Charles Bukowski a Sure Bet [Hardcover]

Gerald Locklin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1995

A collection of essays, memoirs, and reviews about the life and work of writer and friend, Charles Bukowski. Cover art by R. Crumb. In this collection, Gerald Locklin shares some key Bukowski moments - meeting Bukowski, attending the premier of the film Barfly with Bukowski, a first-hand account of Bukowski's funeral, and more.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Gerald Locklin is a professor of American Literature at California State University at Long Beach. He was the first academic to bring Charles Bukowski to a university to read his poetry. Gerald Locklin was a friend of Charles Bukowski for over twenty years.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 72 pages
• Publisher: Water Row Books; 1St Edition edition (December 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0934953430
• ISBN-13: 978-0934953436
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,723,429 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A collection of previously published rather predictable, January 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Charles Bukowski: A Sure Bet (Hardcover)

This thin volume has nothing new from Locklin. He treats Bukowski so gently you might think Buk a fragile fairy godmother type if you didn't know of him previously. This book is obviously printed to make a buck and toadies to Sir Mammon.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Back off on Gerry, pal., November 22, 2005

By 

Edward Kane - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Charles Bukowski a Sure Bet (Hardcover)

Who is S.Dahi to call Gerald Locklin a hack? Who is S.Dahi at all? Gerald Locklin is a respected and well-published poet, and this book is a nice remembrance of Bukowski from a friend and colleague. It is fair to note that the volume is slender and that some of the material has been previously published, but it's still pretty good.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two Poets, December 3, 2000

By 

Joyce Metzger (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Charles Bukowski a Sure Bet (Hardcover)

Charles Bukowski, Gerald Locklin, two almost household names in the poetry small press. Who came first? Why does it matter? Each was, or is, unique in his approach to the written word. Bukowski liked to drink, to play the horses, to write, but that was not the totality of the poet or the man. Readers seems to expect miracles from authors/poets and artists. The truth is through, and under, all that talent lies the human persona which colors their work. One can be a slacker who boozes, but has a way with words, the other can be a University professor for over 20 years, is dedicated to teaching youthful minds while still trying to pursue his own writing talents and muse. Poets and writers are not always bosom friends, not always drinking buddies, but on occasion, they meet, light a few fires, share a few incidences, then go along their own pathways. Bukowski and Locklin were like that...their paths crossed. Gerald Locklin tells his tale through poems and short essays. This is a gem. This is history in the small poetry press. This book is life and those who buy, then read Charles Bukowski: A Sure Bet by Gerald Locklin with an open, receptive mind will mine word-gems. Though I am a book and periodical publisher, and an editor, I am certainly willing to buy Locklin's books. They are a treasured part of my own library. Thanks, Gerald, for a very good read!