Charles Bukowski's Scarlet

Pamela,Charles Bukowski is my mentor, my hero, my inspiration when it comes to writing/poetry. I plan on visiting his grave in the next few years and cracking a Heineken in his memory....I'm a Charles Bukowski collector/fanatic/fan, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for writing this book. I've read it twice through in the past two months and it is absolutely glorious.Fans of Mr. Bukowski who either weren't alive or were to young during his lifetime to truly appreciate him and his legacy are so blessed to have this piece of literature. Pamela has written an honest, unbiased, firsthand account of life with Charles Bukowski. She is perfectly comfortable with the young girl she was during these years yet she isn't hesitant to share the wisdom she has gained as she's progressed in years. There is recollection, regret, satisfaction, and embarrassment displayed here. We get a glimpse into the private moments of Charles Bukowski's life from another person's point-of-view. Fans of his novels, poems, short stories will find that Pamela's accounts fill in missing pieces in his life story which played out in: Love is a Dog From Hell, Born Into This and so many other places.....Pamela's perspective is a priceless treasure.What I respect most about this novel is the RESPECT she has for Mr. Bukowski despite their differences and their eventual breakup. In recollection, she realizes and understands how blessed and special she is to have been part of his life both literary and literally. She regrets not having talked to him after their split--always imagining she'd see him again--and really brings the reader to tears (if they have any connection to Hank) by the end of the book. Pamela, I'd give anything to be able to tell you in person how much this book means to me. I'll read it ten more times without a doubt. Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU!!!!Charles Bukowski fans.....don't hesitate....add it to your cart...support Pamela....she is in this to share her experiences with the man we all know and love....Charles HANK Bukowski...it isn't some desperate attempt to CASH-INwell writtengreat informationfilling in gaps left in Hank's stories/poems/prosea gem in the the world that is CHARLES BUKOWSKI5 Stars!YES!!!!!!!!!

Those of us who are devoted to Bukowski, which seems in most cases to mean we're not only fans of his art, but also of his persona, will hungrily read any account which might give us some insight (or even just some voyeuristic pleasure). This book falls squarely into the latter category. Pamela Wood is a successful realtor; her other claim to fame is that for awhile, Bukowski was madly in love with her. He was always partial to redheads; not only did she have a cascade of fiery hair, she was a stripper built like a brick s***house, a single mother who brought out Hank's nurturing instincts, and a shrewd opportunist who parlayed her looks into rent payments and presents. She reacts to his death with a stunned grief which seems to bely the emotional detachment she exhibited when they were a couple; she now states in the documentary "Born Into This" that she never took the relationship seriously, while we see Hank leaping up from his couch when a car parks outside, hoping it's her. It's another view of the softer, sensitive side of Bukowski. It's also a great, touching example of an intelligent man thinking only with his heart and his libido, kicking his good sense to the curb.

You don't need to be a fan of Charles Bukowski to love this book. It is a tour de force of life in Los Angeles in the mid 1970s, from the run-down apartments in East Hollywood to the Hollywood Ranch Market to the Hollywood Zody's. And even better, it is an endearing and amusing commentary on the sometimes crazy and dysfunctional nature of romantic relationships.

Very interesting and well written book!

Everything you need to know about cupcakes was written in the book Women. This is a cash grab only....

I really enjoyed this book, the stories are interesting and surprisingly honest - the author willingly shows the dysfunctional and dark side of her life before and while she dated Bukowski - he was her girlfriend for two years in the late 1970s.. Originally, I considered her an unlikeable anti-hero in the likes of some of the people in Kerouac's On The Road, but eventually recognized her for the courage she showed to openingly discussing her troubled past - a time of pills and drink and East Hollywood low-lifes. If you want more insight into Bukowski and what made him, this book provides that - not to mention the story of someone who took ownership of her weaknesses and eventually turned her life around. One of the best books I read this year.

Ein überflüssiges und langweiliges Buch,ins Leben gerufen von einer Frau,die zum guten Schluss auch noch ein Stück vom Bukowski-Kuchen abhaben möchte.Man erfährt wirklich nichts neues.

An extraordinarily frustrating book/memoir. This recollection of a relationship between `Cupcakes' and Bukowski must be read with great care. The author is extremely selective in her portrayal of events and they are incredibly filtered and censored for reasons I can only imagine to be to protect her current status. The credibility of the details contained within this book are minimal, and the author more detestable as the book progresses. From her hypocritical, self-obsessed and increasingly tiresome depictions of those around her - best friend and brother in particular - namely that they were/became low-life drug addicted manipulators who were not worthy of even the smallest degree of compassion, to her relentless sense of entitlement and horrendous judgemental attitude towards almost everyone, makes this memoir pretty damn difficult to read. Particularly considering all the above and more come from someone who abandoned those who needed help, continuously dumped her daughter at her mother's house so she could get high, popped pills all day long, drunk alcohol as often as she could, permitted Bukowski to pay for her rent and food and booze, quit work and claimed from the state despite constant complaints regarding others who did the same, had multiple relationships in order to use and abuse, and generally lacked any humanity or compassion and manipulated almost everyone to get what she wanted - including the man most readers are actually interested in. Sections such as her description of being struck so hard by poverty that she could only drink champagne, make this book a really aggravating read, and not least of all because the author display no signs of remorse towards how she took advantage of and emotionally scarred Bukowski, and all while continuing to judge and ignore all the rest with her despicable holier than thou attitude (small snippets of morality are expressed but they are far from believable). Upon finishing reading this memoir, one can understand precisely why and how she drove Bukowski so utterly insane, and the only good to come of all of this, was `Women' - which pretty much sh*** all over this.