Be Kind
we are always asked
to understand the other person's
viewpoint
no matter how
out-dated
foolish or
obnoxious.
one is asked
to view
their total error
their life-waste
with
kindliness,
especially if they are
aged.
but age is the total of
our doing.
they have aged
badly
because they have
lived
out of focus,
they have refused to
see.
not their fault?
whose fault?
mine?
I am asked to hide
my viewpoint
from them
for fear of their
fear.
age is no crime
but the shame
of a deliberately
wasted
life
among so many
deliberately
wasted
lives
is.
Charles Bukowski
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Review of Hard-Boiled Men
Book Review
Hard-Boiled Men
Guy Jacobs
From: www.compulsivereader.com
Direct link: http://www.compulsivereader.com/html/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1828
Hard-Boiled Men
By: Guy Jacobs
IUniverse, 2006
ISBN-10: 0595382444
When I first picked up my borrowed copy of Hard-Boiled Men, I took a long and careful look at those eggs that seemed to roll out of the bright red cover and in to my fingers. There is no doubt that this book is unlike most contemporary novels. First time author, Guy Jacobs does not bother to go into deep character development, foreshadowing, Situational Irony or any other commonly used literary devices. What the author does provide is an extremely straightforward and forthcoming account of the heartache and loneliness that often compliment single life in NYC. But do not mistake this book for a somber one. Hard-Boiled Men is an hilarious read. I could not stop laughing throughout it at.
The first chapter of the book takes place in a midtown Asian massage parlor where Jacobs leaves little to the imagination. Jacobs’ style of writing can be explicit, at times bordering on pornography. But there is so much more. Beyond those few chapters that made me blush, I found Hard-Boiled Men to be a thought provoking novel. Some of the main issues that the novel deals with are intercultural and interfaith relationships, fear of commitment as well as lots of sexuality. But no issue stands more clearly in this book than is Benjamin Wise’s quest to regain his faith in the concept of finding true love and his attempt to let go of his past.
I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who ever dealt with a divorce or a breakup form a person they loved. In his own unique way, Jacobs successfully takes his readers into a funny and sometimes surprising tour of that enigmatic mind of the single man. Hard-Boiled Men reminded me of a modern day Portnoy’s Complaint or a sober Jewish version of Charles Bukowski. I highly recommend this fun and thought-provoking novel.
Hard-Boiled Men
By: Guy Jacobs
IUniverse, 2006
ISBN-10: 0595382444
When I first picked up my borrowed copy of Hard-Boiled Men, I took a long and careful look at those eggs that seemed to roll out of the bright red cover and in to my fingers. There is no doubt that this book is unlike most contemporary novels. First time author, Guy Jacobs does not bother to go into deep character development, foreshadowing, Situational Irony or any other commonly used literary devices. What the author does provide is an extremely straightforward and forthcoming account of the heartache and loneliness that often compliment single life in NYC. But do not mistake this book for a somber one. Hard-Boiled Men is an hilarious read. I could not stop laughing throughout it at.
The first chapter of the book takes place in a midtown Asian massage parlor where Jacobs leaves little to the imagination. Jacobs’ style of writing can be explicit, at times bordering on pornography. But there is so much more. Beyond those few chapters that made me blush, I found Hard-Boiled Men to be a thought provoking novel. Some of the main issues that the novel deals with are intercultural and interfaith relationships, fear of commitment as well as lots of sexuality. But no issue stands more clearly in this book than is Benjamin Wise’s quest to regain his faith in the concept of finding true love and his attempt to let go of his past.
I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who ever dealt with a divorce or a breakup form a person they loved. In his own unique way, Jacobs successfully takes his readers into a funny and sometimes surprising tour of that enigmatic mind of the single man. Hard-Boiled Men reminded me of a modern day Portnoy’s Complaint or a sober Jewish version of Charles Bukowski. I highly recommend this fun and thought-provoking novel.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Two Women Within One
Jimmy let that piece of paper lay around his desk for a couple of weeks. Surrounded by overdue bills from the local utility company, the television and cable company and numerous credit card, this small indifferent white envelope had nothing that distinguished it from the rest, besides her familiar handwriting.
Jimmy woke up kind of early on that Sunday morning. Some people who walked by his building were making load noises. It almost sounded like a fight and Jimmy when never one to miss out on such things. By the time he got out of bed and threw on a pair of his red holiday boxers that she gave him as a gift, the people on the street were gone. Disappointed, he walked out into his kitchen and was surprised to learn that it was 5:10am. An hour later the sun would come up on another morning in Arizona.
He brewed up some of that expensive flavored coffee that she made him buy online and then turned on Sportcenter in the other room. He did not want to wake her up. Things were going well between them, or at least that was the way he felt about her. Three and a half months was not enough time to tell where it would wall lead.
