‘Breakfast’ Is Over, Going ‘Post’-al
Last night was the latest meeting of The Turtle Party: Book Club and was our time to have our final discussion on Kurt Vonnegut’s Breakfast of Champions. There was a mixed-bag of opinions on the book and we decided to rate the book 3.5 stars out of 5. I personally found the narrative too loose to follow and it took me well past the midway point of the book to even get into it. Had it not been for the book club, I would’ve abandoned the book by chapter 10. In retrospect, we discussed how it might’ve been more successful had we read a book from early in Vonnegut’s career rather than near the end of it.
Caleb brought a selection of books for us to choose as our next book to read … by overwhelming consensus, we decided to take on Post Office by Charles Bukowski:
I’m really excited to read this book … it’s been one of the books I’ve been dying to get to. I look forward to discussing it with my fellow Turtle Partiers soon.
David and I are in full blown cleaning mode today … his sisters arrive tomorrow and we need to get this place in shipshape. That said, we are taking a break this afternoon to grab some food with a friend of ours we haven’t seen in ages. This evening will most likely be spent in the aisles at Target loading up on supplies … fun times!!
Tags: 'Post Office', The Turtle Party: Book Club
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October 21st, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I really liked Post Office! It’s especially great when you’re in a sucky day job. Luckily you don’t have that problem. Can’t wait to hear your take on it.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:02 pm
@FK — Believe me, I’ve had my fair share of sucky jobs … Rite Aid, AMC Theaters, Office Max … shudder
October 21st, 2009 at 2:15 pm
I read Cats Cradle and Slaughterhouse Five in one day each so I was super excited to start breakfast of champions only to get about 100 pages in and abandon it I just could not get into it. I’m a HUGE Bukowski fan run with the hunted is one of my faves.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Trent, you have such a fantastic life…just thought I should tell you that :)
October 21st, 2009 at 2:29 pm
I really loved Post Office. The prose is really personal and easy to follow, but be ready for some scenes that won’t make you like him very much! That’s why I love Bukowski- he’s proof a writer doesn’t always need a sympathetic narrator! If you fall in love with it, check out his poetry. It’s powerful, too. Hope you like it as much as I did!
October 21st, 2009 at 2:46 pm
@Mariah — Thanks, I think so too. I’m so blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life. I feel very, very lucky each and every day.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:49 pm
OMG! Working in a retail office supply is the worst! I work at Staples (part-time, thank God!) and the customers are literally ridiculous! I’ve worked in retail before (this is my second job) but customers in office supply stores are particularly worse. They expect you to go beyond and over for them and I realize that’s a part of my job and all, but they yell at you for no reason. It’s ridiculous.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:52 pm
@CHASE — TELL ME ABOUT IT! I worked at the Office Max Customer Service desk in OKC doing returns … which is basically the place where you stand there and have people YELL at you all day long until you make them happy. Ugh … it was so not fun. I feel you, my friend, I’ve been there and done that ;(
October 21st, 2009 at 4:29 pm
I just read breakfast of champions. It was ok but disappointing after reading Slaughter House 5 and Cat’s cradle.
The Post Office is a good read, but I highly recommend you read Ham on Rye first. Same main character, but earlier in his life- childhood. I love Bukowski’s no nonsense, gritty style. He’s not afraid to talk dick and farts, but manages to tell a profound story.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:03 am
I absolutely LOVE Bukowski! Except for Pulp…I hated that one! Post Office was my first Bukowski read, and it really pulled me in. I want so badly to comment on the book in detail, but you haven’t yet read it! Factotum and Women are also good reads. His collection titled Septuagenerian Stew is interesting, too. If you learn a bit about Bukowski, you’ll end up hating the guy though. He was a real jerk!
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Oh, this is a fun thread! I have to check out Ham on Rye. I haven’t read that yet. @Adam, yeah you kind of get the sense that he’s a chauvinistic a-hole. But at least we got some good books out of him!