Tales of Ordinary Madness

Short stories are often fun to read, especially when they have some rather “border-line” content matter.  This was certainly the case with Charles Bukowski’s Tales of Ordinary Madness.  To give you a little about Bukowski, just read what Time magazine stated about the author:  “Bukowski, a laureate of American lowlife”...  and so it goes in his book of short stories.  One could smile, laugh, get enraged, or close the book quickly.  For me, Bukowski is providing an autobiographical view of his low level of esteem as a person by turning to alcohol, seemingly incapable of being sober when sharing his writings.  This is best exemplified in a few of his stories where he served as a guest speaker on the circuit and got so intoxicated he vomited moments before he was to be televised for one such session.  Bukowski shares his thoughts about the superficiality of Los Angeles, where he lived during this time.  He also characterizes work as “something he is forced to do when he needs money,” but when he has money he has no intention to work, as he shares in his story about quitting the meat packing factory or when he is invited to be a writer for a magazine and then has no intention of working hard. Bukowski, in many ways, is clearly addicted to sex and alcohol.  His continual close-line between sex and rape were a real turn-off for me and were some of the most forgettable parts of his stories.  I can only imagine how difficult it is to be a writer, especially when it appears you aren’t inspired to be one, or you don’t feel you have the abilities to do so well.  Crude, lewd, and at times on the verge of brilliance, Bukowski crosses lines without thought.  He often likes to describe his approach to woman and the act of physical engagement with any women.  I guess being in the 1960s, Bukowski captures a time in our history where licentiousness is common place.  I did really like his short story on people who annoy you and how he handled it, awesome!  Many of the other stories, not my idea of enthralling writing.  To each his own…  if you read one of the shorts (5-6 pages long, you have read them all), very repetitive!