Post Office by Charles Bukowski
“It began as a mistake.” By middle age, Henry Chinaski has lost more than twelve years of his life to the U.S. Postal Service. In a world where his three true, bitter pleasures are women, booze, and racetrack betting, he somehow drags his hangover out of bed every dawn to lug waterlogged mailbags up mud-soaked mountains, outsmart vicious guard dogs, and pray to survive the day-to-day trials of sadistic bosses and certifiable coworkers. This classic 1971 novel—the one that catapulted its author to national fame—is the perfect introduction to the grimly hysterical world of legendary writer, poet, and Dirty Old Man Charles Bukowski and his fictional alter ego, Chinaski. (Source: amazon.com)
I suggest adding this as an optional book. Two reasons: 1) It’s really short. 2) It’s not “fine” literature. It’s raw, it’s explicit, it might offend people’s sense for aesthetics. But in my opinion it’s a most entertaining, well drawn picture of an existing part of american society - now and then. Personally, I will read the other Chinaski books as well. Chinaski is so unlike myself, but Bukowski succeeds in making me feel with Chinaski every minute of his life and even liking him a bit from time to time.
First suggested: November 2013 (Simon)
No online votes – this one was a quick decision at the last meeting, let’s see how we like it!