I chanced on 'what matters most is how well you walk through the fire' while I was browsing strand books in new york last year. Don't know why I picked it up, guess I was just struck by the title. Skimmed a few pages and knew i had to buy it. Read it while traveling around asia the next month and that was it, i hadn't read anything that felt that direct before.
When did you discover Bukowski? (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter mjp
- Start date
Rimboud...as in Penny Rimboud?
I found Bukowski thanks to a friend, I was so depressive thanks to an ex girl, (the relationship lasted 5 years) I did not know what to do, so, I was talking to this buddy of mine, he was all passed out with bear and weed, but found a way to go his computer, click in a couple of places and told me, read this,
"how to be a good writer"
It was very uplifting, and been reading Buk ever since.
My introduction to Bukowski
Seems like the best thread for me to start with on this forum.
I've been writing for a film review site called Film Threat (www.filmthreat.com) for about five years now. I read a review of "Bukowski: Born into This" by then-editor Eric Campos (http://www.filmthreat.com/index.php?section=reviews&Id=3799, and looked at the titles of Bukowski's books: Post Office? Ham on Rye? Didn't sound to me like titles you have for books. Seemed almost too regular.
I remember checking "Post Office" out of the Valencia library here in the Santa Clarita Valley, but don't remember much of the actual reading. However, I remember the exact day that I got hooked on Bukowski.
It was a Saturday, towards the end of the summer in 2004 and I was in my room in my family's apartment in Valencia, on my bed, with the blinds closed behind me, pure daylight filtering through the windowframe. By this time, I was too used to my parents fighting often. My mom was not happy with my dad still for moving us to Southern California so quickly, despite the fact that his job as a business education teacher was going to be cut in Florida by then-governor Jeb Bush in favor of the FCAT exam. We had to go somewhere and though it was thought that the trip to California that would eventually bring us here to live was going to be a vacation, there was job interview after job interview for my dad.
I don't remember what this fight was about (I imagine there was still some heavy resentment), but it was pretty bad. There's never been physical blows, but the raised and angry voices are just as bad. Being that there was no insulation in the walls of this apartment, I could hear them more clearly than I wanted to.
I ignored it as best I could (at this time, I always worried about my mom's insistence that she wanted to move back to Orlando since that's where we had our best times, because we'd just gotten here and we'd moved so many times beforehand in Florida that I really wanted someplace to be home already), and began reading "Notes of a Dirty Old Man," which I'd checked out from the library. Bukowski seized me from the first page. I was amazed at this honesty. The writing read so simply, and at the same time it was so loaded. I wanted more. Lots more. Not just because of Bukowski's writing, but because in a sense, he had saved me from my parents for a day. I truly felt like I was somewhere else and that helped a lot.
Since then, I've bought up lots of Bukowski's books. During the only time I was ever in San Francisco, I made sure to buy a few of Bukowski's books at City Lights, and even bought up two CDs, one a reading in Vancouver and a double-set recorded in his living room. I didn't mind that the total for everything came out to over $100. I'd been waiting to do that for such a long time. But I was glad to have received "Bukowski: Born into This" for free on DVD (for review), because the price at City Lights was $30. Far too heavy for me.
Seems like the best thread for me to start with on this forum.
I've been writing for a film review site called Film Threat (www.filmthreat.com) for about five years now. I read a review of "Bukowski: Born into This" by then-editor Eric Campos (http://www.filmthreat.com/index.php?section=reviews&Id=3799, and looked at the titles of Bukowski's books: Post Office? Ham on Rye? Didn't sound to me like titles you have for books. Seemed almost too regular.
I remember checking "Post Office" out of the Valencia library here in the Santa Clarita Valley, but don't remember much of the actual reading. However, I remember the exact day that I got hooked on Bukowski.
It was a Saturday, towards the end of the summer in 2004 and I was in my room in my family's apartment in Valencia, on my bed, with the blinds closed behind me, pure daylight filtering through the windowframe. By this time, I was too used to my parents fighting often. My mom was not happy with my dad still for moving us to Southern California so quickly, despite the fact that his job as a business education teacher was going to be cut in Florida by then-governor Jeb Bush in favor of the FCAT exam. We had to go somewhere and though it was thought that the trip to California that would eventually bring us here to live was going to be a vacation, there was job interview after job interview for my dad.
