Uma antologia de contos do velho Buk, autor de Crônica de um Amor Louco e Fabulário Geral do Delírio Cotidiano. O poeta dos becos imundos, dos perd...
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Feb 09, 2010
Travis
rated it: 
I finished this one earlier this morning. This is the second collection of short stories I have read by Bukowski, the first being Hot Water Music. I wasn't a huge fan of Hot Water Music, it was simply "O.K.", my main complaint being that most of the stories seemed practically the same: I got drunk, I met a girl, we had sex, she got mad at me, I got drunk again. Don't worry, I've read quite a bit of Bukowski. It works in his novels, but 23 short stories that are essentially the same sto
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Dec 15, 2008
this was my introduction to bukowski. damn, i loved it.
i've loaned it out to several friends over the years. and i never get the sucker back. i'm on my fifth copy or so.
i've loaned it out to several friends over the years. and i never get the sucker back. i'm on my fifth copy or so.
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Jun 05, 2010
Matt
rated it: 
When one reads Bukowski's prose, one has a fairly good idea of the types of "stories" to expect. However, in this volume, there were a few pieces that were about things almost too horrible to read about. While I certainly understand Bukowski's intent in presenting these subjects, I still would have to say I found at least a few of the stories to be revolting. That being said, there were others that were Bukowski at his best, finding tiny, sometimes microscopic, instances of hope, love
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Apr 30, 2011
Bill
rated it:
I gotta say, I was decidedly "meh" on this book. I don't know if it's that I'm burned out on Bukowski (highly doubtful) or what, but this collection just didn't float my boat. While it had all the trappings of your standard Bukowski stories, with the sex, drinking, fighting, and horse racing, it just lacked a bit of the soul and beauty of his earlier writing. Really, it feels like he was just cranking out pages for the sake of cranking out pages; this book read more like a journal than
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Mar 23, 2011
Lisa
rated it:
A collection of short stories straight from Skid Row that's many things, including but not limited to brutal, sad, frightening, touching, honest, bitter, coarse, disturbing and hilarious.
Most are very good, a couple didn't interest me at all (the horse-racing ones - betting odds make as much sense to me as Klingon) and some are excellent. Rounding it out brings me to give this a 3!
Standouts for me were:
Six Inches
The Fuck Machine
Life & Death in the More...
Most are very good, a couple didn't interest me at all (the horse-racing ones - betting odds make as much sense to me as Klingon) and some are excellent. Rounding it out brings me to give this a 3!
Standouts for me were:
Six Inches
The Fuck Machine
Life & Death in the More...
Feb 07, 2009
Kathryn
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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May 03, 2008
Steven
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I picked up Bukowski'sThe Most Beautiful Woman in Townand spent a couple of hours reading the collection, which contains two of my favorite stories by the Bukinator: "Kid Stardust on the Porterhouse" and "The Beginner." What drove me to the Bukinator's book was the desire for propulsive prose, sentences that get up and go and drag you kicking and screaming to the end of the story. In "Kid Stardust on the Porterhouse" the Buk takes a job at a meat packing plant and i
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Jul 03, 2007
AJ
rated it:
Jesus Christ, I've been awake for like 24 hours and my tongue hurts and I've been eating 2 pieces of bread for an hour, but I couldn't resist this one.
I'd really only read Chuck's poetry before, but I enjoyed it and bought this collection of stories after someone told me it would be a nice birthday gift for the lady friend.
I think this person hated me. I almost had an anxiety attack after I read it; Bukowski's MO seems to involve drinking excessive beer, having somewhat More...
I'd really only read Chuck's poetry before, but I enjoyed it and bought this collection of stories after someone told me it would be a nice birthday gift for the lady friend.
I think this person hated me. I almost had an anxiety attack after I read it; Bukowski's MO seems to involve drinking excessive beer, having somewhat More...
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Dec 16, 2010
Ian
rated it: 
On the page which gives the publishing details it says that these short stories first appeared serialised in a number of newspapers, magazines and journals. By the end you would probably guess this if you hadn't known. Revelling in the low-life, sometimes he set out to shock, sometimes he set out simply to write, simply. Sometimes it feels very much like his heart wasn't in it, like he was fulfilling some contractual obligation, or simply he needed the money. It's a mixed bag.
Mar 31, 2009
Lbkyle
rated it:
A collection of his brilliant warped fictional essays involving the president being Hitler and the Fucking Machine servicing men in taverns in the lower West Side while biting off the Cherokee's P.P. in which he falls in love with.
Reading Authors short essays seem to really premold into what their whole realm of style will be (generally).
Completely on a different lilipad than the more iconic Bukowski Novels, but not in a negative trend.
Reading Authors short essays seem to really premold into what their whole realm of style will be (generally).
Completely on a different lilipad than the more iconic Bukowski Novels, but not in a negative trend.
