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Writers & Readers Documentary Comic Book #89
Bukowski for Beginners
Since Charles Bukowski's death in 1994, his works, which are equally noted for their cynicism and their humor, have reached ever-larger audiences. He is the author of 45 books of essays, poetry, and fiction, including Betting on the Muse and Ham on Rye .
156 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 24, 2018
Puro ruido. Está el viejo verde, el borracho, el antagonista sistemático. El maldito que nunca dejó de serlo, sin que importen los años buenos con algunos dólares, ni los momentos de Hollywood. Bien hasta ahí este librito. Pero no está para nada ese Bukowski puro que es pura humanidad, pura compasión. No está esa voz inconfundible que la lectura de cualquier poesía o narración de Hank deja percibir. El viejo verde creo que produce esa contradicción de ver con claridad que era un maldito -no un malvado- y querer, sin embargo, ser su amigo. Hay algo en su configuración de la experiencia que lo hace entender al ser humano. Ese núcleo no está en este libro, pero es lo más saliente en los libros de Hank, sobre todo en su poesía. Entonces, no me gustó. Flojo Polimeni, creo que no entendió a Bukowski, tampoco a Luca, tampoco al punk. Algunos dibujos de REP está buenos. De mayor provecho es Lo Que Más Me Gusta es Rascarme Los Sobacos, de Pivano, y la biografía Hank, de Cherkovski.
July 28, 2022
..lai gan esmu izlasījis lielāko daļu no Bukovska daiļrades, iepazīt viņa dzīvi arī šādā veidā nebija slikts variants. turklāt grāmatā ir daudz lielisku zīmējumu un autora citātu. | 4,5*
October 2, 2015
As I read this book and watched the documentary; I saw much of what was my life playing through the pages and the documentary.
I don't have the same will or want for self destruction, but the happiness in aloneness he experienced I also know.
He also was very absorbed in the self, and with self destruction which to some degree I think are American values.
The good news is that the word won, until his last day it could not be stricken from him it was his comfort as much as the women he would find himself with.
Still a person that dealt with great adversity and while this is not a characteristic that I would wish upon others. The task and the taxes, the dogged persistence this gets you to a point at least to be able to eat some day: most of the times.
Sometimes you still find yourself bereft of your body even before you can do this.
A persons work that you can read and whether you eat or not maybe it will help you get up again tomorrow to grind it out.
We should not grind because others think we must or our society expects it, no we should do it because our personal work is worth it.
I don't have the same will or want for self destruction, but the happiness in aloneness he experienced I also know.
He also was very absorbed in the self, and with self destruction which to some degree I think are American values.
The good news is that the word won, until his last day it could not be stricken from him it was his comfort as much as the women he would find himself with.
Still a person that dealt with great adversity and while this is not a characteristic that I would wish upon others. The task and the taxes, the dogged persistence this gets you to a point at least to be able to eat some day: most of the times.
Sometimes you still find yourself bereft of your body even before you can do this.
A persons work that you can read and whether you eat or not maybe it will help you get up again tomorrow to grind it out.
We should not grind because others think we must or our society expects it, no we should do it because our personal work is worth it.
October 24, 2021
Esta colección es excelente, una gran manera de introducirnos a grandes exponentes de la cultura. Conocer la vida de Bukowski me da esperanzas, la vida está jodida, pero si vas a pasarla así, escribe, lee y ten pasiones con las cuales aprender y puedas sostenerte, aun cuando tu senda sea la de un perdedor.
July 29, 2015
Great introduction to Bukowski, especially since my viewpoint was that he was a superficial male with an ego who abused women like he did alcohol; understanding his past helps to refocus on the content in his writing. Next up, "Post Office" :)
July 28, 2023
This is a very decent biographical introduction to the marvellous poet, writer, and lush Charles Bukowski. Very little of the material was new to me seeing as I’ve read all of his novels, and they are autobiographical (apart from Pulp) but there’s a good deal of extracts from his other prose and poetry which I’ve barely explored. Admiring but not hagiographical, as Chuck deserved.
June 30, 2018
I have always been intrigued by CB's raw honesty and dissent writings. Most of his quotes has struck a chord in me too.
This book gave an outline of his life and his struggles that finally laddered up to his final successful years of writing career.
This book gave an outline of his life and his struggles that finally laddered up to his final successful years of writing career.
January 18, 2018
Would like to read his works in chronological order after this!
This was such a fun read. and interesting. Read this in an afternoon, thank you school library.
