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Všechny řitě světa i ta má
Kniha se skládá z 27 povídek, jejímž hlavním hrdinou, jako ve většině Bukowského knížkách, je Henry Chinaski. Henry nežije na výslunní a umožňuje nám zahlédnout Ameriku i z její druhé, stinné stránky. Také tato jeho kniha je o lidech dole a ukazuje nám jejich běžný rutinní život, který se tolik liší od neustále proklamovaného „Amerického snu“.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
413 people are currently reading
6731 people want to read
About the author
Charles Bukowski
854 books29.8k followersHenry Charles Bukowski (born as Heinrich Karl Bukowski) was a German-born American poet, novelist and short story writer. His writing was influenced by the social, cultural and economic ambience of his home city of Los Angeles.It is marked by an emphasis on the ordinary lives of poor Americans, the act of writing, alcohol, relationships with women and the drudgery of work. Bukowski wrote thousands of poems, hundreds of short stories and six novels, eventually publishing over sixty books
Charles Bukowski was the only child of an American soldier and a German mother. At the age of three, he came with his family to the United States and grew up in Los Angeles. He attended Los Angeles City College from 1939 to 1941, then left school and moved to New York City to become a writer. His lack of publishing success at this time caused him to give up writing in 1946 and spurred a ten-year stint of heavy drinking. After he developed a bleeding ulcer, he decided to take up writing again. He worked a wide range of jobs to support his writing, including dishwasher, truck driver and loader, mail carrier, guard, gas station attendant, stock boy, warehouse worker, shipping clerk, post office clerk, parking lot attendant, Red Cross orderly, and elevator operator. He also worked in a dog biscuit factory, a slaughterhouse, a cake and cookie factory, and he hung posters in New York City subways.
Bukowski published his first story when he was twenty-four and began writing poetry at the age of thirty-five. His first book of poetry was published in 1959; he went on to publish more than forty-five books of poetry and prose, including Pulp (1994), Screams from the Balcony (1993), and The Last Night of the Earth Poems (1992).
He died of leukemia in San Pedro on March 9, 1994.
Charles Bukowski was the only child of an American soldier and a German mother. At the age of three, he came with his family to the United States and grew up in Los Angeles. He attended Los Angeles City College from 1939 to 1941, then left school and moved to New York City to become a writer. His lack of publishing success at this time caused him to give up writing in 1946 and spurred a ten-year stint of heavy drinking. After he developed a bleeding ulcer, he decided to take up writing again. He worked a wide range of jobs to support his writing, including dishwasher, truck driver and loader, mail carrier, guard, gas station attendant, stock boy, warehouse worker, shipping clerk, post office clerk, parking lot attendant, Red Cross orderly, and elevator operator. He also worked in a dog biscuit factory, a slaughterhouse, a cake and cookie factory, and he hung posters in New York City subways.
Bukowski published his first story when he was twenty-four and began writing poetry at the age of thirty-five. His first book of poetry was published in 1959; he went on to publish more than forty-five books of poetry and prose, including Pulp (1994), Screams from the Balcony (1993), and The Last Night of the Earth Poems (1992).
He died of leukemia in San Pedro on March 9, 1994.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 649 reviews
September 4, 2008
yeah, i went through my Bukowski phase too, although my phase was short lived. i probably would have given all of the books that i read an extra star if i rated them at the time that i read them. maybe i am not being fair. biggest lesson learned from reading Bukowski - don't date guys who idolize Bukowski. it never ever works out...
October 13, 2019
Greta, help, I can’t stop reading Charles Bukowski! And I’m not a nihilist, though Bukowski very well may be. His only allegiances are to women, booze and (betting on) horses, the backdrop of which is decades of working a lot of terrible jobs he makes us shudder and laugh about. Oh, and Bukowski also at his best has an undying allegiance to great writing, crafting so much more of it than you might expect from his (existential) condition. And sure, Greta, some of them are nasty and difficult, but many of them are flat out gems.
I don’t know, maybe it’s because I read so many tender picture books and thoughtful graphic novels/memoirs, most of them the last few years written by women. Maybe I come back to Buk as an antidote to hope and compassion from time to time. A reverse palate cleanser? I never lived in the gutter, but Buk did, and he shows us what it is like to be there. I can’t really say why I need to read about that. But he makes fun of the rich and pretentious, the arrogant and effete. And then he makes you laugh about it and above all, laugh at him and his friends in their hopeless squalor. Because if you strip away most of what these stories are about, many great ones, they are at base about addiction. About drinking yourself to ruin. Sympathy for the devil?
Maybe I return to Bukowski, Greta, because he writes about whatever he writes about so well.
"An intellectual is a man who says a simple thing in a difficult way; an artist is a man who says a difficult thing in a simple way"―Charles Bukowski, Notes of a Dirty Old Man (1969)
Bukowski sometimes writes badly, but at his best he’s an artist in this collection. In terms of style he is anti-romantic, the opposite of fussy and “literary.” He tells his truth. And entertains in the process. His best stories in this 1973 collection include, “All the Assholes in the World Plus Mine,” a story about his (because his main character, Henry Chinaski, is a stand-in for him) hemorrhoid operation, a topic that is unavoidably funny, and “Confessions of a Man Insane Enough to Live With Beasts.” I also like "Christ on Rollerskates," “What Killed Dylan Thomas,” and the story of Chinaski going into the ring with Hemingway.
Sure, Greta, these stories are unfailingly gritty, sometimes offensive, and they make you feel guilty sometimes when he drags you down into his world with him, invites you to the bar to drink and laugh with him. Am I bad because I stayed with him til the bartender threw us out?! Maybe. Well, I had a few hours in a car and so I admit I enjoyed hearing them. Is he a nihilist with a heart? Maybe. But this guy could, for a long time, really write, and this collection is some of the evidence.
I don’t know, maybe it’s because I read so many tender picture books and thoughtful graphic novels/memoirs, most of them the last few years written by women. Maybe I come back to Buk as an antidote to hope and compassion from time to time. A reverse palate cleanser? I never lived in the gutter, but Buk did, and he shows us what it is like to be there. I can’t really say why I need to read about that. But he makes fun of the rich and pretentious, the arrogant and effete. And then he makes you laugh about it and above all, laugh at him and his friends in their hopeless squalor. Because if you strip away most of what these stories are about, many great ones, they are at base about addiction. About drinking yourself to ruin. Sympathy for the devil?
Maybe I return to Bukowski, Greta, because he writes about whatever he writes about so well.
"An intellectual is a man who says a simple thing in a difficult way; an artist is a man who says a difficult thing in a simple way"―Charles Bukowski, Notes of a Dirty Old Man (1969)
Bukowski sometimes writes badly, but at his best he’s an artist in this collection. In terms of style he is anti-romantic, the opposite of fussy and “literary.” He tells his truth. And entertains in the process. His best stories in this 1973 collection include, “All the Assholes in the World Plus Mine,” a story about his (because his main character, Henry Chinaski, is a stand-in for him) hemorrhoid operation, a topic that is unavoidably funny, and “Confessions of a Man Insane Enough to Live With Beasts.” I also like "Christ on Rollerskates," “What Killed Dylan Thomas,” and the story of Chinaski going into the ring with Hemingway.
Sure, Greta, these stories are unfailingly gritty, sometimes offensive, and they make you feel guilty sometimes when he drags you down into his world with him, invites you to the bar to drink and laugh with him. Am I bad because I stayed with him til the bartender threw us out?! Maybe. Well, I had a few hours in a car and so I admit I enjoyed hearing them. Is he a nihilist with a heart? Maybe. But this guy could, for a long time, really write, and this collection is some of the evidence.
October 1, 2025
Gritty, Irrelevant but Extremely Fun
Charles Bukowski is not for everyone, but he has a loyal fan base spreading over decades. He is popular because of his raw unfiltered voice and his ability to capture the struggles, absurdities and occasional joys of everyday life of the down and out. South of No North is typical Bukowski and one of my favourites of his. It is an unapologetic collection of short stories that exemplifies his distinctive style. Published in 1973, this anthology dives into the seedy underbelly of life in America, populated by drunks, misfits, dreamers, and the downtrodden. Through these characters, Bukowski explores themes of loneliness, desperation, love, and fleeting hope, all while offering a brutally honest critique of society.
The stories in this collection are concise, visceral, and often unsettling. Bukowski’s prose is deceptively simple; he strips language to its bare essentials, creating an almost poetic cadence to his work. Despite the grim subject matter, his dark humor and keen observations lend the stories a sharp edge. He writes about the grotesque and the mundane with equal weight, illuminating the beauty and absurdity of human existence.
