Ham on Rye

 

Title        : Ham on Rye

Writer     : Charles Bukowski

Year        : 1982

Language              : English

This is the second book of Bukowski that I’ve read. Like his other works I’ve caught, this novel is just simple in its language and imagery. However, Bukowski is always consistent with the core of his stories that is, talking about himself.

This book tells about his life during his childhood up to his adolescence. He talks about his so-called horrible family in which his father is like a dictator who rules the home with unlimited power and acts like he’s the best man in the world. Sadly, his mother is powerless and can only be submissive to her husband. He, depicted as Henry Chinaski here in the novel, can also only be submissive without any power or chance to rebel.

His childhood is always filled by his father’s violence and dictatorship, while his life is not even better as he grows up as a teenager. His wild character and his environment support his crack puberty as he pushes out his sexual desire. He depicts his normal male desire towards his friends, teachers, neighbors, etc very obviously and clearly. He never thinks that it’s wrong. Unfortunately, he never gets a girlfriend or at least, a girl who wants to fuck with him.

His later teenage life is then broken after he wanders as his father kicks him out of home. Homeless and penniless, he decides to goes from one place to another and sleeps wherever he can sleep. The only thing that he wants is writing and mainly, drinking. He never thinks about being someone or doing something which is beneficial for him. For him, life is merely for him and he only wants to do whatever he wants as long as he’s happy with his life. He thinks that the world has gone crazy and so are the people inside it. His anti-trust to anyone in the world makes him so cynical and thinks that all people surrounds him are stupid and idiot. He loves to live by his own without anyone else around him.

I don’t really like the story, honestly. But I still appreciate his honesty in telling his own story and thoughts on everything. In one point, I even agree that life is only for ourselves. His language also never changes and that makes this novel is nice to read.

Rating:  2.5