Tales of Ordinary Madness
by Charles Bukowski
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| TALES OF ORDINARY MADNESS as satire | 1 | 01/07/2008 07:49PM |
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Read in February, 1988
Bukowski cranked out these stories for dirty magazines strictly for the money but he was the kind of writer who worked well with that kind of editorial freedom to produce whatever his inebriated mind could come up with and there are some really good examples of his writing here. My favorite: "The Blanket" which is as close to perfection as these old stories from this period in his life get with its surreal combination of low-life angst and Edgar Allan Poe-like feverish poetic madness. ...more
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Read in February, 2001
recommended to Emily by:
My friend Todd.recommends it for: Everyone.
This was my introduction to Bukowski. A friend loaned me this book after reading a short story I wrote, telling me that I would probably enjoy it.
As I read it, a strange feeling came over me. It was the feeling of excitement knowing that I was reading something brilliant mixed with the feeling that I got when I saw Hustler Magazine for the first time. I think it describes Bukowski's work perfectly. His words are both beautiful and debauched at the same time. Still one of my favorite b...more
As I read it, a strange feeling came over me. It was the feeling of excitement knowing that I was reading something brilliant mixed with the feeling that I got when I saw Hustler Magazine for the first time. I think it describes Bukowski's work perfectly. His words are both beautiful and debauched at the same time. Still one of my favorite b...more
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I've always read Buk with a grain of salt. Some of his books, particularly his early stuff are great. Postal is a good read, but Hollywood is a tad redundant. This is a great one. Tales is a collection of short stories and each one displays a different side of the struggling poet/writer. It also has a nice juxtaposition of his fiction and poetry. His language of solitude completely captures the life of an down and out alcoholic. You realize that he has nothing left, but at the same time t...more
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Read in June, 2002
not that we should, but if one were to judge an author by his readership, bukowski would appear spurious and trite. being the first (or even the best, for that matter) at doing something doesn't make it worthwhile, let alone interesting. i believe there to be a strong correlation between the assholishness evident in a person and their repsect and emulation of bukowski. it's like being thirteen and discovering your own farts are flammable; maybe funny the first time, just really lame & ban...more
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Read in July, 1994
First Bukowski I ever read. I was in Chicago during a Greyhound cross-country adventure. I was in a bookstore near Wrigley Field during a Cubs game. I was going to buy some beatnik poetry book, when this fat man in a Cubs jersey slapped it out of my hand. He smelled of equal parts booze & urine. He told me: "Bukowski. You buy this Bukowski. You won't be disappointed."
He was very right.
He was very right.
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it seemed that he was at his worst (in terms of his life, not his work)...this to me seemed real, people's names (or what he told us their names where) and more personal. a couple of the pieces hurt to read because he would change pronouns like a madman and i had to keep on my toes. i haven't read too much of his prose, but if this is any indication, i would love to read more. and more.
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Read in January, 2005
these are short examples of bukowski's sense of humor. i was briefly reading some other reviews from people: "the jury's still out on bukowski, people either love him or hate him"; "the sex was too much for me"; "all the stories seemed the same, so while i found some of them funny i put it down halfway through."
well, i don't like john grisham. so there.
well, i don't like john grisham. so there.
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Read in May, 2004
Hunter Thompson for skid row alcoholics. Buk is a lot of sadistic humor mixed with beautiful insight. He makes florescent lights look like Picasso... (cue the corny "I never could make it as a writer, so I'll try it here" analogy), but he really does find a lot of big bright color on skid row.
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i was first introduced to this book in the bathroom of a one-night-stand's house. i tried to delay the sex part, because i was actually more interested in the book than the guy but i was eventually overtaken. nonetheless, i went and bought the book the following week.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in September, 2007
You know, I really like Bukowski. He might be crude and ridiculous, but I enjoy his stories. I disagree with the critics who claim his stories are for the immature. Granted, Bukowski is an asshole but his responses to the world are legitimate feelings we all face.
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Talk about an asshole. I read about halfway through the stories in this book, and there were some that I really liked. I felt it got a bit monotonous after a while, though, which is why I put it down. They all start to feel the same after a while.
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Read in November, 2006
recommended to Amy by:
Josh Cender
this book was my first exposure to Bukowski. it is filled with his poetry, which is nothing of what I normally like in a poem, namely, it's blunt! Bukowski has never minced words, and his poetry shows it the most clearly. I enjoyed it.
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Bukowski makes me laugh -- a lot of the time I feel like I shouldn't be laughing, but I still do. Then, I turn the page and repeat.
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Read in January, 2007
recommends it for:
Misanthropes
I try and I try to understand the fanboy fascination with Bukowski... and yet. It had its funny moments and its stunning moments but it's just so self-indulgently disgusting and disgustingly self-indulgent throughout.
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I remember there being some good things in this collection of stories, but all in all it was a little too much for me. Animal Crackers in My Soup? yeah...Bukowski makes me wonder when I turned into such a prude.
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Read in March, 2006
Some of the poetry is very dark and raw - but brilliant in its honesty and introspection. Other essays sort of revel in being a stupid pisshead capable if ruining any occasion.
Still worth the ride.
-s
Still worth the ride.
-s
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Read in January, 1994
The Blanket was a story that so mimicked my life back then. I gave this book to a one night stand, a black South African girl with a sexy accent. Never got it back.
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Read in January, 2006
recommends it for:
Bukowski fans
My first Bukowski collection of shorts with some of my most favorites. This made me fall in love with the man's work, so I definitely feel it's worth picking up.
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Read in January, 2004
Like Ramones albums, I'm not sure if you need all Bukowski's books - a bunch of the stuff here can be found in other books - but good stuff nonetheless.
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Read in January, 1995
I learned while reading this book that it's really not a good idea to drink 4 bottles of red wine every night. Trust me, it will end in tears.
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