Bukowski recommendations?

Question

What book(s) would you recommend from Bukowski? What are your favorites? I'm a huge fan of Palahniuk and thought I'd give Bukowski a try. Which book is a "must read?"

Answer 1

Here's a "baker's dozen" of his best stuff (but heck, it's ALL great.)
If you like Chuck, you're going to love Bukowski.
Happy reading - but fasten your seat belt; it's going to be a bumpy ride.

1. War All the Time: Poems, 1981-1984
2. Ham on Rye
3. Love Is a Dog from Hell: Poems, 1974-1977
4. Pulp
5. Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame
6. What Matters Most Is How Well You Walk Through the Fire
7. The Most Beautiful Woman in Town and Other Stories
8. Septuagenarian Stew: Stories and Poems
9. Tales of Ordinary Madness
10. The Roominghouse Madrigals: Early Selected Poems, 1946-1966
11. Dangling in the Tournefortia
12. The Days Run Away Like Wild Horses over the Hills
13. Hollywood

P.S. My personal favorites are Number 1 for poetry and Number 2 for prose.

Answer 2

I completely agree with johnslat's list of recommended Bukowski reads. Ham on Rye is probably my favorite in the prose department, but I'd like to throw out a recommendation that might influence your decision.

If you are looking to get a taste of a prototypical Bukowski character, look no further than Henry Chinaski in Post Office. He was even named one of the "100 Best Fictional Characters Since 1900" by Book Magazine in 2002.

Happy reading!