A review of the novel Ham on Rye by Charles Bukowski

Author:: Gary D
Date:: May 21, 2009

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Charles Bukowski, better know for his poetry–written in a style which has been said to be one of the most highly imitated today–, also wrote a string of novels that are somewhat biographical. They are Ham on Rye (1982), Factotum (1975), Post Office (1971), and Women (1978). While the above list is clearly not chronologically sequential as to when he wrote them, it is chronologically sequential as to the life of the main character, Henri Chinaski, Bukowski’s infamous alter ego. Thus, Ham on Rye is about his childhood.

Readers who have read some of the other novels (or his poems for that matter) will find a pleasant long sought after sense of understanding of Bukoswski’s vulgar style and twisted outlook from reading about his childhood. Ham on Rye describes him coping with his difficult father, poverty, loneliness, bullying, skin afflictions, and shady neighbourhood characters.

While many parts of the novel are quite sad, there is a signature Bukoswki sarcastic sense of humour that infuses the novel that will get the reader laughing out loud on many occasions. It is arguably one of his best novels and the fact that it was the last one written of the four above mentioned shows that his ability to write novels showed steady improvement during the progression of his work. The characters in the novel are fascinating, particularly that of his father. The novel also shows how poverty can often bring out the worst in people and how hard and unjust life can be for those struggling in the lower classes of society.

Tag : Bukoswki, Ham, Rye, Poet, Chinaski,

Main Tag : Bukowski

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