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  • Notes of a Dirty Old Man

  • By: Charles Bukowski
  • Narrated by: Will Patton
  • Length: 7 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (147 ratings)

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Notes of a Dirty Old Man

By: Charles Bukowski
Narrated by: Will Patton
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Summary

"He loads his head full of coal and diamonds shoot out of his finger tips. What a trick. The mole genius has left us with another digest. It's a full house - read 'em and weep." - Tom Waits

Born from Bukowski's columns, the LA underground press of the 1960s, Bukowski defined his early alter ego, Hank Chinaski, as a self-described dirty old man who eyes his defeatist attitude about himself with his clarity to see humor and holiness in others. Addictive and instructive listening, Bukowski delivers the humanity and intelligence of all the unseen. Filled with his usual obsessions - sex, booze, gambling - Notes features Bukowski's offbeat insights into politics and literature, and his tortured, violent relationships.

"People come to my door - too many of them really - and knock to tell me Notes of a Dirty Old Man turns them on. A bum off the road brings in a gypsy and his wife and we talk...drink half the night. A long distance operator from Newburgh, N.Y. sends me money. She wants me to give up drinking beer and to eat well. I hear from a madman who calls himself 'King Arthur' and lives on Vine Street in Hollywood and wants to help me write my column. A doctor comes to my door: 'I read your column and think I can help you. I used to be a psychiatrist.' I send him away...."

"Bukowski writes like a latter-day Celine, a wise fool talking straight from the gut about the futility and beauty of life...." (Publishers Weekly)

OBIE winner Will Patton (Remember the Titans, The Good Wife, Armageddon) recreates Bukowski in his visceral prime, along with every eye-popping character in his life, each adversary, lover, and stranger in a lost city.

More about the author:

Charles Bukowski is one of America's best-known contemporary writers of poetry and prose, and, many would claim, its most influential and imitated poet. He was born in Andernach, Germany and raised in Los Angeles, where he lived for 50 years. He published his first story in 1944, when he was 24, and began writing poetry at the age of 35. He died in San Pedro, California, on March 9, 1994, at the age of 73, shortly after completing his last novel, Pulp.

©1969 Charles Bukowski (P)2017 Audible, Inc.
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What listeners say about Notes of a Dirty Old Man

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The narrator really hit the note

Great stories, full-on Bukowski, well read and will be a regular 'dip into'. The characters are really believable.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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This book’s gonna get me fired

The narrator is absolutely killing me. I’m laughing so hard I can’t work. Brilliant!
The only bad thing is that Bukowski cant write anymore, that’s a dam shame.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A Perfect Pairing

Paton's narrating is perfect as always.

He effortlessly brings Bukowski's words to life, and ensures you are entirely engrossed from the first seconds.

Notes is a thoroughly enjoyable 'read' , as expected for Bukowski.

A genuine pleasure to listen to from beginning to end. Get it in your library!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Best narration ever

Bukowski never disappoints, this is a great collection of writings with some moving, some hilarious and some genuinely disturbing essays. What I wasn’t expecting was the absolutely 100% top drawer narration. Best I ever heard.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A misogynist drunk with a vulnerable heart

Will Patton excels in his reading of Bukowski’s unflinching descriptions in this book. At times disgusting and repulsive and then hilarious, insightful, mournful, even beautiful. You only have to hear Bukowski reading his poem ‘Bluebird’ to recognise his vulnerability so I came to this book expecting further insights and I wasn’t disappointed. An astute observer of human nature, Bukowski doesn’t shy away from stripping the layers back from actions and feelings leaving the stark ugliness, horror, sadness and all those feelings bundled into humanity. He eases into the dark side and slides along bludgeoned by alcoholism and sexual desire into a state of almost decomposition. Yet still his prose, his thoughts and feelings, cut through as sharp as a blade.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I loved every bit of this.

I loved everything about this book. old school raw language of a more real world than most I've come across. superb

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Authentic Bukowski

Well read rambling misogynistic beatnik tales of the underbelly of society. Frequently drunk, philandering adventures, delightful short stories and frequently twisted and insane thoughts on paper. It's still so fresh and real. We'll worth a listen.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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A despicable, brilliant writer

Some of the stories are brilliant, one or two seem to be pushing tastless nastiness for the pure hell of it. Most of the collection is wise-cracking funny and insightful.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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narration 10/10

great writing, but the narration here is just bloody fantastic, more Bukowski on audible pls

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Incoherent Rambling

and Loved every moment of it. If you enjoy Charles Bukowski, you will enjoy this.

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