Rating: 
Summary: stupid
Review: As a mail carrier I found the first 30 pages of the book, where he gives stories of his terrible experiences as a mail carrier, to be the funniest and most enjoyable think I've ever read.
After the begining, it goes downhill fast. It makes little sense, and Bkowski makes no attempt to make sense of it. The scenes are disjointed and have little to do with each other. There is no sense of drama, and while whatever humor is used is fantastic, there is not enough of it.The theme that people read into the book, about how terrible it is for this guy to waste his life away at such a bad job, is something that people read into the book. Since this guy's ideal way to live is to waste all his time drinking, and wasting time, his work at the post office doesn't take away from any living that he may do. It's also annoying that no reason is given why he's working at the post office. I know this book is not plot driven, but enough plot should be given so there is some continunity. But mostly, the scenes are not interesting.
Rating: 
Summary: Post Office-first class mail in third class delivery
Review: I bought this book cheap as a hardcover.
I too work as a public servant.
It had me from the oath of office.
It walked me through a land of the unfamiliar to the uncofortable similar.
If you work in the governent, you should read this book.
If you work is boring and with the boring, you should pick it up.
If you don't work at all you should read it.
Charles Bukowski keeps my solitude at bay.
He never suffered with flowers or icing or the A/C.
Oh pick up Women too.
Rating:
Summary: A nightmarish look at the postal service
Review: Charles Bukowski's novel "Post Office" is the first-person account of Henry Chinaski, a hard-drinking gambler and womanizer who goes to work for the United States Postal Service in Los Angeles. The story follows his experiences at the post office, weaving them together with his accounts of romantic affairs, sexual encounters, drinking, and gambling. Chinaski's life is full of encounters with various unsavory, tragic, or ridiculous characters. "Post Office" is the ultimate "I hate this job" story. It's also an intriguing, and highly unflattering look at a quintessential American institution. Bukowski's prose style is crude, rude, and raw; often very funny, sometimes shocking, and sometimes poignant. But always highly readable. Bukowski effectively evokes a vision of a mind-numbing, soul-killing workplace that is ruled by a petty bureaucracy. On one level, "Post Office" seems to have much in common with a classic "social protest" novel like Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle," which also portrays the suffering and degradation experienced by the working person. But ultimately, "Post Office" seems like another species of novel altogether. Bukowski tells his story in a matter-of-fact style; he doesn't seem to care about offending or impressing anyone, and seems to offer no social agenda. He just tells it like it is. A fascinating book by an author who, I increasingly believe, is truly in a class all his own.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining
Review: This was a good book, but it's value lay in clean, crisp writing and its entertainment value. it's a very light read. I read this when i could no longer stomach the more serious non-fiction i was read. but i kept reading! reading bukowski. i can't help comparing him to Fante, a comparison which leads me to my only critisism. Bukowski seems to disregard any didactic mission for a novelist, which is fine. but, knowing his love for fante, i think that in some sense he tries to emmulate him. but he just doesn't capture the emotion that fante does. who knows, maybe he just isn't emtional. and i also get the impression that he leaves imprtant details out. for example, it must be 3 times in this book that all of the sudden his woman decides to leave him. he doesn't tell what events led up to this. anyway, these are mere trifles of complaints. the book was a good book, taken for what it is, a light and entertaining read, well written and concise.
Rating:
Summary: Raising working class banality to new heights!
Review: This book was hysterical! One of the best aspects of it is the author's completely unabashed HONESTY. I think it's quite easy to write an interesting book about Nazi Germany, slavery, mythical beasts, or even love. These are poignant and fascinating subjects in and of themselves. But to write a book about being a ....., drunk who works at a Post Office part time AND make it engaging, entertaining, and downright funny...THAT, in my opinion, is great writing!
Rating:
Summary: voice from the trash
Review: This book was so entertaining that I read it all in one sitting. It was like watching a fast and funny comedy. This book is not profound in any way but not all books need to be like that!! We all need simple entertainment from time to time to get our minds off of reality, and this book does just that! I respect Bukowski as he tells us stories for the "underworld", where people never care to shine any spotlight upon. His books tell us the obvious fact that not all people are living a glamorous life. It's simple and plain real.
Rating:
Summary: Funny, But Not Profound
Review: Mr. Bukowski is an excellent writer and Post Office will keep you entertained. It is a very easy to read book and flows quickly from begining to end (I read it in about 2 1/2 hours). The point of view is very realistic. So real, as a matter of fact, that you can almost smell the booze on the main characters breath after a night of binge-drinking. I don't know that this book offers any profound insights into life, however. I think that it is better appreciated for what it appears to be on the surface: a laconic editorial written by a cynical, though happy, man.
Rating:
Summary: Bukowski's Classic Novel
Review: This is the one, the book that launched Bukowski beyond small press cultdom, the book that launched Black Sparrow past its humble position in the publishing world, and its the book that to this day still initiates readers into the wild, wild realm of Henry Chinaski. This is the first Buk book I ever read, and remains my all time favorite. Is it his best book? No, my vote would go to HAM ON RYE for that, but it is, in my opinion, his wildest and most fun read of all! Along with CATCHER IN THE RYE, CATCH 22, and SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE, POST OFFICE should be regarded, and taught, as a CLASSIC American comic masterpiece! Kudos to any high school lit teacher or college prof with the balls to make this book required reading. If you've never read Bukowski, this is the place to start. If you've read all of Bukowski, and there are many of you out there, read this one again...just for the hell of it. Why not?
Rating:
Summary: Bukowski at his best
Review: This is my favorite Bukowski novel. It's so funny how he describes a job he hates. We've all been in similar situations and have to laugh at how Chinaski deals with them. Ham on Rye and Women are also great novels, but this one I feel is even better.
Rating:
Summary: Skid Row Laureate
Review: If you're tired of reading boring books about a "good" guy who has everything in his life straight then Buk is for you. He shows how the other half lives. How the drunks and the bums make it from day to day...scratching out the days working jobs they hate (like the post office) just so that they may have enough money to do what they want...in Buk's opinion that was beer and women...A great great book by him. Probably the easiest book to read that he wrote. Buy it and enjoy it. But remember when you step into Henry Chinaski's world you're stuck forever.
|
