Ta książka to rodzaj osobistego pamiętnika, publikowanego w formie stałej rubryki na łamach jednego z kalifornijskich czasopism z lat 60. Autor ost...
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Oct 24, 2008
Caris
rated it: 
It's been three long days since I finished Notes. Under ordinary circumstances, this is where I'd move on to something else and forget everything about it. The whole reason for joining good reads was to keep track of all those books I simply cannot remember reading. Almost everything I pick up seems to be destined for this list- an attempt to remember the forgotten...the fallen comrades who have helped shape me into who I am today. If it sounds dramatic, maybe it is.
This one, though, More...
This one, though, More...
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Jul 02, 2008
Bryan
rated it: 
Rating books with stars, like bars or restaurants or anything else is pretty silly.
This was a good book to read at night while drinking pints at pubs in Seattle. A collection of "articles" from a small(?) paper in Los Angeles (?), there's no apparent chronology or order of any kind to them. If there is, it's deep an intellectual.
And after all, an intellectual takes something simple and makes it complex, while an artist takes something complex and makes it simple More...
This was a good book to read at night while drinking pints at pubs in Seattle. A collection of "articles" from a small(?) paper in Los Angeles (?), there's no apparent chronology or order of any kind to them. If there is, it's deep an intellectual.
And after all, an intellectual takes something simple and makes it complex, while an artist takes something complex and makes it simple More...
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Apr 28, 2008
Raegan
rated it: 
Bukowksi worked well when given every writers dream: carte blanche to write whatever he felt like writing, only to have it reproduced by the LA FREE PRESS and on the streets in a week, being read by thousands. Bukowski himself writes of the magical feeling of having the freedom to write whatever he wanted and the sudden notoriety he aquired with his new exposure. This collection of stories, as opposed to the ones collected elsewhere, show him still experimenting with a variety of forms and these
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Aug 28, 2011
Dolly
rated it:
Sitting inertly in the mid-afternoon sun, after a night of hellish revelry, I tried to shut out my companion’s comical cooing by losing myself in a book. I have been a little slack with my reading lately, thus needed a metaphorical kick up the posterior to propel me out of the lethargy. Earlier in the day, I had chanced upon A.A. Gill’s review, of some trendy eatery or other, replete with customary witticisms about the victuals and the somewhat unexpected topic of misogyny. I cannot recall the t
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Aug 16, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
This collection of short stories written by Bukowski for an LA newspaper is brutal, depraved and surprisingly readable. Like William Burroughs or Hunter S. Thompson, Bukowski reveals the under belly of life: Self-destruction, prostitution, alley fights, bar fights, domestic violence, city filth and straight up bad luck. The stories are violent and many involve murder; they are fantastical yet depressingly realistic at the same time.
All of that said, I couldn't put it down and read i More...
All of that said, I couldn't put it down and read i More...
Apr 29, 2011
Darkblob
rated it:
Bon livre. Difficile à lire, un des seuls que j'ai abandonné une fois pour le reprendre plus tard. Pas tellement à cause du sujet, mais plutôt parce que la narration est particulière (d'autant qu'il y a une absence quasi-totale de ponctuation et de majuscules). Le bouquin est un enchainement de chroniques, de semblant de nouvelles et de morceaux de délire total. Mais ensuite bien sur, il reste aussi le personnage de Bukowski... Et là, aucune demi mesure, vous l'aimerez ou vous le détesterez, et
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Dec 19, 2011
Giulia
rated it:
Astenersi prego! Astenetevi dalla lettura se fate parte della schiera di persone che, dopo aver letto Bukowski, ritiene che nei suoi libri egli non faccia altro che bere, bere e poi bere, e poi corse di cavalli e poi la fica. Astenetevi!
perché? perché innanzitutto (ignorando decisamente il mio correttore automatico) questa recensione non ha maiuscole. proprio come scriveva il nostro Bukowski. perché io, anche se questo potrà lasciarvi mooolto indifferenti, non credo proprio che nei s More...
perché? perché innanzitutto (ignorando decisamente il mio correttore automatico) questa recensione non ha maiuscole. proprio come scriveva il nostro Bukowski. perché io, anche se questo potrà lasciarvi mooolto indifferenti, non credo proprio che nei s More...
