Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame: Poems About Gambling, Drinking, and Women by Charles Bukowski
Product ID: 10350184
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“The Walt Whitman of Los Angeles.”—Joyce Carol Oates, bestselling author “He brought everybody down to earth, even the angels.”—Leonard Cohen, songwriter Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame is poetry full of gambling, drinking and women. Charles Bukowski writes realistically about the seedy underbelly of life. The poems in the first three sections of this book were published in three volumes : It Catches My Heart in its Hands, Crucifix in a Deathhand and At Terror Street and Agony Way . Charles Bukowski wrote in his introduction "Looking at these poems written between 1955 and 1973 I like (for one reason or another) the last poems best. I am pleased with this. I have, of course, no idea what shape my future poems will take, or even if I will write any, because I have no idea how long I will go on living, but since I began writing poetry quite late in life, at the age of 35, I like to think they'll give me a few extra years now, at this end. Meanwhile, the poems that follow will have to do." Review: I like this early stuff better - I have been an avid reader of Bukowski for thirty years now. What can I say? I feel an affinity with the man. I moved out to Southern California with some drunken, vague thought in my head that I would be closer to him, and maybe even visit him, or try to, but he passed the very year I moved to SoCal which is where I still live. I have all his works, and have read and re-read all of his poetry and prose for these three decades. It may seem paradoxical, but the older I get, the more I have been enjoying the poetry he wrote as younger man, while, the exact opposite was true when I was younger. I wonder why that is? But, I think there is certain muscle in his earlier work. A certain spit in the eye. There is also this singing that can be heard above the howling and the madness. There is something trying to break free, and in that process of becoming liberated, generated a certain light and clarity. I am not disparaging his later work (I mean, my god, Last Night of the Earth is absolutely mind-blowing) but, as the years pass me by, I like looking at these early poems. I tend to smile more when I read them than I do the later works. Review: Short commentary on Bukowski - Bukowski wrote about his reality and he led a real life and it wasn’t a bed of roses. It was full of drunken nights, sex, violence at times, writing, flophouses, getting jobs reading his work when he could, working crappy jobs with little respect, hangovers and the vicious cycle that goes on with it all. Bukowski was also a very talented writer to take what he saw and what some people see every day and turn it into very sharp and real without any gimmicks or come ons in his writing about what his life was really like. Either you get Bukowski and enjoy his writing for what his reality was and how he wrote about it with a sharp and keen eye, or you don’t like Bukowski and you find him distasteful and his reality too lowbrow or crude for your taste in the language he used in some works and in his own sense of reality and how he chose to write about it.
| Best Sellers Rank | #75,546 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #75 in Poetry Anthologies (Books) #93 in Death, Grief & Loss Poetry (Books) #149 in Love Poems |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 803 Reviews |
C**N
I like this early stuff better
I have been an avid reader of Bukowski for thirty years now. What can I say? I feel an affinity with the man. I moved out to Southern California with some drunken, vague thought in my head that I would be closer to him, and maybe even visit him, or try to, but he passed the very year I moved to SoCal which is where I still live. I have all his works, and have read and re-read all of his poetry and prose for these three decades. It may seem paradoxical, but the older I get, the more I have been enjoying the poetry he wrote as younger man, while, the exact opposite was true when I was younger. I wonder why that is? But, I think there is certain muscle in his earlier work. A certain spit in the eye. There is also this singing that can be heard above the howling and the madness. There is something trying to break free, and in that process of becoming liberated, generated a certain light and clarity. I am not disparaging his later work (I mean, my god, Last Night of the Earth is absolutely mind-blowing) but, as the years pass me by, I like looking at these early poems. I tend to smile more when I read them than I do the later works.
D**K
Short commentary on Bukowski
Bukowski wrote about his reality and he led a real life and it wasn’t a bed of roses. It was full of drunken nights, sex, violence at times, writing, flophouses, getting jobs reading his work when he could, working crappy jobs with little respect, hangovers and the vicious cycle that goes on with it all. Bukowski was also a very talented writer to take what he saw and what some people see every day and turn it into very sharp and real without any gimmicks or come ons in his writing about what his life was really like. Either you get Bukowski and enjoy his writing for what his reality was and how he wrote about it with a sharp and keen eye, or you don’t like Bukowski and you find him distasteful and his reality too lowbrow or crude for your taste in the language he used in some works and in his own sense of reality and how he chose to write about it.
