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Hot Water Music  By  cover art

Hot Water Music

By: Charles Bukowski
Narrated by: Christian Baskous
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Publisher's summary

Hot Water Music is a collection of short stories by Charles Bukowski, published in 1983. The collection deals largely with: drinking, women, gambling, and writing. It is an important collection that establishes Bukowski's minimalist style and his thematic oeuvre.

©1983 Charles Bukowski (P)2013 HarperCollinsPublishers

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What listeners say about Hot Water Music

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome collection of short stories

I've read probably 20+ Bukowski books. I enjoy his novels and poetry, but the short story collections have always been hit or miss. I had never read Hot Water Music before, but I figured to get it on Audible and give it a shot. I am very, very impressed with it. The stories are all very short. Most of them involve the types of 'ordinary madness' that Bukowski wrote about so well. I am very pleased I bought this audio and I will listen to again in the future.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

My first buk back in '90 or so, enjoyed revisit!

..gotta admit though, i prefer charles bukowski in book form. Not a fan of folks narrating his work.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Early Bukowski

You'll recognize the seeds of stories from his novels and the movie Barfly.

Christian Baskous as always performs perfectly.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great, but some overlap with prior collections

Bukowski; what else can you say? He’s at his best with the short story and this collection has some great ones. I did notice that a few towards the end I had heard before; it wasn’t deja vu. I think I prefer Baskous as narrator over the actor from YS who’s name I cannot recall…

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

True-to-life stories with only gentle depravity.

Christian Baskous is better than I thought. He apparently rises to the challenge of more dramatic material. But only Will Patton can PERFORM like nobody else. Okay?

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

If you like Bukowski...

This narrator killed it. His enthusiasm is evident. Perfect inflexion. I can't imagine a better voice to read Bukowski.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Not his best but definitely ALRIGHT

Maybe a 5. Certainly not less than a 4. Short stories is Chanaski's creme... Great via audio

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great stories. Very good narrator.

Christian Baskous is better than I thought. He apparently rises to the challenge of more dramatic material. But only Will Patton can PERFORM like nobody else. Okay?

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another Great Read

I can't get enough of the Dirty Old Man! Bukowski is at his best describing the trials and tribulations of the working class.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not the best of Buk's stuff

I found a few things somewhat comical, but overall it was incoherent and dull. I struggled to keep interest and one story sounded like the next.

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1 person found this helpful