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Nov 28, 2011
Dania
rated it:
I really don't get what makes Bukowski so profound. Notes of a Dirty Old Man is the ramblings of a drunk and dirty gambler, always looking for his next drink or screw. Bukowski's writing is called Dirty Realism. That pretty much sums this particular book up. This book is a collection of little snippets of stories, based on Bukowski's life. He has no goals or aspirations. He barely works. The only thing he seems to have going for him is a large penis, but in my opinion, he's so dirty, smelly, and
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Nov 17, 2011
Marsha
rated it:
This collection of short short stories and vignettes were originally published as a weekly column entitled “Notes of A Dirty Old Man” in the late 1960s in an underground Los Angeles paper called “Open City” founded by John Bryan, a former employee of The Herald-Examiner and L.A. Free Press.
Some of these stories are quite bizarre, but all have a general theme of sex, alcoholism, lack of ambition to get a good job or any job really, and lack of ambition to succeed. Some stories have t More...
Some of these stories are quite bizarre, but all have a general theme of sex, alcoholism, lack of ambition to get a good job or any job really, and lack of ambition to succeed. Some stories have t More...
Jan 24, 2009
Steve
rated it: 
I was expecting something witty and intelligent, what I got was violent, crude, misogynistic and highly unpleasant, in the beginning at least. After a few tens of pages it settles down into a more, well mostly, stable narrative; almost like Bukowski wanted to put off the reader from delving further into the book. Beneath the vulgarity, self-loathing and woman hating, there is a glimmer of something. Perhaps it is, as the reviews on the back cover suggest, about the futility of life. It could be
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Feb 11, 2009
M.L.
rated it:
Of all the Bukowski prose (that I've read anyway), this seems the most immediate, least filtered, and purestly filthy. One can never be sure if his column for Open City was as easy to write as he claims ("sit down, crack open a beer, and let it go"), or that his work was as unedited. But there is something to the freedom of his writing before the weight of fame sets in, but after he's figured out that he can make a go of life somewhere besides a post office.
As a collection More...
As a collection More...
Jan 05, 2012
Davide
rated it:
Non saprei dire con certezza cosa non mi è piaciuto, né posso dire di non essermi mai ritrovato a sorridere tra me e me... ma non posso tacere quella sensazione liberatoria alla fine della lettura!
I racconti scorrono via veloci e anche divertenti, ma sembra che manchi qualcosa all'appello o, viceversa, che troppo sia stato messo sul piatto.
Probabilmente avevo troppe aspettative da questo libretto, probabilmente i racconti sconci non mi divertono o sorprendono abbastanza, probabilmente non avevo More...
I racconti scorrono via veloci e anche divertenti, ma sembra che manchi qualcosa all'appello o, viceversa, che troppo sia stato messo sul piatto.
Probabilmente avevo troppe aspettative da questo libretto, probabilmente i racconti sconci non mi divertono o sorprendono abbastanza, probabilmente non avevo More...
Mar 02, 2010
Ilana
rated it:
I haven't read Bukowski since I was about 22 years old, and frankly was a little nervous that I'd find that I'd outgrown him since. But, I was in the mood for something masculine, and the new edition down at MLK struck my eye, so I checked it out.
I was pleasantly surprised! Bukowski seems less juvenile than I remembered, and less overtly sexist than the Beats who followed him. His musings on sports, sex, and getting older seemed strangely profound at times; I think the format of the More...
I was pleasantly surprised! Bukowski seems less juvenile than I remembered, and less overtly sexist than the Beats who followed him. His musings on sports, sex, and getting older seemed strangely profound at times; I think the format of the More...
Jul 22, 2010
Barrett
rated it:
Not really a novel, though the cover can be misleading. Just a compilation of articles that Bukowski did for a hip LA magazine, after he was famous. Some high points include him making fun of Kerouac and other famous people as he meets them, but by no means is this one of his greatest works. Maybe best for bus reading as each story is self-contained, short, an mostly unrelated to the rest.
I've read this before, drunk, and reading it sober makes all the difference in the world. Beside More...
