This is the first volume of the split collection "Erections, Ejaculations, Exhibitions, and General Tales of Ordinary Madness", the second volume being "The most Beautiful Woman in Town" which I actually read first. And it was better that way! The first volume if very underwhelming. The stories are not as disturbing as in the second, but they are not as good either. Both volumes contain anecdotal, semi-biographical stories (he always exaggerates and makes himself the hero of every story), but the events described and the characters described are not as interesting.
Probably the best story in this volume is "Animal Crackers in my Soup" which is made even better by the hydrogen bomb falling in the very last sentence. I guess in today's world of #metoo the "Rape! Rape!" story would elicit quite a heated discussion. Of course, the story is mostly fiction, probably based on some fragments of truth that Bukowski exaggerated and fantasized.
Several stories deal with how bad career writing is, and especially writing of poetry. He complains that while his books are taught in universities, he barely makes $500 a year, and has to do shit jobs just to pay his rent (and his alcohol, which is the main expense). He also advises that all other writers and poets are either assholes or complete wrecks which "die in steaming pots of shit." His perfect life, as before, is described as being alone in a small room with a lot of alcohol, cigarettes and a typewriter, while listening to classical music. Not too much to yearn for, one would say?
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