Absolutely loved it!!
This is an interesting novel published in 1978. It is about a writer in his 50's that has acheived a sort of celebrity as a writer, poet, alcoholic and womanizer. It makes you wonder if this is what Charles Bukowsi's life was like at that time. If it was, he was having a lot of fun! The main character, Henry, is an average guy with the ability to write, give poerty readings and bed many beautiful young women. There is a lot of graphic gratuitous sex in the novel, which I enjoyed immensly. Henry is honest with the women he beds about his conquests. It is interesting because I did not realize that people were that open about sex during that time. Apparently not much has changed since 1978.
I enjoyed this novel. Though it's thick, I found it an easy read, the type of book that I could dip into at any time. The structure of this novel is odd or unconventional in that at first it seems repetitive, this happens then that, with women enteri ...more I enjoyed this novel. Though it's thick, I found it an easy read, the type of book that I could dip into at any time. The structure of this novel is odd or unconventional in that at first it seems repetitive, this happens then that, with women entering and leaving his life. But somehow you grow used to it. It's almost like a compilation of episodes that often don't lead anywhere but allow you to understand the protagonist who's obviously Bukowski. I'll say it's pretty funny too. Bukowski's sense of humor is blunt and often dirty, which I kind of appreciate. In a way I was reminded me of another recent novel I read, Permanent Obscurity by Richard Perez. Both books have a raw and ugly style, both quite funny. Bukowski's Women ends with Henry, the main character losing control a little. The portrait is deadly honest, and I know a lot of people who might consider him an A-hole, but that's exactly why he's interesting: you don't often see his kind in fiction. Bukowski does nothing to cover up the fact that he's a bit of a monster. So the end result is a realistic portrait. Anyway, I enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to others.