This was such a fun read. and interesting. Read this in an afternoon, thank you school library.
July 31, 2018
A lovely little biography of my favourite writer. Found out a few new facts and revisited all the most well know. Really enjoyed all the illustrations!
November 6, 2018
I've read Pulp, post office, and skimmed some of his poetry collections; I've seen barfly, factotum, and some interviews on YouTube, but see more of Hank in this book!
August 14, 2019
Good introduction to a well known American writer in a way that is easy and interesting to read- watch out for the nude cartoons if that’s not your thing, but enjoyable read regardless
March 30, 2021
◾CHARLES BUKOWSKI comenzó a escribir su primera novela a los 49 años
◾Renunció al único trabajo fijo que tuvo en su vida: empleado de correos
◾Su primera novela: CARTERO, era una obra autobiográfica (Quiero leerla)
�"MIENTRAS OTROS IBAN A LA CAZA DE DAMAS YO IBA A LA CAZA DE VIEJOS LIBROS"
◾ERA UN BIBLIóFILO
◾SOY UN GENIO. SóLO Q NADIE SE DA CUENTA (Humilde! 😂)
�"Mi madre tiene el corazón muerto"
◾DEJó DE ESCRIBIR PARA TENER TIEMPO DE EMBORRACHARSE
◾QUIERE VER UN CURA? DIOS ME LIBRE! 😄😂
◾NO TENGO NADA Q INVENTAR. HE VIVIDO Y QUIERO DEJARLO TODO POR ESCRITO.
�"El amor es ridículo pq no puede durar"
�"Pero el sexo es ridículo también, no dura lo suficiente"
◾Renunció al único trabajo fijo que tuvo en su vida: empleado de correos
◾Su primera novela: CARTERO, era una obra autobiográfica (Quiero leerla)
�"MIENTRAS OTROS IBAN A LA CAZA DE DAMAS YO IBA A LA CAZA DE VIEJOS LIBROS"
◾ERA UN BIBLIóFILO
◾SOY UN GENIO. SóLO Q NADIE SE DA CUENTA (Humilde! 😂)
�"Mi madre tiene el corazón muerto"
◾DEJó DE ESCRIBIR PARA TENER TIEMPO DE EMBORRACHARSE
◾QUIERE VER UN CURA? DIOS ME LIBRE! 😄😂
◾NO TENGO NADA Q INVENTAR. HE VIVIDO Y QUIERO DEJARLO TODO POR ESCRITO.
�"El amor es ridículo pq no puede durar"
�"Pero el sexo es ridículo también, no dura lo suficiente"
March 12, 2017
It's a good, quick read. Some cool drawings by Miguel Rep.
The basic stuff is covered here: his German roots, his abusive father, the post office job, women, drinking, and horse race betting; Barfly, etc. But I learned some new stuff as well: the newspaper column, the blood transfusion from his father, the celebrity visits to his house (Madonna and Sean Penn, Dennis Hopper, etc.), being declared insane by a military psychiatrist.
It's a book for people who are interested in the man behind his writing. But you don't need to be a hard-core Bukowksi fan to appreciate it.
The basic stuff is covered here: his German roots, his abusive father, the post office job, women, drinking, and horse race betting; Barfly, etc. But I learned some new stuff as well: the newspaper column, the blood transfusion from his father, the celebrity visits to his house (Madonna and Sean Penn, Dennis Hopper, etc.), being declared insane by a military psychiatrist.
It's a book for people who are interested in the man behind his writing. But you don't need to be a hard-core Bukowksi fan to appreciate it.
February 12, 2020
Ideal para cuando tenés 16 años y querés sentirte outsider del mundo y querer saber lo básico de Bukowski para sentirte un hipster más. Y lo digo por experiencia propia.
November 29, 2010
Nice book, I like these beginner series of books....they are graphic novel type history texts basically...that read really fast. I can usually finish one up in a couple of short sittings.
They say for beginners but I think these books are useful as a general background unless you are like a grad student specializing in this field. Although I am semi-familiar with Bukowski I did not know 75% of what was in this text.
A quick polish up.
I had always known Bukowski as the coolest writer of the beat era who was self-proclaimed not beat generation....(even though he was published in tons of era-contemporary anthologies with beat writers, something that this book does fail to mention).....but I understand his stance a little more now, he was the prototypical outsider, so much so that he had to stand opposite whatever was expected of him. And as a writer who wrote the kind of works he did, in the era he did, it was expected that he would conform with the beats in ideology (although what beat ever did conform with another beat in ideology? perceptions...)...
