Following on from last night’s thread…
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Bukowski before Bukowksi
I’m a big fan of Charles Bukowski and have read all his novels and as much of his short stories I can get his hands on.
I know he’s also famous for his poetry, but I’m not quite that deep down the literary rabbit hole just yet haha.
After devouring all of his books, I wanted more and did the old Good Reads ‘similar’ thing, leading me straight to Fante.
Buk now says that he drew inspiration from Fante, but I actually feel bad for him in a way.
The whole beaten down writer alter ego that Buk built his career on is exactly the same as what Fante was doing.
Sad Fante didn’t really receive the attention he deserved until after his death when Buk decided to make him famous.
I mean you could have lifted him up a little earlier, right?
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The Bandini Quartet
Anyway, I started with Fante's most famous work, Ask the Dust, and I was hooked.
Turns out that this is actually book 3/4 in the Bandini Quartet (Arturo Bandini is Fante’s alter ego like Hank Chinaski is Buk’s), so I bought an omnibus off eBay and started from the beginning.
I’m now onto book number two, The Road to Los Angeles, which, despite being written first, was published after he died.
Again, just crazy that he didn’t get his proper dues when alive!
Supposedly the book was rejected from publishers over and over because of how controversial the writing was for its time.
Anti religion, anti government, self racism, its got the lot.
It was maybe even luck that he didn’t burn the manuscript and it just sat dormant in his house for all those years before finally being resurfaced by his family.
Awesome story in itself really, when you think about it.
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If you like gritty, easy to read writing, then give Fante a go, I’d highly recommend.
Let me know if you've read Fante or Buk in the comments - I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Best of probabilities to you.
Dane.
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