I've read this before, drunk, and reading it sober makes all the difference in the world. Beside More...
Feb 24, 2011
Justin
rated it:
Bukowski writes like every man thinks...either that or I'm crazy.
In a compilation of short stories published in OPEN CITY paper, Notes of a Dirty Old Man displays Bukowski's gritty writing and lack of etiquette (of all sorts) throughout his years writing for the publication. Most of the stories are about drinking, sex and filth, which all tend to blend together harmoniously for this champ. Certainly not a book for my grandmother, or mother for that matter, but definitely a great read More...
In a compilation of short stories published in OPEN CITY paper, Notes of a Dirty Old Man displays Bukowski's gritty writing and lack of etiquette (of all sorts) throughout his years writing for the publication. Most of the stories are about drinking, sex and filth, which all tend to blend together harmoniously for this champ. Certainly not a book for my grandmother, or mother for that matter, but definitely a great read More...
Jan 25, 2009
Cj
rated it:
Notes on a dirty old man are some of the funniest, sadist, and mesmerizing stories. Bukowski told it like it was. If he was banging a chick he would tell you everything about. If she was ugly. He would tell you about. In his writing he never feels the need to hide behind anything. To give you a reason why he is doing it. If for example he was horny he was going to bang the fat chick and watch his bead posts break.
With a lot of these stories when you get to the last or soon to be las More...
With a lot of these stories when you get to the last or soon to be las More...
Jan 28, 2010
I worked at a bookstore that had shelf talkers; small reviews of books we'd recommend. I can remember thinking I'd like to have a "shit talker" for some books so people would NOT buy them. This is my attempt at a shit talker for this book. This book was so bad I had to leave its rating at zero stars. I am amazed that anyone would rave about this book or anything else by this guy.
His ramblings about his deplorable life and circumstances are so pathetic that some sound as i More...
His ramblings about his deplorable life and circumstances are so pathetic that some sound as i More...
Feb 06, 2008
Thiago
rated it:
Bukowski tem que ser lido. Não tanto pelo que ele tem a dizer, mas muito mais pelo jeito que ele diz. O estilo de escrita dele é legal demais. Mais do que usar bem as palavras, ele usa bem as frases. Escreve telegraficamente. Frase ponto, frase ponto. Muito bom mesmo.
A escrotidão dele é a outra parte do charme, que rende boas risadas. Ele faz o tipão "machão-canastra-féla-da-puta-bêbado", mas dá pra perceber que debaixo disso tudo tem um coração. Nesse livro, lembro que tem More...
A escrotidão dele é a outra parte do charme, que rende boas risadas. Ele faz o tipão "machão-canastra-féla-da-puta-bêbado", mas dá pra perceber que debaixo disso tudo tem um coração. Nesse livro, lembro que tem More...
Dec 16, 2009
Tony
rated it:
What a great book this was. Note, I have to use the past tense here, only because I lack the ability to appreciate the origins of a genre that have been subsequently done to death by the time I got around to reading the original.
In terms of a debaucheristics romp it is bacchanal, and it must have been so shocking and visionary at the time, but that punch and fervor is gone, stolen by Brett Easten Ellison brilliantly and many others to boot, in my never very humble opinion. I honestl More...
In terms of a debaucheristics romp it is bacchanal, and it must have been so shocking and visionary at the time, but that punch and fervor is gone, stolen by Brett Easten Ellison brilliantly and many others to boot, in my never very humble opinion. I honestl More...
Aug 09, 2011
i read this first and now i think maybe i shouldntve (can i do that?), becasue i'm now reading post office and he expanded on some of the articles in here so i feel like i've cheated and saw the preview to his life. anyway, i like him, he's simple and very very dirty, which i've slowly come to realize is what i must like because i keep reading these types of books. it was a perfect read during the school year because i didnt have to spend much time on any one story. if youre only gonna read o
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Apr 02, 2011
Luis
rated it:
I'd actually like to give this closer to 4 stars, but not quite 4 stars. C'mon Goodreads, how about a 10-star system? Things would be a lot more accurate that way.
