3.5

Here's something you won't find in any other Charles Bukowski book: pretension. I thought his father had beaten it out of him, but it must be that he had to develop his voice. So what we have here is not just uncut diamonds but hints at directions Bukowski could have taken instead of the one he did. Sadly his verse isn't as inspiring at this stage but his talents are present and accounted for. A few of these poems are classics and I've even heard him reading one of them. But you don't get the plain spoken with this book, you don't get the characters who all talk with attitude like they came straight out of an old movie, you don't get the tales as much, and instead you get imagery, which in his hands works fine although in my evaluation it's sub-Neruda. ( )

This is my favorite collection of Bukowski's poems. Read it all at once, read it in pieces, read it drunk, re-read sober, read it outside, inside, in the rain, in the tub, with classical music playing or don't read it at all and just stare at the cover. ( )

Excellent book of poetry. Bukowski is one of my favourite 20th century poets.

Colección de poemas de la etapa en la que Bubowski aún no se dedicaba profesionalmente a la escritura y sobrevivía de mala manera. Interesante pero no es su mejor trabajo. ( )