SKU: 48418316827

Portions from a Wine-Stained Notebook: Uncollected Stories and Essays, 1944-1990

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Portions from a Wine-Stained Notebook: Uncollected Stories and Essays, 1944-1990Charles Bukowski (1920 1994), one of the most outrageous and controversial figures of 20th century American literature, was so prolific that many important pieces were never collected during his lifetime. Portions is a substantial selection of these wide ranging works, most of which have been unavailable since their original appearance in underground newspapers, literary journals, even porno mags. Among the highlights are his first published short

Charles Bukowski (1920-1994), one of the most outrageous and controversial figures of 20th-century American literature, was so prolific that many important pieces were never collected during his lifetime. Portions is a substantial selection of these wide-ranging works, most of which have been unavailable since their original appearance in underground newspapers, literary journals, even porno mags. Among the highlights are his first published short story, "Aftermath of a Lengthy Rejection Slip"; his last short story, "The Other"; his first and last essays; and the first installment of his famous "Notes of a Dirty Old Man" column. The book contains meditations on his familiar themes (drinking, horse-racing, etc.) as well as singular discussions of such figures as Artaud, Pound, and the Rolling Stones. Other significant works include the experimental title piece; a fictionalized account of meeting his hero, John Fante ("I Meet the Master"); an unflinching review of Hemingway ("An Old Drunk Who Ran Out of Luck"); the intense, autobiographical "Dirty Old Man Confesses"; and several discussions of his aesthetics ("A Rambling Essay on Poetics and the Bleeding Life Written While Drinking a Six-Pack (Tall)," "In Defense of a Certain Type of Poetry, a Certain Type of Life, a Certain Type of Blood-Filled Creature Who Will Someday Die," and "Upon the Mathematics of the Breath and the Way," revealing an unexpectedly learned mind behind his seemingly offhand productions.

Portions From a Wine-Stained Notebook is essential reading for Bukowski fans, as well as a good introduction for new readers of this innovative, unconventional writer.

"Finally, after Bukowski's nearly 50 published books: novels, short stories, poetry, letters, essays, etc. David Calonne has unearthed Portions From a Wine-Stained Notebook, the previously missing link in Bukowski's oeuvre that suddenly makes everything come clear." --John Martin, Black Sparrow Press

"You know, I just think this is really hot. Among its many gifts, Portions from a Wine-Stained Notebook has one of the best lesbian sex scenes I ever read. I read Bukowski standing up one day in a bookstore (City Lights) and thought he did it too. What Henry Miller did. He wrote American. When it meant something good. Fucked up, male, but incredibly true. In a distinct rhythm." --Eileen Myles, author of Sorry, Tree and Cool for You

"Bukowski wrote the way he lived, and Portions from a Wine-Stained Notebook is as vivid, bad-ass, screamingly funny, and gutter-angelic as the man himself. Reading these stories and essays, you can hear the beating heart of the poet in every line. Bukowski never wasted a word, and this collection should go far towards shining a light on prose in danger of being lost in the shadow of its larger-than-life author. Those new to his work will have the good fortune of discovering a writer who could break your heart, make you howl, and slap you off your bar-stool you in a single sentence. In a world long since gone lousy with faux hard-living typers and posers, he was the original." --Jerry Stahl author of Permanent Midnight, Perv, Plainclothes Naked, and I, Fatty.

Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) published his first story when he was twenty-four and began writing poetry at the age of thirty-five. His first book of poetry was published in 1959; he went on to publish more than forty-five books of poetry and prose, including books published by City Lights Publishers such as Notes of a Dirty Old Man, More Notes of a Dirty Old Man, The Most Beautiful Woman in Town, Tales of Ordinary Madness, Portions from a Wine-Stained Notebook, and Absence of the Hero.




Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: City Lights Publishers - City Lights Publishe
Published: 09/01/2008
ISBN: 9780872864924
Pages: 255
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 8.70h x 5.90w x 0.90d

Review Citations: Kirkus Reviews 08/01/2008 pg. 787
Library Journal 10/15/2008 pg. 69
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SKU: 48418316827

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Luke 21:28
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I bought this last year at Bethlehem Seminary bookstore in Minneapolis on a bibliophile impulse. It was so remarkable, that I bought multiple copies here on Amazon to give to leaders and fellow-teachers of our children's outreach program at church. For instead of the typical way of teaching bible stories to children, it proposes a different way, one wrapped around the gospel of grace. Most of the time, children are taught the stories of David and Goliath, or Gideon, or whatever, to urge them on to moral behavior. "Do this like like this person did, don't do that like that other person did, and God will bless you". And so kids grow up in the church thinking that this is what the gospel is: do good and you'll gain God's favor. This book instead shows how God has always provided a solution for the wretched consequences of the fall. The writer doesn't recommend we automatically shy away from teaching the difficult stories of the bible, which is so common in children's ministries (like the captivity in Babylon, and the wretched stories in Judges, for instance). Instead, it shows teachers how to teach (AND see for themselves) the mercy of God in each of those bible accounts. It is not a curriculum, though it is very bible literate: for instance, Mr. Klumpenhower points out the not-always-so-obvious parts of a story that point to a coming redeemer. It has practical insights for showing the beauty of God's love and mercy in EVERY bible story, and for those who need further direction and insight, Mr. Klumpenower's website gives curricular-type lesson plans you can use when teaching those stories. In our church now, we continue to use a national bible-memory program that many churches use. But we use this as the outline for our group teaching times. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to teach the gospel from the scriptures, instead of just from a formula.
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Life-Changing; full of truth of how the grace in the Gospel (not mere morality preaching) transforms us
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This is a life-changing book that put into words so many things that have nagged at the back of my mind about the way we teach the Bible to children. It seems far too many picture Bibles, Sunday school curricula, and parenting books boil the Bible down to "This Bible character did this. You should do/not do this." You could completely remove God and Christ from some of these books/methods and the application would not change: be good. Likewise, as a parent it's too easy to simply use Bible stories as a way to try to manipulate our kids' behavior. To begin with, trying to "be good" without understanding our new life in Christ and the Holy Spirit's enablement is completely futile. This focus on morality apart from the Gospel also helps explain why many church kids grow up and leave the church. If all church gave them was a list of how to behave, but they never truly fell in love with Jesus and understand all he did for them, why stay in church? Klumpenhower maintains that "The cross of Jesus—not principles of good living—is the engine of the Christian life." The gist of this book is that more than anything, kids need to be shown God's character, Jesus' work, and the Holy Spirit's enabling. This, more than any moral lesson, will be what transforms them. "We make a mistake if we think kids are saved by hearing the good news and trusting Jesus, but then grow as Christians some other way." While the Bible does give useful examples, if kids "get Samuel the good listener without first appreciating God the Great Speaker, they're liable to end up relating to God only in an anxious, what-I-must-do way." Klumpenhower gives practical advice for how to teach the Word in a way that points to Jesus and not our own efforts. For example, when teaching Old Testament stories he recommends asking: "1) What is God doing for his people in this story? 2) Good News! How does God do the same for us—only better—in Jesus? 3) Believe it! How does believing this good news change how we live?" Here is an example from teaching about Moses: "What is God doing for his people in this story? He arranges events to protect baby Moses and give the Israelites a leader who will rescue them from Egypt. Good News! How does God do the same for us—only better—in Jesus? He has provided a Leader and Savior who rescues us from sin and death. Believe it! How does believing this good news change how we live? Even when it's hard to see, we can trust that God is working out his plan to complete our salvation." Another great example is how he recommends addressing sin: the surface sin we can see (example: dancing to lewd music), the selfish fear underneath (ex: afraid friends won't like or accept me), and the root unbelief (ex: not believing Jesus gives me God's approval). I'm just scratching the surface of this book. Chapter after chapter is filled with wonderful truth about how the grace given in the Gospel impacts every area of our lives and about how our identity in Christ is what transforms us. I recommend it to anyone who wants to use the Bible as their foundation for living, teaching, and parenting. It's that good. Go read it! If you're intrigued but not sure you can read the whole thing, download the free Kindle sample and at least read the introduction and first chapter; it will give you a good overview. And then you'll probably want to read the rest!
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