Love is a Dog From Hell: Bukowski’s Raw Poetic Reflections on Life and Heartbreak

I recently started getting back in to poetry after reading Words of Marc D Brown: The Poetry Collection (which was brilliant!) and this was the next perfect choice for me. Brilliant collection of poetry, so raw and real. So much poetry out there is...i feel quite long winded and pretentious but Bukowski really gets it right for me. These are poems that make you think and although the writings were obviously personal to him, i think you can relate in ways. This style is something i want to read more of; Bukowski (& Brown) will without a doubt be taking up more of my time.

There are some gems within this volume, which as the title suggests, concentrates on the themes of love and relationships. In his own inimitable style Hank catalogues his numerous amorous encounters - by turns funny, tragic and most often poignant. This particular volume is less poetry, more a selection of very short stories. For vintage Bukowski at his best I would recommend 'The Days Run Away like Wild Horses over the Hills.'

This book too me is pure heaven on a broken plate, the only way in which I can describe with how the buk man writes, is when your on a beach and you start eating a sandwich and this sandwich is delectable until you come across nasty,gritty,dirty sand but this sandwich is so good you cant stop eating it. This book for me is perverted love on paper. I got a can and sprayed and sprayed and sprayed and finally the roach came out and gave me a very dirty look. then he fell down into the bathtub and i watched him dying with a subtle pleasure because i paid the rent and he didn't. (cockroach)

I bought this book as a gift for someone who wanted to read a book by Bukowski. It turned out not to be quite the kind of book I thought it was, so I ended up buying a novel too - this was my fault for not reading enough about it before purchase. It is a collection of poems and short pieces of writing on the subject of love and not a novel. The person who received the gift liked it and finds it a good book with all the typically Bukowski features of gritty, sometimes grim realities of life and yet still retaining hope and joy too. Some of the other reviews here do a better job than I can in describing the style of the writing and the way it might affect a reader. It is hard to remain unmoved by almost anything by Bukowski, although how deeply you relate to his view of the world and the people in it will depend on your personal experience.

Lovely cover and texture to the book. A great selection of poems and a nice novel size. A really lovely print. Nice paper too and good font size. My favourite Bukowski so far. Very raw.

Excellence in it's pure form. Dark, cynical, doomed but also excellent, real and true. Couldn't recommend it more if you're into the beat generation gig.

If you have not read Bukowski's poetry before, then, take your time and read with an open mind because he is always worth reading. He will open your mind to a different understanding of poetry and life as seen from Buk's viewpoint. Read please.

good book, wasn’t expecting the poems to be so graphic

I read this book when I was 20 for the first time. It helped me a lot to understand my feelings, to be able to listen and hear who surrounded me. I have to admit that it’s a bit hard to read the first time but I think it depends on the mood you’re in at that moment. At the end I really enjoyed this book and I recommend it

ordered this book 1 day ago and it came directly the morning after love the cover and bukowski never disappoints

A very good company in your melancholia. Humorous reads. Bought it 3 years ago. Good to have by. Some of them are fantastic. A bit forbidden and sultry. Yet melancholic.

Perfect condition and a great book

Absolutamente maravilhoso. Bukowski a ser, perfeitamente, Bukowski