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Charles Bukowski

Betting on the Muse Paperback – May 31, 2002

by Charles Bukowski (Author)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A perfect accompaniment to Bukowski's letters, this collection of BOTH stories and poems gives you more bang for the buck -- a whopping 402 pages of Bukowski's unique voice. He can spin you a yarn with his story or poem just like he's sitting there having a beer with you. A classic American writer who'll bet his bottom dollar on the working stiff and the tough times -- his Muses -- using the language of a true visionary. If you haven't read Bukowski, isn't it time you started?

Review

Poems and stories by Bukowski need little introduction for any already involved in the poetry scene: Bukowski's a well-known literary figure and this latest collection is typical of his talents and ability to texture a fine layer of poems and writings observing both inner and outer worlds. -- Midwest Book Review

Item Weight : 14.7 ounces
Paperback : 416 pages
ISBN-10 : 1574230018
ISBN-13 : 978-1574230017
Publisher : Ecco (May 31, 2002)
Product Dimensions : 5.88 x 1.04 x 8.94 inches
Language: : English

Best-sellers rank #262,183 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
#1,384 in American Poetry (Books)

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49 ratings

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This is the one I recommend

Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2013

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For people who are hesitant to Bukowski, or even poetry itself, I tend to recommend this collection more than Love is a Dog From Hell or the one that I first read The Days Run Away Like Wild Horses . While the prose doesn't get me excited usually, the poetry here covers my favorite Bukowski period. Well worth checking out if you are curious, then I'd suggest those above or even the final collection released before he died The Last Night of the Earth Poems .

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Kirk Alex

don't bet on this one

Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2002

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I have been reading Bukowski for 25 years now--and I can honestly say this is not very good here at all. Maybe 5 to 10 percent has merit and is worth reading--and the rest? Babble, gibberish, flat. Mind you, this is not easy for a Buk fan to admit--but the way it is. I bought it cheap so I don't really regret getting it. But if you're looking for great writing, great poetry you won't find it here.
If you're looking for excellent Buk prose try Notes of a Dirty Old Man, Erections, Ejaculations, Exhibitions and General Tales of Ordinary Madness (broken down into two volumes and titled something else, from City Lights) Factotum, South of No North--even Hollywood. Living On Luck worked for me as well, so did Screams From the Balcony (letter collections, etc.) As far as his poetry? As someone else stated: the early or middle stuff. Septuagenerian Stew (stories and poems) isn't very good either. Could be one reason why Martin decided to sell the store.
The problem with Buk's later stuff is just this, I believe, he liked to say that writing was too easy for him, that there was nothing to it--and that what he produced was all good stuff. Well, as any writer knows, if it's that easy and you think everything you write is terrific, it very often means just the opposite.
I believe his publisher continued to publish the Buk's stuff because he was THE BUK, and we understand that.
My conclusion regarding Bukowski's work is just this: a third of his output is truly great and original, a third is fair--and the rest is blatantly bad, just too awaful to have any meaning or worth reading. And yet, having said that, as terrible as it may sound to the diehard Buk fan, I maintain it is a great compliment to the man, because the third that is good will forever keep him up there at the very top of the best writers ever. So, please don't despair because not everything he wrote isn't gold--it can't be. Nobody is that good; nobody can be. Buk was human and had his limitations.

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junita ries-brown

Poetry and essays

Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2019

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Very thought provoking

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pamela javid haymes

great book.

Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2019

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the author is fantastic

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Al Singh

Pure gold

Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2014

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This is some of the great man's best stuff. Bukowski may be right: life may be nothing but a two-bit hustle, but most of us don't even get two bits out of it, and Bukowski got literary solid gold. Bukowski, wherever you are, champ, I hope you are enjoying your posthumous laurels.

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Albert

Bukowski's best in my opinion

Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2016

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My favorite collection of Bukowski poems. They show heart & emotion, something that is hidden behind the booze & women in his other poems. Highly recommend.

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Ramon Rodriguez

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2017

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A must read for Bukowski fans!

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Heather Elliott

Pure Bukowski perfection

Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2015

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One of my favorite poetry books. Delivery as promised and in mint condition. Communicated with me every move along the way. Much appreciated. Thank you.

