Bukowski's alter ego, Henry Chinaski, returns, revelling in his eternal penchant for booze, women and horse-racing as he makes the precarious journey from poet to screenwriter. Based on Bukowski's experiences when working on the film Barfly, the absurdity and egotism of the film industry are laid bare in this deadpan, touching and funny glimpse into the endless negotiations and back-stabbings of La-la land. Hollywood is an irreverent roman - clef that serves up the beating heart of Hollywood with razor-sharp humour.
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"One of the funniest books ever written." Uncut "Humour, wisdom and the elegance of simplicity come at you in equal measure." Bizarre"
About the Author
Charles Bukowski, who died in 1994, was the legendary Californian writer who became famous for his semi-autobiographical books about low-life America. Novels such as Factotum and Post Office made this one-time bum, and lifelong alcoholic, rich and famous, and culminated in the making of Barfly, a major Hollywood movie based on his life starring Mickey Rourke and Faye Dunaway.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Paul Holland
Format:Paperback
Charles Bukowski's minimal style, always egotistical and mostly alcohol affected is concerned in this book with his succesful attempt to see a screenplay (for Barfly) become a reality.
Names are changed but it is fun to read Bukowski's views on the movers and shakers in 1980's Hollywood.
The womanising and drinking are subdued (due to being married) and even a hedonistic rebel such as Bukowski comes across as conventional compared to the weirdness and double-dealing that appears to be Hollywood.
Not neccesarily a good first Bukowski read (try Post Office or Factotum) but nevertheless good fun.
Names are changed but it is fun to read Bukowski's views on the movers and shakers in 1980's Hollywood.
The womanising and drinking are subdued (due to being married) and even a hedonistic rebel such as Bukowski comes across as conventional compared to the weirdness and double-dealing that appears to be Hollywood.
Not neccesarily a good first Bukowski read (try Post Office or Factotum) but nevertheless good fun.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By J. S. Dixon
Format:Paperback
In this novel Bukowski's alter-ego, Henry Chinaski writes a screenplay which is filmed in Hollywood. The book is a thinly veiled biography and charts the makings of the film Barfly which starred Micky Rourke and Faye Dunaway.
Part of Bukowski's charm is that he writes simply. However, whilst this works brilliantly in books like Post Office and Factotum, it works less well here. This is because the subject matter of the early novels features Chinaski as a down and out in dead end jobs - an existence that most of us are unfamiliar with. In this novel, Bukowski charts the excesses of Hollywood, which whilst amusing and shocking are not unfamiliar. The difficulty is that we are saturated with images of Hollywood and familiar with exposees of it. Amongst this, Bukowski struggles to tell us anything new.
The parts of the book that I enjoyed most were the sections away from Hollywood. Bukowski writes engagingly about his reasons for betting on the track and the psychology of those who attend. His visits to the local ghettoes expose a different type of madness to the Hollywood excess.
This remains an entertaining book and Bukowski is aware of the criticisms that some of his fans might make. He is aware that he is enjoying material wealth and whilst enjoying this worries that he is selling out. He is also aware of the limitations of his style. He quotes others accusing him of writing simply because he himself is simple. Despite this, Bukowski's voice is engaging in its bottomless pessimism and its self depriciating tone. This book is worth reading, its just not one of his best.
Part of Bukowski's charm is that he writes simply. However, whilst this works brilliantly in books like Post Office and Factotum, it works less well here. This is because the subject matter of the early novels features Chinaski as a down and out in dead end jobs - an existence that most of us are unfamiliar with. In this novel, Bukowski charts the excesses of Hollywood, which whilst amusing and shocking are not unfamiliar. The difficulty is that we are saturated with images of Hollywood and familiar with exposees of it. Amongst this, Bukowski struggles to tell us anything new.
The parts of the book that I enjoyed most were the sections away from Hollywood. Bukowski writes engagingly about his reasons for betting on the track and the psychology of those who attend. His visits to the local ghettoes expose a different type of madness to the Hollywood excess.
This remains an entertaining book and Bukowski is aware of the criticisms that some of his fans might make. He is aware that he is enjoying material wealth and whilst enjoying this worries that he is selling out. He is also aware of the limitations of his style. He quotes others accusing him of writing simply because he himself is simple. Despite this, Bukowski's voice is engaging in its bottomless pessimism and its self depriciating tone. This book is worth reading, its just not one of his best.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Charles Bukowski goes semi-commercial to the dismay of many old
fans, the book offers a mainstream version of FACTOTUM. But the writing is of
higher quality, and Buk shines through. Look for celebs in the book under
false names... Mickey Rourke, Faye Dunaway... check the credits of the movie
and then re-read!
fans, the book offers a mainstream version of FACTOTUM. But the writing is of
higher quality, and Buk shines through. Look for celebs in the book under
false names... Mickey Rourke, Faye Dunaway... check the credits of the movie
and then re-read!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not Quite Hollywood
I love Bukowski and for the most part I loved this book but it felt a few chapters too long other than that it's fantastic and filled with Hank's classic look on the world.
Published 4 months ago by Dave
4.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
Would have given in 5 if it had all the real celeb names haha!
Bukowski at his best, but then again he is at his best with every novel!
Bukowski at his best, but then again he is at his best with every novel!
Published 7 months ago by James
3.0 out of 5 stars
Does what it says on the tin
Bukowski is a great writer and this return to his semi-autobiographical character Chinanski is a pretty straight forward affair. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Max Renn
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book!
I got this book for my Kindle and I'm already hotly awaiting the Post Office on Kindle release. This is the first Bukowski book I've read and I really enjoyed it, in many ways his... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Markus
4.0 out of 5 stars
My start
This is the first Bukowski book I've read, and it more than merits me buying another one. It's not his typical style I am told, dealing more with Hollywood highlife than lowlives,... Read more
Published on 7 Mar 2011 by Nedj
4.0 out of 5 stars
Still good
Another Bukowski novel - this one written late in his life - which on my first reading I felt wasnt up to his other novels. However I recently revisited and found it amusing.
Published on 21 April 2008 by Dillinger
3.0 out of 5 stars
not a book to start with
I've heard lots of great things about Charles Bukowski, and I've wanted to start reading him for awhile. Read more
Published on 4 Jan 1999
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