On Cats

[Andreas]

...Buk could write an entire book of poems about how melted cheese wrecks your kitchen sponge and I'd probably like it.

Being just a simple reader with a serious lack of understanding English (among many other things), I cannot share that kind of unlimited excitement about everything Bukowski ever wrote. But I understand the joy of having such an item like Scarlet or Horsemeat. I would love it too.

Despite being thematic collections, you won't find much repetition/overlapping in them. They're chronologically arranged, and you can see how Bukowski's voice changes over the years. And his take on these subjects changes, too.

Thanks for clarifying the content and structure of the book, Cirerita. How many poems does Cats contain?

 

[Johannes]

by Charles Bukowski

 

[pig ear press]

How long before the first memoirs from a cat on knowing Bukowski?

"Sitting on Bukowsi" or something.

 

[Dirtydoh]

We all know he loved cats and here is a new book on that very subject.

A piece in the newspaper today.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/mar/24/charles-bukowski-on-cats-book-published

 

[bospress.net]

I'm confused...

1) Did Cannongate buy all the rights to Bukowski, or just for these themed collections. Or is this just for the books sold in the UK?
2) Previously unpublished material? I thought that it was all previously published.
3) "On Writing" will be the next one. Waiting for "On Beer Shits". Anyone know how many themed books there will be? Is Abel editing them all?

Bill

 

[mjp]

Anyone know how many themed books there will be?

Too many.

I didn't hear anything about Ecco selling off the rights, I suspect Cannongate is a regional thing. But who knows. Eventually Bukowski's rights will probably end up with an investment firm and just be traded back and forth like pork futures.

 

[mjp]

Same cover style as On Writing.

Amazon says October 13th.

 

[PhillyDave]

Will the writing b good? Yes because JM din't "edit" them. Will they be "must have" books? maybe. Will Mr Debritto do a good job? I'm sure. Will i buy them or get them as gifts regardless? Sure, it's Bukowski.

 

[skiroomalum]

I don't know about that cat book. Just weird to me. Now my grandma, she might dig it.

 

[cirerita]

Both volumes will have previously unpublished drawings and photographs. In On Cats, there's the only drawing of a cat Bukowski ever did; later on, he tried to paint a cat again only it came out as a dog --that painting is still hanging on a bathroom wall in San Pedro. You'll get to see it in On Cats, although in black and white.

 

[zobraks]

he tried to paint a cat again only it came out as a dog

:D
Maybe he had been drawing cats all the time:

 

[Bukfan]

If they ever decide to publish a Buk book on drinking and women it will have to be in several volumes. :p

 

[cirerita]

On Drinking might happen. On Women or On Sex won't happen anytime soon.

 

[Bukfan]

One On Drinking sounds great!

 

[cirerita]

Uncorrected proof of On Cats:

 

[bospress.net]

Abel just left after a two-day visit.

I have the advance proofs in-hand (this one and "On Writing"). I'll write a review once I am done reading. Looks like all uncollected material, all from manuscripts and all with sources at the back for where the poems were found...

Bill

 

[Chrisw]

I think an On Writing collection is fine. There is plenty of precedent for that: Hemingway On Writing, Henry Miller on Writing, etc. But cats? Love? I dunno...

 

[Purple Stickpin]

I have the advance proofs in-hand

Is there a poem about Raquel Welch in there?

 

[DaPrince34]

Did you hear the one about the pope and raquel welch on the lifeboat?

those aren't buoys...

 

[Chrisw]

Review of On Cats, from the South China Post:
http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/books...rles-bukowskis-reflections-creatures-he-loved

 

[roni]

by the way:
when's the exact date of publication?
Do you know already, cire?

 

[mjp]

December 1st.

 

[cirerita]

Short but nice review:
http://www.washingtonindependentrev...rs-poetry-reviews-by-grace-cavalieri2#charles

 

[PhillyDave]

Did anyone notice the review of Diane Seuss poetry with the quick Buk mention in the link above? Looks interesting...maybe.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Can't wait for the Cat Fancy review. Maybe Linda Lee and one of her cats will get the centerfold...

 

[mjp]

It's here, all 118 pages of it (110 without the end notes). The slimmest Bukowski book ever from a major publisher.

To be fair, Play the Piano Drunk and The Continual Condition aren't much longer, but they're longer. And they don't have photographs of cats in them.

I haven't read any of it yet.

The binding smells like...like you might expect a book full of cats to smell.

 

[Purple Stickpin]

And yet we all will buy it.

 

[zobraks]

118 pages (110 without the end notes, photographs of cats included)

D'oh!

 

[skiroomalum]

I'm gonna give the cats a pass. Nothin' personal...

 

[cirerita]

It's here, all 118 pages of it (110 without the end notes). The slimmest Bukowski book ever from a major publisher.

To be fair, Play the Piano Drunk and The Continual Condition aren't much longer, but they're longer.

Well, for those who care about stats, here's the actual word count for the slimmest Bukowski books:

At Terror Street: 9,300
Continual: 10,745
Play: 12,500
On Cats: 13,500
Mockingbird: 21,000
On Love: 21,900

On Cats could have been longer, but it would have been full of repetitions.

As to the longest collections by actual word count (excluding index, TOC, front matter and back matter):

Septuagenarian: 69,080 (including short stories)
Betting: 49,370 (including short stories).
Open All Night: 45,610
What Matters: 43,360
Sifting: 41,790
Last Night: 37,500

Pleasures is longer, but it's an anthology.