Have you read Bukowski before? If you have, then stories in this book offer you nothing new or surprizing. Just a bunch of raw, tender and life-like stories, all written with simple, well working sentences. Reading these stories always provides me great pleasure and I enjoy the possibility to read heavyweight things in easy way, without having to battle your my through a jungle of words that actually mean something else that they are saying. I'm not much of a friend of useless playing around with artistic styles of litterature. (Or something like that...) However, if you HAVEN'T read B. yet, then I recommend you to do it. See, if this writing makes any sense to you and if you like the things I am explaining, then you probably LIKE READING THIS BOOK! However, this is by no means, the best thing, that Bukowski has written. But still it is better than most books and/or stories nowadays.

As an ardent fan of Bukowski and Henry Chinaski, this by far is my favorite book by Buk. If you haven't read any Bukowski but always wanted to, this is perhaps a great place to start. It's a series of short stories that give you a taste for Buk's writing. You'll either love him or hate him. There's no in between. But if you love this book, then you can look forward to many other fictional pieces by Buk that will delight you. Either that or after about three chapters you will want to go out and get drunk, or get laid! Enjoy! Buk is a God!

I recently saw the movie barfly and I was totally entertained and wanted to know more about the person behind the script, hence, Charles Bukowski. His writing is rapid fire and from the gut. I have a tape of his from when he gave a poetry reading and you can tell he talks like he writes. Truly a significant talent. I am now reading one Bukowski after another. Another favorite of short stories is "Tales of a dirty old man". There are some stories I have read from him that STILL have me laughing at just the thought of them, 3 months after reading them. He is the underground genius of American literature.

essentially this book hopes to fill a space in bukowski history previously unfilled, or merely touched upon, which is buks relation to the beat writers which he frequently gets lumped in with. the book touches on connections as well as differences, and does it fairly well. the author refers to many book titles which he referenced to write the book, some of whose validity could be debated i'm sure. i noticed an error here and there such as neal cassady's prison time being served at san quentin, not alcatraz as the book states, also what may be a simple proofreading error of referring to william reich's research, which is actually wilhelm reich of orgonomy fame. the interview at the end of the book between the author and buk makes for an excellent read, and gives strength to the book overall.

Sun Dog Press did a terrific job! It is obvious that lots of love went into putting this book together, from the exceptional cover photos (the one of Buk is one of the best ever!), design as well as what's inside. Credit also goes, of course, to the author: Jean-Francois Duval. Written in French and translated--although it does not read like a tranlation; it is that well done. Smooth and truly professional.
While Buk was alive he liked to poke fun at The Beats (he liked to put down Kerouac's writing, as well as Burrough's--well, the truth is On The road is a well-written novel and a modern classic, and the same could be said of Burrough's Junkie. So here, within these pages, you get to know something about The Beats--if you're new to all this. Worth buying for your library, even though the Buk interview also appears in the Daniel Weizman tome Drinking With Bukowski. Thanks to all involved!

Lastly, I found out recently that John Martin (Buk's publisher)
sold Black Sparrow Press...am still reeling from the shock...but then I thought what a terrific book idea, to have Martin write a book ( or have someone else do it for him) all about Black Sparrow, how it got started, how he met Bukowski and made it happen. That would complete the entire picture. People like myself would be interested in reading a book of this type. John Martin, to me at least, has always appeared to be this mysterious figure in the background, behind Buk's success...and I, for one, would love to know how Martin and his wife made it all happen: the early struggles, and finally the acclaim, success; all of it.

Bukowski and The Beats gets five stars! You bet!

I enjoyed this book a lot. I think Jonathan Kirsch is perfectly right when he writes in The Los Angeles Times Book Review of Sunday, June 2: «Bukowski and the Beats» is full of affection and admiration for Bukowski, but Duval brings a sharp edge and a smart take to his work, which is composed of biography, literary criticism and cultural history in equal measure». As an echo to Kerouac's lyrical motto «the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk», Bukowski states: «Thank the gods that the first 50 years of my life were spent with the Blue Collars and the truly mad, the truly beaten.» However, Bukowski was a beneficiary of the Beats in more than one sense, as Duval points out. «Bukowski and the Beats» is also great fun, for instance when it shows Bukowski joining a 1974 Beat tour that featured Ginsberg, Ferlinghetti and Gary Snyder. The book also contains photos I had never seen, and one of the best interview with Bukowski that I have ever read.

Though LNOTEP has a couple of poems that are so good that they make the whole book worth reading, most of the poems are completely empty-- they just account meaningless little events observed by the author. Try Run With the Hunted:A Charles Bukowski Reader for the best of his poetry ,and novels, too!

My main complaint with most poets has always been that they never edit themselves enough. Some poetry leaves me wondering if the writers edited themselves at all. Bukowski probably didn't edit much, but everything he did was great, so it didn't hurt him. This is without a doubt the most consistent collection of poetry I have ever read, my only regret is that it has taken me this long to discover Bukowski. If you like Buk's poetry, you will love Last Night on Earth . . .

This book is Bukowski at his brilliant best, talking straight from experience about the life of a bum alcoholic poet.

