Poetry Books
Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame
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Manufacturer: Ecco
Author: Charles Bukowski
Publisher: Ecco
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price: $10.88
You Save: $ 5.12 ( 32% )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Ecco
Author: Charles Bukowski
Publisher: Ecco
Average Customer Rating:
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Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame Description
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 811.54
EAN: 9780876851913
ISBN: 087685191X
Label: Ecco
Manufacturer: Ecco
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 240
Publication Date: 2002-06-05
Publisher: Ecco
Product Release Date: 2002-05-31
Studio: Ecco
Dewey Decimal Number: 811.54
EAN: 9780876851913
ISBN: 087685191X
Label: Ecco
Manufacturer: Ecco
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 240
Publication Date: 2002-06-05
Publisher: Ecco
Product Release Date: 2002-05-31
Studio: Ecco
Editorial Review of Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame
Customer Reviews of Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: America's greatest poet
Review: Bukowski was a brilliantly vulgar poet and is remembered as "The Poet Laureate of Skid Row."
This book is a compilation of Bukowski's first 4 chapbooks (small books of poetry) covering his work from 1955 to 1973. His earliest poems appear in "The Roominghouse Madrigals," a collection of his less-than-stellar work from 1946 to 1955.
"Burning in water..." contains some of his first really good poems, and some at the end can even be considered among his great poems. It's a good introduction to his work and should be the first of his works you read. I know from experience that you won't understand his other books of poetry too well if you don't read this one first.
This book was also instrumental in formulating my own style of poetry. A must read for all readers and poets alike.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A great break from all those 'romantic' and 'beautiful' poets
Review: Bukowski is vulgar, unsettling and insightful in his poetry. His poetry is a refreshing break from overly romantic poetry from the likes of Frost or Whitman. My girlfriend 'doesn't get poetry' but even she loved this book once I forced her to listen to a few. It is a great introduction to poetry to those who think poetry is only about frilly flowers and love; likewise 'poetry people' will find it refreshing and worthy of reading through.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Early Work by the Poet of Skid Row
Review: From 1944 -- 1955, Charles Bukowski (1920 -- 1994) lived the life of a wastrel, wandering from city to city, holding menial jobs, while spending most of his time drinking or fighting. Bukowski began writing poetry in earnest in about 1955, as he continued his life of drink, horseplaying, and sex, while gradually finding a voice for himself as a writer. In a poem called "we the artists", included in "Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame", Bukowski recalls these early years: "I keep thinking of myself young, then, the way I was,/ and I can hardly believe it but I don't mind it./ I hope the artists are still pround of me/but they never come back/again."
"Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame" (1974) is in part a compilation of several earlier Bukowski collections published as chapbooks in the years before Bukowski formed his relationship with John Martin and Black Sparrow Press. The poetry is unrhymed, in short free verse lines. It is largely but not entirely autobiographical as Bukowski explores his themes of death and suicide, drinking, womanizing, gambling, and finding meaning and redemption in life through art and poetry. Bukowski's early work tends to be more metaphorical and abstract than his later poetry.
The first part of the book, "It Captures my Heart in Its Hands" includes selections from a chapbook of that name published in 1963 with poetry written between 1955 and 1963. In addition to poems detailing Bukowski's experiences with women and the track, such as "to the whore who took my poems" and "a 340 dollar horse and a hundred dollar whore", it includes several poems about other people, including "for marilyn m." and "the life of borodin" as well as a meditative poem, "the singular self."
"Crucifix in a Deathhand" the second section of the book, likewise draws upon an early chapbook which included poems written between 1963 and 1965. In addition to the title poem, some of the writing in this collection shows Bukowski's compassion for the working poor, including the poem "the workers". The poem "a nice day" shows Bukowski trying to give meaning to the mundane, and the awful, events of daily life.
The third chapter of early poetry, "At Terror Street and Agony Way", (1065 -- 1968)includes, in addition to autobiographical poems, poems graphically describing the lives of outcasts and losers, including, "true story", "x-pug", and "he even looked like a nice guy".
The final collection in the book, "Burning in Water Drowning in Flame" Dates from 1972-1973. Bukowski, already attaining some recognition, had received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to write these poems. The poems "charles" and "my friend andre" are among those in which Bukowski offers portraits of other people. Some of the poems in this collection I enjoyed include "the sound of human lives" in which Bukowski observes " I don't know why people think effort and energy/have anything to do with/creation", "burned", which tells a story of rejection in a way unique to Bukowski, the philosophical "pull a string, a puppet moves" and "dreamlessly" which laments the lovelessness common to many people.
This is an excellent collection for those wishing to explore the early poetry of Charles Bukowski.
Robin Friedman
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Old Man Poet
Review: This is one of the best collections of poetry that I have ever read. I've recently discovered Bukowski after having one of my poems compared to his work. I did some research and a lot of people told me to start with this book. I am so glad that I did because it was a great introduction to Bukowski's work (and he does have a lot of work!) I am looking forward to reading my way through more of Bukowski's work in the near future.
These poems are full of humor, introspection, and managing to find inspiration in the smallest of things and occurances. Even though it may seem like some of the sentences are disjointed or out of place, every sentence is meant to be there and that is clearly visible when you reach the end of any poem in this collection. All of these poems seem to emanate with a jaded wisdom that one can't help but feel as if a lesson has been learned after reading each one.