I don't remember what this fight was about (I imagine there was still some heavy resentment), but it was pretty bad. There's never been physical blows, but the raised and angry voices are just as bad. Being that there was no insulation in the walls of this apartment, I could hear them more clearly than I wanted to.
I ignored it as best I could (at this time, I always worried about my mom's insistence that she wanted to move back to Orlando since that's where we had our best times, because we'd just gotten here and we'd moved so many times beforehand in Florida that I really wanted someplace to be home already), and began reading "Notes of a Dirty Old Man," which I'd checked out from the library. Bukowski seized me from the first page. I was amazed at this honesty. The writing read so simply, and at the same time it was so loaded. I wanted more. Lots more. Not just because of Bukowski's writing, but because in a sense, he had saved me from my parents for a day. I truly felt like I was somewhere else and that helped a lot.
Since then, I've bought up lots of Bukowski's books. During the only time I was ever in San Francisco, I made sure to buy a few of Bukowski's books at City Lights, and even bought up two CDs, one a reading in Vancouver and a double-set recorded in his living room. I didn't mind that the total for everything came out to over $100. I'd been waiting to do that for such a long time. But I was glad to have received "Bukowski: Born into This" for free on DVD (for review), because the price at City Lights was $30. Far too heavy for me.
I heard 'Nirvana' on Waits' latest album. I thought it was genius and I found out it was actually Bukowski who wrote it.
That did it. Forever, I guess.
I started with 'Post Office', 'Factotum' and 'Women'. I think I read all his novels except 'Ham on Rye'. Now I'm waiting for 'South of No North'.
That did it. Forever, I guess.
I started with 'Post Office', 'Factotum' and 'Women'. I think I read all his novels except 'Ham on Rye'. Now I'm waiting for 'South of No North'.
Gerard K H Love
Appreciate your friends
Welcome quickfished! With the exception of Factotum that's how I started and I'm still hooked. Enjoy all the reading and there is a wealth of reading in here.
HarryC13
RIP
Hey, looking through my collection I think I found a rare Bukowski haiku, as mjp alluded to earlier:
cigar butt, bottom
of flat glass of beer -- stubby
last drink of the night
That Bukowski! Brilliant haikuist!
Here's another! Will miracles ever cease?
I got drunk and fucked
the whore and then I threw up
this must be heaven
Encapsulating the theme of Bukowski's work in three simple lines! Wow!
cigar butt, bottom
of flat glass of beer -- stubby
last drink of the night
That Bukowski! Brilliant haikuist!
Here's another! Will miracles ever cease?
I got drunk and fucked
the whore and then I threw up
this must be heaven
Encapsulating the theme of Bukowski's work in three simple lines! Wow!
Yeah, he came with his wife to the Casino in Vegas I worked at the time. While he was betting the TV horse races his wife told me that "...he was a poet!" ;-)
I don't remember when or how...I just remember finding myself in a library aisle devouring all of the books they had by him
--possibly out of an affinity for Crumb sprung my interest in Buk. I don't recall but I know that my best friend in college loved him too and encouraged me to branch out from his poetry to his books...I remember bringing Post Office with me during a trip my final semester of undergrad to find myself in Scotland...I finished Post Office but still didn't find myself...oh well, at least it wasn't a total loss.
Also--funny story,
I was in a big poetry class one semester (it was like 2 credits so no one actually participated) and after sleeping through most of the classes the final class we were supposed to bring a piece that was special to us. I brought a buk poem and after saying nothing all semester I stood up--I was so nervous that my bones were rattling, and read a piece that probably offended everyone in the room and then I sat down and went back to sleep. Oh good times.
sorry, I ramble.
--possibly out of an affinity for Crumb sprung my interest in Buk. I don't recall but I know that my best friend in college loved him too and encouraged me to branch out from his poetry to his books...I remember bringing Post Office with me during a trip my final semester of undergrad to find myself in Scotland...I finished Post Office but still didn't find myself...oh well, at least it wasn't a total loss.
