember much else, it's been years since I last read it. Hey what the hell are you doing... reviewing something you read years ago? Oh well... why not? But don't break my balls, little jerk, or I'll smash your face! …that's how Hank would have responded, only to then tell you two minutes later …let's go grab a beer!