Women

A Novel

By: Charles Bukowski

Narrated by: Christian Baskous

Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Low-life writer and unrepentant alcoholic Henry Chinaski was born to survive. After decades of slacking off at low-paying dead-end jobs, blowing his cash on booze and women, and scrimping by in flea-bitten apartments, Chinaski sees his poetic star rising at last. Now, at 50, he is reveling in his sudden rock-star life, running 300 hangovers a year, and maintaining a sex life that would cripple Casanova.

With all of Bukowski's trademark humor and gritty, dark honesty, this 1978 follow-up to Post Office and Factotum is an uncompromising account of life on the edge.

©1978 Charles Bukowski (P)2013 HarperCollinsPublishers

Critic reviews

"One of those writers whom each new reader discovers with a transgressive thrill." ( New Yorker)

"A laureate of American low life" ( Time)

"The ultimate Bukowski novel, packed with hilarious episodes." ( Uncut)

Don't start your Bukowski journey here

I'm so thrilled that Audible finally has Bukowski. Dreams DO come true. Now, they just need to put about 20 more of his books on here. Where is "Love is a Dog From Hell?"

Anyway... about Women. I think you have to already be a fan of Bukowski to enjoy this. It's typical of his work. Entertaining romps around California with booze and women. This would be a better book if it was half as long. Ironically, the book itself feels like some of the passages where Bukowski is having marathon episodes with some of these women and can't...um finish. I like the book because I already like Bukowski. But if you're breaking into him, start with Hot Water Music or Ham on Rye please.

Not black and white

Any additional comments?

I think if I read this when I was much younger, I might have found it a bit rebellious and exciting. All the sex, drugs and... rock 'n roll poetry. But I just found that one sexual encounter after another got a bit repetitive and sometimes boring. Yet there was something alluring about it also, and it dipped in and out of places that had a lot more depth than some old drunk fucking yet another notch on a bed post.

The protagonist, Henry Chinaski is a womanising drunk. I know I’m supposed be repelled by him, but he’s one of those enigmas; a character who is repulsive yet also possesses an odd magnetic charm. There’s a gritty honesty, an acerbic wit, and a couldn’t-give-a-fuck-what-anyone-else-thinks approach to life that I can’t help admiring and envying in people like this.

His attitude to women is also a bit of an enigma. I think it would be too easy to look at how Chinaski treats women, and dismiss him as a misogynist. And going by some reviews, many have. But that’s too black and white. How can you call someone a woman hater who also so clearly LOVES women emphatically. Good / bad. Black / white. Evil / goodness. It’s somewhere in that grey area that lie truly interesting characters. And I think that’s what makes Women an interesting read even if it did get quite repetitive in places.

As for the narrator. It was a perfect tone. This guy spends the whole book sounding hungover and grumpy.

The Thrills of a New Challange

Nobody lays it out in front of you as clearly as Bukowsi. So many of his observations and depictions of how men and different types of women interact are very accurate. Some of Chinasky's comments and observations are insightful and point out things that are right in front you in life, but you've never put together. Also, I feel like the longer you've lived and the more women you've had in and out of your life the more you will relate with his story. I will be listening again.

Dirty Old Man as Rock Star

Where does Women rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

"Women" ranks very high on the list of audiobooks I have listened to, though it was kind of rough slogging. Mr. Baskous turned in an astonishing performance of this almost pornographic novel - it is clear to the knowledgeable fan of Bukowski's work that Mr. Baskous did his homework with regard to Bukowski's voice and mannerisms. Like all of Bukowski's work, "Women" is raw in its narrative style with frank descriptions of the hero's sexual acts. Be ready for some words you don't hear often except on premium cable tv. What makes this novel "not" pornography is Bukowski's surprise that his art inspires hot young women to seek him out for sex. His wonder at his own power to command the attention of women from all over the world is childlike, as if his juvenile yet authentic (and autobiographical) scribblings were getting an A grade from the sexiest teacher in the whole seventh grade. The subtext of this novel is "I can't believe she came all this way to fuck a guy as ugly as me!"

What did you like best about this story?

It is essentially a love story.

What does Christian Baskous bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Mr. Baskous brought everything to this story. He has Bukowski's voice down. I mean really, really DOWN. I can't imagine anybody doing it better. This is a master work of tremendous power. You would have to go to Bukowski himself to experience a more accomplished piece of voice narrative.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The Poet Reborn

Any additional comments?

Take this one slowly. It is scarrifying in its brutal description of sex acts. If you tend to see, and are easily offended by, anti-woman attitudes in popular fiction, this book is not for you. If you can see through the brutality to discover the hero's search for real love, you will be overwhelmed by the power of this audiobook.

crudo, directo, sin pretenciones, muy bueno

crudo, directo, sin rodeos, sin pretenciones. las relaciones desde el punto de vista de bukowski. divertido y familiar. a resaltar la excelente narrativa y sincronia con el personaje.

Sad, Searing, and Hilarious

What made the experience of listening to Women the most enjoyable?

The narrator, Christian Baskous, embodies the authors quirks, humor, and characters. He gives a wonderful performance.

What other book might you compare Women to and why?

Bukowski's writing is minimalist and direct. Hemmingway, Chandler, and Fante are legitimate points of origin.

Which character – as performed by Christian Baskous – was your favorite?

Hank and Lydia.

Great Reader

I love Christian on Bukowski reads…. He reads Bukowski so damn good. He sounds like Buk, and he does various voices throughout that are fantastic. I’ve read all Bukowski years ago, but really enjoy listening to them mainly because of Christian’s delivery on them.

Great story but narration is aweful

After a streak of at least 4 Bukowski books narrated by Will Patton i found myself cringing through this dull and monotone reading. It’s as if it Buk himself, was loathing his own work and bored to hell reading it at a poetry reading. Sober.

Will Patton or it’s not worth the time.

The book itself was great.

Great

The reading is outstanding in my opinion. Very believable incarnation of the poet himself… nice

How not to be a man

I laughed so hard. The situations Hank gets himself into are amazing. He reminded me why I don’t drink like that anymore. I got a hangover just reading the dang book!