Books

Women

Bukowski kisses and tells.

I read this as a palette cleanser between the Bible and the Quran. I remember loving Bukowski’ prose, perspective, and subject matter in my early twenties. 

But this was a serious letdown. The writing was raw and direct, but not as potent as I recalled. The whole thing just came off as misogynistic and mildly pornographic. The only grasps at a higher literary tier were the occasional references to poetry readings, the broader misanthropy, and the revealed self loathing. 

I want to make it clear that I am not a prude. I understand desire. I feel desire strongly. I like writing that authentically conveys desire. But Bukowski’s thoughts and behaviors as recorded here seem more like deliberately hostile consumption than the aching, yearning, worshipping experience of desire that makes sense and feels right to me.

I recommended avoiding this. If you want to read a filthy old man’s writings about sex, read Memories of my Melancholy Whores instead.

The Quran

Foundational text of Islam. 

As a persuasive text, this seemed stronger than the Bible. It’s clearer, more economical, and it hits its main points harder and more frequently. 

But just as with the Bible, I found little to like in the language or the substance. 

In hindsight, I shouldn’t have made this excursion into religious texts. But I was curious to see if I could find in them what has resonated so much for so many people for so many years.

I grew up Muslim and the text is supposed to be a miracle in itself.  The idea is that Mohammed was illiterate and the text is such poetry - how could he have done it? The text even references itself as a work of divine art.

So you apparently need to read it in Arabic to get the full effect.  I’ve heard it in Arabic and DO hear some poetry sometimes, but agree with your take.

Startup artist seeking inspiration.  Champion of /bcard

That's funny because us Mormons often say the same thing about Joe Smith - how was a poor illiterate farm boy in pre-civil war America able to write an entire book with a complex story?

@7858.eth would love to get you take on the BoM if you haven't read it yet. If you didn't find the Bible interesting, you'll probably feel the same way about BoM, but still would like to get your perspective.

Unholy Seer and Prophet of the Void | Mini-app Developer | https://paragraph.com/@euchologiaeinanis

I think I learned my lesson and I’m gonna wait another decade or two before I wade back into any religious texts