Also--funny story,
I was in a big poetry class one semester (it was like 2 credits so no one actually participated) and after sleeping through most of the classes the final class we were supposed to bring a piece that was special to us. I brought a buk poem and after saying nothing all semester I stood up--I was so nervous that my bones were rattling, and read a piece that probably offended everyone in the room and then I sat down and went back to sleep. Oh good times.
sorry, I ramble.
so much for the benefit of Bukowski-texts used as lyrics for songs.
mjp - what about Waits?
i came across him first completly by chance. i was just pulling random books of the shelves at the library and reading the first few pages to see they were any good.most weren't.than i picked up post office and it had me from the first sentance.what an amazing day!
mjp
Founding member
Gah! Why drag me into this? ;)
I'm afraid that I don't care if it's Waits, Lennon, Little Richard, Mozart...I don't want to hear any free verse poems as lyrics.
planahea
RIP
I picked up a copy of Post Office in an urban Boston bookstore in 1971 because of it's unusual non-coated paperback cover, liked the first few outrageous pages and bought it. At home that night I could not sleep until I finished reading it. The same week I wrote to John Martin with a proposal to represent his small press, actually a diminutive press at that time, to the book trade. That began a relationship with JM and his BSP as a client publisher that lasted until July, 2002 when the press officially ceased publishing. My enthusiasm for Buk never stopped expanding from that first read. I still miss him and the anticipation of the arrival of his latest book, but his body of work endures as one of the finest in the 20th century.
Was reading an article about a Pearl Jam album, they mentioned Buk as an influence.
Well, I don't listen to Pearl Jam anymore, but I still read Buk, so there you go.
Well, I don't listen to Pearl Jam anymore, but I still read Buk, so there you go.
Father Luke
Founding member
Gerard K H Love
Appreciate your friends
LOL!:D
lol. i know how those damned seminars can be. i did a creative writing seminar where we had to read aloud stuff that we'd written.
it was absolutely horrible :/ i never want to read out loud.
Yeah and they can be pretty embarrassing to listen to as well as speak in - though I am sure your stuff wasn't embarrassing. Was this before you knew Buk? Did you ever see/hear recording of him reading before you did yours? Ever thought of dragging a fridge of beers into your reading? :)
One of those early Henry Rollins books gave me the name. This probably '85 or '86. The rest was a bit of serendipity. In '87 I finally perused some Buk in the college library. I opened up "Dangling..." in the stacks and I knew it was my kind of stuff. When I took it down to the check-out desk, the librarian happened to be one with good taste. He let me know that there was this new movie coming out..."Barfly." Something about the combination of the poems and the film really just sucked me into Buk fandom.
lol it was horrible. UTTERLY horrible. i brought in a short sci-fi piece and the writer who was doing the seminar stopped me a paragraph in, asked me if it was sci-fi, and then told me he didn't want to hear it. :(
ya, i was into bukowski at the time (maybe not into him like i am NOW, but i had read ham on rye last summer so i was a fan of his by this time). a beer would have been welcome. ;D although im pretty sure i came home and had one. haha.
I was just dipping my feet into the expansive ocean that is poetry three years ago, and was rummaging through the walls of poetry books at my locals Borders Books, and noticed that almost three entire shelves were overrun with a books by this fellow named Bukowski. I figured, "shit, this guy is rather prolific. He obviously has a lot to say." And I picked up Last Night of the Earth Poems on a whim.
I read the entire book, every single poem in it, in one sitting, listening to Mahler that very same evening.
The next day, I returned to Borders and picked up Come On In!, Post Office, Hot Water Music, Betting On The Muse and Ham On Rye.
Thus began my eternal love affair with Buk's writing.
I read the entire book, every single poem in it, in one sitting, listening to Mahler that very same evening.
The next day, I returned to Borders and picked up Come On In!, Post Office, Hot Water Music, Betting On The Muse and Ham On Rye.
Thus began my eternal love affair with Buk's writing.
Gerard K H Love
Appreciate your friends
Welcome to the forum, Classical music goes well with Bukowski, doesn't it?
I never had luck on 'hooking' anybody to his books. They would read one, but never asked for another...so I stopped pushing.