One of the best part of South of No North is its unwavering authenticity. Bukowski draws heavily from his own experiences, blending fiction and autobiography in a way that feels intensely personal. The protagonists, often thinly veiled versions of Bukowski himself, navigate a world filled with rejection, fleeting pleasures, and existential angst. However, the collection has been criticised in recent times. Bukowski’s depiction of women has often been called out for its misogynistic undertones and perhaps time has throughly moved on from when this book was written. While these portrayals may be reflective of his characters’ flawed perspectives, they can alienate readers who expect more nuanced or empathetic depictions.
Despite its polarising aspects, South of No North remains a compelling and important work. It captures the struggles of those living on society’s fringes, offering an unvarnished look at the human condition. For fans of Bukowski’s unfiltered style and newcomers seeking a raw literary experience, this collection serves as a powerful introduction to his world.
South of No North is not for the faint-hearted, but for those willing to embrace its unflinching honesty, it is a profound and unforgettable read. He will remain popular for years to come due to his unapologetic and honest approach, his accessible writing style and anti establishment outlook. Furthermore, it must be remembered that Charles Bukowski is a titan of American literature because he represents a counterpoint to traditional literary norms and expands the boundaries of what can be considered artful or worthy of literary exploration. His contributions lie in his unique voice, his focus on the lives of ordinary and marginalised individuals, and his lasting influence on contemporary literature and culture.
Charles Bukowski is not for everyone, but he has a loyal fan base spreading over decades. He is popular because of his raw unfiltered voice and his ability to capture the struggles, absurdities and occasional joys of everyday life of the down and out. South of No North is typical Bukowski and one of my favourites of his. It is an unapologetic collection of short stories that exemplifies his distinctive style. Published in 1973, this anthology dives into the seedy underbelly of life in America, populated by drunks, misfits, dreamers, and the downtrodden. Through these characters, Bukowski explores themes of loneliness, desperation, love, and fleeting hope, all while offering a brutally honest critique of society.
The stories in this collection are concise, visceral, and often unsettling. Bukowski’s prose is deceptively simple; he strips language to its bare essentials, creating an almost poetic cadence to his work. Despite the grim subject matter, his dark humor and keen observations lend the stories a sharp edge. He writes about the grotesque and the mundane with equal weight, illuminating the beauty and absurdity of human existence.
One of the best part of South of No North is its unwavering authenticity. Bukowski draws heavily from his own experiences, blending fiction and autobiography in a way that feels intensely personal. The protagonists, often thinly veiled versions of Bukowski himself, navigate a world filled with rejection, fleeting pleasures, and existential angst. However, the collection has been criticised in recent times. Bukowski’s depiction of women has often been called out for its misogynistic undertones and perhaps time has throughly moved on from when this book was written. While these portrayals may be reflective of his characters’ flawed perspectives, they can alienate readers who expect more nuanced or empathetic depictions.
Despite its polarising aspects, South of No North remains a compelling and important work. It captures the struggles of those living on society’s fringes, offering an unvarnished look at the human condition. For fans of Bukowski’s unfiltered style and newcomers seeking a raw literary experience, this collection serves as a powerful introduction to his world.
South of No North is not for the faint-hearted, but for those willing to embrace its unflinching honesty, it is a profound and unforgettable read. He will remain popular for years to come due to his unapologetic and honest approach, his accessible writing style and anti establishment outlook. Furthermore, it must be remembered that Charles Bukowski is a titan of American literature because he represents a counterpoint to traditional literary norms and expands the boundaries of what can be considered artful or worthy of literary exploration. His contributions lie in his unique voice, his focus on the lives of ordinary and marginalised individuals, and his lasting influence on contemporary literature and culture.
January 5, 2025
Intense furious stories written by a guy who had been truly free for a long time. You can tell that Bukowski never gave a shit. He never gave a shit for a long time. It cannot be earned overnight. You have to keep at not giving a shit for a really long time. You can fake it but you will be found out.
Are you a square on an Excel sheet who has been on it for years? You know what needs to be done. You know what's going on. You have to keep at it for a long time. Only then will you truly understand. It cannot be earned overnight.
Bukowski knew what was going on. He wrote about what was going on in a way few people would dare to write. Bukowski was so free that you would end up hating 90% of the things in the world if you read his books. You had to take a phone call? Shit! What an assault on your spirit. Well, Bukowski did not give a shit if you got burned reading his stories.
Are you a square on an Excel sheet who has been on it for years? You know what needs to be done. You know what's going on. You have to keep at it for a long time. Only then will you truly understand. It cannot be earned overnight.
Bukowski knew what was going on. He wrote about what was going on in a way few people would dare to write. Bukowski was so free that you would end up hating 90% of the things in the world if you read his books. You had to take a phone call? Shit! What an assault on your spirit. Well, Bukowski did not give a shit if you got burned reading his stories.
May 18, 2015
گوش کن،دار و ندارمو می دم بهت که برگرده پهلوت.من فقط می خواستم یه کار خیری کرده باشم
مگه نمی دونی تو این دنیا سر خیرین چی میاد؟-
چرا،اخرش وایمیستن سر خیابون هفتم برادوی به فروختن مجله سوپر -
پنج داستان کوتاه این کتاب (نسخه ترجمه فارسی)همگی در دهه هفتاد میلادی نوشته شده اند.بوکوفسکی - شکست خورده،فقیر،دائم الخمر و غالبا بیکار اما با روزنه ای امید که هنوز ته نکشیده - خود شخصیت مرکزی تمام این داستان هاست. فضاسازی کتاب نیز با وضعیت و روحیه بوکوفسکی تطابق دارد: میزهای چوبی قدیمی و مستهلک،قهوه های پنج سنتی،شراب ارزان قیمت نامرغوب
آنچه در شعرهایش می خوانیم در داستان هایش نیز به تصویر کشیده می شود.زیرا تمام آثار بوکوفسکی کاملا تحت تاثیر زندگی تلخش است، با سرنوشتش گره خورده و خارج از آن نیست. نسخه اصلی این کتاب شامل 24 داستان کوتاه است که این ترجمه تنها 5 داستان آن را در خود جای داده است. باقی داستان های این کتاب به صورت مجزا توسط دیگران ترجمه و در فضای مجازی منتشر شده است
ولی نمی تونم از فکر کردن به اون سال هایی خلاص شم که تو اون اتاقای پرت و دورافتاده بودم و تنها آدمایی که در می زدن، صابخونه ها بودن که مونده ی اجاره شون رو می خواستن یا اف بی ای. زندگیم شده بود موش و شراب و جوونیم سلانه سلانه رو دیوارای دنیایی راه می رفت که نمی تونستم درکش کنم و هنوزم نمی تونم. بیشتر از اونکه زندگی کنم، گرسنگی کشیدم، تو ذهن خودم قایم موشک بازی می کردم. همه کرکره ها رو می کشیدم و زل می زدم به سقف. وقتی از شرش خلاص شدم که رفتم توی بار واسه گدایی مشروب.پادویی می کردم،تو کوچه های بن بست از دست آدمای قلچماق و امنیتی کتک می خوردم،از دست آدمای کودن و محترم. خب، تو چندتا درگیری هم می زدم ولی فقط واسه خاطر اینکه خل بازی در آوردم. سال ها بدون زن سر کردم، با نون خشک و سیب زمینی پخته گذروندم. احمق بودم، مشنگ، کودن. می خواستم بنویسم ولی ماشین تحریر همیشه گرو بود. ول کردم و زدم تو خط مستی
October 30, 2019
کلمات عصیانگر
چهار ستارهای که به این کتاب دادم بابت خود کتاب است وگرنه ترجمه آن چنگی به دل نمیزند و خواننده متوجه محدود بودن دایره لغت مترجم میشود.
نویسنده به معنای واقعی کلمه عصیان گر است و در داستانهایش علیه وضع موجود میآشوبد. شورشی علیه انسان معاصر اسیر روزمرگی
در مجموع به بوکوفسکی علاقهمند شدم و باید از او بیشتر بخوانم!
چهار ستارهای که به این کتاب دادم بابت خود کتاب است وگرنه ترجمه آن چنگی به دل نمیزند و خواننده متوجه محدود بودن دایره لغت مترجم میشود.
نویسنده به معنای واقعی کلمه عصیان گر است و در داستانهایش علیه وضع موجود میآشوبد. شورشی علیه انسان معاصر اسیر روزمرگی
در مجموع به بوکوفسکی علاقهمند شدم و باید از او بیشتر بخوانم!
