my beef w bukowski was if he really hated society that much and hated himself that why did he give so many interviews? true isolationists that hate people live in the middle of nowhere and refuse human contact.
I think he was angry, but more at himself. and instead of dealing w his demons he drowned them in alcohol. the hating society thing was an angle. if he truly hated society he would have written in isolation and never granted an interview. I think a lot of my distain forr him comes from his inability to deal w his issues, and the fact that it's become cool to like him. I'm not saying that's why you like him it obviously isn't but you know what I'm saying.
as for piana ya like there's a def expiration date there. there's no going back to 'normal' or any semblance thereof.
He knew he was contradicting himself wrt doing interviews and readings. He often ridiculed himself for doing it, often feeling like he was selling out. Kind of damned if you do, damned if you don't. He never denied his weaknesses, his need for alcohol to deal with life etc. It's the same with any so-called misanthropist... so many claim to hate all people, saying how they are happiest when they are alone, perhaps saying they prefer the company of their dogs, yet they still need human contact in some form, in some quantity. Are there any true misanthropists who haven't killed themselves?
Bukowski was a bodybuilder. Look at this beautiful poem about lifting weights.
