Play the Piano Drunk Like a Percussion Instrument Until the Fingers Begin to Bleed a Bit
by Charles Bukowski
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Read in July, 1987
This is the first Bukowski book that I ever read. I think Bukowski's importance as an American writer will only grow in the 21st century. The man is already a Hemingway-like figure in Europe.The cultural snobs of academia in America have tried to ignore his work, but that will change. This collection is a grab-bag of previously uncollected poems that Bukowski regularly submitted to small press rags during the late sixties and all the way up til his death. These are from the 70's and there are so...more
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This is my personal favorite of Bukowski's books of poetry. It has such a raw voice to it. So many of the poems in this collection are memorable. This is the book I pull out when someone tells me that they know poetry because they know the 'classics'.
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
poets and non-poets alike
Another Bukowski great. The first poem in the collection, "Tough Company", is the first of his that I ever read. It was great to find it again. The perfect book for the lay reader who is hesitant of poetry because it seems too fancy-schmancy. Stop using that lame excuse and give this one a try. It's time to let the fingers bleed a bit.
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This was my intro to Bukowski, many years ago. I still remember reading the first poem and thinking, "Holy shit! I didn't know you could write poems like this!"
I LOVE this book (and one of my copies is autographed to me from The Buk) and think it's a wonderful introduction to his poetry and his world.
I LOVE this book (and one of my copies is autographed to me from The Buk) and think it's a wonderful introduction to his poetry and his world.
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Read in April, 2000
recommends it for:
everyone
It was my songwriting instructor, Nik Venet, who turned me on to Bukowski. And if you're a songwriter, you need to read as much of the man as you can get your hands on. he has a way of slicing and dicing and making your brain ache with laughter and sadness. Not bad training for a songwriter.
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Read in February, 1981
recommends it for:
buk suck
Buk at the close of his really raw period starting to sound like a self-parody and worse, more bad racetrack poems, more whiny drunk lover crap, and..."It feels good to be driven around in a red porsche by a woman better read than I am". Get the awful picture?
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recommends it for:
anyone who loves narrative poetry
"Fire Station" is one of the great narrative poems of the last hundred years, and it's also one of the oddest love poems I've ever read. Wonderful book. Bukowski doing what he does best: cutting through the poetry to make poetry.
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i'm a pretty big fan of bukowski in general but i think his poetry is my favourite. this is one of a few books i own that i thoroughly enjoyed. also good: you get so alone and burning in water drowning in flame.
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I don't read poetry. but this is some of the funniest and truest writing I have ever read. This man is a jackass and a king at the same time. I can relate... Sadly/hopefully this is true to me...
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Great stuff, one of the first books I read of his. Brings me back to my younger times... Standing on a bathroom sink, drunk on Jim Beam, screaming about death...
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Read in December, 2007
I reread this book several times. I have tons of bookmarks on my favorite pages. I am totally into this book.
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Read in March, 2008
Got this a few months ago, read most of it then lost it. I found it, and am nearly done. good shit.
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I read this when I was like 14. I thought he was brilliant.... turns out, not so much
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This book made me write when I was sure I couldn't. So that's pretty awesome.
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the title will get you to read the book. the poetry will keep you reading.
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Interesting. Doesn't blow you away. I can feel the generational gap.
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Read in May, 1998
recommends it for:
people who love real life
If I could give this ten stars, I would. I Emphatically love this book!
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Read in January, 2005
Don't you just fucking love his titles?
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 4.15 (526 ratings) number of reviews: 22popular shelves
other editions
quote
"you son of a bitch, she said, I am
<i>trying</i> to build a meaningful
relationship.
you can't build it with a hammer,
he said."
more quotes »