Post Office: A Novel
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'One of the funniest books ever written'
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Bizarre
'Humour, wisdom and the elegance of simplicity come at you in equal measure'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 53 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
‘PO’ is Bukowski on top (or should that be bottom?) form. It is a semi-autobiographical account of his time working (or avoiding working) for the US Postal Service, and chronicles his life both at work and at home. Henry Chinaski (Bukowski’s alter ego in many of his books) is the arch-misanthrope, an aggressive alcoholic with no desire to achieve anything other than staying alive and staying drunk. There is no romanticism in his lifestyle: it is unrelentingly visceral and grim. Women are for sex not love, work is about getting paid for doing as little as possible and life is about drinking. Even in his writing he makes no attempt to engage with his readers, who are treated with as much contempt as the rest of the world.
It is difficult to define the attraction of Bukowski, He was clearly not a nice man, and his hero, Chinaski, is not someone you would want to meet. Many aspects of him are downright repugnant, such as when he rapes a mentally ill woman, but there is something fascinating about a life that has given up on any sense of purpose, any desire for better things. Bukowski is the poet laureate for the people who don’t give a damn and, for the rest of us who still care about some things, some of the time, seeing the idea of apathy taken to its extreme is disturbing but mesmerising at the same time. I have read a lot of Bukowski, but ‘PO’ is perhaps the one that sums him up the best. It is full of the ugly side of life, so won’t be to everyone’s taste, but if you are interested by Bukowski, this has to be the one to start with.
It is difficult to define the attraction of Bukowski, He was clearly not a nice man, and his hero, Chinaski, is not someone you would want to meet. Many aspects of him are downright repugnant, such as when he rapes a mentally ill woman, but there is something fascinating about a life that has given up on any sense of purpose, any desire for better things. Bukowski is the poet laureate for the people who don’t give a damn and, for the rest of us who still care about some things, some of the time, seeing the idea of apathy taken to its extreme is disturbing but mesmerising at the same time. I have read a lot of Bukowski, but ‘PO’ is perhaps the one that sums him up the best. It is full of the ugly side of life, so won’t be to everyone’s taste, but if you are interested by Bukowski, this has to be the one to start with.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is the story of Henry Chinaski's world. Its deep and compelling individuality is a refreshing change from conventional literary works.
In the post industrial society that I live in I am bombarded every day with signs telling me that things like my trainers, my clothes and my mp3 player are all more than they seem to be. They aren't trainers, they're running down a street alone in misty morning rain, they're fitness and health. Every day I am being sold a way of life and a dream. Reading post office is a welcome reminder that life is not dreams and images floating on screens; it is a place to live, food, drink, independence, sex and friendship.
What sets Post Office apart is the honesty it manages to convey. The thing that's missing is shame, so any good Christians who cling tightly to their shame, their key to heaven, might find Post Office a bit too sensually overwhelming. Chinaski doesn't buy into social morality, he's the model of the man who is in touch with his most basic urges. The prose is familiar and easy to read but nonetheless very clever. It is immediately and intensely ironic, funny and sad.
Bukowski has a wonderful eye for character, if a cynical one. There is a lot of beauty in the book, but not in typical places. Chinaski comes across as a man who is cleverer than everyone around him, but can't move forward because he refuses to make the compromises societies and businesses require.
There's something in this book for anyone with an eye to look and learn. Five stars, but I'd give it more if I could.
In the post industrial society that I live in I am bombarded every day with signs telling me that things like my trainers, my clothes and my mp3 player are all more than they seem to be. They aren't trainers, they're running down a street alone in misty morning rain, they're fitness and health. Every day I am being sold a way of life and a dream. Reading post office is a welcome reminder that life is not dreams and images floating on screens; it is a place to live, food, drink, independence, sex and friendship.
What sets Post Office apart is the honesty it manages to convey. The thing that's missing is shame, so any good Christians who cling tightly to their shame, their key to heaven, might find Post Office a bit too sensually overwhelming. Chinaski doesn't buy into social morality, he's the model of the man who is in touch with his most basic urges. The prose is familiar and easy to read but nonetheless very clever. It is immediately and intensely ironic, funny and sad.
Bukowski has a wonderful eye for character, if a cynical one. There is a lot of beauty in the book, but not in typical places. Chinaski comes across as a man who is cleverer than everyone around him, but can't move forward because he refuses to make the compromises societies and businesses require.
There's something in this book for anyone with an eye to look and learn. Five stars, but I'd give it more if I could.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the first novel narrated by Bukowski's autobiographical alter-ego, Henry Chinaski. Through Chinaski, the writer tells us about the decade leading up to the start of his career as a full-time writer. He spent most of that decade working for the US Postal service.
This novel is a hilarious account of that period. The action switches back-and-forth between one world - that of hard drinking, occasional one-night stands and racetracks - and another - a grim, back-breaking struggle to keep at a job the narrator hates.
Anyone who has ever done menial work for low pay and wondered if they are going mad will recognise Chinaski's world. Few could have brought that world to life with such humour and bitterness all at once as Charles Bukowski.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Deadend lives and the horses
Debut novel from Bukowski, about his time spent working at the Postal service in LA. I like his style of writing, straight up observations about blue collar existence. Read more
Published 1 month ago by assfromelbow.
Crude, rude and superb
Got into Bukowski by chance last year and lets just say I am loving his work. Post office along with women is probably one of my favorites pieces of literature and this is... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Pebbles
Bravo Buk!
An excellent and often very funny read, this book numbers among my top ten all time favourites. It's deftly written and accurately conveys what it is to work in a 'blue collar job'... Read more
Published 4 months ago by CLINT McGAVIN
Ever Had A Dead End Job?
This book was something of a revelation for me. I had never read a book before that wasn't something more than what I had been living. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Derek Johnstone
Post Office; Bukowski
This is my first foray into the work of Charles Bukowski, his writing being brought to my attention through a recommendation. Read more
Published 9 months ago by N. A. Spencer
post office
the only book of bukowski that it think is worth ready is women all the rest are just a waste of time and money. Read more
Published 11 months ago by shjk
Chaotic, mad and wonderful
Bukowski is Chinaski. His opinions leap off the page, his visceral stench slaps you in the face, but you come back for more regardless.
I have some of Bukowski's poetry. Read more
I have some of Bukowski's poetry. Read more
Published 11 months ago by P. Griffin
book delivery
The item i have purchased delivered to me in a very short time. The quality of the item was very good and exactly the same it was introduced. regards.
Published 12 months ago by cumburt
toss up
I couldnt decide between 3 or 4 stars for this review. The reason being this is is a good book but it is a bit brief. There is not much story either if your looking for plot. Read more
Published 15 months ago by C. S. Bancroft
Bukowski tells it as it is!
'Post Office' is a remarkably honest semi-autobiographical account of a man who cannot 'fit in' neatly to the 'norms' of society. Read more
Published 17 months ago by A. J. Cox
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