A**S
It’s great!!!
It’s probably my second favorite Bukowski poetry book… Very good! There are a lot of good poems in it. I carry it in my book bag and pull it out if I’m sitting in waiting in the doctors office or if I’m waiting for a client to get to me… I’m so over electronics I typically carry a book or two or a cassette recorder in my bag…*** The cassette recorder is for just taping, random thoughts and ideas or things that are going on in my life at the moment just to try and get away from the digital age.*** I am a child of the 70s so I still like tangible things like books, you can hold. This is a good one!! I will say my favorite Charles Bukowski poetry book is: The last night of the earth poems, that would be my first choice. This one would be my second choice… It’s definitely worth buying or if you know a fan of Charles get this for them for Christmas or if you want to introduce someone to his poetry this is also a good one for that ! Enjoy!
M**T
View Life Objectively
I often feel that attempting to review poetry boarders on pretension. It is impossible to explore the infinite interpretations that accompany each poem; however, this compilation, which includes some of Bukowski's earlier works deserves some words. All too often Bukowski is forced in to a literary box by those who have only read a brief snippet of his work. They see him as a down and out drunk, with a penchant for the written word. They fail to realize the greater depth of his poetry. Yes, Bukowski lived a very hard life, however, the booze and the women and the flophouse rooms also serve as a metaphor, illustrating his far-reaching insight into the world. Through his poems, we see life through jaded eyes. So jaded, in fact, as to prove enlightening. From Bukowski's self-imposed exile from the daily grind, he is able to view the world of man objectively. He is able to gain a realization of the absurdities that all too often dull the lives of many, and in this way, Bukowski brings forth a certain level of enlightenment. Through his work, we too can view life objectively and combat the absurdities that plague us all.
B**E
A drunkard reviews a book of poetry written by a drunkard
The sound of tearing of bubble-wrap packaging open with one's teeth resounded throughout this one's small, sparcely decorated bedroom. I then beheld torn plastic upon the floor and a book of verse within in my hands, even more orange than the very essence of Hod itself. It was a wonderful afternoon. By the time night had come, I'd finished the book. Dawn struck, and I awoke. I'd forgotten the second half of the text. A miracle happened that night. God had granted me thechance to read a portion of the orange book of verse. For the first time. All over again.
B**E
Great book by a legend
Charles is a legend and this is a great book, arrived fast and in good condition
E**A
In all of its glory
Guess it's Bukowski's poetry at its best, the more Bukowski of all that I've read. It's soaked sin beer, and whisky, but there's a glimpse of genius an tenderness all over. It's easy to get to L.A and the blue Volkswagen. Simply Bukowski at his best.
P**E
Wow.
Bukowski was a flawed genius.
K**A
Big Bukowski fan
Another great Bukowski collection - his poetry is straightforward and about life in its every sense - the magic and the mundane. I'm a big fan, but he's often a hit or miss for people because of his style and subject matter.
A**R
His best poetry book
Pithy, gutsy street poetry from Bukowski
M**Z
Excelente compra
Buen libro, llegó un día antes
S**.
Bukowski pur und roh. Leider schlechte Druck- / Papierqualität
Ohne ihn persönlich gekannt zu haben ;) würde ich sagen, dass dieser Sammelband einen echten, rohen Bukowski zeigt. Seine Texte in Prosa sind nicht immer einfach zu lesen, wirken holperig zunächst.. aber man wird feststellen, dass sie eine ungeheure Wucht haben. Einsamkeit, Sehnsucht, Wut, Verzweiflung - oft mit wenigen einfachen, oft dreckigen Worten ausgedrückt. Schön gedacht ist der (wohl originale) Satz der Werke mit teilweise nur einem Wort pro Zeile. Leider ist das Druckbild etwas schmierig und unsauber. Liegt wohl am Recyclingpapier auf dem es gedruckt ist.
R**A
Some great Gems.
Recently Finished this.....Some great Gems .... His early work.... This is where he started so its a good book for hardcore Buck Fans. Not recommended for someone who is going to read him for the first time.
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