Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Ecco (2009), Edition: Reprint, 298 pages
Description
Fiction. Literature. HTML: "Wordsworth, Whitman, William Carlos Williams, and the Beats in their respective generations moved poetry toward a more natural language. Bukowski moved it a little farther." �??Los Angeles Times Book Review In what is widely hailed as the best of his many novels, Charles Bukowski details the long, lonely years of his own hardscrabble youth in the raw voice of alter ego Henry Chinaski. From a harrowingly cheerless childhood in Germany through acne-riddled high school years and his adolescent discoveries of alcohol, woman, and the Los Angeles Public Library's collection of D.H. Lawrence, Ham on Rye offers a crude, brutal, and savagely funny portrait of an outcast's coming-of-age during the desperate days of the Great Depression.… (more)
Media reviews
Huffington Post
I consider Ham on Rye by Bukowski probably the greatest American novel ever written. It's an autobiographical novel (as are all his novels except Pulp, which is so awful it's unreadable) about his childhood, being beaten by his parents, avoiding war, and beginning his life of destitution, hardship,
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alcoholism, and the beginnings of his education as a writer. I'm almost embarrassed to admit he's an influence. Many people hate him and I'm much more afraid of being judged than he ever was. Show Less
Lecturalia
Una novela autobiográfica, contundente como un preciso uppercut, que nos muestra una visión bien distinta del «Sueño Americano», una visión «desde abajo», desde los pisoteados y humillados: la infancia, adolescencia y juventud de Henry Chinaski, en Los Ángeles, durante los años de la
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Depresión y la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Un padre brutal que cada día finge acudir puntualmente al trabajo para que sus vecinos no sospechen que está en paro; una madre apaleada por el padre, que sin embargo está siempre de su parte; un tío a quien busca la policía; un mundo de jefes, de superiores aterrorizados por otros superiores. El joven Chinaski algo así como un hermano paria de Holden Cauldfiel, el dulce héroe de Salinger en The Catcher in the Rye (al que Bukowski parece aludir en el título original Ham on Rye) tiene que aprender las reglas implacables de una durísima supervivencia. En este libro inolvidable, escrito con una ausencia total de ilusiones, se transparenta, evitando la autocompasión, una estoica fraternidad con todos los chinaskis, todos los underdogs de la «otra América» de los patios traseros, los bares sórdidos, las oficinas de desempleo. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member copyedit52
Bukowski comes clean on some things in this book, compared to the others I've read. In this one we actually learn about some of his influences (other than John Fante), and some of the writers he recoiled from. Perhaps he tells the reader less later on (this book has the feel of being written
Bukowski hates pretense. It's what makes him fascinating, and laudable. He hates it with such passion it brings to mind Celine, another misanthrope who knew how to write, and perhaps the greatest hater to be taken seriously by a literate audience. (I think he's the best.) And, like Celine, there are signs that because of it, Bukowski can be a nasty MF. His takedown of Henry Miller in another book, for instance--a transparent aka living in Pacific Palisades, an old man at the time, trying to cadge money from his young visitor.
But back to Ham on Rye: Somewhere along the way I realized I was taking it all in as if reading a noir mystery--a Jim Thompson--which is a genre I like, but whose limitations I understand. And I realized too, a moment later, that I'd lowered my expectations, to better accept Bukowsky for what he is: a very good but not a mind-blowing writer. Hence the four stars.
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earlier) because his detachment by then had become a style, a manifestation of the pretension that gives his Chinaski alter ego life: a style that pushes aside some of the vulnerable details that peek out in Ham and Rye. Bukowski hates pretense. It's what makes him fascinating, and laudable. He hates it with such passion it brings to mind Celine, another misanthrope who knew how to write, and perhaps the greatest hater to be taken seriously by a literate audience. (I think he's the best.) And, like Celine, there are signs that because of it, Bukowski can be a nasty MF. His takedown of Henry Miller in another book, for instance--a transparent aka living in Pacific Palisades, an old man at the time, trying to cadge money from his young visitor.