Jun 13, 2009
Sasha
rated it: 
This book was awesome!! I love Bukowski because he is so controversial, brutal and vile in ways. This collection of short stories were so fast paced and liberating. I always liked short stories but this really put the icing on the cake! It was a quick read that was nearly impossible to put down for days on end till the last page. The stories made me laugh, cry and cringe. If your ready for an offensive read, READ THIS!
Feb 03, 2009
Sara
rated it:
This writing definitely reflects the writer: brutal, gritty, and intense.
I think Modest Mouse said it best in their song, aptly entitled "Bukowski":
Woke up this morning and it seemed to me,
that every night turns out to be
A little more like Bukowski.
And yeah, I know he's a pretty good read.
But God who'd wanna be?
God who'd wanna be such an asshole?
I think Modest Mouse said it best in their song, aptly entitled "Bukowski":
Woke up this morning and it seemed to me,
that every night turns out to be
A little more like Bukowski.
And yeah, I know he's a pretty good read.
But God who'd wanna be?
God who'd wanna be such an asshole?
Aug 01, 2011
BC
rated it:
If you've ever leap-frogged bars & waded in the dating pool in Los Angeles (or any major city), you'll recognize this the moment you open it. Hank will make you grin, grimace, cringe, cackle & cry. Best first person narrator ever, in my humble opinion. Flawless tales of flawed living, from the Heavyweight Champion of the Damned.
Nov 03, 2010
Amber
rated it:
Dark, twisted, morbid... I've never read anything else quite like it, and had a hard time putting it down. The stories in this book made me cringe, gasp, laugh and cry. This isn't for anyone who has a weak stomach or a closed mind. A fine collection of literature by a brilliant author and poet.
May 13, 2009
Heather
rated it:
Some crazy a@@ stories in this book. I leave it in the bathroom for peeps to gander at while doing some biz. Makes me want to read some of his novels rather than just his short stories. We all have a little bit of a sick mind in us....this guy takes the cake though! ;)
Jul 28, 2011
A man confortable to living in hell, Bukowski brings obscenity to a level unknown to common literature. Some of the pieces are of pure genius, while others are only style. But I wouldn't advise reading it before at least 28 or 30.
Jan 02, 2009
Shelly
rated it:
This author was recommended to me by my co-teacher. Charles is a very straight forward writer. He makes no bones about anything and uses fowl language. This writer is not for everyone but I enjoy his unique way of writing.
Dec 13, 2008
Kye Alfred Hillig
rated it:
Another great collection of short stories. The story that the book was named after really fucked me up. It was truly sad and showed me yet again that he wasn't the heartless bastard people think he was.
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Dec 20, 2008
Mark
rated it:
More awesmoe short stories...same of old Bukowski, just more of it and equally as beautiful. You can pick up this book and read just a few pages and get inside this man's twisted head and have no idea what's around you but still love every bit of it. He's insane and mean and sharp, but he'd have your back if it mattered.
Jul 09, 2011
Thom
rated it:
More great stories about drunks and general malcontents. Be warned this is not for the squeamish. There is one story in here that is extremely disturbing, just have to read and decide.
Sep 06, 2009
Paige
rated it:
You've got to be a major pervert and willing to delve into the realm of unreality for this one. Bold, brusque, ballsy and brilliant. Not for the weak stomached.
Jun 18, 2010
abatage
rated it:
A good collection of short stories that linger between the surreal and hyper-real ends of the Bukowski universe. There's not a lot to say about this book other than: it's the usual Bukowski gamet of subjects. Bums, dames, thieves, drunks, gamblers and the rest. Each tale enjoys a spark of philosophical inference that begs to be considered. By dragging the reader into the depths of these often confronting situations, Bukowski allows each and every one of us to ponder the reality of a world that i
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Aug 10, 2011
Fred
rated it:
"The gift is having a daughter more gentle than you are, whose laughter is finer than yours."
One of my favorite quotes
One of my favorite quotes
Feb 01, 2010
Vulgar, yet halarious. A great example of modern literature. He paints a great image of what America can really turn someone into
Dec 17, 2008
Erik
rated it:
This book gave me an intellectual, prosaic, and physiological boner. I also learned how to gamble at the horse races.
Oct 25, 2009
The only thing better than reading a book of short stories written by Bukowski is reading a book of short stories written by Bukowski that you got from the library that has a reader's discretion advised stamp on the first page.
My favorite story was the Gut-Wringing Machine although I have to admit that I didn't read them all.
My favorite story was the Gut-Wringing Machine although I have to admit that I didn't read them all.
Mar 09, 2009
Mark
rated it:
I used to give this to every woman I dated.
Naturally I've had limited success with the fairer sex.
Naturally I've had limited success with the fairer sex.
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Dec 29, 2008
Joseph
rated it:
The first story is great. After that it's kind of hit and miss, but all in all very entertaining.
Feb 04, 2011
Kate
rated it:
the book's namesake, the story "the most beautiful woman in town," accounts for the 4 stars almost solely.
Jan 27, 2009
Alyson
rated it:
Good. I had some difficulty with the language/typography, but otherwise enjoyed it.
