Ham on Rye by Charles Bukowski

I’ve been curious about the writings of Charles Bukowski for a while, mostly because of his dirty, subversive style.

This story delivers just that: a straight punch to the gut (there are many punches thrown in the book, both figurative and literal), packed with the hopelessness and disillusionment of being an outsider, and the rage of man against machine.

Among the many themes explored in the story, the one that resonated the most with me is how an individual can be totally powerless against the institution and the society at large. And the violence always makes me shudder. I don’t like violence, and wish it gone.