But back to Ham on Rye: Somewhere along the way I realized I was taking it all in as if reading a noir mystery--a Jim Thompson--which is a genre I like, but whose limitations I understand. And I realized too, a moment later, that I'd lowered my expectations, to better accept Bukowsky for what he is: a very good but not a mind-blowing writer. Hence the four stars.
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LibraryThing member KimmyKay
strange yet somewhat addicting.
LibraryThing member derfla3101980
It is a great read, except it makes you feel edgey and dirty once your done with it. And made me want to drink more and fuck.
LibraryThing member booknerd06
This book is Bukowski's best work of fiction. Unlike Women and Post Office, Bukowski really allows the readers of Ham on Rye a glimpse into his heart and not just his liver
LibraryThing member adamallen
Bukowski has always been one of those authors that I've wanted to read but never gotten around to for one reason or another. Ham on Rye was my first Bukowski novel but I suspect that it won't be my last. Having completed the book, one of the things that I find myself wanting to do is to compare it
I've also heard/read in passing comments that Ham on Rye is (semi-)autobiographical. I don't know much about Bukowski's life (although I do plan on renting the documentary soon) but I suspect that may be true. If so, it was a pretty rough road into adulthood (read: understatement).
Henry "Hank" Chinaski struggled with his parents, SEVERE acne, girls, school, work, fighting, and most of all booze. He was a tough kid raised in a tough home and as a result, he walked away with a damaged view of the world. If you're interested in more details about the book, I'll share a few in the SPOILERS section below.
As I've mentioned in past reviews, I enjoy books that make you have an emotional reaction. This one succeeded at making me wince on more than one occasion. I laughed aloud a few times and I shook my head a few times as Hank continued to spiral out of control.
I rated the book 3.5 stars for me because I enjoyed it. Based on what I've said above, you can probably already tell if you'd like it or not. If you like Hubert Selby, Jr., Kerouac, Hunter Thompson, etc. you'll like it. If you like your fiction neat, tidy, and happy, stear clear.
*****SPOILERS HEREAFTER*****
Hank Chinaski was raised in an abusive home where his father used the leather shaving strop to whip Hank on a daily basis. One of the more memorable scenes was Hank's father looking for any "little hairs" sticking up from the freshly cut lawn. When putting his head to the ground and finding two missed blades of grass, he proceeded to give Hank his beating. It was at this point that despite his pain, Hank no longer reacted to the whippings. He challeged his father to fight him and the beatings ceased. Hank's mother never stepped in to stop the abuse. You're lead to believe this is a result of her own physical abuse at the hands of the father.
Hank learned his street smarts on his own and always reveled in being a tough guy. He liked to fight. He liked being a loner. He liked to offend everyone. Oddly enough, despite all that, he had a difficult time saying no to other exiled kids who latched onto him. You felt there was a kindness somewhere within that never surfaced.
Hank's acne and lustful thoughts played a large role in the story. I would expect that of a story about a boy becoming a man. Unfortunately for our protagonist, he suffered acne so bad that it became huge boils. He frequented the hospital for treatment to this ailment but it never really improved. As a result, his lust was at a distance. In the story, he really only had one shot at sex - with a friend's mother - and he was too freaked out when the opportunity arose to do anything about it.
The largest part of the story is dedicated to Hank's downward spiral into alcoholism. It grew until he was constantly drunk and struggling for some direction in life. He only knew that he wanted to drink and to write. Given that this may be autobiographical, I suppose he did.
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to A Catcher in the Rye since they are both novels about coming of age. I find the "Rye" part of both titles a bit ironic as rye has little to do with either story. In so far as I can remember, neither ham nor rye is anywhere to be found in the tale. Maybe that's oversight on my part but I see the title to be more of a tip of the hat to Catcher. All that to say, while I found Catcher to be rather underwhelming, I enjoyed Ham on Rye very much. I've also heard/read in passing comments that Ham on Rye is (semi-)autobiographical. I don't know much about Bukowski's life (although I do plan on renting the documentary soon) but I suspect that may be true. If so, it was a pretty rough road into adulthood (read: understatement).