On his way out to the balcony where he planned to smoke a cigarette, he picked up the envelope from the pile and carefully opened it without a tear. It took Jimmy half a cigarette to withdraw the letter form the envelope. Good news or bad news, any news from Maria could only spell trouble for him, now that he moved on.
Later on, in the bar, when they held hands, he told her about what she said. Lizzie tried to be the good girlfriend, the kind that was understanding and not too jealous. But he could see it on her face. Later on that not when they made love he closed his eyes and held her close, as if he had not seen her in a while.
Holding on to two women in the arms of the one, he thought about it all and wondered how much time will pass until he will forget about Maria and move on with his life.
NYC Novels
Jimmy woke up kind of early on that Sunday morning. Some people who walked by his building were making load noises. It almost sounded like a fight and Jimmy when never one to miss out on such things. By the time he got out of bed and threw on a pair of his red holiday boxers that she gave him as a gift, the people on the street were gone. Disappointed, he walked out into his kitchen and was surprised to learn that it was 5:10am. An hour later the sun would come up on another morning in Arizona.
He brewed up some of that expensive flavored coffee that she made him buy online and then turned on Sportcenter in the other room. He did not want to wake her up. Things were going well between them, or at least that was the way he felt about her. Three and a half months was not enough time to tell where it would wall lead.
On his way out to the balcony where he planned to smoke a cigarette, he picked up the envelope from the pile and carefully opened it without a tear. It took Jimmy half a cigarette to withdraw the letter form the envelope. Good news or bad news, any news from Maria could only spell trouble for him, now that he moved on.
Later on, in the bar, when they held hands, he told her about what she said. Lizzie tried to be the good girlfriend, the kind that was understanding and not too jealous. But he could see it on her face. Later on that not when they made love he closed his eyes and held her close, as if he had not seen her in a while.
Holding on to two women in the arms of the one, he thought about it all and wondered how much time will pass until he will forget about Maria and move on with his life.
NYC Novels
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Another Day
A Poem by the great Los Angeles Poet Charles (Hank) Bukowski
having the low down blues and going
into a restraunt to eat.
you sit at a table.
the waitress smiles at you.
she's dumpy. her ass is too big.
she radiates kindess and symphaty.
live with her 3 months and a man would no real agony.
o.k., you'll tip her 15 percent.
you order a turkey sandwich and a
beer.
the man at the table across from you
has watery blue eyes and
a head like an elephant.
at a table further down are 3 men
with very tiny heads
and long necks
like ostiches.
they talk loudly of land development.
why, you think, did I ever come
in here when I have the low-down
blues?
then the the waitress comes back eith the sandwich
and she asks you if there will be anything
else?
snd you tell her, no no, this will be
fine.
then somebody behind you laughs.
it's a cork laugh filled with sand and
broken glass.
you begin eating the sandwhich.
it's something.
it's a minor, difficult,
sensible action
like composing a popular song
to make a 14-year old
weep.
you order another beer.
jesus,look at that guy
his hands hang down almost to his knees and he's
whistling.
well, time to get out.
pivk up the bill.
tip.
go to the register.
pay.
pick up a toothpick.
go out the door.
your car is still there.
and there are 3 men with heads
and necks
like ostriches all getting into one
car.
they each have a toothpick and now
they are talking about women.
they drive away first
they drive away fast.
they're best i guess.
it's an unberably hot day.
there's a first-stage smog alert.
all the birds and plants are dead
or dying.
you start the engine.
having the low down blues and going
into a restraunt to eat.
you sit at a table.
the waitress smiles at you.
she's dumpy. her ass is too big.
she radiates kindess and symphaty.
live with her 3 months and a man would no real agony.
o.k., you'll tip her 15 percent.
you order a turkey sandwich and a
beer.
the man at the table across from you
has watery blue eyes and
a head like an elephant.
at a table further down are 3 men
with very tiny heads
and long necks
like ostiches.
they talk loudly of land development.
why, you think, did I ever come
in here when I have the low-down
blues?
then the the waitress comes back eith the sandwich
and she asks you if there will be anything
else?
snd you tell her, no no, this will be
fine.
then somebody behind you laughs.
it's a cork laugh filled with sand and
broken glass.
you begin eating the sandwhich.
it's something.
it's a minor, difficult,
sensible action
like composing a popular song
to make a 14-year old
weep.
you order another beer.
jesus,look at that guy
his hands hang down almost to his knees and he's
whistling.
well, time to get out.
pivk up the bill.
tip.
go to the register.
pay.
pick up a toothpick.
go out the door.
your car is still there.
and there are 3 men with heads
and necks
like ostriches all getting into one
car.
they each have a toothpick and now
they are talking about women.
they drive away first
they drive away fast.
they're best i guess.
it's an unberably hot day.
there's a first-stage smog alert.
all the birds and plants are dead
or dying.
you start the engine.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)