If you're on this forum you've probably checked it out via Bukowski's repeated recommendation and citation but GOOD GOD is this a hell of a book. Reading it for the 3rd or 4th time now and there are more darkly hilarious laugh out loud lines than I could ever possibly quote here but just for the hell of it, the most recent being:
[talking about people clinging to their "rotten memories"]
"They avenge themselves for the injustice of the present by smearing the future inside them with shit."
Makes me want to learn French!
Bukowski said as much but I think this was a huge influence on him, in terms of the mix of humorous, autobiographical, and unrepentant.
Don't think I'll win any friends by admitting it here but I think I actually like it more than Bukowski...
Death on the Installment plan is fantastic too, Bukowski seems to write off all further work and I heard Celine got pretty weird and ultimately racist in his later work? I suppose I could just google it but if anyone was kind enough to enlighten me or especially let me know if there is any other Celine even half as good as Journey, it would be much appreciated!
[talking about people clinging to their "rotten memories"]
"They avenge themselves for the injustice of the present by smearing the future inside them with shit."
Makes me want to learn French!
Bukowski said as much but I think this was a huge influence on him, in terms of the mix of humorous, autobiographical, and unrepentant.
Don't think I'll win any friends by admitting it here but I think I actually like it more than Bukowski...
Death on the Installment plan is fantastic too, Bukowski seems to write off all further work and I heard Celine got pretty weird and ultimately racist in his later work? I suppose I could just google it but if anyone was kind enough to enlighten me or especially let me know if there is any other Celine even half as good as Journey, it would be much appreciated!