Johannes
Founding member
Just finished it.
On the one hand very interesting, because verrry early Bukowksi. The main part of the letters is from `60/`61, although correspondence lasted until `67.
On the other hand I remember somebody mention here in the forums, that reading ist tough because of Martinellis "beat"-style (think it was mjp) and that?s definitly true, even more when it?s not your language.
But also B?s writing in this letters, especially in the first and early ones is different from any other style I?ve ever read from him. It?s hard for me to tell, because of the different language, but I got the feeling, he sure wanted to somehow attach himself to Martinellis experimental sort of expressing the word. At least at the beginning of their correspondence. Or he was simply drunk when he wrote these, more drunk then usual. Or both.
A lot of "wuz" and "yr" and "U" and missing letters, double words, crazy punctuation ... etc. And "Ginsburg" stays "Ginsburg", through the entire correspondence :)
It is also interesting, which kind of subjects B. is bringing up. Compared to later correspondence there is very little, almost no speaking about his job at the post office at that time. Some random information about Jane, who was still alive then. A lot of mocking of Jory Sherman. And a lot of praise of Pound, for sure, from B., that is. He even declares Pound as his "hero", as "giant", as "master" ... etc. ... can?t remember him doing this outside the Martinelli-context. You get the feeling, he was of course thrilled somehow by the possibility to exchange letters with "pounds x-whore".
So I?d say, definitly worth a read, though it sometimes sucks.
What do you others think, who?ve read it?
On the one hand very interesting, because verrry early Bukowksi. The main part of the letters is from `60/`61, although correspondence lasted until `67.
On the other hand I remember somebody mention here in the forums, that reading ist tough because of Martinellis "beat"-style (think it was mjp) and that?s definitly true, even more when it?s not your language.
But also B?s writing in this letters, especially in the first and early ones is different from any other style I?ve ever read from him. It?s hard for me to tell, because of the different language, but I got the feeling, he sure wanted to somehow attach himself to Martinellis experimental sort of expressing the word. At least at the beginning of their correspondence. Or he was simply drunk when he wrote these, more drunk then usual. Or both.
A lot of "wuz" and "yr" and "U" and missing letters, double words, crazy punctuation ... etc. And "Ginsburg" stays "Ginsburg", through the entire correspondence :)
It is also interesting, which kind of subjects B. is bringing up. Compared to later correspondence there is very little, almost no speaking about his job at the post office at that time. Some random information about Jane, who was still alive then. A lot of mocking of Jory Sherman. And a lot of praise of Pound, for sure, from B., that is. He even declares Pound as his "hero", as "giant", as "master" ... etc. ... can?t remember him doing this outside the Martinelli-context. You get the feeling, he was of course thrilled somehow by the possibility to exchange letters with "pounds x-whore".
So I?d say, definitly worth a read, though it sometimes sucks.
What do you others think, who?ve read it?
