Customer Reviews

Run With the Hunted Pb

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
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I am not going to go over the contents of the book, or much about Charles Bukowski, because if you are considering this book you must know something about the man and his work. I will just give you my impression of this collection of work.
No collection can ever really be complete, there are always new things to add, new commentary, newly discovered works, transcripts of records and unpublished letters, but this book does an excellent job in its attempt.
To me Charles Bukowski will always be one of the greatest American writers of the twentieth century, because of the sheer brutality and honesty his work emanates. It is funny, sad, sadistic, cruel, scathing, enlightening and thought provoking. Everything I like to read. This is poetry for people who are disgusted by verse of flowers, trees and Greek mythology. This is RAW human emotion and experience smeared out onto paper. It is not perfect, and it is not trying to be. It doesn't always work, but there in lies the subtle beauty of Bukowski's efforts. the guts to try. The attempts at honesty, clearly blocked by his unwillingness to divulge everything, and his cynicism of man.
This collection is shocking in its beauty, and inspiring by its simplicity. Enjoy.

To a kid growing up in a small town in Norway, Bukowski was definitely a voice from another reality. In many ways, his prose and poetry showed that the bums and the lowlifes - in other words; the hunted - actually had a voice, and a strong one at that... The greatness of Bukowski lies in his ability to tell extremely complex stories in a straightforward, deceptively simple language and style. The poetry is also very sharp and precise. Whatever the man did to himself with regard to drink and drugs; it never took away a smattering of his ability to observe the human predicament in all its glory - or terror, depending on whom you might ask... This 'reader' is a good place to start for anybody who would like to get acquainted with Bukowski's work. It contains poems and stories that stay on the reader's mind for a long time. The writings are also a reminder that no matter how hard a person might believe in the American dream, the dream doesn't work for everybody.

This recording is a MUST for all those, like myself, who regard Bukowski as the one true voice of the fringe-dwelling dispossesed. People focus on his hard-drinking, his 'bum-like' persona, but what makes him remarkable is how his fiction and poetry reflects REALITY: the 'failure' and humiliation of being an artist (and essentially voiceless) in America. I listened to this recording with friends -- and we all agreed that it captures the man.

Also recommended: ... Run With the Hunted, Post Office, Ham on Rye, Factotum, Women by Buk, The Losers' Club by Richard Perez

This double CD is a total joy! Quintessential Bukowski - there's nothing like hearing poems read by the author, I think, especially with him.

There's two CD's, poems interspersed with conversations with the people doing the recording. The only drawback could be that all of the recordings were done in a room with only a few people there, so there's an odd lack of feeling, the buzz you normally get in a live recording. Bukowski was also almost reluctant at times to read, but at the same time, the stillness in the background frames his voice and the work perfectly somehow. He warms up as it goes on, and as they have a few more drinks, and even reads a short story, which is brilliant.

There's some great photos of him in the booklet; no printed poems, but the sound quality is excellent, so you can hear every word.

If you're a fan, get it! If you want an introduction to Bukowski, get it!

A friend gave me a beat-up copy of this book last year and said I would like it. After reading one of the brutal stories of Charles' childhood (the one where he and his friends nearly hang a boy to death), I knew that I had discovered something. Charles Bukowski has since become my favorite writer, and this is the best intro one can have to this great man's work. I have been impressed (and occasionally amazed) at every piece of work Charles has ever written, from his memorable, deep poetry (that is completely free of pretension) or his poignant stories that reveal just as much of me as they do of him.

I can think of several reasons to recommend this collection, and at least two to recommend staying away from it. Call it a five star review with warning labels.

John Martin, Bukowski's longtime editor, assembled this collection so that the subject matter is in chronological order, no matter what age Bukowski was when he wrote it. Since so much of his work is either memoir or thinly disguised stories from his life, the resulting effect, with its mixture of memoir, poetry, and fiction, is a masterful, almost avant guarde, autobiography. The selections are short, but are far more attention grabbing than a conventional biography.

I thought the arrangement of the material notable too. First memoir, then two or three poems, then fiction, and so on and so on. If the poetry had been collected in its own section, I would have skipped over most of it. Instead, I could concentrate long enough on a couple selections to find I enjoyed it far more than I would have guessed.

It's difficult for me to differentiate between Charles Bukowski's life, and his work. It almost seems as though his life was his life's work, as strange as that may sound. His writing is taken directly from his experiences; in clear, simple prose, he unsparingly describes himself and the world around him, and then, with startling clarity, springs his insights on the reader. An example would be the title of this review, which is Bukowski's thoughts after discovering alcohol. After reading it, my thoughts were, "Yes, yes, this is how it is."

The danger in Charles Bukowski's works is assuming that his experiences led to his insights, which eventually led to his success. Or better yet, that his methods might work for anyone. I made that assumption for many years before I found out different. This is why I would not recommend this or any other Bukowski work unreservedly. Though I do not believe Bukowski himself would have advocated his lifestyle to anyone, by it's very nature it could be attractive to some who may not be aware of the titanic amount of effort it must have took for him to both live and write - it's that powerful. It is also brutal. That is the other reason I hesitate before recommending. It is sure to offend.

Finally, I wonder what Bukowski would think of the reviews of his work posted on this site (including mine). I have to believe he would laugh.

Recommended, with caveats.

Bukowski is merciless. He can be quite cruel. He is a neutron bomb who destroys fantasy and make believe and leaves behind empty unadorned buildings. Like really rough scotch or bourbon, he can only be read in doses. In fact, his writing is an acquired taste. If don't want to see into the core reality of life, do not buy, let alone read his books. But if you are into honesty and courage and already know that no good deed ever goes unpunished, please enjoy. Bukowski's works are an affirmation of reality. Hobbes would love him. Ohm.

Heard about Buk and don't know where to start? This is the place. A great selection from his novels, short stories, and mainly, poems. The book is edited wonderfully and it reads like a continuous book. A great week awaits you if you are reading Bukowski for the first time, and will probably want many of his books after reading this one.

I bought this book as a present to a friend while I was on a trip, but after reading it I decided to keep it.

A few problems: there is no table of contents and you dont know from what books the poems are taken.

Ive read most of Bukowski's work - Women, Post Office, Pulp, etc. - and loved the reality of the writing.

This CD brings Bukowski closer to us than ever before. Its sometimes hard to hear - as it was recorded in is home - but that's the point. Its almost as if you've invited Hank over - sat him down - and asked him to read a few poems. He fumbles sometimes, you hear him drinking, smoking, and talking - and it feels like hes talking right at you. Telling you about John Fante - telling you about when he writes - and how he feels when hes not writing.. and then he takes another hit off his beer.

For any fan of Bukowski - this CD will become essential. This is the first time I ever felt like I knew the read Bukowski - behind the drunk facade - a sensitive writer in love with his wife, and his life, and the art of putting pen to paper.

Excellent CD. Thanks for putting it in print.

I listen to this tape on long car rides. It's not as good as Hostage, but then again it's different. Bukowski is eerily calm reading this, and the stories, such as Emily Bikowski, about his first memory and his relationships with his family touch the heart, especially the ones anout his father because, like mine, his father is military, and thinks in a way that is almost the complete opposite of Hank. Pick it up, but don't expect to be amazed.