Post Office: A Cult Classic Work of Gritty Realism and Dark Humor

A delirious, repetitive, repressed and hostile bureaucratic nightmare, Post Office is a novel that takes on Bukowski's decade-plus chained to the postal system. As a compelling artist, sloppy drunk, and sexually voracious gambler, Bukowski drifts in and out of his narrative with unsentimental anger and boozy energy, an undercurrent of resentment and anger everpresent until it is contrasted clean with the interest and indulgent love for the women in his life. The most provocative elements of this book was certainly the portions where we see the shuffling, confusing, scary catch-22 Brazil-esque burlesque of his work in the Post Office itself. Cycling in and out, over and over, unable to even quit his job, Bukowski created a labyrinthine grand guinol of paper and sorting boxes all standing in his way of his net drink, his next lay, and his ability to even write a halfway decent line of poetry. In many ways, this reflects how I personally see my own art in the world, and it is in this manner that I really connected with his character in this book. In real life, the genesis of this book and Bukowski’s career came from being offered a hundred bucks a month to quit the post office to promise to write full time by John Martin and Black Sparrow Press…and so we all wish for this little black sparrow angel to fly into our window someday. The most beautiful element of the book was easily the portrayal of his relationship with Betty (Jane Cooney Baker). They were perfect for each other, but in the piece the sentimentality with which he approached their relationship in both tone, diction, syntax, and other practical elements isn’t mirrored by any other writing in the book or in his approach to any other woman in any of his books. It is simply this beautiful, pure, self-destructive relationship that serves as a wholly gorgeous and holy relic that he certainly held on to for the rest of his life…and it seems that the story arc with her is one of the most beautiful things that he had ever written – the only thing that he had ever cared for snatched from him just as he realized that it was the most important thing in the world to him. What destroyed her is exactly what he tried to destroy himself with, and in her death he found the death of love, the death of a healthy sexual identity, and the death of himself. Of course, the narrative pacing and overall diction of Bukowski's narrative voice are certainly the most compelling elements of this book. There is a certain blue-collarness to his writing that offers a remarkably simple approach to what is often a much more serious and Complicated piece – but his genius lies in this very thing. Bukowski can create a story that is appropriate for all intellectual audiences and still write something that is completely different in terms of overall beauty and meaning in the English Language. This is likely why legions of writers thought they could follow in his footsteps and write when nothing could be further from the truth (and Bukowski had no problem telling them that). An excellent, excellent, excellent book that should be required reading for all American men.

This book is a first person recounting of the life of a post office worker through a multitude of sexual relationships, gambling, smoking and an excessive amount of drinking. It is not a comedy but there are many points where you will probably laugh (like I did). It is not a tragedy but there are many points where you will be extremely sad and frustrated (like I was). It is extremely vulgar and occasionally violent. Contains a scene describing a sexual assault. I would not recommend this book to anyone younger than at least 18 (I probably wouldn't recommend it to most adults), and I imagine that most female readers would find the sexualization (which is present whenever a female character is present) obnoxious at the very least. This all being said, it is an entertaining read that has me thinking about the decisions that I have made about my work life, about how I choose to treat others, and about the responsibilities I have towards my own well being.

As always. Charles bukowski doesn't disappoint. He deserves every reader. And I'm sad he is no longer with us to give us more.

I've enjoyed Bukowski's poetry and short stories. This short novel reads like a couple shorts puffed up and linked with extra fluff. Parts are entertaining but most of it is repetitive and occasionally boring. The post office shenanigans / adventures read like a pale shadow of Miller's telegraph company rants, and many other "my work is a surreal nightmare" type stuff. The protag is, in my opinion, a very pathetic person and after a while it just gets boring. Worst thing of Bukowski's I've read. I do like much of his short work. I will probably give some of his other novels a go, but I'll get them at the library instead of feeling I kinda wasted my money.

Good book, not pricey at all.

You know when a book's dedication reads: "This is presented as a work of fiction and dedicated to nobody" that there will be attitude to follow. In this case, it is a narrative of twelve years spent in the life-denying swamp of the USPS, counteracted in off hours by an unapologetic romp through racetracks, booze and broads. I've heard some call Bukowski's depiction of working for the Post Office in southern California from the post World War II years up to the late sixties "surreal." Others, "absurdist." I have several friends who at different parts of their lives, some still active, have worked for the Post Office, who can match most of the stories of abusive supervisors, body-ripping physical work, overtime with no notice, Catch-22 rules and regulations, demented co-workers and, on route, a variety of characters, some for whom the mail is probably the last thread to reality. Bukowski's protagonist, Henry Chinaski lays it all out in a punchy, gravelly, often laugh out loud narrative that weaves with the equally bumpy account of his personal life, a succession of women and race tracks simmered in lots of alcohol, a constant leveling act that requires going back to the drudge for a paycheck. This was Bukowski's first work of fiction, published in 1971, drawn from his own experiences. Though his legacy in later writers' work is obvious, particularly in poetry, his voice remains distinctly original, with flecks of Whitman, Chandler and his beat contemporaries, especially Jack Kerouac. He takes language to a more casual level, especially in the passages about women, but a respect for rhythm and structure underlie the narrative, and as does the respect for the humanity he occasionally manages to find in his gritty universe. The result is a book that endures.

An enjoyable book, but not for the faint of heart or those easily offended

I bought this for a friend who was getting a job at the post office and decided to read it first. I liked it, it was a quick read and will probably offend people with, uh, modern sensibilities in parts. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.

)

Libro molto interessante che ti invoglia a leggerlo, mai noioso, ricco di spunti di considerazione sulla situazione lavorativa e di conseguenza di vita, di un impiegato medio. Anche se ambientato in un periodo ormai lontano da noi, risulta comunque e purtroppo attuale. Il cinismo,il sarcasmo e la consapevolezza di ciò che succede e di quelle che sono realmente le priorità per un essere umano, portano il protagonista a non sentirsi parte del mucchio o del gregge e di cercare di fuggire ed emarginarsi da una società che schiacciata dalla routine, schiaccia a sua volta i cittadini. Consigliato a chi vuole scoprire Bukowski e il suo tagliente punto di vista. La versione originale è ottima anche per chi ha una preparazione discreta dell'inglese.

Worthy read.

Boek in prima conditie en snel geleverd! Bedankt!

Kapak güzel ama içindeki kağıdı pek kaliteli değil.