August 19, 2023
The majority of these stories are (semi-?)autobiographical. What does Bukowski's alter ego do? He drinks, he fucks. He's a bum. When he's not on a drinking or fucking spree he tries (and fails) to hold down any mean job, or he's in hospital recovering from some booze-induced ailment. He hates his fellow men who are clean-shaven and have steady jobs. (I like clean-shaven men with steady jobs: more often than not they are decent, idealistic people with a self-deprecating sense of humor that arises from the realization that their life-long hard work will only do so much to make this world a better place.) The few stories that don't feature his alter ego are all about .... drinking! ...fucking! Here's one: Big Jim fucks all the ladies, for Big Jim has a big cock and wins all the fights . One day Big Jim humps somebody's girl friend. The somebody objects and challenges Big Jim to a duel. But not to worry: the girl friend shoots her boy friend dead. End of story. Next story: Some big guy rapes hippie chick at knife-point, after knocking down one of her two male companions - who are unarmed, therefore don't interfere. After the act the girl informs her buddies that solely from a sexual point of view it wasn't all that bad and 'you guys almost don't exist'. The three of them continue on their hitch-hiking way. End of story. Get the picture? This world is for the big, strong, mean and well-hung tomcats. You have a sensitive soul, or your prick is just average? You're out. (You're female? You're fucking material - that is, if your ass/tits/legs are tops - otherwise you don't exist.) Get this: I'm not a prude - I like sex (like you); I do the hard drug ethanol (like most of you) and soft drugs like nicotine and marihuana "on an occasional basis" - like some of you.) But unlike Bukowsky (and again, like most of you (men) - I knów) I don't look upon the other gender as an amalgamation of butt, boobs and legs. And then: a whole book full of stories where the mind and the senses have been numbed by alcohol: it gets so vacuous, so repetitive. Besides, most of these stories don't go anywhere; they just end in mid-air. One example: Guy has a row with his girl-friend. Guy walks out the door, takes a drive, buys a quart of liquor, gets back in his car, opens the door to alluring young girl - girl is unwilling; he shows her the bottle; girl steps right in. End of story. On the positive side: fast-paced, funny (here and there), straightforward unembellished story-telling (like Hemingway) - but the subject matter is too limited, adolescent, or downright boring. A big no-no.
After writing this review I took a look at what some other Goodreads people had to say about this book. Here's Lucas Podesta's review: ' Hey, let me tell you about 25 different times I got drunk and had sex.' That about sums it up.
After writing this review I took a look at what some other Goodreads people had to say about this book. Here's Lucas Podesta's review: ' Hey, let me tell you about 25 different times I got drunk and had sex.' That about sums it up.
February 8, 2025
"Seppellitemi vicino all'ippodromo così che possa sentire l'ebbrezza della volata finale"
Le copertine di Guanda dei libri di Bukowski son brutte. E’ per questo che ho messo l’edizione TEA sebbene abbia letto la Guanda.
Bellissimo il titolo, che ricalca fedelmente l’originale inglese. Siamo confusi e persi, non c’è bussola che ci indichi il Nord e forse un Nord non c’è se non per la strada e direzione che decidiamo di percorrere.
27 racconti, la maggioranza molto corti o anche se più lunghi composti a vignette.
Ci si diverte o si gode del racconto con: il superdotato indigeno Maja Thurup e la sua amante “civilizzata”, le scene pulp e le spacconate contro i supporter Vietcong o i cowboy (“Gli assasini”, “Storia di una bandiera vietcong”, “Ehi, bello, piantala di guardarmi le tette”), il match con Hemingway (“Classe”), l’uomo che si innamora di una donna-manichino (“Amore a $17.50), l’operazione alle emorroidi (“Tutti i culi del mondo ed il mio”), le storie che virano sul fantastico con mini-uomini o uomini-diavolo (“Non c’è via per il paradiso”, “Il diavolo era caldo”).
Ma le parti migliori sono sempre quelle autobiografiche, sparse in qualche modo in tutti i racconti, dove emerge la vita derelitta di Buck, sfigurata dall’acne in gioventù e da rapporti familiari difficili, devastata poi dalla povertà estrema e da lavori sfiancanti e umilianti, la ribellione contro un sistema annichilente affogata nell’alcol, i libri e le corse di cavalli a riempire la solitudine, la continua ricerca di rapporti umani sublimati nel sesso, ad inseguire il sogno di diventare scrittore.
Le copertine di Guanda dei libri di Bukowski son brutte. E’ per questo che ho messo l’edizione TEA sebbene abbia letto la Guanda.
Bellissimo il titolo, che ricalca fedelmente l’originale inglese. Siamo confusi e persi, non c’è bussola che ci indichi il Nord e forse un Nord non c’è se non per la strada e direzione che decidiamo di percorrere.
27 racconti, la maggioranza molto corti o anche se più lunghi composti a vignette.
Ci si diverte o si gode del racconto con: il superdotato indigeno Maja Thurup e la sua amante “civilizzata”, le scene pulp e le spacconate contro i supporter Vietcong o i cowboy (“Gli assasini”, “Storia di una bandiera vietcong”, “Ehi, bello, piantala di guardarmi le tette”), il match con Hemingway (“Classe”), l’uomo che si innamora di una donna-manichino (“Amore a $17.50), l’operazione alle emorroidi (“Tutti i culi del mondo ed il mio”), le storie che virano sul fantastico con mini-uomini o uomini-diavolo (“Non c’è via per il paradiso”, “Il diavolo era caldo”).
Ma le parti migliori sono sempre quelle autobiografiche, sparse in qualche modo in tutti i racconti, dove emerge la vita derelitta di Buck, sfigurata dall’acne in gioventù e da rapporti familiari difficili, devastata poi dalla povertà estrema e da lavori sfiancanti e umilianti, la ribellione contro un sistema annichilente affogata nell’alcol, i libri e le corse di cavalli a riempire la solitudine, la continua ricerca di rapporti umani sublimati nel sesso, ad inseguire il sogno di diventare scrittore.
November 21, 2024
Of course, it is only my opinion, but this collection of short stories is better than any Bukowski novel (I've read three of them) but yet dedicated to his own public.
Some stories, like Stop Staring at My Tits, Mister or Pittsburgh Phil and Co. are more than decent and look like fables, some of them, Maja Thurup included, are quite horrible...
Some stories, like Stop Staring at My Tits, Mister or Pittsburgh Phil and Co. are more than decent and look like fables, some of them, Maja Thurup included, are quite horrible...
January 3, 2017
بوکفسکی . نیاز به توضیح داره ؟؟ البته که نه .
فقط میشه از این بشر تعریف کرد . فرار کردن ش از تمام کلیشه ها، به رغم همه ی فشار های دور و برش و سختی هایی که توی نوشته های این کتاب حس میشه کرد، باز هم روزنه امید برای خودش توی کتاب و البته برای خواننده ها باقی می زاره ... شیطان داغ بود . کلاس . این دو تا داستان رو به هیچ وجه نشده از ذهنم کنار بزارم . شاید خاص بودن موضوع داستان ها ، مهم ترین وجه تمایز ش از داستان کوتاه های دیگه بخواد باشه ...
باید باز بتونم سراغ ش برم . باز باید انگار بوکفسکی بخونم ...
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فقط میشه از این بشر تعریف کرد . فرار کردن ش از تمام کلیشه ها، به رغم همه ی فشار های دور و برش و سختی هایی که توی نوشته های این کتاب حس میشه کرد، باز هم روزنه امید برای خودش توی کتاب و البته برای خواننده ها باقی می زاره ... شیطان داغ بود . کلاس . این دو تا داستان رو به هیچ وجه نشده از ذهنم کنار بزارم . شاید خاص بودن موضوع داستان ها ، مهم ترین وجه تمایز ش از داستان کوتاه های دیگه بخواد باشه ...
باید باز بتونم سراغ ش برم . باز باید انگار بوکفسکی بخونم ...
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March 27, 2019
This is one great collection of stories. They touched me in every way possible. It was my first encounter with Bukowski and not the last.
He is crystal clear in his descriptions, aggresive in his opininons.
You have to be a certain typ to like him. He is raw and doesnt comfort the reader. If you like the superficial glamorous this is not for you. if you like Tom Waits, this is definitely for you.
He is crystal clear in his descriptions, aggresive in his opininons.
You have to be a certain typ to like him. He is raw and doesnt comfort the reader. If you like the superficial glamorous this is not for you. if you like Tom Waits, this is definitely for you.