My favorite poems in this collection that I recommend are "to the whore who took my poems", "for marilyn m.", and "i met a genius".
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: classic Buk
Review: A must-have for any serious collection of Bukowski's poetry. Contains some earlier work previously released in chap books in the Sixties. The poems are generally classic Buk material; if you're a fan of his work as I am, you'll find a lot of good stuff here. Get hold of the book, rip open a beer, and start reading...
Review Summary: America's greatest poet
Review: Bukowski was a brilliantly vulgar poet and is remembered as "The Poet Laureate of Skid Row."
This book is a compilation of Bukowski's first 4 chapbooks (small books of poetry) covering his work from 1955 to 1973. His earliest poems appear in "The Roominghouse Madrigals," a collection of his less-than-stellar work from 1946 to 1955.
"Burning in water..." contains some of his first really good poems, and some at the end can even be considered among his great poems. It's a good introduction to his work and should be the first of his works you read. I know from experience that you won't understand his other books of poetry too well if you don't read this one first.
This book was also instrumental in formulating my own style of poetry. A must read for all readers and poets alike.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A great break from all those 'romantic' and 'beautiful' poets
Review: Bukowski is vulgar, unsettling and insightful in his poetry. His poetry is a refreshing break from overly romantic poetry from the likes of Frost or Whitman. My girlfriend 'doesn't get poetry' but even she loved this book once I forced her to listen to a few. It is a great introduction to poetry to those who think poetry is only about frilly flowers and love; likewise 'poetry people' will find it refreshing and worthy of reading through.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Early Work by the Poet of Skid Row
Review: From 1944 -- 1955, Charles Bukowski (1920 -- 1994) lived the life of a wastrel, wandering from city to city, holding menial jobs, while spending most of his time drinking or fighting. Bukowski began writing poetry in earnest in about 1955, as he continued his life of drink, horseplaying, and sex, while gradually finding a voice for himself as a writer. In a poem called "we the artists", included in "Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame", Bukowski recalls these early years: "I keep thinking of myself young, then, the way I was,/ and I can hardly believe it but I don't mind it./ I hope the artists are still pround of me/but they never come back/again."
"Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame" (1974) is in part a compilation of several earlier Bukowski collections published as chapbooks in the years before Bukowski formed his relationship with John Martin and Black Sparrow Press. The poetry is unrhymed, in short free verse lines. It is largely but not entirely autobiographical as Bukowski explores his themes of death and suicide, drinking, womanizing, gambling, and finding meaning and redemption in life through art and poetry. Bukowski's early work tends to be more metaphorical and abstract than his later poetry.
The first part of the book, "It Captures my Heart in Its Hands" includes selections from a chapbook of that name published in 1963 with poetry written between 1955 and 1963. In addition to poems detailing Bukowski's experiences with women and the track, such as "to the whore who took my poems" and "a 340 dollar horse and a hundred dollar whore", it includes several poems about other people, including "for marilyn m." and "the life of borodin" as well as a meditative poem, "the singular self."
"Crucifix in a Deathhand" the second section of the book, likewise draws upon an early chapbook which included poems written between 1963 and 1965. In addition to the title poem, some of the writing in this collection shows Bukowski's compassion for the working poor, including the poem "the workers". The poem "a nice day" shows Bukowski trying to give meaning to the mundane, and the awful, events of daily life.
The third chapter of early poetry, "At Terror Street and Agony Way", (1065 -- 1968)includes, in addition to autobiographical poems, poems graphically describing the lives of outcasts and losers, including, "true story", "x-pug", and "he even looked like a nice guy".
The final collection in the book, "Burning in Water Drowning in Flame" Dates from 1972-1973. Bukowski, already attaining some recognition, had received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to write these poems. The poems "charles" and "my friend andre" are among those in which Bukowski offers portraits of other people. Some of the poems in this collection I enjoyed include "the sound of human lives" in which Bukowski observes " I don't know why people think effort and energy/have anything to do with/creation", "burned", which tells a story of rejection in a way unique to Bukowski, the philosophical "pull a string, a puppet moves" and "dreamlessly" which laments the lovelessness common to many people.
This is an excellent collection for those wishing to explore the early poetry of Charles Bukowski.
Robin Friedman
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Old Man Poet
Review: This is one of the best collections of poetry that I have ever read. I've recently discovered Bukowski after having one of my poems compared to his work. I did some research and a lot of people told me to start with this book. I am so glad that I did because it was a great introduction to Bukowski's work (and he does have a lot of work!) I am looking forward to reading my way through more of Bukowski's work in the near future.
These poems are full of humor, introspection, and managing to find inspiration in the smallest of things and occurances. Even though it may seem like some of the sentences are disjointed or out of place, every sentence is meant to be there and that is clearly visible when you reach the end of any poem in this collection. All of these poems seem to emanate with a jaded wisdom that one can't help but feel as if a lesson has been learned after reading each one.
My favorite poems in this collection that I recommend are "to the whore who took my poems", "for marilyn m.", and "i met a genius".
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: classic Buk
Review: A must-have for any serious collection of Bukowski's poetry. Contains some earlier work previously released in chap books in the Sixties. The poems are generally classic Buk material; if you're a fan of his work as I am, you'll find a lot of good stuff here. Get hold of the book, rip open a beer, and start reading...