Post Office: A Novel by Charles Bukowski

Charles Bukowski. Post Office: A Novel. 1971, 2002.

Positive statements first. A well written book. Bukowski uses short sentences that flow beautifully from one to another. He provides just enough description of place, mood, situation, etc. to fully appreciate the different scenes and scenarios that are in the book. As one who just completed a brief stint in the Post Office as a processing clerk, I can attest that his description of the monotony and challenges of the work, management styles, and rules of the PO remain true. Bukowski captures well the impact of multiple years of this kind of work on the body and mind. 

Negative statements: I did not like the main character who is also the narrator of this story. Henry Chinaski is a selfish, foul-mouthed, booze loving drunkard, cigarette smoking, race-track gambling, and womanizing man. He lives for the moment and is impulsive. He does honest work, complaining about it bitterly the whole time, to support an immoral life. 

Yet, Bukowski's writing is so darn good that I wanted to see Chinaski to the end of the novel. I am glad I did. In the end, the Chinaski decides to responsibly resign from the Post Office and devote his time to writing a novel.