Neways good stuff, and the artist of the book(it was a graphic novel after all) was pretty cool, don't know what the rest of his work looks like but he tried to mimic Buks simplistic drawing style to a degree....
They say for beginners but I think these books are useful as a general background unless you are like a grad student specializing in this field. Although I am semi-familiar with Bukowski I did not know 75% of what was in this text.
A quick polish up.
I had always known Bukowski as the coolest writer of the beat era who was self-proclaimed not beat generation....(even though he was published in tons of era-contemporary anthologies with beat writers, something that this book does fail to mention).....but I understand his stance a little more now, he was the prototypical outsider, so much so that he had to stand opposite whatever was expected of him. And as a writer who wrote the kind of works he did, in the era he did, it was expected that he would conform with the beats in ideology (although what beat ever did conform with another beat in ideology? perceptions...)...
Neways good stuff, and the artist of the book(it was a graphic novel after all) was pretty cool, don't know what the rest of his work looks like but he tried to mimic Buks simplistic drawing style to a degree....
April 21, 2015
I received a copy of Bukowski For Beginners as the result of a ŷ giveaway. I thought this was a good quick read, a good way to brush up on the writer's history. And the heavily-illustrated format was really amusing. My one thought was that, with so much illustration compared to the amount of text, a person buying the book might not feel like they got all the bang they could for their buck. There were, however, several nice examples of Bukowski's poetry included to really give you a tie in from the facts presented to the artwork he created. I did thoroughly enjoy reading this, though, and would recommend it to others, especially middle grade to high school aged readers just beginning to be interested in American poetry. This really is a very good 'for beginners' book.
October 15, 2018
Aunque no soy para nada un principiante en cuanto a la obra de Bukowski (debo haberlo leído por primera vez hace más de 25 años), disfruté de este texto (biografía gráfica) que cumple su cometido como jugoso aperitivo de su desenfadado y corrosivo periplo vital y literario. Quizá el único "pero" que le pongo a este material, sea la traducción excesivamente sureña de sus poemas. Mención aparte merecen las ilustraciones a cargo de Miguel Rep: sus "garabatos" retratan con gran desparpajo la insolente personalidad del entrañable Hank Bukowski.
July 12, 2015
A very good quick read about the author's life. It summarizes Bukowski's evolution as a person and a writer, considering a few precise details but mostly looking at the big picture for each phase of his life.
I just tripped with this in the bookstore and couldn't put it down until I was done with it: this guy was pure badass (I've found each one his works, the ones I've read and the ones I haven't yet, extremely attractive).
I just tripped with this in the bookstore and couldn't put it down until I was done with it: this guy was pure badass (I've found each one his works, the ones I've read and the ones I haven't yet, extremely attractive).
April 14, 2015
Great book for the Bukowski reader (like me) or newbie. A graphic novel biography with hilarious illustrations. Read it in an evening. Reminded me why I love to read Bukowski.If you're a writer you'll find inspiration in his story. Waiting for my 15 year old to ask me who Bukowski is, so I can whip this out.
March 23, 2012
Quick read.
Excellent summary of Bukowski and his work. Contains a lot of great quotes from him. Reading this really makes me want to re-read some of his books and poetry.
This book really serves its purpose.
Excellent summary of Bukowski and his work. Contains a lot of great quotes from him. Reading this really makes me want to re-read some of his books and poetry.
This book really serves its purpose.
August 27, 2007
I am a misogynist junky. He is vile, but in an endearing stinky old man way.
May 10, 2013
Buena primera aproximación, que da lugar a juicio propio.
March 9, 2015
Leído en Junio del 2013
June 25, 2013
Increíble lo que este tipo ha vivido y escrito, según parece. Precioso resumen de su vida, que te da muchas ganas de leerlo.
May 14, 2015
I won this book on goodreads.com !
A bit over-simplified but lays a good groundwork for wanting to find out more about Bukowski.
A bit over-simplified but lays a good groundwork for wanting to find out more about Bukowski.
April 21, 2017
The Documentary Comic Books are my jam, and this is an excellent one. The artwork, from a South American cartoonist, has the ragged irreverence of 1970s underground comics and contemporary Charlie Hebdo and El Chahuistle cartoons (minus the political engagement), which is fitting for the subject. This is an excellent overview of the intersection of Bukowski's life and art, and a perfect gateway between casual reading of his work and a deep dive.
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