Product Description

Bukowski's alter ego, Henry Chinaski, returns, revelling in his eternal penchant for booze, women and horse-racing as he makes the precarious journey from poet to screenwriter. Based on Bukowski's experiences when working on the film "Barfly", the absurdity and egotism of the film industry are laid bare in this deadpan, touching and funny glimpse into the endless negotiations and back-stabbings of La-la land. "Hollywood" is an irreverent Roman a clef that serves up the beating heart of Hollywood with razor-sharp humour.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #69196 in Books
• Published on: 2007-07-19
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback

Review
"One of the funniest books ever written." Uncut "Humour, wisdom and the elegance of simplicity come at you in equal measure." Bizarre"

About the Author
Charles Bukowski is one of America's best-known contemporary writers of poetry and prose, and, many would claim, its most influential and imitated poet. He was born in 1920 in Andernach, Germany, and moved to the United States at the age of three. He was raised in Los Angeles and lived there for fifty years. He published his first story in 1944, when he was twenty-four, and began writing poetry at the age of thirty-five. He died in San Pedro, California, on March 9, 1994, shortly after completing his last novel, Pulp.

Customer Reviews

Look out, Hollywood!
Charles Bukowski goes semi-commercial to the dismay of many old fans, the book offers a mainstream version of FACTOTUM. But the writing is of higher quality, and Buk shines through. Look for celebs in the book under false names... Mickey Rourke, Faye Dunaway... check the credits of the movie and then re-read!

Amusing and interesting
Charles Bukowski's minimal style, always egotistical and mostly alcohol affected is concerned in this book with his succesful attempt to see a screenplay (for Barfly) become a reality.
Names are changed but it is fun to read Bukowski's views on the movers and shakers in 1980's Hollywood.
The womanising and drinking are subdued (due to being married) and even a hedonistic rebel such as Bukowski comes across as conventional compared to the weirdness and double-dealing that appears to be Hollywood.
Not neccesarily a good first Bukowski read (try Post Office or Factotum) but nevertheless good fun.

Still good
Another Bukowski novel - this one written late in his life - which on my first reading I felt wasnt up to his other novels. However I recently revisited and found it amusing.