When I first started working my way through Bukowski's books I found myself putting off reading "Notes of a dirty old man". i already knew at this time that buk wrote stories for porno mags so i assumed that notes was a collection of them or a least something similar. when i finely read it it i was amazed. "Notes of a dirty old man" I think not rather "musings of an American genius". so to cut a long story short does anyone else feel that "notes..." title does the work contained in it a great disservice.
Notes of a dirty old man (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter melancholic
- Start date
Father Luke
Founding member
Not really.
Charles Bukowski created a mythology
about himself. He had he help, but he did
a good job. It's part of his charm for me,
and the Dirty Old Man title feeds the fire.
If nothing else, it's a historical document.
Also, remember that at the time dirty old man
was in the American vernacular, just as readily
as jeepers, keen, you da' man, wut up, here come da' judge,
and exxxxxxxxxccccccccccccccuuuuuuuussssssssseeeeeee me
have been in the vernacular. In other words, Dirty
old man was making the rounds. And so was
Charles Henry Bukowski. ;)
CarversDog
RIP
Sock it to me.
HarryC13
RIP
I agree with Father Luke. Part of Bukowski's charm was that patina of disrepute that clung to him. The hard-drinking tough guy, the womanizer, the down-on-his-luck drifter were all parts of his persona. The first guy who introduced me to Bukowski, back in the 70s, told me, "His stories are al the same -- I got drunk, I fucked the whore, I threw up." And while of course that's not true, I think Buk did foster that image.
And if you think the title Notes of a Dirty Old Man gives a bad impression of the old boy, how about that other Bukowski classic from around that time: Erections, Ejaculations, Exhibitions and General Tales of Ordinary Madness? My friends and I used used to refer to it as simply "Ordinary Madness" so that we could talk about it in public!
By the way, for my money, still some of his best work in that one. :)
And if you think the title Notes of a Dirty Old Man gives a bad impression of the old boy, how about that other Bukowski classic from around that time: Erections, Ejaculations, Exhibitions and General Tales of Ordinary Madness? My friends and I used used to refer to it as simply "Ordinary Madness" so that we could talk about it in public!
By the way, for my money, still some of his best work in that one. :)
foreword to "notes"
I like how Bukowski writes of the free reign he had in composing the column. Under no pressure to conform to any style he claims he felt that the writing improved over time. I'm guessing that lacking a real-time editor allowed him to bypass his own inner editor and let loose. Not that letting loose was a problem for Buk or that I know anything about writing.
I like how Bukowski writes of the free reign he had in composing the column. Under no pressure to conform to any style he claims he felt that the writing improved over time. I'm guessing that lacking a real-time editor allowed him to bypass his own inner editor and let loose. Not that letting loose was a problem for Buk or that I know anything about writing.
i appreciate the significance of the Bukowski mythology. But saying this I think part of the reason I've harbored a hatred towards the title this long is the fact that i was always under the impression that Buk did not pick the title himself. John Bryan is quoted saying " Lets call it notes of a dirty old man, your a dirty old man aren't you?". But in the intro to notes Bukowski seems to give the impression he picked the title, i Don't know. Jack Micheline wrote on Bukowski" he is not a dirty old man. he has never been a dirty old man. he is an American postage stamp." i have to agree him there
It works because its utter buk.
oes anyone know where to get Charles Bukowski: Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life.
oes anyone know where to get Charles Bukowski: Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life.
Father Luke
Founding member
I like the part you clipped . . .
Dirty old man was saying something like dude, or
bro today, and there was little malice afforded to it
at the time.
"Notes of a dude bro . . . "
naw. . . good thing I don't title books.
I'd buy that book. I think?
wait,here come da' judge,
Hahaha. That actually made me chuckle...dude bro
The dudes turned to dirty old dust
Father Luke
Founding member
Bill had a Big part in that. Seriously.
Bill Roberts picked that line from
one of my poems, and I loved that he did.
Bill has quite a talent. I'll give credit to him
on that one. But thanks for the nod, roni ;)
Bill Roberts picked that line from
one of my poems, and I loved that he did.
Bill has quite a talent. I'll give credit to him
on that one. But thanks for the nod, roni ;)
WHERE can i find these stories buk wrote for porno mags?
The better one's anyway. didn't hustler reject a story of Buk's on the grounds it was too obscene. something to do with pig's if I remember correctly.
Is there anywhere i can read that story. I'd really like to see what could be too obscene for Hustler to print. just morbid curiosity i guess
the only good poet
One retreat after another without peace.
notes of a dirty old man - there's laughter in that title.
Gerard K H Love
Appreciate your friends
I bought Notes of a Dirty Old Man a week after melancholic started this thread.- this may have made me buy it. It is unlike anything else he's written.
Am I right? He states in the begining he could turn anything in and it was in and I can see how he just goes with the total freedom. He was not trying and it shows but it is very good so far.
Thank you for bringing it up.
Am I right? He states in the begining he could turn anything in and it was in and I can see how he just goes with the total freedom. He was not trying and it shows but it is very good so far.
Thank you for bringing it up.
And always remember, if they hadn't airbrushed the cock and balls off the baby Jesus, you wouldn't be reading it. :D
