HomeGroupsTalkMoreZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.

Results from Google Books

Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.

Pulp by Charles Bukowski
Loading...

Pulp (original 1994; edition 2002)

by Charles Bukowski

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
1,994338,126 (3.57)19
Opening with the exotic Lady Death entering the gumshoe-writer's seedy office in pursuit of a writer named Celine, this novel demonstrates Bukowski's own brand of humour and realism, opening up a landscape of seamy Los Angeles.
Member:Semiramis
Title:Pulp
Authors:Charles Bukowski
Info:Ecco (2002), Edition: 1st Ecco Ed, Paperback, 208 pages
Collections:Your library
Rating:
Tags:None

Work Information

Pulp by Charles Bukowski (1994)

Loading...

Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.

No current Talk conversations about this book.

» See also 19 mentions

English (26)  Italian (2)  Swedish (1)  Dutch (1)  French (1)  Spanish (1)  All languages (32)
Showing 1-5 of 26 (next | show all)
"Pulp" by Charles Bukowski is a detective story (and a sharp departure from his usual autobiographical fiction). It showcases Bukowski's distinctive voice and dark humor while exploring the conventions of the genre. Set in the gritty underbelly of Los Angeles and delivered through a cynical lens, it’s classic noir with a cast of eccentric characters and seedy environments. Bukowski's prose is raw and unapologetic, filled with sharp observations and exacting wit. He skillfully satirizes the tropes of detective fiction while infusing the narrative with his own brand of existential despair. While "Pulp" may not be as revered as Bukowski's more autobiographical works like "Post Office" or "Ham on Rye," it offers a unique glimpse into his versatility as a writer. Fans of Bukowski's gritty realism and dark humor will appreciate this offbeat exploration of the detective genre. ( )
  Andrew.Lafleche | Mar 1, 2024 |
Il voto si riferisce alla traduzione, non al libro.

Ecco quache esempio, con la mia ipotetica ricostruzione dell'originale inglese.

"Sul serio, voglio dire, semplicemente non era leale" (p. 2)
Really, I mean, it just wasn't fair

"Smettila di guardare fisso, per favore" (p. 2)
Please stop staring

Bah :p ( )
  kenshin79 | Jul 25, 2023 |
انگار این کتاب آخرین کتاب چارلز بوکفسکی بوده و حس بیماری و مرگ کتاب در جریان هستش که من راحت نبودم باهاش.
اما بعضی برشای کتاب رو دوست داشتم:

صبر کردیم و صبر کردیم. همه‌مان. آیا دکتر نمی‌دانست یکی از چیزهایی که آدم را دیوانه می‌کند همین انتظارکشیدن است؟ مردم تمام عمرشان انتظار می‌کشیدند. انتظار می‌کشیدند که زندگی کنند، انتظار می‌کشیدند که بمیرند. توی صف انتظار می‌کشیدند تا کاغذتوالت بخرند. توی صف برای پول منتظر می‌ماندند و اگر پولی در کار نبود، سراغ صف‌های درازتر می‌رفتند. صبر می‌کردی که خوابت ببرد و بعد هم صبر می‌کردی تا بیدار شوی. انتظار می‌کشیدی که ازدواج کنی و بعد هم منتظر طلاق‌گرفتن می‌شدی. منتظر باران می‌شدی و بعد هم صبر می‌کردی تا بند بیاید. منتظر غذاخوردن می‌شدی و وقتی سیر می‌شدی باز هم صبر می‌کردی تا نوبت دوباره به خوردن برسد. توی مطبِ روان‌پزشک با بقیه‌ی روانی‌ها انتظار می‌کشیدی و‌ نمی‌دانستی آیا تو هم جزء آنها هستی یا نه. ( )
  Atiyeh | Jan 11, 2023 |
Following my recent trend the next book up had to be fiction and it was a toss up between a few books. Pulp by Charles Bukowski won and so I threw it into my work bag ready to read my first Bukowski book. As is fairly usual for me, I had no prior knowledge of the plot and bought this purely as an introduction to his work.

I guess this book probably falls into the novella category as it is only about 180 pages. I'll start with the things that I enjoyed. I really liked the fact that the story is a very stereotyped private detective story. It really conjures up images of smokey offices, long trench coats, rain soaked streets and beautiful mysterious women. The characters have very fitting names for the kind of story such as Nicky Belane. One thing that really jumped out at me was chapter 10 which consists of the line

"Skip the rest of the day and night here, no action, it's not worth talking about."

I don't know why this stuck in my head but it did. Real life is just like this at times, nothing much happens and it really isn't worth talking about. There are some really crazy things that happen. For example space aliens who can change how they appear to humans feature in the story really unexpectedly.

Despite this the book failed to really grab me. I would love to be able to explain why but I guess its just one of those books that don't work for me. In places I found my attention wandering off what I was reading and I had to really make an effort to concentrate. In the end I thought the book was OK and I shall read some more Bukowski in the future as this hasn't put me off. ( )
  Brian. | Jul 23, 2021 |
The first two-thirds of this book are pretty much hilarious as Bukowski's down-on-his-luck private eye has to deal with Lady Death, a disgruntled landlord, a mortician, space aliens, annoying bar patrons and staff, various tough guys, and a postman who lives down the hall. The last third sort of fizzles out a bit, and the ending is very weird. I can see how some would be annoyed--but don't read this for the story, which is really irrelevant. Read it for Bukowski's hard-boiled attitudes and off-hand comments. Mostly, it's a pleasure. The audiobook I listened to was read in a suitable hard-boiled, sometimes I don't really care attitude, by Christian Baskous. ( )
  datrappert | Feb 25, 2021 |
Showing 1-5 of 26 (next | show all)
no reviews | add a review

Belongs to Publisher Series

You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.
For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.
Canonical title
Original title
Alternative titles
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Related movies
Epigraph
Dedication
Dedicated to bad writing
First words
I was sitting in my office, my lease had expired and McKelvey was starting eviction proceedings.
Quotations
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Original language
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (2)

Opening with the exotic Lady Death entering the gumshoe-writer's seedy office in pursuit of a writer named Celine, this novel demonstrates Bukowski's own brand of humour and realism, opening up a landscape of seamy Los Angeles.

No library descriptions found.

Book description
Depresso, appesantito da una pancia ingombrante, il conto in rosso, i creditori sempre alle porte, tre matrimoni alla spalle, Nick Belane è un detective, "il più dritto detective di Los Angeles". Bukowski gioca con un vecchio stereotipo e vi aggiunge la sua filosofia di lucido beone, il suo esistenzialismo da taverna e un pizzico di cupa, autentica disperazione. I bar, le episodiche considerazioni sul destino, il cinismo, l'ormai sbiadito demone del sesso, il fallimento professioale ed esistenziale, insieme alle mere invenzioni narrative, diventano il "pulp" ('pasticcio') del titolo. Lontano dalle atmosfere tenebrose delle ordinarie follie, un piccolo capolavoro d'ironia, il testamento spirituale di un grande scrittore che non ha mai esitato a immergersi nel degrado della società contemporanea.
Haiku summary

Current Discussions

None

Popular covers

Quick Links

Rating

Average: (3.57)
0.5 1
1 9
1.5 5
2 48
2.5 19
3 135
3.5 34
4 159
4.5 7
5 96

Is this you?

Become a LibraryThing Author.

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 203,209,973 books! | Top bar: Always visible