Henry "Hank" Chinaski struggled with his parents, SEVERE acne, girls, school, work, fighting, and most of all booze. He was a tough kid raised in a tough home and as a result, he walked away with a damaged view of the world. If you're interested in more details about the book, I'll share a few in the SPOILERS section below.
As I've mentioned in past reviews, I enjoy books that make you have an emotional reaction. This one succeeded at making me wince on more than one occasion. I laughed aloud a few times and I shook my head a few times as Hank continued to spiral out of control.
I rated the book 3.5 stars for me because I enjoyed it. Based on what I've said above, you can probably already tell if you'd like it or not. If you like Hubert Selby, Jr., Kerouac, Hunter Thompson, etc. you'll like it. If you like your fiction neat, tidy, and happy, stear clear.
*****SPOILERS HEREAFTER*****
Hank Chinaski was raised in an abusive home where his father used the leather shaving strop to whip Hank on a daily basis. One of the more memorable scenes was Hank's father looking for any "little hairs" sticking up from the freshly cut lawn. When putting his head to the ground and finding two missed blades of grass, he proceeded to give Hank his beating. It was at this point that despite his pain, Hank no longer reacted to the whippings. He challeged his father to fight him and the beatings ceased. Hank's mother never stepped in to stop the abuse. You're lead to believe this is a result of her own physical abuse at the hands of the father.
Hank learned his street smarts on his own and always reveled in being a tough guy. He liked to fight. He liked being a loner. He liked to offend everyone. Oddly enough, despite all that, he had a difficult time saying no to other exiled kids who latched onto him. You felt there was a kindness somewhere within that never surfaced.
Hank's acne and lustful thoughts played a large role in the story. I would expect that of a story about a boy becoming a man. Unfortunately for our protagonist, he suffered acne so bad that it became huge boils. He frequented the hospital for treatment to this ailment but it never really improved. As a result, his lust was at a distance. In the story, he really only had one shot at sex - with a friend's mother - and he was too freaked out when the opportunity arose to do anything about it.
The largest part of the story is dedicated to Hank's downward spiral into alcoholism. It grew until he was constantly drunk and struggling for some direction in life. He only knew that he wanted to drink and to write. Given that this may be autobiographical, I suppose he did.
Show Less
LibraryThing member aannttiiiittnnaa
Bukowski's formative years laid bare. No shirking from a fully detailed relation of his torment and tormentors. A writer unafraid to tell it like it is. Disarms all with frank statements and vivid recollection of mood, emotion, settings, names and places, his excellent memory is part revenge on all
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those that crossed him over the years. As always he manages to capture all those thoughts and feelings, that for most people are purposefully buried deep down beyond retrieval, expose them on the page with seemingly no effort, definitely no pretense and sign his name. Show Less
LibraryThing member grandpahobo
It must be me.
I'm sure there is some literary perspective from which this book is stellar and monumental. Try as I might, I can't see that perspective. I do not begrudge anyone who finds this compelling and/or brilliant, I just can't see it. This reminded me of "Catcher in the Rye". Of course,
Frankly, I didn't really care for "Catcher in the Rye" either.
I'm sure there is some literary perspective from which this book is stellar and monumental. Try as I might, I can't see that perspective. I do not begrudge anyone who finds this compelling and/or brilliant, I just can't see it. This reminded me of "Catcher in the Rye". Of course,
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this story is much more violent and desperate. Frankly, I didn't really care for "Catcher in the Rye" either.
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LibraryThing member Salmondaze
Bukowski's inimitable style gets altered in his fourth novel to mirror the thoughts of a younger person and it works brilliantly. Even better is how he slides from that style into the more familiar style of Post Office and Factotum by the end of the novel to give it continuity with those other
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books. It definitely has humor enough to spare, but the style makes it a higher achievement than his other novels. Show Less
LibraryThing member ptdilloway
I'm a little disappointed there's no sandwiches in this book. Anyway, it's a good argument for nurture rather than nature that determines who people are.
