Hollywood by Charles Bukowski

This novel follows, chronologically, "Women" and in it there is no promiscuous sex, since Chinaski is now married to the last woman from "Woman" which he calls Sarah in the novel, and who is Linda in real life. As in previous books, pretty much everything in it reflects Bukowski's real life, only the names are changed, and not much either.  As one of his former USPS colleagues said in the biographical movie "Born into this" - everything in the novel "Post Office" was true, only the names were (slightly) changed - the character in question was named Tom in the novel, while he is Don in real life.  Same with Hollywood.

Lots of crazy Hollywood types in the book, but by now (2020), we're quite used to Hollywood types being brainless idiots with egos larger than the universe, so it is not as shocking as his previous books.  I think Bukowski is getting older here and almost feeling his impending death, which occurred just after he finished his last novel "Pulp" - which is his only novel where Hank Chinaski is not the main protagonist, and is not based on Bukowski's real life, which makes it, as one critic put it, "the worst American novel ever written." 

I really got sick and tired of reading about horse races and horse race gambling.  I've never been a fan of gambling in my life, as it is only for idiots who can't do math, and I learned way too much about betting on horse races than I ever wanted to know.  Also boxing matches and betting on boxing.  Don't care and never will. 

It is a good idea to see the movie "Barfly" first, so one can compare the parts in the movie with the descriptions Bukowski gives in the book.  Some parts were changed, because his script was far more brutal and anti-social than what the Hollywood producers (Firepower=Cannon) allowed.  And also, while Mickey Rourke makes a passable Chinaski, Fay Dunaway is definitely not the hard-drinking, foul-mouthed broad from Bukowski's script.

An interesting read overall, however not as vile and shocking as "Women", not as well-written as "Post Office", not as relevant as "Ham and Rye" and not as comprehensive as "Factotum."