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The Most Beautiful Woman in Town & Other Stories  By  cover art

The Most Beautiful Woman in Town & Other Stories

By: Charles Bukowski, Gail Chiarrello - editor
Narrated by: Will Patton
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Publisher's summary

"He loads his head full of coal and diamonds shoot out of his finger tips. What a trick. The mole genius has left us with another digest. It's a full house - read 'em and weep." - Tom Waits

Bukowski's mad immortal origins, surfaced from the literary underground, have addicted legions of audiences who've recognized Bukowski as one of America's greatest realist writers and poets.

OBIE winner Will Patton (Remember the Titans, The Good Wife, Armageddon) recreates Bukowski in his visceral prime, along with every eye-popping character in his life, each adversary, lover, and stranger in a lost city.

Charles Bukowski is one of America's best-known contemporary writers of poetry and prose, and, many would claim, its most influential and imitated poet. He was born in Andernach, Germany, and raised in Los Angeles, where he lived for 50 years. He published his first story in 1944, when he was 24, and began writing poetry at the age of 35. He died in San Pedro, California, on March 9, 1994, at the age of 73, shortly after completing his last novel, Pulp.

©1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1983 Charles Bukowski (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Collections such as The Most Beautiful Woman in Town (1983)...showcase Bukowski's impressive narrative and creative abilities in stories that most often take place in bars and dingy apartments but are not simply about sex and alcohol. They're about staying alive in a world where the only choice for the majority of us is to face a firing squad in an office every day - the post office, in Bukowski's case - or maintain a commitment to creativity as we struggle to pay for food and a meager place to live." ( Santa Fe Reporter)

What listeners say about The Most Beautiful Woman in Town & Other Stories

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I loved it!

Great storytelling. May not be for everyone, but I loved it! Made me laugh, made me uneasy, and sparked my imagination.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Life through the eyes of your average Joe

Took a minute to understand what I was reading, but once it was realized, the raw nature of it was all a little too unsettling. Bukowski touches on those feelings that are never really voiced, in an animalistic way that may you keep reading. Not for the feint of heart, but definitely recommend

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  • Overall
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Brilliant writing, gritty tales

I was surprised and impressed with 1st story and Bukowski's skill in narration and capturing his character. Every story essentially is about a troubled human whose life consists of sex, drunkenness, violence, worthlessness, and rarely, a terrible job.
But his writing is great.

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3 people found this helpful

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funny

loved it. I'm a new fan. made me laugh. will Patton was perfect for the characters

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2 people found this helpful

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Terrific narrator

Will Patton sounds exactly the way I imagine Charles Bukowski to sound. Excellent reading, no overacting; he makes this a great event.

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2 people found this helpful

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Not really a story.

Just random unconnected vignettes. The writing is fine but not good enough to make up for that. Maybe I'm just not in that mood.

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  • Overall
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Awesome

I loved these little tales of drunken madness and sex. He combines the beautiful with the gross and it works

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Vulgar - yes.

Finding this is why I keep my audible subscription. Will Patton could not possibly do any better. Simply perfect . He embodies Bukowski and his characters. He’s so damn nimble.

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10 people found this helpful

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Bukowski ... no one else like him

If you don't know Bukowski, please understand he doesn't give a #!:% what you think. Bukowski is like the devil on man's shoulder always there tempting you but balanced by the angel on your other shoulder. Bukowski doesn't have an angel and he never failed to embrace everything his little devil told him. Bukowski is not for everyone, but I love his authenticity and find myself laughing out loud, smiling ear to ear! and Will Paton can't be beat, best narrator on Audible!!!!!!

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  • Overall
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Excellent narration and stories.

Not for the fright hearted or those sweetish about intimate subjects and foul language. If you can get past that, it’s a hilarious and at times heart rendering collection of wonderfully told stories. Pay attention to chapter 22. It’s as applicable today as when written.

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