Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 16 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
Life Arts    H4'ed 5/27/10

Reading Bukowski for fun and profit

By       (Page 1 of 5 pages)   3 comments
Message Bob Patterson
Become a Fan
  (10 fans)

Charles Bukowski died in 1994, thus some folks might be surprised to learn that the second of three book featuring new material, titled <a href =http://www.citylights.com/book/?GCOI=87286100446250> Absence of the Hero</a> has just been published. Bukowski fans were on hand Tuesday night at Moe's Books in Berkeley when the book's editor, David Calonne and his editor Garrett Caples, talked about the circumstances surrounding the publication of this new installment in series of three volumes. The series features material, such as early magazine fiction stories, not previously published in book form. They also took turns reading some of the previously unpublished material from the cult favorite.

They discussed Bukowski's literary reputation and discussed the fact that some folks consider Bukowski a member of the American literary group known as Beat writers. Some folks think Bukowski should be considered a beat while others maintain that he was just a contemporary who knew and interacted with people whose beat credentials are not subject to debate.

One of the tidbits that Calonne shared with his Berkeley audience was that often Bukowski would be inspired by news stories he read in papers such as the defunct Los Angeles Herald Examiner. He read a letter to the magazine editor noting that "Christ with Barbecue Sauce" in particular was inspired by a news story about gruesome murders in Texas. (Where would the horror genre be without murders in Texas?)

Recently the New York Times published a story about writers who produce material about and aimed at the working man. The Times published a letter to the editor from Calonne pointing out that it was a mistake for their writer to omit Bukowski from the article.

Bukowski inspired the movie "Barfly."

To get a good read on Bukowski's audience it may be best to relay a letter that Bukowski recedived from a prisoner in Australia. He was told that the Bukowski book was the only one that passed from cell to cell.

Next Page  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Funny 2   Must Read 1   Well Said 1  
Rate It | View Ratings

Bob Patterson Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

BP graduated from college in the mid sixties (at the bottom of the class?) He told his draft board that Vietnam could be won without his participation. He is still appologizing for that mistake. He received his fist photo lesson from a future (more...)
 

Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

"Texas" Revisited: Michener's Warning

Huffington Post to bloggers: Drop Dead!

Freedom of the Press was fun while it lasted

Questions about Gen. Patton's Death

Did Rove engineer Cain's Florida win?

A relentless photo quest

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend