Hollywood

By: Charles Bukowski

Narrated by: Christian Baskous

Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's Summary

Bukowski's alter ego, Henry Chinaski, returns, revelling in his eternal penchant for booze, women, and horse-racing as he makes the precarious journey from poet to screenwriter. Based on Bukowski's experiences when working on the film Barfly, the absurdity and egotism of the film industry are laid bare in this deadpan, touching, and funny glimpse into the endless negotiations and back-stabbings of la-la land. Hollywood is an irreverent jaunt that serves up the beating heart of Hollywood with razor-sharp humour.

©1989 Charles Bukowski (P)2013 HarperCollinsPublishers

Critic Reviews

“In this hilarious roman a clef, Bukowski draws on his experiences while writing the script for the 1987 film Barfly…While Bukowski fans will welcome the reappearance of Chinaski, with his penchant for booze, women, and horse racing, film buffs should enjoy the novel for its delightful and irreverent portrayal of Hollywood. Highly recommended.” ( Library Journal)

Buk Lives!

If you could sum up Hollywood in three words, what would they be?

Couldn't stop listening

What did you like best about this story?

Bukowski's best book

What about Christian Baskous’s performance did you like?

Christian Baskous did a great job. Bukowski comes alive with the reading and my wife even thought that it was Buk's voice.
In a way it was.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

YES

Any additional comments?

I also downloaded Pulp.

Christian Baskous channels Butkowski.....

just finished Hollywood after listening to in this order: Ham on Rye, Factotum, Post Office, Women and then Hollywood. This is, more or less, the proper chronology of Butkowski's life as told through his character of Hank. All were terrific, laugh out loud funny and tragic at the same time.

i plan now to move on to the short stories, but I am sorry that Christian Baskous is the the narrator for only one or two. The great narrator Will Patton does several, but as good as he is, Baskous is the living embodiment of the later poet/writer, imo.

After watching Butkowski read via you tube and watching a documentary movie, i am more convinced than ever of that statement. I plan to rewatch the 1987 movie, Barfly which was the movie that Hollywood was based on although in the book all names are changed as well as that of the movie title. There is also a movie entitled Factotom, but rather than being set in the '40's it is set in the '90's.

I've never read a bad Bukowski

I love anything Bukowski. What a gift this man had. Christian Baskous is Bukowski. I can't imagine anyone else reading for him. Very entertaining.

Such a good performance!!

Christian Baskous is a fantastic reader of Bukowski’s work. I’ve enjoyed listening to all of his novels in large part due to Baskous’ style and voice.

Cheers Chineski, you fucking drunk!

Great listen through. character performance top notch, John Pinchot is hilarious! the drunkard hank always a good time.

Hollywood

Informative creative great look into his later life and enjoyed the story very much. Need more

Love Bukowski, but...

The enjoyed the story, but the character accents were distracting. Narration was weak in my opinion.

Easily his funniest book

Was a huge fan of Ham… But I’ve changed my mind. This book’s Story, writing, insight into life, humor… and the Performance was incredible. Bukowski’s best novel. Best characters. Great book.

this is the worst voice ever for this book.

narrator is awful. narrator is awful. narrator is awful. narrator is awful. who though this guy should have narrated this story?

Good

Not the best of bukowski, but pleasant enough to get your dose. Great narration also.