I would like to delve into the works of Bukowski. Where should I begin?

January 25, 2005 10:12 AM

I would like to delve into the works of Bukowski. Where should I begin? I'm more interested in his poetry than his prose at this point, although I am open to any suggestion. I particularly like this poem. I've searched the archives, but only random references exist. Thank you.
posted by basicchannel to Media & Arts (9 answers total)

LAST NIGHT OF THE EARTH POEMS
It's his last but it's his best. IMO anyway.

Post Office is good for the funny, especially since the job nearly killed him.
posted by Peter H at 10:18 AM on January 25, 2005

Also, you're very lucky.
This documentary is recently in distribution at small arthouse theatres. I saw it this month and REALLY enjoyed it. No better start than that, I could say.
posted by Peter H at 10:20 AM on January 25, 2005

I remember enjoying the collection Love is a Dog from Hell when I read it (which was a long time ago). It has mixed reviews at Amazon. Maybe it was just the right time and place for me and that book. It could be your time, too.

I would also heartily second the novel Post Office as well. I read that a couple of months back and thought it was great in that Bukowski kind of way.
posted by safetyfork at 10:37 AM on January 25, 2005

I second the film recommendation, it really is excellent. I haven't read much of his poetry but have read (nearly) all of his prose. As good a place as any to start would be with "Ham on Rye", the autobiographical novel of his childhood in LA.
posted by DelusionsofGrandeur at 10:42 AM on January 25, 2005

My personal favorites are Ham on Rye and Notes of a Dirty Old Man. And as long as we're discussing visual options, there is a DVD available of one of his first public readings at Bellevue Community College in Washington State - though I prefer reading him to watching/listening to him.
posted by monkeystronghold at 10:43 AM on January 25, 2005

I'm most of the way through What Matters Most Is How You Walk Through The Fire at the moment, and really digging it.
posted by gottabefunky at 11:50 AM on January 25, 2005

My favorite, and the first book of poems of his that I read is The Roominghouse Madrigals: Early Selected Poems, 1946-1966
posted by soplerfo at 11:52 AM on January 25, 2005

i'll second love is a dog from hell and offer up septugenarian stew as well. and when you decide to try his prose, i suggest factotem.
posted by Igor XA at 12:14 PM on January 25, 2005

I'd recommend The Days Run Away Like Wild Horses Over The Hills, but the thing about Bukowski is that periodically he kind of forgot what he'd written already, so he just wrote it again.

Whichever volume you pick up is going to be pretty good, and if you have more than four or five, you're basically duplicating your collection.
posted by chicobangs at 1:25 PM on January 25, 2005