June 24, 2019
آدمکشها مجموعه ای از ۵ داستانه. مثل تمام نوشتههای بوکفسکی آمیخته با طنز و واقعیت تلخ، رک و بی پرده. من داستان شیطان داغ بود رو بیشتر از بقیه دوست داشتم. شخصیتهای داستانهای بوکفسکی افرادی شبیه خودش هستن.
داستانهای بوکفسکی نوعی دیوونگی در خودش داره که شاید هرکسی رو جذب نکنه اما قطعا برای من شیرین و دوست داشتنی بوده و هست.
از متن:
گفتم: «گوش کن دار و ندارمو بهت میدم که برگرده پهلوت. من فقط میخواستم یه کار خیری کرده باشم.»
«مگه نمیدونی تو این دنیا سر خیرین چی میآد؟»
«چرا آخرش وایمیسن سر خیابون هفتم و برادوی به فروختن مجلهی سوپر.»
«چرا یه کار آبرومند واسه خودت دست و پا نمیکنی؟»
«هیچ کار آبرومندی وجود ندارد. اگه نویسنده نتونه از راه خلاقیت نون بخوره، مُرده.»
«وای بس کن کارل! میلیون میلیون آدم تو این دنیا هس که از راه خلاقیت نون نمیخورن. میخوای بگی همهشون مردهن؟»
«آره»
«اون وقت تو روح داری؟ تو یکی از اون معدود آدمای ذیروح هستی؟»
«چنین پیداست.»
پشت جلد:
آدمکشها: مردی که برای اولین بار قرار است به دزدی برود.
این چیزیه که دیلن تامس را کشت: نویسندهای که از زندگیاش مستندی میسازند.
شیطان داغ بود: مرد به نمایشی میرود که شیطان را در قفس کردهاند.
کلاس: مردی اعلام میکند نویسنده است و برای بوکس با همینگوی داوطلب میشود.
نمیتونی یه داستان عشقی بنویسی: مردی که قرار است نویسنده باشد!
چارلز بوکفسکی در سال ۱۹۶۹، پس از یازده سال کار در شرکت پست، از شغل خود استعفا داد تا وقت خود را فقط صرف نویسندگی کند. در مورد این تصمیمش در نامهای به دوست و مترجم آلمانی آثارش، کارل وایسنر، به تاریخ نوامبر ۱۹۶۹، چنین نوشت: «دو راه داشتم، در ادارهی پست بمانم و دیوانه بشوم و یا نویسنده بشوم و گرسنگی بکشم. انتخاب من گرسنگی بود.»
داستانهای بوکفسکی نوعی دیوونگی در خودش داره که شاید هرکسی رو جذب نکنه اما قطعا برای من شیرین و دوست داشتنی بوده و هست.
از متن:
گفتم: «گوش کن دار و ندارمو بهت میدم که برگرده پهلوت. من فقط میخواستم یه کار خیری کرده باشم.»
«مگه نمیدونی تو این دنیا سر خیرین چی میآد؟»
«چرا آخرش وایمیسن سر خیابون هفتم و برادوی به فروختن مجلهی سوپر.»
«چرا یه کار آبرومند واسه خودت دست و پا نمیکنی؟»
«هیچ کار آبرومندی وجود ندارد. اگه نویسنده نتونه از راه خلاقیت نون بخوره، مُرده.»
«وای بس کن کارل! میلیون میلیون آدم تو این دنیا هس که از راه خلاقیت نون نمیخورن. میخوای بگی همهشون مردهن؟»
«آره»
«اون وقت تو روح داری؟ تو یکی از اون معدود آدمای ذیروح هستی؟»
«چنین پیداست.»
پشت جلد:
آدمکشها: مردی که برای اولین بار قرار است به دزدی برود.
این چیزیه که دیلن تامس را کشت: نویسندهای که از زندگیاش مستندی میسازند.
شیطان داغ بود: مرد به نمایشی میرود که شیطان را در قفس کردهاند.
کلاس: مردی اعلام میکند نویسنده است و برای بوکس با همینگوی داوطلب میشود.
نمیتونی یه داستان عشقی بنویسی: مردی که قرار است نویسنده باشد!
چارلز بوکفسکی در سال ۱۹۶۹، پس از یازده سال کار در شرکت پست، از شغل خود استعفا داد تا وقت خود را فقط صرف نویسندگی کند. در مورد این تصمیمش در نامهای به دوست و مترجم آلمانی آثارش، کارل وایسنر، به تاریخ نوامبر ۱۹۶۹، چنین نوشت: «دو راه داشتم، در ادارهی پست بمانم و دیوانه بشوم و یا نویسنده بشوم و گرسنگی بکشم. انتخاب من گرسنگی بود.»
February 29, 2016
جنوب بلا شمال
( إن كنت ستحاول، ف اذهب حتى النهاية، وإلا، فلا تبدأ)
تشارلز بوكوفسكي
يعود بطل بوكوفسكي المفضل و النسونجي - هنري تشيناسكي - في هذه المجموعة القصصية للضوء من جديد ليكتب عن سيرته في أرضه المجهولة الطاعنة في البذاءة ، القصص بحواراتها المقحمة بحرفنة و بأسلوبها المباشر الممتع و الرّث أخلاقيًا شكّلت لي كقارئة تجهمات أدبية أو تهجمات أدبية - لا فرق - تحاول التغلب على محلّية التعبير السائد في امريكا حينها المتسم بالشبق البارد أو المعدم، حيث الجرأة مدروسة و الواقع لا زال يتغنى بالحلم الأمريكي ويجنّد الأدب لتكريسه، قصص بوكوفسكي يومها كانت العداوة الأدبية للنجاح الذي لم يطله في قائمة الأدباء في العالم الجديد، لجهده الذي لم يُعترف به يحتجّ بالكتابة ولا يهمه أن يكون مقبولاً في مجتمع الأدب، هو ذاته الأديب الذي شتم جمهوره فضحكوا له! هو الذي يقول بأن الكتابة ورطة شريرة، تجده يتبارى مع العظماء في هذه القصص بعد أن يصاحبهم ويدور في فلكهم، تارة يختطف من بين يدي " ليو و دالي " نساءهم و تارة يقتصّ من "همنغواي " اقتصاص مؤلم، لكنه بكل هذا ينقلنا لمستحيلهم، لعالم يثير فضول معجبيهم.
هذه القصص بالتأكيد ليست بأفضل أعماله ف بها عوامل هادمة للمتعة التي تتوهم بناءها! هي ذاتها عوامل نجاحه تصبح عوامل فشله.
ترجمة القصص لأماني لازار جاءت متناغمة و مبرزة لمعانٍ مدفونة، قرأت ل بوكوفسكي سابقًا مكتب البريد بترجمة ريم غنايم و مقدمتها كانت تستشعر أدبه، أدبه الذي هو كمنعطف معتم يخيف القراء ويربك تقييمهم .
( إن كنت ستحاول، ف اذهب حتى النهاية، وإلا، فلا تبدأ)
تشارلز بوكوفسكي
يعود بطل بوكوفسكي المفضل و النسونجي - هنري تشيناسكي - في هذه المجموعة القصصية للضوء من جديد ليكتب عن سيرته في أرضه المجهولة الطاعنة في البذاءة ، القصص بحواراتها المقحمة بحرفنة و بأسلوبها المباشر الممتع و الرّث أخلاقيًا شكّلت لي كقارئة تجهمات أدبية أو تهجمات أدبية - لا فرق - تحاول التغلب على محلّية التعبير السائد في امريكا حينها المتسم بالشبق البارد أو المعدم، حيث الجرأة مدروسة و الواقع لا زال يتغنى بالحلم الأمريكي ويجنّد الأدب لتكريسه، قصص بوكوفسكي يومها كانت العداوة الأدبية للنجاح الذي لم يطله في قائمة الأدباء في العالم الجديد، لجهده الذي لم يُعترف به يحتجّ بالكتابة ولا يهمه أن يكون مقبولاً في مجتمع الأدب، هو ذاته الأديب الذي شتم جمهوره فضحكوا له! هو الذي يقول بأن الكتابة ورطة شريرة، تجده يتبارى مع العظماء في هذه القصص بعد أن يصاحبهم ويدور في فلكهم، تارة يختطف من بين يدي " ليو و دالي " نساءهم و تارة يقتصّ من "همنغواي " اقتصاص مؤلم، لكنه بكل هذا ينقلنا لمستحيلهم، لعالم يثير فضول معجبيهم.
هذه القصص بالتأكيد ليست بأفضل أعماله ف بها عوامل هادمة للمتعة التي تتوهم بناءها! هي ذاتها عوامل نجاحه تصبح عوامل فشله.
