'Hollywood' by Charles Bukowski is a fictionalized account of the making of the film Barfly, based on his own script. The novel follows Bukowski's alter ego, Henry Chinaski, as he navigates the Hollywood movie-making industry, attending film shoots and rewriting the script to accommodate the egos of the actors. Real-life characters are thinly disguised, and the deadpan humor in the book humanizes the foolishness typical of the film industry. The writing style is sparse and direct, characteristic of Bukowski's work, offering a cynical and boozy trip through the world of Hollywood.

The book offers insights into the Hollywood movie-making process, with Bukowski's observations on the industry and its characters. The narrative captures the essence of Bukowski's writing, with a focus on alcohol, sex, and a cynical view of the world. The novel is a quick and entertaining read, providing a glimpse into Bukowski's experiences with the Hollywood elite, offering a mix of humor and satire.

Characters:

The characters reflect both Bukowski's alter ego and the quirks of Hollywood personalities, often illustrated with humor and a touch of cynicism.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is straightforward and accessible, marked by a blend of humor and cynicism, though less impactful than in previous novels.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative focuses on Chinaski's journey through the making of Barfly, highlighting the shift from hardship to success while critiquing the Hollywood experience.

Setting:

The setting captures the essence of Hollywood, immersing readers in the backdrop of the film industry and its eccentricities.

Pacing:

The pacing is rapid and straightforward, making it a fast read, but can feel lacking in emotional engagement.

Then we were down at the harbor, driving past the boats. Most of them were sailboats and people were fiddling about on deck. They were dressed in their special sailing clothes, caps, dark shades. Some...

Notes:

In 'Hollywood', Henry Chinaski, Bukowski's alter ego, becomes successful and writes a screenplay about his life.

The film 'Barfly', starring Mickey Rourke and Faye Dunaway, is based on Bukowski's screenplay.

Reading 'Barfly' before 'Hollywood' helps to understand the book better.

Unlike his earlier works, 'Hollywood' presents a more content Chinaski, losing some of his previous raw edge.

Bukowski's criticism of the Hollywood life and film industry is more subdued than expected.

The book reflects on Bukowski's feelings of nostalgia for his poorer, younger days.

Bukowski employs humor throughout the book to critique the absurdities of Hollywood.

'Hollywood' features a mix of real-life characters with thinly disguised identities.

The book is known for Bukowski's sparse writing style, maintaining clarity without wasted words.

'Hollywood' serves as a conclusion to the Chinaski story, reflecting on Bukowski's life and career.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for Hollywood include themes of alcoholism, disillusionment, and casual observations of misogyny, which may be distressing to some readers.

From The Publisher:

From iconic tortured artist/everyman Charles Bukowski, Hollywood is the fictionalization of his experience adapting his novel Barfly into a movie by the same name.

Henry Chinaski, Bukowski's alter-ego, is pushed to translate a semi-autobiographical book into a screenplay for John Pinchot. He reluctantly agrees, and is thrust into the otherworld called Hollywood, with its parade of eccentric and maddening characters: producers, artists, actors and actresses, film executives and journalists. In this world, the artistry of books and film is lost to the dollar, and Chinaski struggles to keep his footing in the tangle of cons that comprise movie making.

Hollywood is Dirty Old Man Bukowski at his most lucid. It overflows with curses, sex, and alcohol. And through it all, or from it all, Bukowski finds flashes of truth about the human condition.

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Hollywood

Charles Bukowski