Women: A Novel Paperback – 29 July 2014

Poverty, alcohol, dissipation and adolescent acne ravaged his appearance, but, born in 1920, he side-stepped death until his seventy-third year. He lived for alcohol, predominently, but also for sex, gambling on horses and on boxing bouts, then writing about himself and his experiences, sometimes inventively, sometimes not; always readably.Literary success came late, in his fifties, but I surmise that the cashflow extended his life. It certainly improved the quality of his booze; his notoriety also kissed alive his access to nubile women of a literary bent, who wanted his notch on their bedsteads as much as he wanted theirs on his. Throughout it all he tried and mostly succeeded in being honest about himself and his intentions. He was a rolling stone, long before the pop group was invented, adding the capital letters and plural, and substituting the definite for the indefinite article.As insights go, I would also recommend: The Pleasures of the Damned: Selected Poems 1951-1993. This chug-uh-lugs along until a few months before he skipped life. The English is always accessible, the themes never lost or distorted in the verbiage...at least as far as I remember. Over to you. See what you think.

Great escapism from the wacky mr Bukowski

A brilliant and frank account of the writer's sex life, no details excluded. Sex aside, an interesting story of life on the seedier side of life.

Bought this book as a gift for my sister at Christmas and she was very pleased with it. Familiar with Bukowski's poetry she wanted to read one of his novels to see what they are like. She has told me that despite the gritty descriptions of a complex life and at times traumatic memories in this semi-autobiographical story, she was impressed with the easy way in which it reads and how it gives an insight in to the life of Bukowski and the other characters featured.So if you know a Bukowski fan and they don't have this book I can recommend it as a gift that they may enjoy.

Classic Bukowski, one of his finest. Post Office, Factotum and Hollywood are also excellent.

Big buk writing about what he likes best and pulling no punches. Interesting to read a great writer turning the spot light on the biggest chauvinist he knows. Recommend to read as soon as you finish both Ham on rye and the post office which will help explain the less palatable behaviour in this less meaningful but just as entertaining offering

Not the worst but almost the worst. I mean, I kinda liked it but I can see why people wouldn’t. Hollywood is probably the worst and I can’t get through it, but the first three are significantly stronger than this.

I'm still reading this after it arrived, as expected, speedily and in excellent condition. For those who appreciate the seamier side of Life his books are a must.