Book Review: WOMEN

Charles Bukowski has long been one of my favorite writers, and this is easily his best book. Although he was primarily known as a poet (having published twenty-odd volumes in his lifetime, and several posthumously,) he occasionally wrote semi-autobiographical novels (HAM ON RYE, POST OFFICE, and FACTOTUM, to name a few) In his novels, Bukowski's alter-ego is Hank Chinaski, a brash, brawling, womanizing drunk, and WOMEN details Hank's various dealings with--you guessed it--women. More specifically, women who are frequently drunk, jealous, crazy, or a charming combination of all three.

Now, while this may not seem like any great shakes as far as reading material goes, it is just the opposite: WOMEN is not only one of the funniest books I have ever read, it is written with both grace and bravado, like an overweight ballet dancer performing drunken pirouettes. Bukowski's writing is a beer gut with the six-pack showing through: heavy and swinging, but also lean and efficient. He writes about drunks and lunatics with true affection, and draws you willingly into a world of drinking, gambling, and screwing that most of us wouldn't dream of touching with a ten-foot pole. However, there is a core of vulnerability to Chinaksi, and an awareness of his own shortcomings that makes him understandable, if not always likeable. Coupled with this is an incredibly sharp and self-mocking sense of humor which prevents the novel from becoming prurient (or at least keeps it from being merely vulgar). WOMEN is not for the prudish or easily offended, but if you're willing to take a chance, it's well worth it.