ترجمة القصص لأماني لازار جاءت متناغمة و مبرزة لمعانٍ مدفونة، قرأت ل بوكوفسكي سابقًا مكتب البريد بترجمة ريم غنايم و مقدمتها كانت تستشعر أدبه، أدبه الذي هو كمنعطف معتم يخيف القراء ويربك تقييمهم .
August 26, 2021
خب کتاب داغونى بود حقیقتا.
سانسور منفجرش کرده بود. آخه بوکوفسکى و پاستوریزه بودن اونم با شخصیت اصلی خیلی از داستان هاش چيناسکى؟ پوچ و مزخرفى بیش ازش در نمیاد.
البته خود داستان هاش هم به غیر دو تا باقی اصلا مالی نبودند من نسخه های غیر سانسور هم خوندم و شاید فقط خاطرخواه های نویسنده بپسندند همه رو...!!!
تو این حد که یکی از داستان هاش اینه که یه بیوه ميره عاشق یه آدم خوار سیاه پوست میشه فقط به خاطر آلت بزرگش!
در کل آثار بوکوفسکى رو خوندن اونم با مجوز ارشاد وقت تلف کردن محض حساب میشه.
سانسور منفجرش کرده بود. آخه بوکوفسکى و پاستوریزه بودن اونم با شخصیت اصلی خیلی از داستان هاش چيناسکى؟ پوچ و مزخرفى بیش ازش در نمیاد.
البته خود داستان هاش هم به غیر دو تا باقی اصلا مالی نبودند من نسخه های غیر سانسور هم خوندم و شاید فقط خاطرخواه های نویسنده بپسندند همه رو...!!!
تو این حد که یکی از داستان هاش اینه که یه بیوه ميره عاشق یه آدم خوار سیاه پوست میشه فقط به خاطر آلت بزرگش!
در کل آثار بوکوفسکى رو خوندن اونم با مجوز ارشاد وقت تلف کردن محض حساب میشه.
September 25, 2022
2.5⭐
Bukowski nos deleita con abundantes relatos cortos. En la mayoría nos volvemos a reencontrar con Chinaski.
.
Bukowski delights us with an abundance of short stories. In most of them we meet again with Chinaski.
Bukowski nos deleita con abundantes relatos cortos. En la mayoría nos volvemos a reencontrar con Chinaski.
.
Bukowski delights us with an abundance of short stories. In most of them we meet again with Chinaski.
October 11, 2020
مهم ترین چیزی که من از بوکوفسکی یاد گرفتم؛ خود بودنه. بی هیچ سانسوری. بی هیچ تلاشی برای دورویی. بی هیچ تلاشی برای انکار تاریکی و گندی های خود.
تو هر خطی که ازش میخونم همینو میبینم و کیف میکنم. جز اینکه دوست دارم به اون صداقت در نوشتنم برسم، امیدوارم به همون صداقت توی زندگی واقعیمم برسم.
جنوب بدون شمال مجموعه داستان های کوتاه بوکوفسکی بود. بیشتر داستان ها و رمان های بوکوفسکی فاز اتوبیوگرافیکال دارن. همون هنری چیناسکی که بوکوفسکی خودمون باشه شخصیت اصلی بیشترشونه. اتفاقات هم یا اتفاقات زندگی خودشن، یا ازشون الهام گرفته شدن. خلاصه که اگر بوکوفسکی دوست هستید بخونید و کیف کنید و بخندید و غمگین شوید با این پیرمرد دیوانه؛ اگر هم بوکوفسکی دوست نیستید(که واقعا برایتان متاسفم) بخوانید و از فاز آمریکایی و همان صداقتی که بالا گفتم در داستان هایش لذت ببرید.
بخش هایی از کتاب:
_میدانید، گاهی اگر آدم به آنچه انجام میدهد اعتقادی نداشته باشد میتواند خیلی بهتر عمل کند. چون به خود ایمان ندارد.
_کسی دائم الخمر ها رو درک میکنه؟
_فقط دائم الخمر های دیگه.
_هزار تا راه هست که آدم یک مسابقه رو ببازه. یکی از اون ها بردن اونه.
_به نظرم رسید که همه بی وقفه در عذاب اند، حتی آ�� هایی که وانمود مئکنند مشکلی ندارند.
_بیشتر از اونی که عاشق تنفر باشم، از عشق متنفرم.
_تو مثل یکی از شخصیت های کتاب هاکسلی حرف میزنی. _فکر کنم اشتباه میکنی. من مستاصل شدهم.
همینگوی گفت:"اما آدم ها روشنفکر میشن تا مستاصل نشن."
_آدم ها روشنفکر میشن چون میترسن، نه مستاصل.
_بعد به رختخوابم رفتم با احساسی که خوب با آن آشنا بودم: این که چه حماقتی کردم ولی به درک.
تو هر خطی که ازش میخونم همینو میبینم و کیف میکنم. جز اینکه دوست دارم به اون صداقت در نوشتنم برسم، امیدوارم به همون صداقت توی زندگی واقعیمم برسم.
جنوب بدون شمال مجموعه داستان های کوتاه بوکوفسکی بود. بیشتر داستان ها و رمان های بوکوفسکی فاز اتوبیوگرافیکال دارن. همون هنری چیناسکی که بوکوفسکی خودمون باشه شخصیت اصلی بیشترشونه. اتفاقات هم یا اتفاقات زندگی خودشن، یا ازشون الهام گرفته شدن. خلاصه که اگر بوکوفسکی دوست هستید بخونید و کیف کنید و بخندید و غمگین شوید با این پیرمرد دیوانه؛ اگر هم بوکوفسکی دوست نیستید(که واقعا برایتان متاسفم) بخوانید و از فاز آمریکایی و همان صداقتی که بالا گفتم در داستان هایش لذت ببرید.
بخش هایی از کتاب:
_میدانید، گاهی اگر آدم به آنچه انجام میدهد اعتقادی نداشته باشد میتواند خیلی بهتر عمل کند. چون به خود ایمان ندارد.
_کسی دائم الخمر ها رو درک میکنه؟
_فقط دائم الخمر های دیگه.
_هزار تا راه هست که آدم یک مسابقه رو ببازه. یکی از اون ها بردن اونه.
_به نظرم رسید که همه بی وقفه در عذاب اند، حتی آ�� هایی که وانمود مئکنند مشکلی ندارند.
_بیشتر از اونی که عاشق تنفر باشم، از عشق متنفرم.
_تو مثل یکی از شخصیت های کتاب هاکسلی حرف میزنی. _فکر کنم اشتباه میکنی. من مستاصل شدهم.
همینگوی گفت:"اما آدم ها روشنفکر میشن تا مستاصل نشن."
_آدم ها روشنفکر میشن چون میترسن، نه مستاصل.
_بعد به رختخوابم رفتم با احساسی که خوب با آن آشنا بودم: این که چه حماقتی کردم ولی به درک.
February 23, 2020
ترجمهی بد؟ داستانهای بد؟ شاید بوکوفسکی کلا شکل من نیست؟ نمیدونم. از ۵ داستان کتاب، تنها دوتاش رو دوست داشتم و چهطور بگم؛ خام بود.
January 1, 2020
This is Bukowski at his typical nasty self, a proud misogynist who can't get along with others. It was published in the early 1970s, after Buk had finally enjoyed some success and recognition after many long years of drunken secret writing. It is the beginning of his time in life when he became a bit more respectable and his home life stabilized (he would recoil at this characterization). This collection is unique in that it is entirely short stories and sketches, none of the typical poetry. If you've read him before, it is the usual fare of screeching women, drunken revelry, gambling at the track, bumming and with a few sci-fi-like fantasy pieces thrown in for interest. I give it 3 stars because I feel it is familiar terrain for him, and was covered in other books in similar format. It also lacked some of the intense self hatred and loneliness that gave his writing special interest for me. Or it was just the mood I was in.
July 29, 2016
Bukowski is a no bullshit gangsta. He comes, he shoots, he leaves.
(Yeah, innuendo intended. A little bit.)
(Yeah, innuendo intended. A little bit.)
April 20, 2014
This is a book of short stories. Dark, gloomy, brutal and real. I adore Bukowski's colorful vocabulary and rough 'round the edges vernacular.
December 31, 2015
جنوب بلا شمال
على القارئ أن يتفهم هذا النوع من أدب الحانات والمشردين، حيث تفوح من النص رائحة البول، ويمتلئ بالسكارى والعاهرات، قد لا يحبه ولا يتآلف معه ولكنه يعبر عن مرحلة معينة في الأدب الأمريكي والعالمي، لم يعجبني من المجموعة إلا قصة واحدة فقط، كانت تعرض تطور شاعر صعلوك وصعوده مادياً ومعنوياً، وكيف تغير وتطور ذوقه في الكحول والنساء.
