bukowski

Wet T-Shirt Contest Water Boy

Here we are on what would be the 90th anniversary of Charles Bukowski’s birthday so I guess I’ll post one of my favorite obscure Bukowski clips. The clip is from the 1977 classic “Supervan“. In the film a lecherous Bukowski has an uncredited cameo appearance as a wet t-shirt contest judge. Bukowski is seen splashing water and groping unsuspecting (or possibly suspecting) young starlets while wearing a t-shirt that reads “Wet T-Shirt Contest Water Boy”. I have no idea how the writers/producers/directors ever roped him into this one but I’m glad they did.

Bukowski also has cameo appearances in The Killers and Barfly (which he wrote). If you’re interested in purchasing “SUpervan”, it was released just this March on DVD. And if you’re a huge fan of vans, the actual Supervan is currently for sale.

2008: The Year In Literature

I haven’t read many novels this year. I think my top four include every book I read during the whole of 2008 (and it wasn’t much better last year). Ouch. Hopefully this will change dramatically in 2009. It would be nice to be able to at least make a top five this year. Despite my unfortunate lack of reading, here were my favorite:

1. The Little Prince
2. Middlesex: A Novel
4. Dry: A Memoir
3. Beerspit Night and Cursing: The Correspondence of Charles Bukowski & Sheri Martinelli 1960-1967

I keep track of my reading on Library Thing and Goodreads so be sure to go over there and mark me as a friend if your interested.

The Bone Palace Ballet

I was introduced to Charles Bukowski’s writing when I was a sophomore in college. Some hippie from Humbolt County came up to visit a roommate and told me to read him. I’m glad I listened. He is now one of my favorite authors. I fell in love with him almost immediately. That semester my drink, when we went out, was half-and-half whiskey and waters. I found myself going to the bar more, and paying attention to the people who were there. I saw the romance in dark, dingy, rent-by-the-week hotels. I fully realized the allure of the racetrack. I stayed away from the fighting though – I saw no cause to injure myself. I remember I saw a signed copy of his book in the library and schemed out a plan to sneak it past the alarms. However, shortly after I finished the plan and recruited the necessary accomplices, the library flooded and I graduated shortly after that. I still wonder if that book is there.

I’ve read all of his novels but Post Office. This is because I want something to hold onto. Something to read on my death bed. I’ve also read most of his short stories. Over the last few years, I’ve been in the slow process of reading his poems. I keep a book of them in the shitter with me and whenever I have to go bust out a few, I open the current book of poems and bust a few of those out too. A while back I just finished The Bone Palace Ballet, a collection of mostly newer poems that were put together posthumously. It was pretty good. Great shitter reading material. And you know what? I think Bukowski would take that as one of his best compliments.

Charles Bukowski having a nice read on the shitter

Reading 5

1. What is your favorite type of literature to read (magazine, newspaper, novels, nonfiction, poetry, etc.)?
I enjoy fictional novels and short stories the most.

2. What is your favorite novel?
I normally answer this question with “Ishmael” by Daniel Quinn but also enjoy Orwell, Bukowski, Atwood, Irving, S. Thompson, and many others.

3. Do you have a favorite poem? (Share it!)
I’m not all that familiar with poetry but I enjoy Bukowski, Silverstein, Pound, and of cousre the beautiful but bitter Parker. Right now my current favorite is a short poem titled “Sanctuary” by Dorothy Parker.

4. What is one thing you’ve always wanted to read, or wish you had more time to read?
The one thing that I have always thought about reading but know I will never get around to is the Holy Bible (King James Version).

5. What are you currently reading?
“Island” by Aldous Huxley

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