Questions About Women

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Answered Questions (4)

I've read several books by Bukowski, but with this one in particular, I could use some advice on what perspective to assume in order to not be too bent out of shape about his take on women, whether it be historical, sociological, human or humoristic, etc.

Yesenia Charles Bukowski wrote this to a friend, in a letter:

"[D]on’t wait for the good woman. She doesn’t exist. There are women who can make you feel more w…moreCharles Bukowski wrote this to a friend, in a letter:

"[D]on’t wait for the good woman. She doesn’t exist. There are women who can make you feel more with their bodies and their souls but these are the exact women who will turn the knife into you right in front of the crowd. Of course, I expect this, but the knife still cuts. The female loves to play man against man, and if she is in a position to do it there is not one who will not resist. The male, for all his bravado and exploration, is the loyal one, the one who generally feels love. The female is skilled at betrayal. and torture and damnation. Never envy a man his lady. Behind it all lays a living hell."

If he had said this about blacks versus whites (that black people are all bad, that only white people are loyal), IN THE 197OS, nobody would expect readers to feel empathy or tolerance. Female readers are expected to somehow divorce an author's hatred of them, as females, from the "greatness" of his writing. I think that that is an unfair expectation for any book written after the 1940s in "Western" countries.(less)

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This is my favorite Bukowski novel, although I'm hard-pressed to say why I like any of his writing. I think it might be that despite the drunken, misogynistic banality, there's this gem of real feeling that is absent from much of what I read. Why do others read Buk?

Mark Bau Brutally honest writing isn't everyones cup of tea but that's the attraction of Bukowski for me. I tend to get tired of cute, clever, safe writers. Re…moreBrutally honest writing isn't everyones cup of tea but that's the attraction of Bukowski for me. I tend to get tired of cute, clever, safe writers. Reading Bukowski is like him pissing on you while he's telling you a really great story.(less)

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I read that this is a follow-up to "Post Office", "Factotum" and "Ham on rye". Is it necessary to read these previous books about Henry Chinasky before reading "Women"?

vee This was my first Bukowski novel and although I think it may have been better to have gotten accustomed to his style prior, I didn't need the other tw…moreThis was my first Bukowski novel and although I think it may have been better to have gotten accustomed to his style prior, I didn't need the other two novels narratively to understand what was going on. (less)

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I'm really enjoying this book! Question: Would it be rude to tell someone they remind you of Charles Bukowski?