على القارئ أن يتفهم هذا النوع من أدب الحانات والمشردين، حيث تفوح من النص رائحة البول، ويمتلئ بالسكارى والعاهرات، قد لا يحبه ولا يتآلف معه ولكنه يعبر عن مرحلة معينة في الأدب الأمريكي والعالمي، لم يعجبني من المجموعة إلا قصة واحدة فقط، كانت تعرض تطور شاعر صعلوك وصعوده مادياً ومعنوياً، وكيف تغير وتطور ذوقه في الكحول والنساء.
February 25, 2016
القارىء نفسه يخجل أن يقرأ هذه الأشياء فلا أدري كيف تمكن بوكوفسكي من كتابة كل هذا الفحش والبذاءة في كتاب واحد..كاتب فاحش شهواني محض، لا يمت للأدب بصلة..
October 26, 2023
Sempre de costas voltadas à moralidade, à margem do politicamente correcto, Bukowski deixou-nos este conjunto de contos, que muito apreciei.
A marginalidade, o álcool e o sexo, como temas omnipresentes na sua obra, recordamos várias vivências do seu alter ego - Henri Chinaski. Por vezes, senti-me nas páginas de Mulheres ou Pão com Fiambre, com a aspereza característica e com os pensamentos ébrios (muito assertivos).
Com aquele toque autobiográfico, alguns contos são mais verosímeis, outros mais rocambulescos, mas regados com uma boa dose de humor cáustico.
A marginalidade, o álcool e o sexo, como temas omnipresentes na sua obra, recordamos várias vivências do seu alter ego - Henri Chinaski. Por vezes, senti-me nas páginas de Mulheres ou Pão com Fiambre, com a aspereza característica e com os pensamentos ébrios (muito assertivos).
Com aquele toque autobiográfico, alguns contos são mais verosímeis, outros mais rocambulescos, mas regados com uma boa dose de humor cáustico.
December 31, 2021
بوکوفسکی در نوشتن کتاب ها نقش بازی نمیکنه و خود واقعیش رو نمایش میده، به همین دلیل هم بیشتر آثارش برگرفته از زندگی خودش هستن. بنظرم بوکوفسکی جزو نویسنده هایی هست که نمیشه نسبت آثارش حد وسط داشت، یا با قلم اون ارتباط برقرار می کنید و دوستش دارید، یا اصلا خوشتون نمیاد.
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همانطور که مترجم در اول کتاب توضیح داده، مجموعه داستان اصلی شامل 27 داستان کوتاه بوده که بنا بر مسائل فرهنگی و اخلاقی فقط 21 عدد از آن ها ترجمه و چاپ شده. داستان ها اشارات بسیاری به زندگی خود بوکوفسکی دارن.
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در پیایان کتاب هم اولین مصاحبه ای که بوکوفسکی انجام داده بوده به چاپ رسیده که خیلی جالبه.
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همانطور که مترجم در اول کتاب توضیح داده، مجموعه داستان اصلی شامل 27 داستان کوتاه بوده که بنا بر مسائل فرهنگی و اخلاقی فقط 21 عدد از آن ها ترجمه و چاپ شده. داستان ها اشارات بسیاری به زندگی خود بوکوفسکی دارن.
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در پیایان کتاب هم اولین مصاحبه ای که بوکوفسکی انجام داده بوده به چاپ رسیده که خیلی جالبه.
October 13, 2019
The Buried Life
Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) had a gift for creating evocative titles. The title of this book, "South of No North: Stories of the Buried Life" (1975) captures hauntingly the sense of loneliness, alienation, and aloneness that underlies the 27 short stories in this volume.
Bukowski began writing short stories at an early age while he supported himself doing odd jobs and through work at the Post Office. He then turned to poetry and, eventually, to writing novels at the urging of John Martin of Black Sparrow Press. Bukowski continued to write stories and columns for underground newspapers in Los Angeles. Some of the stories are included here.
As are the novels, Bukowski's stories are raw and gritty. They are filled with life in Los Angeles flophouses and cheap rooming houses. The stories feature chronic alcoholism, crude sexuality, sexual frustration, horseplaying, violence, and joblessness. They are a chronicle of the life of the down-and-outer.
Many of the stories are told in the voice of Henry Chinaski, the autobiographical character that is at the center of Bukowski's novels. But interestingly, some of the stories in this collection feature other characters and settings. The collection includes, for example a fanciful story set in the old West, "Stop Staring ... Mister", and stories with imaginative, if macabre themes, including "No way to Paradise", "Maja Thurup" and "The Devil was Hot".
The dominant impression these stories convey is one of loneliness and isolation. Whether the character is Chinaski or another individual, Bukowski writes of individuals who lack social connectedness and sense of purpose. His characters are perpetual outsiders who mock a world they cannot share and simultaneously tear themselves apart. Dostoevsky's Underground Man is a distant cousin of most of the characters we meet in Bukowski's stories. Another book that I find similar in tone, set in New York City rather than the west coast is Hubert Selby's "Last Exit to Brooklyn" which shares much of the grimness, loneliness, sexual obsession, and search for love that I find in Bukowski.
Some of the works included in this collection are more vignettes than short stories. There is little in the way of development and in some cases the climax of the story is nonexistent or misfires. There are interesting settings, however, in many of these stories and as sketches many of them work well.
The stories that exemplify the theme of loneliness for me include the first one in the collection, titled "Loneliness" and the story "Remember Pearl Harbor?" which tells of Chinaski's rejection for military service in WW II. These stories are good at sketching the nature of the rootless, lonely individual. Some of the other stories in this collection that I thought good are "Bop Bop against that Curtain", "Christ on Rollerskates", "Hit Man", "Pittsburgh Phil & Co" (a fine story about gambling at the racetrack) and "Confessions of a Man Insane Enough to Live with Beasts."
Bukowski writes simply with short sentences in a style filled with explecatives and references to sexual and excrecatory functions. I became interested in Bukowski's writings several years ago, put them aside, and then reread some of them after viewing an excellent film on Bukowski's life: "Bukowski: Born into This". Bukowski is hardly a writer for all times and all seasons. But there is a toughness and raw humor in these books, and a sense of loss and sadness that make Bukowski's books highly evocative of certain kinds of blue and lonely feelings. The stories are metaphors of a buried life than many people see in themeselves at times in somewhat different ways than the ways presented in Bukowski's writings. That is why, I think, Bukowski continues to have a following and to be read.
Robin Friedman
Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) had a gift for creating evocative titles. The title of this book, "South of No North: Stories of the Buried Life" (1975) captures hauntingly the sense of loneliness, alienation, and aloneness that underlies the 27 short stories in this volume.
Bukowski began writing short stories at an early age while he supported himself doing odd jobs and through work at the Post Office. He then turned to poetry and, eventually, to writing novels at the urging of John Martin of Black Sparrow Press. Bukowski continued to write stories and columns for underground newspapers in Los Angeles. Some of the stories are included here.
As are the novels, Bukowski's stories are raw and gritty. They are filled with life in Los Angeles flophouses and cheap rooming houses. The stories feature chronic alcoholism, crude sexuality, sexual frustration, horseplaying, violence, and joblessness. They are a chronicle of the life of the down-and-outer.
Many of the stories are told in the voice of Henry Chinaski, the autobiographical character that is at the center of Bukowski's novels. But interestingly, some of the stories in this collection feature other characters and settings. The collection includes, for example a fanciful story set in the old West, "Stop Staring ... Mister", and stories with imaginative, if macabre themes, including "No way to Paradise", "Maja Thurup" and "The Devil was Hot".
The dominant impression these stories convey is one of loneliness and isolation. Whether the character is Chinaski or another individual, Bukowski writes of individuals who lack social connectedness and sense of purpose. His characters are perpetual outsiders who mock a world they cannot share and simultaneously tear themselves apart. Dostoevsky's Underground Man is a distant cousin of most of the characters we meet in Bukowski's stories. Another book that I find similar in tone, set in New York City rather than the west coast is Hubert Selby's "Last Exit to Brooklyn" which shares much of the grimness, loneliness, sexual obsession, and search for love that I find in Bukowski.
Some of the works included in this collection are more vignettes than short stories. There is little in the way of development and in some cases the climax of the story is nonexistent or misfires. There are interesting settings, however, in many of these stories and as sketches many of them work well.
