The Bukowski question...what is the FIRST book I should read, the definitive work?

[Miles Archer]

As an example, if someone asked "Which Raymond Chandler book should I read first," I'd say "The Big Sleep." Not because it's his first book, just because it's widely recognized as one of his best. I've read them all, and my personal favorite is the novella "Red Wind."

I don't want to start off with Bukowski "finding his voice," I want to start off with the book where his voice is in full roar, where he's at the peak of his powers.

So which book would that be?

[Orrex]

1. Do you want prose or poetry?

South of No North is a terrific overview of his short fiction, even if some of it is wildly out of step with modern sensibilities.

I'm not a great reader of poetry, so I'll let others answer that part.

[PufPuf23]

2. I have read all the Bukowski novels.

My favorites novels are Post Office (his first novel but well into writing career) and Ham on Rye.

Both are autobiographical as are all of Bukowski's novels and these IMHO are the best reads.

Hollywood is interesting because it is a fictionalization of the making of the movie Barfly and the characters are mostly fictions of actors in the film and other Hollywood-type people met by Bukowski.

My favorite Bukowski poetry book is Sifting through the Madness for the Word the Line the Way but I have only read a small portion of his poetry and short stories.

Chandler was a true master and had no where the breadth nor output of Bukowski. Writers ever since have been writing Chandler
novels.

[Miles Archer]

3. Thank you

I also agree with you regarding Chandler. There's something about his writing that invites writing in his style, and while others have done it, they've never surpassed him. I see Bukowski as more of a force of nature. A person couldn't "write a Bukowski" book and they would look foolish of they tried.

[NNadir]

4. Rather than read any of them, I would recommend just getting really, really, really...

...drunk.

If you throw up, that would be even better, at least if you want to get a good idea of Bukowski.

[bluedigger]

5. Like most artists, his themes changed over his life, but he never developed.

His voice is there from the beginning in full throat.

Love is a Dog from Hell is one of my favorite collections of his work.