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Charles Bukowski
- Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life
- Narrated by: Howard Sounes
- Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins
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Charles Bukowski
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Summary
The American writer Charles Bukowski (1920-94) developed a cult following for his simple and vivid poems, stories and novels based on his experiences as a hard-drinking postal worker in Los Angeles. His classic books include Post Office, Women and Love Is a Dog from Hell.
In this engrossing biography, studded with excerpts from Bukowski's writing, Howard Sounes tells the true story of Bukowski's life in the same punchy style as his subject. Sounes draws on interviews with all the significant people in Bukowski's career, including celebrity friends Robert Crumb, Allen Ginsberg, Norman Mailer, Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke, who played Bukowski in the movie Barfly.
Bukowski's editor and publisher, John Martin, praises the book: "Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life is a generous tribute to Bukowski's genius, and it clearly and truthfully captures the essence of Bukowski both as writer and man."
Howard Sounes is known for writing detailed and revelatory biographies of a range of extraordinary personalities, including the murderers Fred and Rosemary West (Fred & Rose) and the musicians Bob Dylan (Down the Highway) and Lou Reed (Notes from the Velvet Underground). For more information, visit www.howardsounes.com.
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What listeners say about Charles Bukowski
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- BCTyler
- 14-09-17
THE Charles Bukowski biography.
Awonderful biography, the style of which is reminiscent of the man himself. Narration extremely irritating.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- MR S R PAYNE
- 15-03-24
Great book!
Ok Howard’s American accent could do with a bit of work but my god what a book.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Tom H Birmingham
- 25-06-24
Detailed and seemingly well researched
A full and detailed narrative of Bukowski through the years. I didn't find Bukowski to be interesting, at times clearly a bore limited by his own arrogance and lack of effort. He became successful, but overall he was just a bum and not as enjoyable as Chinaski, his chosen character.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- wokar
- 08-12-19
Great book about a great man!
The best source of information on Bukowski's life! Very well performed by the aurhor. Highly recommended.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- davemorgan
- 19-10-23
comprehensive biography
in depth, well-researched, well written biography by UK journalist Sounes of the writer Charles Bukowski.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paul Brookes
- 30-05-16
Uncompromising subject and account
Enjoyed immensely. Inspired to read more, after blindly taking on the general picture of Bukowski as an untalented drunk misogynist.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Blind Boy
- 12-05-19
The Dirty Adventures of Mr. Sixpack
Oh, what an extraordinary biography this fellow had written! It catapulted me right to the L. A. of the 30's and on so vividly I could feel the smell of Bukowski's armpit! He was probably a massive pain in the ars, but this book is better than any novel I read the previous year. Bukowski is among the few American authors I am able to read, but I had no clue how remarkable his personality was. This biography made me feel every aspect of the life and times to the bone. Very well written and exciting.
At first I thought I listen to some generated voice, but I grew to love the author's narration very quickly. My next pick will be his bio about Lou Reed, an other obscur American idol.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Lawrence C.
- 24-11-17
Insightful story but truly appalling narration . One to avoid .
There is no doubt Howard Sounes is a gifted
writer and researcher . I very much enjoyed reading this book years ago and looked forward to hearing it . Unfortunately Howard’s narration is truly awful . Writing and narrating are different skills and what Howard has as a writer he lacks woefully as a performer . His voice isn’t engaging . He is unable to sustain accents . When doing an accent of Bukowski ‘s mother he strays into embarrassing racial stereo typing . Howard’s Bukowski impression is irritating . It truly grates on the ear. This wonderful book in the hands of a skilled narrator could have been brilliant . Unfortunately as an audio book it’s one to avoid . It’s sad as Bukowski’s words are magical but they need to be voiced in the right manner and this isn’t it .
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1 person found this helpful