LibraryThing member evanroskos
Though it sorta fizzles out, this is a pretty good autobiography by Bukowski. It's filled with the normal Bukowski stuff -- crazy, mean parents, his acne-scarred adolescence, the development of his tough guy attitude, and the heartbreaking moments where he's just a lonely guy. I suspect only
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Bukowski fans would really love this, but it does stand on its own pretty well for people who only know his name. Show Less
LibraryThing member skwoodiwis
Book Review of Ham on Rye
By
Charles Bukowski
I found myself avoiding the book. I plowed through the end and was grateful for the very abrupt end. I was discussing the book with my Mentor – Jon encouraged me to stay away from Bukowski. I’m still not convinced that Jon is correct but I am going to
It was not poorly written – but again as Jon points out the title itself is damning – Ham is correct – it seemed to me the sort of book a scorned woman would write – and yet I blush at that because what the author portrays in the young man’s life is truly awful.
The protagonist was a sweet, young boy and in the end a slug fest, alcoholic young man. And I will give Mr. Bukowski this – we don’t necessarily walk away chalking one more causality up to the demons of society and parental disaster – no maybe we do.
The book is brutal – no love, very little compassion and an animalistic view on sex and self-satisfying sex. And in the end we have a young alcoholic moving into skid row – the book left me cold.
By
Charles Bukowski
I found myself avoiding the book. I plowed through the end and was grateful for the very abrupt end. I was discussing the book with my Mentor – Jon encouraged me to stay away from Bukowski. I’m still not convinced that Jon is correct but I am going to
Show More
give it a rest. I am almost through a book of poetry – and I will say that I like the man’s poetry better than this novel. It was not poorly written – but again as Jon points out the title itself is damning – Ham is correct – it seemed to me the sort of book a scorned woman would write – and yet I blush at that because what the author portrays in the young man’s life is truly awful.
The protagonist was a sweet, young boy and in the end a slug fest, alcoholic young man. And I will give Mr. Bukowski this – we don’t necessarily walk away chalking one more causality up to the demons of society and parental disaster – no maybe we do.
The book is brutal – no love, very little compassion and an animalistic view on sex and self-satisfying sex. And in the end we have a young alcoholic moving into skid row – the book left me cold.
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LibraryThing member chrystal
Interesting. I enjoy reading "coming of age" novels, but this one left me slightly depressed, but I enjoyed the writing.
LibraryThing member ericj.dixon
This memoir-style novel is shocking, irreverent, hilarious, tragic, and (bare your soul in all it's faults) real. I love an underdog. This is the novel of a self-aspiring underdog with few aspirations and even less means to make something of himself. Some portions of the novel will deeply disturb
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readers, but I found that these sections added authenticity to the Chinaski character and served to reinforce the flow and general direction of the novel. I found this novel to be deeply touching; it can resonate on many levels with an individual's battle to overcome the multitude of obstacles that can be found in life. Show Less
LibraryThing member MColv9890
Bukowski learns to fight, socialize, play football, and be tough. He learns how to take a beating and become stronger in spite of it. He hates his father and all of his father's philosophy. He starts to drink. This novel is one of the great coming of age stories the 20th century despite its crude
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nature. Show Less
LibraryThing member breathtest
In a way, it is one of the most compassionate books I have ever read. There is so much lack of emotion, aggression and attempts to present an uncaring protagonist, that the few moments where emotion and fear shine through have all the more impact. Such as the passage where some young boys have set
It is moments such as this that make 'Ham on Rye' Bukowski's greatest work, and most empathetic portrayal of the life of someone who is seemingly uncared for and alone. The ending, as with his other novels, is uneventful and sudden, leaving the reader with lingering thoughts for days afterwards.
In its simplistic and direct style of language, this novel is close to perfect. A strange childhood renderred so effortlessly, with little grace, so that the subject is reflected in the style.