The stories that exemplify the theme of loneliness for me include the first one in the collection, titled "Loneliness" and the story "Remember Pearl Harbor?" which tells of Chinaski's rejection for military service in WW II. These stories are good at sketching the nature of the rootless, lonely individual. Some of the other stories in this collection that I thought good are "Bop Bop against that Curtain", "Christ on Rollerskates", "Hit Man", "Pittsburgh Phil & Co" (a fine story about gambling at the racetrack) and "Confessions of a Man Insane Enough to Live with Beasts."
Bukowski writes simply with short sentences in a style filled with explecatives and references to sexual and excrecatory functions. I became interested in Bukowski's writings several years ago, put them aside, and then reread some of them after viewing an excellent film on Bukowski's life: "Bukowski: Born into This". Bukowski is hardly a writer for all times and all seasons. But there is a toughness and raw humor in these books, and a sense of loss and sadness that make Bukowski's books highly evocative of certain kinds of blue and lonely feelings. The stories are metaphors of a buried life than many people see in themeselves at times in somewhat different ways than the ways presented in Bukowski's writings. That is why, I think, Bukowski continues to have a following and to be read.
Robin Friedman
March 29, 2017
Τον Οκτώβριο που μας πέρασε διάβασα το "Άνθρωπος για όλες τις δουλειές", τέσσερα και βάλε χρόνια από την τελευταία φορά που είχα διαβάσει Μπουκόφσκι. Τώρα δεν άντεξα να μείνω και πολύ μακριά από την γραφή και την τρέλα του, έτσι έπιασα και άλλο βιβλίο του. Επέλεξα αυτό, που το είχα τόσο καιρό στο περίμενε. Ω, Θεέ μου, πόσο το ευχαριστήθηκα. Ο Τσαρλς Μπουκόφσκι είναι ένας από τους αγαπημένους μου συγγραφείς, διαβάζοντας τα βιβλία του με κάνει να νιώθω καλά, να χαζογελάω, να σκέφτομαι διαφορετικά τα πράγματα και να βλέπω με άλλο μάτι τους διαφόρους χαμένους της ζωής.
Εδώ έχουμε να κάνουμε μια συλλογή από είκοσι επτά διηγήματα, στα οποία πρωταγωνιστούν μεθύστακες, αλήτες, εύκολες γκόμενες, αποτυχημένοι τύποι που προσπαθούν να βρουν μια χαμαλοδουλειά για να πληρώνουν το νοίκι και τα μεθύσια τους, τεμπέληδες ολκής, αφεντικά που είναι ό,τι πρέπει για σάκοι του μποξ, και πάει λέγοντας. Επίσης σε πολλά διηγήματα αφηγητής είναι το alter ego του συγγραφέα, ο γνωστός και αγαπημένος Χανκ Τσινάσκι. Πόσο γαμάτος είναι αυτός ο τύπος; Τώρα, με τι έχουν να κάνουν τα διηγήματα; Με τι άλλο εκτός από μεθύσια και κρασοκατανύξεις, από άστατο σεξ και ατελείωτο κυνήγι του ποδόγυρου, από χαμαλοδουλειές και τον καθημερινό αγώνα να τα βγάλει κανείς πέρα;
Τώρα, όσον αφορά την γραφή, δεν χρειάζεται να πω κάτι το ιδιαίτερο, κάτι διαφορετικό από αυτά που ήδη έχω πει για προηγούμενα βιβλία του Μπουκόφσκι που έχω διαβάσει: Είναι φοβερή, ακαταμάχητη, ρεαλιστική, τρελή, αναδεικνύει με τον πιο δυναμικό, έντονο και απολαυστικό τρόπο την χαμοζωή, σε κάνει να θέλεις να τα βροντήξεις όλα και να πας να μεθύσεις σε κάποιο μπαρ με τους πρώτους μαλάκες που θα πετύχεις μπροστά σου και μετά να πηδήξεις όποια γκόμενα σου κάτσει. Από την άλλη, σκέφτεσαι, δεν είναι και άσχημα να έχεις λεφτά στην άκρη, δικό σου σπίτι, μια μόνιμη δουλειά, μια οικογένεια της προκοπής, να μην μεθάς σαν τελειωμένος μπεκρής και να κινδυνεύεις να κολλήσεις ένα κάρο αφροδίσια από τις τυχαίες γκόμενες που μπορεί να σου κάτσουν... όμως αυτός ο τρόπος ζωής έχει το ενδιαφέρον και την πλάκα του. Και ο Μπουκόφσκι ήταν μάστορας σ'αυτό. Και αυθεντικός.
Εδώ έχουμε να κάνουμε μια συλλογή από είκοσι επτά διηγήματα, στα οποία πρωταγωνιστούν μεθύστακες, αλήτες, εύκολες γκόμενες, αποτυχημένοι τύποι που προσπαθούν να βρουν μια χαμαλοδουλειά για να πληρώνουν το νοίκι και τα μεθύσια τους, τεμπέληδες ολκής, αφεντικά που είναι ό,τι πρέπει για σάκοι του μποξ, και πάει λέγοντας. Επίσης σε πολλά διηγήματα αφηγητής είναι το alter ego του συγγραφέα, ο γνωστός και αγαπημένος Χανκ Τσινάσκι. Πόσο γαμάτος είναι αυτός ο τύπος; Τώρα, με τι έχουν να κάνουν τα διηγήματα; Με τι άλλο εκτός από μεθύσια και κρασοκατανύξεις, από άστατο σεξ και ατελείωτο κυνήγι του ποδόγυρου, από χαμαλοδουλειές και τον καθημερινό αγώνα να τα βγάλει κανείς πέρα;
Τώρα, όσον αφορά την γραφή, δεν χρειάζεται να πω κάτι το ιδιαίτερο, κάτι διαφορετικό από αυτά που ήδη έχω πει για προηγούμενα βιβλία του Μπουκόφσκι που έχω διαβάσει: Είναι φοβερή, ακαταμάχητη, ρεαλιστική, τρελή, αναδεικνύει με τον πιο δυναμικό, έντονο και απολαυστικό τρόπο την χαμοζωή, σε κάνει να θέλεις να τα βροντήξεις όλα και να πας να μεθύσεις σε κάποιο μπαρ με τους πρώτους μαλάκες που θα πετύχεις μπροστά σου και μετά να πηδήξεις όποια γκόμενα σου κάτσει. Από την άλλη, σκέφτεσαι, δεν είναι και άσχημα να έχεις λεφτά στην άκρη, δικό σου σπίτι, μια μόνιμη δουλειά, μια οικογένεια της προκοπής, να μην μεθάς σαν τελειωμένος μπεκρής και να κινδυνεύεις να κολλήσεις ένα κάρο αφροδίσια από τις τυχαίες γκόμενες που μπορεί να σου κάτσουν... όμως αυτός ο τρόπος ζωής έχει το ενδιαφέρον και την πλάκα του. Και ο Μπουκόφσκι ήταν μάστορας σ'αυτό. Και αυθεντικός.
November 30, 2012
Bukowski's short stories aren't new to me. I've read through The Most Beautiful Woman in Town and Tales of Ordinary Madness. Both of those were filled with some great shorts, but I'm left feeling a little disappointed with South of No North.
It's not that there aren't some good shorts in here. There are. Personally, "Bop Bop Against That Curtain", "Politics", "Love for $17.50", and "Pittsburgh Phil & Co." were a few of the highlights. Highlights, but not stunners. They didn't throw the right hook I expected from old Buk.
But that's Bukowski.
Not all of his work is strong. I don't think he ever gave a shit, either. He wrote what he wanted to write and people published it. Even now, as I sit typing a review of his work, I know he wouldn't give a god damn what I thought. And that's fine. 'Cause neither should you.
If I've come away with anything from this collection, it's that some of my work is gonna be rot. Hell, it may all be rot. But I like writing. Most of the time. Sometimes, it's a tricky bitch, but it's something I've got to do.
You win some. You lose more. That's one thing Buk certainly knows a lot about. South of No North? Well, it's stumbling a bit in the ring.
It's not pretty and it's left eye is swollen shut. It got some good jabs in, but that big mother on the other side of the ring is fighting on steak and potatoes. This one is trudging through the ring with a gut full of beer ten-cent hot dogs.
A couple good jabs. It's goin' down. But it was a good fight.
It's not that there aren't some good shorts in here. There are. Personally, "Bop Bop Against That Curtain", "Politics", "Love for $17.50", and "Pittsburgh Phil & Co." were a few of the highlights. Highlights, but not stunners. They didn't throw the right hook I expected from old Buk.
