Mickey Z

Cool Observer

Posted by Mickey Z on 03/25 at 05:24 AM

Survivor’s poetry.

I’m not sure I can explain what I mean by that. I have a friend who writes poetry and I have as just much difficulty getting what his evokes into some form for communication.

Posted by Harry on from 03/25 at 08:13 PM

Sounds good Mickey,
Where would you suggest the uninitiated start with his work? Some clarity is always welcome.

Posted by declan delgado on from dublin 03/26 at 07:45 AM

I’d suggest starting with his fiction. His first novel is “Post Office” or you can try some short fiction collections like “Hot Water Music” or “Life & Death in the Charity Ward.” Another interesting choice would be “Screams from the Balcony,” collected letters from the 50s and 60s...right up to the day he quits work forever to become a full-time writer.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from 03/26 at 08:30 AM

Really enjoyed Post Office. There is a lot to be said for simplicity of prose. Valuing the message over the Possibility of self serving style. There is something of Amererica in the story of G.G. Wouldn’t happen in Ireland I feel; too small, a sense of general community, common worth, survives here. In The expanses of America, perhaps in many ways this has been lost; especially in Federal service. Then the bald honesty of Chinaski’s feelings for the man: “I wasn’t particularly fond of the man. His life hadn’t been a brave one, and he had turned out to be a hunk of shit more or less. But each time he faltered something tugged at me.”. Amazing really how many authors I still must discover and read. I go up to the guy in the bookshop, and say I’m looking for books by a guy named Bukowski, and he looks at me like I have two heads and says “you mean Charles Bukowski?”. Cheers Mickey.Lets see what else is in the bookshop.

Posted by declan on from dublin town 03/27 at 08:40 AM

Nice, thanks Mickey. On the easily pleased public. It’s an interesting position buk inhabits in relation. Standing outside of it, apart, unrelated. Reminds me of that Marx quote: wouldn’t join any club that would have me as a member. (groucho not karl). I know he’s not saying this but it comes to mind as a possible inference. At certain points, a public conscience demanding of more does seem to have been formed, (closing years of vietnam). Perhaps a time when those controlling the flow of information lost control to an extent. When events outside the carefully planned delivery of info overtook. It seems currently, no matter what the extrinsic reality the admin can continue to spin it their way. (Porn stars in the press corp, paying journos to promote a viewpoint) even when these are uncovered, they remain relegated to very limited area of the public domain. The simple fact is, joe wants to lick his ice cream, and you can go suck an egg with your bigger picture. Only the arrival of cataclysmic events will change that surely. And by then, too late?

Posted by declan on from dublin 03/28 at 06:34 AM

Declan: Your e-mail illustrates, for me, the appeal of Buk. He doesn’t write political prose but as an observer--whether you agree with his conclusions or not--he provokes new thoughts. I find myself draw to that kind of reading more and more (e.g. Buk, Vonnegut, even the “Fight Club” guy). I’m almost burnt out after so many years of reading Chomsky, etc. I’ve learned SO much from this, but…

i look forward to hearing more from you, Declan, as you read more Buk.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from 03/28 at 08:45 AM