Ham on Rye

English language

Published Feb. 27, 2014

ISBN:
978-0-06-117758-3
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4 stars (25 reviews)

Ham on Rye is a 1982 semi-autobiographical novel by American author and poet Charles Bukowski. Written in the first person, the novel follows Henry Chinaski, Bukowski's thinly veiled alter ego, during his early years. Written in Bukowski's characteristically straightforward prose, the novel tells of his coming-of-age in Los Angeles during the Great Depression.

5 editions

Review of 'Ham on Rye' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

I enjoyed the book. Charles Bukowski's prose is never pretentious and he writes without any dishonest attempts to make it sound deep or sophisticated. The perspective with which the main character (based on Bukowski's own experiences) looks at the world, the urban poor he depicts are vivid and even if you do not agree with the perspective you come to understand it. This was my first Bukowski novel and it makes me want to read more from him.

Review of 'Ham on Rye' on 'Storygraph'

4 stars

This is like reading Faulkner, without all of the fuss, with more fun, and perhaps without the same levels of philosophy and psychology. It's arty without being hoity-toity about it all. A simple language is used, and bombs go off without much fanfare. It's astounding in the way that it mixes observations with inner thoughts from the main character.

From the very first paragraph:

The first thing I remember is being under something. It was a table, I saw a table leg, I saw the legs of the people, and a portion of the tablecloth hanging down. It was dark under there, I liked being under there. It must have been in Germany. I must have been between one and two years old. It was 1922. I felt good under the table. Nobody seemed to know that I was there. There was sunlight upon the rug and on the legs …

Review of 'Ham on Rye' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

This has to be some of Bukowski's best writing. It is pretty much about his childhood, from his first memories to school life and then finally the start of his career as a bum/writer. As he writes about each stage of his life the writing style changes slightly, it gets more grown up as he himself gets more grown up.

As you would expect from his books the writing is coarse, it is vulgar and extremely honest, most people would be embarrassed to tell some of the details he shares with you. He captures the thoughts of a teenage boy perfectly, horny, insecure and obsessed with the female body.

If you wanna know just why Bukowski was like he was then this will inform you as well as any of the biographies written about him. Another Bukowski book I love and can't find a fault with.

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