I saw Barfly (twice) when it came out in 1987. Am still surprised it played here. The attraction to the movie for me was Mickey Rourke, who I had loved in Angel Heart. I had heard the name Bukowski, in a couple songs, and had seen the Entertainment Tonight coverage of the premiere (I think) and thought, "This looks different." The writing of the film, of course, is what got me. Slowly started reading his books, the library at CSUF had nearly every Bukowski book, and the rest is history. Mainly read the prose first, and the early, early small books of poetry. Later it was all about the poems. Sadly, my interest has waned in recent years. I haven't finished reading the first Ecco collection, and have not bought any since that one. Maybe I'll be able to get back into reading.
Hosh
hoshomccreesh.com
In college (say, 1996-ish) a good friend showed me the poem "the way" in BURNING. I loved it--so he gave me his copy. There are 5 or 6 poems in it that still blown my mind. After so many years in college writing classes, I'd finally got hold of some REAL writing.
Since then, both he & I have given away multiple copies of the book...to friends, strangers, etc. The last copy I gave away was left for the library in the rent-by-the-month apartment I took in Paris, January, 2003.
So, if you every take a room near the Picasso Museum in Paris, check the shelves...
Since then, both he & I have given away multiple copies of the book...to friends, strangers, etc. The last copy I gave away was left for the library in the rent-by-the-month apartment I took in Paris, January, 2003.
So, if you every take a room near the Picasso Museum in Paris, check the shelves...
Well, I was reading an interview with a band called Ministry in a Danish heavy music magazine. And the singer was heavily into heroine and he was talking about drugs and writers and came up with the name William S. Burroughs and told some stories about Burroughs.
I thought he sounded interesting, so I went to the library to borrow some books of his. The the librarian looked at me at said that I also might wanna try this guy out: Charles Bukowski. I said, what the heck, why not?
So, after the Burroughs-books, I started on his books and was hooked immediately! It was like discovering a great band you've never heard of! So of course, being a collector-type I am (be it records or books), I started to collect his books...
There you go! :)
I thought he sounded interesting, so I went to the library to borrow some books of his. The the librarian looked at me at said that I also might wanna try this guy out: Charles Bukowski. I said, what the heck, why not?
So, after the Burroughs-books, I started on his books and was hooked immediately! It was like discovering a great band you've never heard of! So of course, being a collector-type I am (be it records or books), I started to collect his books...
There you go! :)
CarversDog
RIP
At the time I discovered Buk I was (and remain to a degree) an avid collector and reader of L.A. regional lit: Raymond Chandler, James M. Cain, Nathanael West, Fante, Carey McWilliams, Joseph Wambaugh, Ross MacDonald, Walter Mosely, Didion and Dunne, Bruce Wagner, Michael Tolkin, Fitzgerald's "Last Tycoon" and "Pat Hobby Stories", some of Huxley that was regional ... in that field, all roads eventually lead to Bukowski.
Through the beats, I was reasearching them and found a link to related material. Bukowski isn't a beat writer but he wrote at the same time and had the same "free spirit" vibe.
I was intrigued by the poems of his that where online so I went to a book store and picked up "women" and to this day it's still my most favorite Buk book. After reading everything else he's written and biographical material, reading it a second time was even more fun than the first.
I was intrigued by the poems of his that where online so I went to a book store and picked up "women" and to this day it's still my most favorite Buk book. After reading everything else he's written and biographical material, reading it a second time was even more fun than the first.
Gerard K H Love
Appreciate your friends
Welcome to the forum. Why do you ask? That's a strange request for right out of the gate.
Take a look at the TIMELINE and scroll to 1994 and there is the answer. This is a pretty easy web site to use once you look around.
Take a look at the TIMELINE and scroll to 1994 and there is the answer. This is a pretty easy web site to use once you look around.
Father Luke
Founding member
Green Hills Memorial Park
Rancho Palos Verdes
Los Angeles County
California, USA
Plot: Ocean View #875
Attachments
Father Luke
Founding member
Here is the view a little further out. . .
yeh. and please note:
if you place these two schemes on overlay - the grave is Right where Buk belongs:
the GUTS !
Gerard K H Love
Appreciate your friends
Why is that guy eating an apple?