In any case, this collection of alternative newspaper columns isn't Bukowski's best work as a whole, but is still enjoyable to read. It's brilliant at times and muddy in others. I guess in that case, it's a lot like life.
In any case, this collection of alternative newspaper columns isn't Bukowski's best work as a whole, but is still enjoyable to read. It's brilliant at times and muddy in others. I guess in that case, it's a lot like life.
Mar 30, 2011
Michael
rated it:
Not a book for the faint of heart but ideal for the deviantly curious. The book is a collection of articles Charles Bukowski retreived from Essex House in the Open City newspapers. He wrote articles and they were published without censorship, he leaves nothing out from his life's story. Alcoholism, prostitution and murder (plus much more) is explored. Each article is extremely well written.
Jul 13, 2011
Tiffa
rated it:
Say what you will about Henry Miller. Hunter S. Thompson, Anais Nin, I can take it if you find them over-rated.
But you cannot fuck with Bukowski.
You simply can't.
If he'd approached me on the street I'd have thought him (correctly) a diseased lech. I'd have given him a wide berth, if I'm honest.
But have you read his stuff?
You can't fuck with this man.
But you cannot fuck with Bukowski.
You simply can't.
If he'd approached me on the street I'd have thought him (correctly) a diseased lech. I'd have given him a wide berth, if I'm honest.
But have you read his stuff?
You can't fuck with this man.
Dec 20, 2008
Mark
rated it:
Not bad, lotsa drunken Bukowski ramblins...I picked this up as the second book of his writings I tried to take a run at, but it would've been better later on I think when I knew him better. But from what I remember it's him writing a bunch of columns in some magazine and he takes on his usual Bukowski tone and relates some crazy stories and ideas, probably wasted the entire time he wrote anything in here and it shows in a good way :)
Feb 22, 2011
Blaine
rated it:
A collection Bukowski wrote for a San Francisco rag with the same title. I completely loved this book as I dig ALL Bukowski. It was nasty, dirty and I laughed until I pissed myself. Who else would write about a chance encounter with an exotic woman at a bar who had a birdcage, and in the birdcage were little miniature people. Read this to find out what she does with them. Ha Ha Ha Ha!
Dec 02, 2009
Celessstino
rated it:
..a good one, 4 stars.. the collection of articles worked well in two levels for me, in the first one it expanded the vision i had of some american writers that im going to read by the first time such as Kerouac or re-read in the case of Hemingway. And in another level it made me laugh every time i got some time to read it - attention: im not consider myself as misogynous but there were funny stuff in the book xD!. Im still reading another book of CB - hot water music - im over the half part of
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Jan 22, 2008
Lori
rated it:
I am quickly finding Charles Bukowski to be a favorite author of mine. He has this very witty and gritty style of story telling, and from what I gather, alot of the things he writes about comes from is actual true life experiences.
This particular book is a collection of his short stories (two of which he expanded upon from Post Office). While I am a big fan of his writing, I found that I am still not a fan of the short story overall. I used to read short stories all the time when i w More...
This particular book is a collection of his short stories (two of which he expanded upon from Post Office). While I am a big fan of his writing, I found that I am still not a fan of the short story overall. I used to read short stories all the time when i w More...
Jan 14, 2010
Dalleer
rated it:
My first Bukowski. Was somewhat disappointed, but still regard it as good enough of a book from him.
The main problem I had with this were the "incoherent ramblings" that became apparent every once in a while in the book. Aside from all that, though, it was a very solid outlook of Bukowski.
The main problem I had with this were the "incoherent ramblings" that became apparent every once in a while in the book. Aside from all that, though, it was a very solid outlook of Bukowski.
Aug 31, 2011
James
rated it:
If you can get past just how sordid some of these tales are, there's a good amount of honesty in here, and gallows humour, and barstool wisdom. Bukowski also knows how to ramble and ramble and almost lose you, but then know just when to snap back in with a perfectly timed observation.
Jan 25, 2010
Chad
rated it:
Bukowski shines in his short stories. I always found his novels a little long winded and forced. I know, I know... don't hate me. However, in my mind, Bukowski is a consumate short story writer, and this collection is the best of the bunch. Hilarious, real, tragic and fucking beautiful.