But that's Bukowski.
Not all of his work is strong. I don't think he ever gave a shit, either. He wrote what he wanted to write and people published it. Even now, as I sit typing a review of his work, I know he wouldn't give a god damn what I thought. And that's fine. 'Cause neither should you.
If I've come away with anything from this collection, it's that some of my work is gonna be rot. Hell, it may all be rot. But I like writing. Most of the time. Sometimes, it's a tricky bitch, but it's something I've got to do.
You win some. You lose more. That's one thing Buk certainly knows a lot about. South of No North? Well, it's stumbling a bit in the ring.
It's not pretty and it's left eye is swollen shut. It got some good jabs in, but that big mother on the other side of the ring is fighting on steak and potatoes. This one is trudging through the ring with a gut full of beer ten-cent hot dogs.
A couple good jabs. It's goin' down. But it was a good fight.
September 9, 2020
نتونستم تمومش کنم، اصلا فک کنم فقط یک پنجمشو خوندم و بعد گذاشتمش کنار
مجموعهی داستان های کوتاه بی سر و ته که هراز گاهی یه جمله قشنگ که میتونی تو اینستا بزاری هم داخلشون گفته میشد
داستان اولی بخصوص خیلی حوصلمو سر برد که در عین شعاری بودن انقدر نخ نما و به اصطلاح "Loud" بود ولی در نهایت بازم به هیچ جا نرسید ولی حتی از سبک داستان گویی مدرنم اونقدر پیروی نمیکنه داستانا که فقط بخشی از زندگی باشن بلکه میخواد پیام اخلاقی بده ولی توی این کار بشدت شکست میخوره
پر بود از سانسورهای مختلف که مترجمم هیچ تلاشی واسه پرکردن این خلاء ها وسط داستان نکرده بود
مجموعهی داستان های کوتاه بی سر و ته که هراز گاهی یه جمله قشنگ که میتونی تو اینستا بزاری هم داخلشون گفته میشد
داستان اولی بخصوص خیلی حوصلمو سر برد که در عین شعاری بودن انقدر نخ نما و به اصطلاح "Loud" بود ولی در نهایت بازم به هیچ جا نرسید ولی حتی از سبک داستان گویی مدرنم اونقدر پیروی نمیکنه داستانا که فقط بخشی از زندگی باشن بلکه میخواد پیام اخلاقی بده ولی توی این کار بشدت شکست میخوره
پر بود از سانسورهای مختلف که مترجمم هیچ تلاشی واسه پرکردن این خلاء ها وسط داستان نکرده بود
July 19, 2021
En este momento odio a quien me recomendó esto con muchas ganas. Este libro me frustró y me molestó de tantas maneras que quise abandonarlo a la mitad, pero me forcé a terminarlo y seguir leyendo a hombres refiriéndose a sus miembros para traerles una reseña de una estrella por fin. Y eso que pensé que ningún libro iba a superar la una estrella que le di a Campeones de Guillermo Meneses, que equivocado estaba.
A ver, en serio lo odié. No pensaba decir que odié este libro pero es que no encuentro otra palabra para describirlo. Me encontraba frustrado entre relato y relato y llegó un momento que me puse a llorar de la frustración que me traía todo.
Es humor crudo, burdo, negro y asqueroso. Referencias a penes y sus tamaños en cada uno de las historias. Mujeres violadas y hombres misóginos, borrachos e inútiles que solo piensan en sexo. Había un señor enamorado de un maniquí. Que tuvo sexo con un maniquí. Historias que no tienen pies ni cabeza. Si así es Charles Bukowski, pues ya me perdieron aquí.
Hay un personaje que vuelve recurrentemente a las historias, Henry Chinasaki o como se llame, que cada vez hace una cosa diferente que no se relaciona CON CUAQUIER ASQUEROSIDAD ANTERIOR. Fue boxeador, escritor, periodista y ninguna de esas profesiones importa porque nunca pasaron idk idk idk.
La penúltima historia era de un hombre recuperándose de una operación de hemorroides en el hospital pero de la nada dice que quiere violar a la enfermera?? Y esa no es la peor historia. No se si es peor la de la periodista que se casó con un indio porque tenía la pija del tamaño de un jamón, la de los chicos que permitieron que un señor violara a su amiga sin hacer un carajo para ayudarla o la de los enanos con hiperactividad sexual. En serio, no sé.
Si se supone que tenía que leer esto desde un punto de vista objetivo sobre lo asquerosos que son los hombres o lo cruda y cruel que era Los Ángeles en los 70's o algo por el estilo para verle lo BUENO pues lo lamento, no puedo. Estoy exhausto, molesto y asqueado. Eso es todo, ugh. Que horrible libro.
A ver, en serio lo odié. No pensaba decir que odié este libro pero es que no encuentro otra palabra para describirlo. Me encontraba frustrado entre relato y relato y llegó un momento que me puse a llorar de la frustración que me traía todo.
Es humor crudo, burdo, negro y asqueroso. Referencias a penes y sus tamaños en cada uno de las historias. Mujeres violadas y hombres misóginos, borrachos e inútiles que solo piensan en sexo. Había un señor enamorado de un maniquí. Que tuvo sexo con un maniquí. Historias que no tienen pies ni cabeza. Si así es Charles Bukowski, pues ya me perdieron aquí.
Hay un personaje que vuelve recurrentemente a las historias, Henry Chinasaki o como se llame, que cada vez hace una cosa diferente que no se relaciona CON CUAQUIER ASQUEROSIDAD ANTERIOR. Fue boxeador, escritor, periodista y ninguna de esas profesiones importa porque nunca pasaron idk idk idk.
La penúltima historia era de un hombre recuperándose de una operación de hemorroides en el hospital pero de la nada dice que quiere violar a la enfermera?? Y esa no es la peor historia. No se si es peor la de la periodista que se casó con un indio porque tenía la pija del tamaño de un jamón, la de los chicos que permitieron que un señor violara a su amiga sin hacer un carajo para ayudarla o la de los enanos con hiperactividad sexual. En serio, no sé.
Si se supone que tenía que leer esto desde un punto de vista objetivo sobre lo asquerosos que son los hombres o lo cruda y cruel que era Los Ángeles en los 70's o algo por el estilo para verle lo BUENO pues lo lamento, no puedo. Estoy exhausto, molesto y asqueado. Eso es todo, ugh. Que horrible libro.
January 5, 2016
كما ذكرت لأحد الاخوة حين سألني ان كنت انصح بقراءته ام لا
فكانت اجابتي
بانني لا اعلم ان كنت ساشجع اي شخص لقراءته ام لا
فقد وصلت تقريبا منتصف الكتاب واكاد اجزم انه لم تمر صفحة واحدة بدون كلمة بذيئة او فكرة كريهة او شاذة تفوح منها روائح كريهة ! ولكن ادبيا ونظرا للبيئة التي اختارها بوكوفسكي فقد اجاد فعلا التعبير عن الشخصيات التي عكست هذه الشريحة وطبيعة هذا النوع من البشر اعني السكيرين والمشردين والخ..استمراري في قراءته برغم كل العيوب دليل انه اسلوبه غير ملل وينساب بسهولة بدون تكلف. واخيرا اعجبت بواحده من القصص الا وهي موظف الشحن ذو الانف الاحمر غير ذلك فهو عادي
بغض النظر عن الشريحة التي اختارها الكاتب لتعبر عن ابطاله الا ان النجمتان
للتوافق الذي صنعها بين البيئة والاسلوب والشخوص
فكانت اجابتي
بانني لا اعلم ان كنت ساشجع اي شخص لقراءته ام لا
فقد وصلت تقريبا منتصف الكتاب واكاد اجزم انه لم تمر صفحة واحدة بدون كلمة بذيئة او فكرة كريهة او شاذة تفوح منها روائح كريهة ! ولكن ادبيا ونظرا للبيئة التي اختارها بوكوفسكي فقد اجاد فعلا التعبير عن الشخصيات التي عكست هذه الشريحة وطبيعة هذا النوع من البشر اعني السكيرين والمشردين والخ..استمراري في قراءته برغم كل العيوب دليل انه اسلوبه غير ملل وينساب بسهولة بدون تكلف. واخيرا اعجبت بواحده من القصص الا وهي موظف الشحن ذو الانف الاحمر غير ذلك فهو عادي
بغض النظر عن الشريحة التي اختارها الكاتب لتعبر عن ابطاله الا ان النجمتان
للتوافق الذي صنعها بين البيئة والاسلوب والشخوص
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