post office: A Novel by Charles Bukowski Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of post office: A Novel
Book Review: We are born like this ... into this ...
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't know what's more disturbing, reading about the Post Office in this dark and grimy tale of slogging and mundane shift work or actually knowing where a lot of these locations that Hank describes and having to visit them regularly. Thank God for the sorting machines or some of those employees just might be ready to immolate themselves. After getting the skinny on exactly what a postal worker had to do in order to get a pay-check, I hope that I never, nor any of my future offspring, ever have to suffer such a mundane fate.
Bukowski describes old Hollywood in all its melted, faded and sweaty glory. The streets are still rain-soaked and water logged on rainy days. A lot of the old bars are still open and smell like puke around back, the several postal locations are still there and fully functional. Residing in Los Angeles probably makes a reader love this material all the more, much like any student of Raymond Chandler, but you don't have to live in the City of Angels to know that the burn-out, unwashed, drunk shift-worker is readily available in all colors across the continent and will probably work for food ... or less.
Post Office is an enjoyable read and a glimpse into the hell that Bukowski not only thought his life was but shaped it to be so as well.
Book Review: Wonderful read
Summary: 5 Stars
Charles Bukowski, is a mad-man with a type writer. I found this novel/story, to be funny, sad, inspiring, depressing, simple, real, romantic, anything but boring. Not boring! And, I don't read...frequently.Book Review: Work Sucks
Summary: 4 Stars
This is the first book I've read by Bukowski. I first came across him due to amazon's recommendations, as I had been reading quite a bit of Henry Miller.
Well, for various reasons I got turned on to John Fante, and finally picked up some Bukowski books.
I think in Orwell's essay on Henry Miller he noted that Miller marked the future of 'literature.' I read this as "modern man will have nothing to write about except bitching." Well, I see Bukowski in the same modern light, and I enjoyed reading this book.
Bukowski (or Chinaski) does seem bitter, even selfish, unrepentant, misogynistic, and isn't a role model. Having said that, it's quite refreshing to read, as un-PC as can be, in this world of cookie-cutter bullcrap.
Having heard about the actual Post Office from insiders, Bukowski really is quite gentle with his comments, not showing them to be as backwards as is the case.
I enjoyed the book. Bukowski is not as endearing as a Henry Miller, but manages to come off like more of an A-hole despite being less XXX (at least in this book) than Miller. I kept imagining George Carlin as the narrator when I was reading. Anyway, this Chinaski is an alright guy to have a drink with. Just keep him away from your sister.
Book Review: Wow
Summary: 5 Stars
In Post Office, it feels like he's writing to his best friend, like I'm privy to a secret letter between two lovers, and that I'm reading an anecdote before a will all rolled into one masterpiece. The best book I've read since 1984.Book Review: brilliant
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is the reason that i read a new book every week. It is brilliant and funny and depressing and I never knew that writing like this existed until I learned of Charles Bukowski.