Women

A Novel

By: Charles Bukowski

Narrated by: Christian Baskous

Low-life writer and unrepentant alcoholic Henry Chinaski was born to survive. After decades of slacking off at low-paying dead-end jobs, blowing his cash on booze and women, and scrimping by in flea-bitten apartments, Chinaski sees his poetic star rising at last. Now, at 50, he is reveling in his sudden rock-star life, running 300 hangovers a year, and maintaining a sex life that would cripple Casanova.

With all of Bukowski's trademark humor and gritty, dark honesty, this 1978 follow-up to Post Office and Factotum is an uncompromising account of life on the edge.

©1978 Charles Bukowski (P)2013 HarperCollinsPublishers

Critic reviews

"One of those writers whom each new reader discovers with a transgressive thrill." ( New Yorker)

"A laureate of American low life" ( Time)

"The ultimate Bukowski novel, packed with hilarious episodes." ( Uncut)

Crazy Ride

Any additional comments?

I just loved this book! (It's not for the fainthearted or easily offended types). For the rest of us, it's a real fun time. I have no idea why I like Henry but I DO! He's AWFUL and so are most of his women "friends" but he has a certain irresistible charm. The reading (more like a PERFORMANCE) is straight on PERFECT-even down to a man reading the women's dialogue. I am going to read all of Bukowski's works. Can't get enough!

Raunchy & Real!

It starts a bit drab but not for long. athe narrator does get better by 2nd chapter. Bukowski is a morbid soul that illuminates in his writing, although a bit morbid, raunchy and wonderfully vulgar... he writes with life! Real life! No rainbows, or aloof way of life. He writes with grit because he lived this gritty life, where by choice or circumstance, but nonetheless authentic and true to himself! One of my favorite authors thus far. Not one for the easily offended! Definitely no "cancel culture" needs to be reading this!
The best "dirty" movie ever written!

Chinaski 4

Of the Chinaski books, I find Women to be the least compelling. I loved Ham on Rye and Post Office. I thought Factotum was great. However, had I been reading Women rather than listening to it, I'm not sure that I would have finished it. Christian Baskous's voice and his interpretation of Chinaski make up for story. Absolutely read this if you've read the other three. Just go in with lowered expectations.

a great story

I loved it
I didn't think I'd like it at first but u get absorbed in
it is full of truth honesty sadness and grit

Unique narration

I've tried to read the text of this book and just couldn't get into it. However, having this narrator read it nonchalantly worked and I finished it. I don't think I'd listen to it again, but it was a good performance and I appreciate Bukowski's disregard for complicated prose and established literature.

I hated it

I hated it and yet I couldn't stop listening. It's a captivating story and it makes you think about your experiences. Very well written and I think I'm glad I purchased it.

Genius Narrator, Good for a Laugh

WOMEN is worth a whirl just for how well Christian Baskous gives life to the characters, his spot on narration mixed with Bukowski's absolutely raw writing, will keep you in stiches.

I suppose on some level it's the story how Bukowski met his wife. On another it's his honesty. If I had to say anything about Bukowski it's that he's the most honest man I ever read or listened to. There's something to chew on if one wanted to put it there, enough is put forth that one could argue about: love, sex, abuse, relationships, cycles of abuse, misandry, misogyny, outright misanthropes. But, in all the horror, Bukowski really paints a lovely portrait - once we embrace warts and all, in a non-pretentious manner, we're not a terrible sort. I suppose. The other way to look at his style is to just take it at face value and move on.

There's moments near the end, I suppose his inner turmoil at his true nature, where he gets to be much worse than all the women who abused him early on. I sort of came to detest him in the last hour of the audiobook, he redeems himself in some ways. But, that's not something it seems he'd really care about anyway.

Great Story, Bad Voice Acting

Title says it all. I’ve read this book twice. Love it. Now listening to the audiobook…. the voice acting is so bad.

Perfect narrator for this story

It was funny, sad, sexy. Bukowski has a style all his own. He gets right to the point.

The Best of the Chinaski Series - Read with Caution

While reading you may learn something about your own depravity, so err on the side of caution.

Bukowski is brutal, yet horribly honest and sincere about his various shortcomings and predilections. If we were all to be as honest and brutal with ourselves and our audiences fine art would be much greater than what it is and has been. Of course, that type of self-awareness goes hand in glove with giving into uncensored and potentially sick desire. Bukowski most definitely ‘gave in.’

I find it difficult to parse through all of his violence and bulls***. At the core of Bukowski’s prose however is that brutal honesty; honesty about sexual depravity, abuse, misogyny, the psychoses long-term alcoholism and lonesomeness generate.

He was not a man of his time, nor the time after. His work has not aged well. He does I think tell us something about the human condition, in that we cannot help but take ourselves too seriously. Bukowski, alongside all of his deviance, was a social critic. His chosen lifestyle allowed the content of his writing to contribute to an ongoing commentary on the failings of 20th century America. He loved sex and drinking, hated himself greatly, and hated people more. The fact that he generated such a readership, and continues to, is indicative of much.

-Noah Balfour
2023