“Well, the rain had stopped, but the pain was still there.”
If you are a newcomer to the works of internationally proclaimed American writer, Charles Bukowski- ‘Pulp’ is not the friendliest start. Wherein the works of Bukowski have been treated with much controversy and criticism, ‘Pulp’ however is not just the last book he published, but is also one of the finest.
Before I start the review, I’d like to highlight the parallel of “Red Sparrow’s” first appearance and Bukowski’s final farewell. While you might wonder what the “Red Sparrow” is, you’ll find your answer at the end of this book review- analogous to the answer revealed in the ending of ‘Pulp’.
‘Dedicated to Bad Writing’, Bukowski takes you on a fictitious, symbolic, one-last remarkable journey, through the edgy terrains of madness, imagination, sexual fantasies and death. The aged writer paints a gruesome sci-fi picture of the current working world: where money, power and sex are steering the vehicle of existence towards a dead end, alongside strokes of suspicion, greed and revenge.
The book starts with a rather raw description of middle-aged Nick Belane, a self-proclaimed private detective. Nick is entrusted with the ‘mission of a lifetime’ (pun intended) and several other absurd missions. The book turns its first few pages to an incredibly attractive Lady Death (both literally and metaphorically), who hires Belane to track down the presumably long-dead French novelist and escapee of death- Céline. The plot strengthens when Belane is hired by an ugly fat husband who suspects his striking young wife to be having an extra-marital affair. The fiction muddles through a wave of eccentricity when a man pleads Belane for help to escape the bewitchment of ‘Jeanie-Nitro’, a tantalizing space-alien.‘Pulp’ finally ends with Mr. Barton’s puzzling mission of finding ‘The Red Sparrow’. Belane stumbles upon answers in unexpectant manners and eventually resolves all. Each mission highlights an underlying mockery and intent, with Bukowski’s signature tase of dark humour and heavy sarcasm.
If ethical, moral and character development is what you’re seeking for in this book- any of Bukowski’s work may fail to impress you. Bukowski speaks for things as they are- raw, ugly and repelling. One of his most appreciated quotes is- “genius might be the ability to say a profound thing in a simple way.”, which can be re-affirmed with the sardonic words engraved on this tomb ‘DON’T TRY’. The book uses a belligerent language and reeks with the stench of alcoholism, character assassination and ill-portrayal of women: all undeniable characteristics of toxic masculinity. He passively reinforces the prevalent wide-spread perception and outlook of women being viewed as lewd beings, capable and deserving of only pleasing men. He contradicts this mentality with Jeanie-Nitro’s strength and Lady Death’s stern characters: Both women equally intimidating, powerful and dignified.
“Hell was what you made it.”
Bukowski splashes his last book with strong elements of lampoon:that even aliens would reconsider their decision of colonizing this awful world, strongly highlighting how we have reduced a once-desired planet into a reckless dwelling: “Smog, Murder, the poisoned air, the poisoned water, the poisoned food, the hatred, the hopelessness, everything”. Bukowski slips in the thought that Intoxication, Narcissism and Nihilism are the only remedies of surviving.
‘Pulp’ is an unapologetic portrait of herd mentality- where Bukowski speaks candidly of acts that people are scared to spell out, such as masturbation and prostitution. He ridicules the inviolable notions of god, country and monogamy. Even though the book is written in a juvenile, unpleasing and rather- profane but simple language, Bukowski has proven himself to be a true street writer: reckless, aggressive and fearless.
Scribbling some powerful last lines about the pointless, painful yet numb mundane lives we lead, Bukowski signs off ‘Pulp’ by meeting his protagonist with the “Red Sparrow”- Death. The literary gem, passed away shortly after the release of the ‘Pulp’.