When I first read this book, I was eleven years old and had never heard of Bukowski or read anything of this sort, or any poetry. It was like the book cast a spell on me. I could not stop reading. I remember staying up all hours of the night, reading this book with a flashlight, frantically turning the pages, hoping it would go on forever. It spoke to me on an intimate lever that no school-assigned swill ever had. I grabbed me by my soul and dragged me down into a beautiful abbyss which I have not left to this day.

After reading this book, you will never be the same again.

There are some really good poems in this book, but you'll read about 10 average poems before you get a real gem.

The book is loosely arranged into three sections, sort of: Childhood and Young Adult poems, Middle Age poems, and Senior Citizen poems; but since all are from the viewpoint of Charles Bukowski, there's plenty of entertainment value everywhere.

His recurring themes are women, betting on horse racing, dogs, writers and artists, writing, day jobs, jail time, and autobiographical moments.

Although his viewpoint is usually offbeat and amusing, only once in awhile do you come across a really deep statement about life, the kind of philosophical statements that teach us something and make us realize something about humanity, which is the mark of a really important poet. This book is by a really important poet, but he only gets really deep in one out of every ten poems. Most of these poems are kind of pointless, and he even says that a few times himself, in some of these poems.

One thing I didn't like is the lack of background info. There is only a one page bio, at the end of the book, but nowhere else does the publisher explain how these poems were selected to be put together here, or where and when these poems were written.

This is the first Bukowski poetry book that I've ever read. I like the fact that it is a few hundred pages worth of cool poems. It's a decent value for your money, but it's likely that other Buk collections are better places to start reading Buk, though I don't know which ones they are yet.

This is the best new Bukowski poetry collection since THE LAST NIGHT OF THE EARTH POEMS, mainly because of the inclusion of older poems from his more "lyrical" period. Readers of the Wormwood Review will recognize many of the poems printed here for the first time in book form (although credit is not given to any individual magazine). Unlike the last two Bukowski collections DEATH is not the main theme here (although Buk wrote about his imminent demise as far back as the '60s), but more "slices of life" harkening back to his days in East Hollywood and beyond. Black Sparrow promises more poetry collections in the future, my God, how MUCH did this man write? I'll get those, too, why stop now? Anyone serious about Bukowski should also buy a copy of Aaron Krumhansl's DESCRIPTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY. Hail, hail.

...maybe it will loosen yours." Says Buk in 'Me and Faulkner.' It is about listening to great music. I heartily concur.

Charles Bukowski has only recently captured my attention, but I'm thinking he and I will become fast friends. It was because one of my well-read intellectual friends that I was even exposed to the man's work. He compared him to me--called me "Bukowskian" and I was ready to fight him to uphold my dignity. What? You mean, its a good thing...?

I evidently have a lot to catch up on this real man writing what really happens in life...like for driving in LA's heavy traffic and dealing with the road rage says he's "so polite, I'd make a nun puke." And venting his anger when he's accused one of his women of stealing his work, it's "next time take my left arm or a fifty/but not my poems..."

His life and his style is right down this po' boy's alley. I have been converted and I will read more of his body of works. This last piece here is one that I am now still reading and savoring like the finest of wine...though Buk may have found great irony in that.

Wow! There is definitely a whole world where Allie Mcbeal-esque angst does not exist and I think I like it. Bukowski, of which this book was my introduction, is wholly unapologetic about his life, loves, lusts and somewhat audacious lifestyle.

I was going to say that Bukowski is more a man's writer than a women's although I wondered about the reaction to that as so many women clearly love him. But his writing is so steeped in the seedy, upfront, hard-nosed male appealing style. Maybe it is just that it is that I only know males who have read his works. Either way he is a strange fish. After this I went on to read a book of people's impressions of Buck, much more informative I think. In this I felt a little like I was left with his reflection rather than a clear insight into him.

An interesting way of meeting Buck to see if you like his stuff, or him at all.

Lots of pictures & worth the money. I bought mine at Borders--and don't regret it. Howard Sounes did a wonderful job of putting it all together. Even includes photos of some of Bukowski's old haunts (bars and such where he hung out), as well photos taken when he lived in various dives before he made it. Photos of his daughter Marina, photos of some of the women he dated--and even one of the great love of his life: Jane Cooney Baker. Not to be missed. Top notch all the way. I'd like to see them do a sequel to this. Get it if you can!

An excellent & well laid-out book displaying the life of Charles Bukowski. The book shows the real people & places depicted in Buk's poems & stories. It even has a photo of his grave which brings it home that such a lively individual is no longer with us even though new books of his unpublished/uncollected poems continue to be published. Alan/2001

not great bukowski but ok
not the one to read for his most potent impact--better to read this one after you're really into him and can tolerate the stuff that [stinks]

Typical Buk poetry, which for most is superior stuff. Not as good in my opinion as Play the Piano... but an excellent collection. If you're just starting out on Bukowski and like his writing, he also writes some cool fiction.

I agree with the other reviewer. Contains some of Bukowski's best. Worth buying and keeping for additional readings.

