I've heard of Ellroy's dislike for Bukowski. What can you do? Writers love to hate each other. Especially, successful writers. Ellroy is all about edifice, grand narrative, exposition, grand world views and corrupt vistas. Whereas Bukowski is all about the street, narrative simplicity, linearity, emotional directedness, minimalist description, reductionist critique, straight to the point bluntedness.
Thing is they both came from a similar world. But they both were driven to write about different sides of society. One about the corrupt working classes and lower street level society and those just above it or those seeking to be above it. While Ellroy wrote about psychotic murderers, corrupt policemen, serial killers, historical settings underlining vast corrupt landscapes.
I can imagine, Ellroy in his egocentric manner, would feel, why are all these readers loving Bukowski when he is sooo easy, he doesn't challenege the readers intelligence, when I spend months, if not years, burning over complex narratives and layering of plots and subplots.
The both have different cereberal intentions
Bukowski is by far the street poet. The poeta maledetto. He liked to play the fool yet had a real astute sensitivity to life and suffering. He was idiotic and rebellious yet very intelligent and cultured. They are both kind of idiots in a way; terrible at maths, niave, I think the real genius is better embodied in Bukowski. A man of apparent unremarkability being absolutely remarkable. As disgusting and draining as most human beings are, I'm sure, if we all pryed our lives open on the page with religious conviction, it might not be to hard for everyone to want to look inside.
p.s. just watched some james ellory clips of youtube. His 'hypsters' patter can be quite 'contrived' or just a wee bit 'twee' i.e. in one interview he keeps saying' you dig' and it just seems not quite his character; a bit put on. but hey. i suppose all writers are performers of sorts. Mind you, ellroy is quite the honesty monster, i respect a man who confronts his shadows, names it, and manages to endure it. much like buk.