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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN num: 9780061177576
ISBN number: 0061177571
Label: Ecco
Manufacturer: Ecco
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 208
Printing Date: March 01, 2007
Publishing house: Ecco
Release Date: February 27, 2007
Sale Popularity Level: 14863
Studio: Ecco
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Product Description:
'It began as a mistake.' By middle age, Henry Chinaski has lost more than twelve years of his life to the U.S. Postal Service. In a world where his three true, bitter pleasures are women, booze, and racetrack betting, he somehow drags his hangover out of bed every dawn to lug waterlogged mailbags up mud-soaked mountains, outsmart vicious guard dogs, and pray to survive the day-to-day trials of sadistic bosses and certifiable coworkers. This classic 1971 novel—the one that catapulted its author to national fame—is the perfect introduction to the grimly hysterical world of legendary writer, poet, and Dirty Old Man Charles Bukowski and his fictional alter ego, Chinaski.
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Rated by buyers 
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Wow, I was really surprised by how quick of a read this novel is and how engrossing overall it is. Bukowski is so very blunt with his words, "Bitch, whore" and his phrases, "I just put it in." The way he writes is like if you wanted to tell a long story but just shorten it up and tell the good stuff--THE STUFF THAT MATTERS. I couldn't but relate to Chinaski(main character) and his job at the post office that he hated. Great novel and I strongly recommend this novel as I will purchasing Ham on Rye next, followed by Women.
Rated by buyers 
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Hank Chinaski and Hank Charles Bukowski can be used interchangeably, and both (or either, I guess) are the embodiment of freedom trying to exist in a society with an underlying sense of order permeating everything. This is such a sparse, quick read with an odd diary-type tone that I didn't quite know what to make of it as I was reading. The short chapters within the sections read exactly like journal entries: not too much detail, just enough to refresh the memory for later reading. When it works, it works on the same grounds as other minimalistic texts, in that there's an outline painted and the details are open to interpretation and through that personalization.
When it doesn't work, it passes quickly, fortunately. We get about a decade and a half of Chinaski's life in 200 pages (with a huge font size. I swear this can be read in three hours or less). Chinaski is the sort of anti-hero who's hard to invent in writing. He doesn't give a s*** about anything he can't drink, fight, or f***. He raped a mentally unstable woman (well, I guess that's debatable). He doesn't care. It's hard to like the guy, and even I thought the pseudo-rape was a bit unnecessary. He can also be sweet, thinking of his daughter when he had the butcher's knife to his throat. His relationships end in an state of neutrality. There's rarely hatred or love in his writing, despite his actions. He's just living, and really, what more can we ask of him?
I can't say this is the best writing I've ever read, but who cares? People like this don't come along all that often, and to have this sort of a reference point in regard to purity and its clash with humanity is a gift we should all be grateful for. Don't try.
Rated by buyers -
Bukowski's style is amazing. Apparently he is one of the most imitated of all US poets. In Post Office you get a great dose of what Bukowski's writing is like. As for his philosophy, I'm not so sure. Everyone must have one, but Bukowski hides his well. This book is also semi-autobiographical and gives a great view of what was like for Bukowski to be an undiscovered and un-appreciated writer in the 60's. To find out what this is like today, you an visit the How to be a Writer blog, http://soulvariations.blogspot.com/, which follows the journey that Bukowski would have been all too familiar with. This book is an American classic and if you have never read Bukowski then read this. By Ardin Lalui, author of Ramona: www.soulvariations.com
Rated by buyers -
I bought the book Post Office by Charles Bukowski, it is one of the funniest books I have read. I told my Brother about it and he bought it and really liked it too.
Rated by buyers -
This is the very first book I've read by Bukowski. I very first came across him due to amazon's recommendations, as I had been reading quite a bit of Henry Miller.
Well, for various reasons I got turned on to John Fante, and finally picked up some Bukowski books.
I think in Orwell's essay on Henry Miller he noted that Miller marked the future of 'literature.' I read this as "modern man will have nothing to write about except bitching." Well, I see Bukowski in the same modern light, and I enjoyed reading this book.
Bukowski (or Chinaski) does seem bitter, even selfish, unrepentant, misogynistic, and isn't a role model. Having said that, it's quite refreshing to read, as un-PC as can be, in this world of cookie-cutter bullcrap.
Having heard about the actual Post Office from insiders, Bukowski really is quite gentle with his comments, not showing them to be as backwards as is the case.
I enjoyed the book. Bukowski is not as endearing as a Henry Miller, but manages to come off like more of an A-hole despite being less XXX (at least in this book) than Miller. I kept imagining George Carlin as the narrator when I was reading. Anyway, this Chinaski is an alright guy to have a drink with. Just keep him away from your sister.
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