Just finished reading 'Pulp'
- Thread starter Saul
- Start date
It's certainly a change from his earlier works, however, for mine, it's a genre he didn't master. As has been mentioned, he painted himself into plot corners on occasions and I gather he struggled to complete the book over a number of years.
sure, it IS different.
Yet, it's as much Bukowski as any.
"Here came the waitress. She had on a mini-skirt, high heels, see-through blouse with padded brassiere.
Everything was too small for her: her outfit, the world, her mind. Her face was hard as steel. When she smiled it hurt. It hurt her and it hurt me."
(Pulp, chpt 32)
Yet, it's as much Bukowski as any.
"Here came the waitress. She had on a mini-skirt, high heels, see-through blouse with padded brassiere.
Everything was too small for her: her outfit, the world, her mind. Her face was hard as steel. When she smiled it hurt. It hurt her and it hurt me."
(Pulp, chpt 32)
Just read Pulp too as it happens (this place inspired me to re-read all the novels - which I have just done - before starting the Sounes' biog) and I have to say that line above is fantastic.
I prefer reading it in a small cafe. maybe even at the bar.
With cold rain outside.
Did you notice how much it Rains in that book?
I wouldn't rate it over 'Ham'.
But certainly over 'Factotum'.
"Well, the rain had stopped but the pain was still there. Also, there was now a chill in the air and everything smelled like wet farts."
M
Mather
Roni, I think you are insane. Do you really think Bukowksi would be where he is today if Pulp was published in place of Factotum? Factotum is a comic masterpiece with an an edge and a character far superior to Pulp. Pulp is a curiosity, interesting only to people who would be interested in anything Buk did or touched. When put up against Chandler or Jim Thompson's books Pulp is seen for what it is: a fairly weak, sometimes amusing, genre novel.
See now, Factotum is his best novel. Each to his own Snaggletooth, as it were. :D
I like Pulp. It was not what I had expected, but I liked it just the same. I still think Ham and Rye is my favorite. Well at least today it is anyway.
LickTheStar
Sad Flower in the Sand
Pulp is one of my favorites. I don't think its a BETTER novel than Ham On Rye, really... but its one I can read and enjoy more, mainly because it isn't so damn depressing... Pulp's humor (and overall general insanity) is what I like about it.
pulp, thoughts...
Liked the extensive literary and technical "disregard".
Underlining the whole point of the book, IMHO.
His attack on the literary establishment evident in the opening...
Hilarious.
Sometimes the best is "the mess"
Pulp IS messy, thank god;
For a writer w/ the huevos to do that
Especially, WHEN he did it.
Bringing back dead writers (Celine) is cool, too. :)
Liked the extensive literary and technical "disregard".
Underlining the whole point of the book, IMHO.
His attack on the literary establishment evident in the opening...
Hilarious.
Sometimes the best is "the mess"
Pulp IS messy, thank god;
For a writer w/ the huevos to do that
Especially, WHEN he did it.
Bringing back dead writers (Celine) is cool, too. :)
My wife's name is Roselle, when I'm annoyed at here I refer to her as Noselle. She has never asked why and only someone who has read this book would get that lame joke. I'm a big Lynch fan and Isabella