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Charles Bukowski – Betting on the Muse | Review

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 17, 2014

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Betting on the Muse sees Charles Bukowski return from the dead with a collection of poems and stories which he left behind to be published after his death – it’s good to know that the great writer planned ahead and left instructions about what was to be done with his work after his inevitable demise. In many ways, it’s a miracle that he lived as long as he did, what with the booze and the women and the horses.

Bukowski is famed for his unique voice and for his alcoholic lifestyle, and both of these are well-represented here – while the poet was nearing the end of his life when he wrote much of the material for this collection, he still reflects upon some of the crazy goings on earlier in his life. ‘Reflects’ is the right word to use, too – the older, wiser Bukowski has mellowed out, and his work is much more pensive here than it was when he first started out.

This collection also contains one of my favourite Bukowski poems, one which was once read by Tom Waits – The Laughing Heart. I love the poem so much that I sampled Waits’ recording in to one of my songs, ‘Kinda Lazy‘ – “Your life is your life, don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.”

Of course, the beauty of Bukowski’s writing is that the prose is just as good as the poetry, and here we’re given a good selection of both – in fact, it’s weaved together masterfully, and it’s a joy to see how he uses words to convey a story, whether we’re seeing a glimpse of his own life through the eyes of his alter ego Hank Chinaski or whether we’re watching an argument between Harry and Diana about the “piss and s*** all over the floor.”

That’s one of the many reasons why I love to read Bukowski – he had a knack for capturing characters that few other writers have been able to replicate. With just a couple of lines of dialogue, he could tell us more about a character than many could say with a chapter. In fact, his characters often seem more real than you and I, and perhaps even more real than the great writer was himself. What’s not for you to like?

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Fred

Great book that is

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 20, 2016

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Yeah surprisingly good. The old man still
Had some stuff to tell
Me. Very important things. I cannot believe that some stuff in there was not published when he was alive. Some of the words are some the best he has ever written, some of the best anybody has ever written. Such as "if you're unkind to yourself, you will
Know no worse and deserve no better" I can't stop repeating these words and Everytime they appear more powerful. And that's truly astonishing what this old man has been able to write for us.

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Henry Dark

Enjoyable collection of poems and short stories

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 27, 2016

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An enjoyable collection of his later poems and a few short stories too. It's good but his earlier work such as 'Love is a Dog From Hell' is to my mind better than this. If you are new to Bukowski then this is a good introduction as you get both the prose and poetry in one go.

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Opusmalone

Just read it and make up your own mind. ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 30, 2017

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Just read it and make up your own mind. What is clear is that his writing is clearly imbued with real attitude.

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Evie's mamma

Three Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 30, 2016

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arrived with bent cover and looking pretty shabby

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Raj singh arora

Bad title.... Good Book.

Reviewed in India on March 19, 2019

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A Posthumous collection of his poems & very Good. Better than the reviews you will read.

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Phil-Don

Entre poésie et supercherie

Reviewed in France on May 31, 2009

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"Betting on the Muse" regroupe des poèmes de Bukowski et quelques nouvelles. De poème en poème les thèmes sont les mêmes: le sexe, l'alcool, la cigarette, les courses, le manque d'argent, le métier d'écrivain. On ne cotoie que des personnages pathétiques: des ivrognes, des chômeurs, des prostituées, des paumés en tous genres. Une poésie riche aurait pu fleurir sur ce terreau. Malheureusement, trop souvent, les poèmes donnent l'impression de phrases banales qui ont été déstructurées pour donner l'illusion d'une forme poétique en vers libres. Et le contenu ne vaut guère mieux: des propos d'ivrogne au langage parfois cru et qui écrit ce qui lui passe par la tête. Dans certains textes, Bukowski revendique même l'imposture de son écriture! A côté du grand nombre de textes faciles (et sans intérêt), il y a cependant des poèmes plus travaillés et véritablement poétiques et qui valent la peine d'être lus. Mais ce n'est qu'une minorité.

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santiago

mal estado

Reviewed in Mexico on March 26, 2020

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Si compras un libro nuevo se esperas que este en buen estado. llego super sucio con la portada un poco doblada.

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joaquin luque zambrana

Qué joya

Reviewed in Spain on November 7, 2014

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Es oro literario, con una fuerza filosofica que te renueva entero. Bukowski llegó al fondo de la condicion humana. Chapó.

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Ladychild

Betting on the Muse

Reviewed in France on January 21, 2013

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Betting on the Muse is the way to go...
Bukowski at his best! Amazing how beautifully written the refusal of death and getting old can be*

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