Bukowski is a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant poet who has always impressed with his ability to make the small events of his life incredibly profound. Since I began reading Bukowski, I've picked up each of his collections with the frame of mind that this will be the backbreaker. This will be the collection which will vault Bukowski to the front of my list of favorite poets, placing him among other true originals like Pound, Cummings, and Ginsberg. Each time, Bukowski comes despairingly close. The poet produced great work upon great work but never shook the world, never changed the way I breathed with one deft stroke, never blew the roof off. Par for the course, this colletion is simply amazing but not quite earth shaking.

if you're wondering just what constitutes something like genius (years upon years of learning pooled with monstrous natural ability), check out 'it's ours', the closing poem in this collection. one of the most resonant, original poems ever written in english. how brilliant is the placement of the last word in this poem? you decide. 'it's ours' is the reward for a writer who paid his dues by the pound, searching for the perfect poem for forty years.

other highs include 'concrete', a poem about soaring eagles and imaginary infedility, 'i thought the stuff tasted worse than usual', and maybe the only other genuinely brilliant poem in the collection, 'retired', a simple, vivid, beautiful piece of writing about the author's father. pork chops, anyone?

here's a taste. this is a poem called 'helping the old'. and remember, you're never alone, not if you have access to a library, or for that matter pen and paper. adios.

I was standing in line at the bank today when the old fellow in front of me dropped his glasses (luckily, within the case) and as he bent over I saw how difficult it was for him and I Said, "wait, let me get them . . . " but as I picked them up he dropped his cane a beautiful, black polished cane and I got the glasses back to him then went for the cane steadying the old boy as I handed him his cane. he didn't speak, he just smiled at me. then he turned forward.

I stood behind him waiting my turn.

After I read "Last Night Of The Earth Poems", I immediatley started into this one, hoping that it would have the same tantilizing effect on me, setting my soul aflame in its amazing literary fire, consuming me.

I was not dissappointed. This book further reinforced my awe for Bukowski and his work. After this brilliant book and "Last Night Of The Earth Poems", I proceeded to collect all of the works of this great literary master. But the effect of this book is still one that has yet to be surpassed by anything, save the "Earth Poems".

Buy this book and let it mold your mind in its hands.

aside from some poems that either copied bukowski's style or were pretty much just bad--the book has some interesting stories
overall henry was probably a pretty much a peice of sh@#t
but his writings shine thru

Some nice essays in here some really bad poetry (not Buk's, of course) and some good little interviews. Sheds a little more light on the The Man. Definetly worth a read, go for it.

Like the other guy said: If you like Buk you'll enjoy this book. Gives you more insight/perspective.
Also, be warned, a small portion contains some awful poetry written by some of these same folks who knew the man. Definitely worth having for your collection, though. Good deal. Read it twice already. The book almost brings Buk back to us.

im a big bukowski fan . i didnt love this collection nor did i hate it . i was more indifferent and found myself sometimes reading thru the poems quickly. out of the 5 of his books ive read thus far, this one has the least amount of pages marked with poems to go back and read

Charles Bukowski brilliantly captures the race track experience. His poetry in the "horsemeat" section of "War All The Time"
is an hysterical, decadent, powerful and exciting, tribute to Thoughrobreds and their Fans.
If you can't actually be at the track, Bukowski's poetry will carry you there; from Gate to Wire, his poetry is OUTSTANDING!!!...

A charecter picks up a copy of War All the Time and thumbs through it in a fairly conspicuous way about half-way through the movie. The director must be a Buk fan!

Cool!

By the way, this is a great collection of Bukowski's poetry. . .

I you want to read the goods on Bukowski, check out Neeli Cherkovski's Bukowski: A Life. And if you want to see how bad Steve Richmond is threatened by Cherkovski's book, read the review Richmond posted of it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I bought Spinning Off Bukowski. I'm glad I read it. Hell, I'm glad it exists in the world. The more material out there on one of America's greatest writers the better. It's especially important that those who knew him intimately get the words down on paper.

This effort has a lot of good anecdotes about the two writers' old days in California, but I wish there were more pages about Buk in it and fewer about Richmond.

If you're like me, you'll want everything you can find on Bukowski, the well done and the trash. This book is not trash by any means, but it's not all that great, either.

Buy it, read it, put it on your shelf, wait for the next one that comes out and get that one, too. That's my plan, anyway.

Steve Richmond's memoir of his close friendship with the late, great American poet Charles Bukowski may not be the most orthodox of books - indeed it is a very strange book, written with apparently gleeful disregard for the conventions of structure, jumping about all over the place like a bunny rabbit on acid - but, paradoxically, that is one of its strenghts. Odd books stick in the mind long after other, smoother works are forgotten, and that is certainly true of "Spinning off Bukowski." In a conformist world, Mr. Richmond is clearly a singular personality and his entertraining memoir of a bitter-sweet friendship rings true, for this reader at least. It is also agreeably short, as well as having some rather interesting drawings. Recommended for those willing to try something new.

In case I submitted a "review" of my own book earlier today, please don't print it. It's inappropriate to say least.

thanks,
steve richmond