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a pitbull on a cat in a back-alley, with the cat backed against the wall and helpless, and all Chinaski wants to do is help the poor cat. The anguish and helplessness displayed in this scene is almost too touching to keep on reading. His relationship with the nurse who helps to get rid of his boils, and who causes him so much pain through this medical act, but is the only person to show him any empathy, is another example of the way the book teases emotion from the reader . . . well, perhaps tease is the wrong word for the impact that these passages have. Perhaps tearing would be more truthful, the way it tears the emotions of the reader apart. It is moments such as this that make 'Ham on Rye' Bukowski's greatest work, and most empathetic portrayal of the life of someone who is seemingly uncared for and alone. The ending, as with his other novels, is uneventful and sudden, leaving the reader with lingering thoughts for days afterwards.
In its simplistic and direct style of language, this novel is close to perfect. A strange childhood renderred so effortlessly, with little grace, so that the subject is reflected in the style.
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LibraryThing member rimbo90
This is Bukowski's magnum opus in my opinion. This is a very special book. It is powerful, harsh and raw but has odd moments of charm and humour. I would not say it is an easy, casual read. It is grim in parts but, Bukowski being Bukowski, he takes it in his stride.
He is one of my favourite writers
Highly recommended.
He is one of my favourite writers
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and, in my opinion, one of the most important writers of the last century. This book shows why.Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member caklr650
Liked it. One of Bukowski's better novels.
LibraryThing member AdonisGuilfoyle
My introduction to the novels of Charles Bukowski. I'm not sure if I would like to read the other, more adult adventures of narrator Henry Chinaski, but the author's accessible style and dry wit is very refreshing and funny. 'Ham on Rye' is a darker, sharper take on 'The Catcher in the Rye',
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preoccupied with the immature concerns of an adolescent boy - sex, and proving how tough he thinks he is. Anecdotal in the telling, every other 'memory' of growing up in LA for Chinaski/Bukowski is about getting into a fight, and whereas some 'memories' ring true, most sound like immature bravado. A product of time and circumstance, Henry is disadvantaged from childhood, living with a bullying father in Depression-era America, but his street smarts and self-deprecating humour help the reader to sympathise with him instead of judging by word and deed alone. An entertaining read. Show Less
LibraryThing member phillynyc
Though Bukowski has become the cult hero of modern libertines, Ham on Rye shows why Bukowski became "Bukowski." This book with change your impression of Buk if you've read him before, and it will make you wanting more if this is your first Bukowski experience.
LibraryThing member eshannon12
Definitely a depressing book, but gives an essential background to Chinansky that will help you understand the rest of Bukowski's work.
LibraryThing member therestlessmouse
A real page turner to be sure, but I really hope it's not much autobiographical. BTW My copy has a different cover, it was published in 2001 and sold in a UK bookstore.
LibraryThing member Stahl-Ricco
A sad and funny look at the author's life from his first memory, until the bombing of Pearl Harbor. For me it started slowly, mostly because I was horrified with his father's behavior and the poor kid's suffering with boils. But as he gets older, his thoughts and actions become sort of outrageous,
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and for me, makes a much better read! The rawness and coarseness of the language is both startling and comforting. The ending seemed a little truncated, but I overall enjoyed this strangely bizarre life story! Show Less
LibraryThing member Stahl-Ricco
A sad and funny look at the author's life from his first memory, until the bombing of Pearl Harbor. For me it started slowly, mostly because I was horrified with his father's behavior and the poor kid's suffering with boils. But as he gets older, his thoughts and actions become sort of outrageous,
Show More
and for me, makes a much better read! The rawness and coarseness of the language is both startling and comforting. The ending seemed a little truncated, but I overall enjoyed this strangely bizarre life story! Show Less
LibraryThing member PaulRx04
Now people are waking up to how good he was.
See the excellent docu on him!
See the excellent docu on him!
LibraryThing member Verge0007
Fantastic book from a brilliant writer. Thumbs Up.
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1982