LAist: Today is Charles Bukowski's Birthday

Peggy Archer

Sat, 19 Aug 2006 20:08:33 -0800

The two writers who've had the most influence on me were Bukowski and my beloved Hunter S. Thompson. Bukowski because he could make sorting mail and being a sloshed bum interesting, and Thompson because he could make an acid trip seem perfectly logical. I miss 'em both.

tony

Fri, 18 Aug 2006 02:04:35 -0800

thats awesome kevin, i hope youre planning on writing a review for us.

Kevin

Fri, 18 Aug 2006 00:17:23 -0800

I saw Factotum at Sundance. It blew monkey chunks. And not in a good way. Now maybe if KEVIN Dillon had played Bukowski the lead instead of Matt...

tony

Thu, 17 Aug 2006 13:20:45 -0800

In those same interviews he was also seen kicking his wife Linda who he loved. Truth of the matter is Buk appreciated Hem, but loved Celine and Fante. And the comparisons were just as inevitable then as they are now. Both men loved booze, women, fighting, and writing in short easy sentences. I liked Buk better because he kept it more real, but I appreciate Hem for making everything seem classy in a weird way.

Semi

Thu, 17 Aug 2006 08:57:27 -0800

If it was a myth, it's one he perpetuated himself, often in interviews and a few times in print. He said he didn't care for the man's persona, or writing style. Although perhaps some of that came from the fact that when his novels were released, many people compared Buk to Hem, which is something that gets under a lot of writers' skin.

Sanguedolce

Thu, 17 Aug 2006 06:21:49 -0800

Bukowski hated most people. Or just preferred it when they weren't around.

tony

Thu, 17 Aug 2006 04:30:51 -0800

the idea that Buk hated Hem is a myth.

Semi

Thu, 17 Aug 2006 03:56:49 -0800

Interesting comparison, in that Buk hated Hemingway with a passion. I believe his analogue is better described as Celine, as although they were obviously very different, there's an underlying humor amidst the horrors and mistakes. Buk admired Celine, Dostoyevski, and Fante among others.