post office: A Novel (1971)

Don't get the Bukowskistas, nor their figurehead. ( )

In Post Office we find a lovable loser, an always autobiographical Bukowski dressed up thinly as a fictional man. He rarely does anything amazing, or faces external challenges which would inspire a reader to think "aha, interesting premise!" But what makes Bukowski so entertaining to generations of readers is his continual ability to look at the world with an eternal outsider's eye, and the ability to slip in an amazingly astute observation when you least expect. There's so much you could dislike, or henpeck about his writing, but it's overwhelmed easily by the unexpected brilliance, and won over just as the people he runs into are: by his wonderful charm. I'm being honest, this is a three-star book. But it's the best three star book you'll ever read. ( )

I’m more interested in Bukowski’s poetry than his prose. This is one of the first books I read by him, so it was interesting to reread it now. It remains entertaining, but comes off as fairly shallow. And the tone is unusual too – more farcical than we’re used to. Obviously the Fante influence is strong, but without Fante’s counterpoints of vulnerability and self-analysis (and Fante is just plain funnier). I think Ham on Rye is the only straight-up really good Bukowski novel. ( )

Bukowski sustained 11 years of "hell" and wrote a novel about it. The novel assuredly shows us that he has some sense of drive and backbone, but all the rest just shows an obsession with self and idiocy. Is it more of a joke that Bukowski wrote a novel about his horrible 11 years or that he actually let himself live through them? The more I read him, the more I like his poetry better than his novels; however, there is something about his prose that keeps me reading through his works. ( )

I liked this book very easy to read.
This is the story of Hank Chinaski a bit of a deadbeat who enjoys betting at the race track, drinking and loose women. He also works at the US post office to earn some money. Some of the tales made me laugh as I have in the past done some dead end jobs and dealt with silly bosses. ( )