Hep Bookshelf DIY

Have you ever had a house party and found your NPR friend with faces contorted into horror as they look at your book shelf? Well then your bookshelf needs the infusion of my good taste. Of my many faults, I have scored major points with friends and females for the quality of my bookshelf. I have a knack for gifted authors and keen knowledge of who is who in the literary world. I also gain major help with the direction of the King of PopCulture. Though I did score “War, Inc.” before he told me about it, which I consider a personal victory.

If there is one thing in life I know, my taste for literature turns more than a few heads. As a selfless act, I shall lend my knowledge to you. Take my word as law and be sure to hit your local independent outlet for our quality suggestions. You will be smoking a pipe and scoring mad English Major ass in no time. Good tip, English Majors are the freaky girls and you want to attract them.

“Ham on Rye” is the first novel of Charles Burkowski I had read. However, the first anything by Burkowski I encountered was a book of his poetry. I can remember a trip to the local bookstore. I stood before the Burkowski section and searched for a novel. Every book I pulled was poetry. They all looked like a novel, were as thick as novels, had strange alluring titles, but every page was filled with his poetry. I settled for “Sifting Through the Madness for the Word, the Line, the Way” and told everyone who asked the poetry was for my sensitive soul, which lurks behind my male bravado.

I have read two books by Burkowski and found the result depressing and captivating. I can see why he would turn to the bottle. His work is the worst moments of any writers or humans life. Burkowski is result of a horrible life unleashed into adult hood with a hunger for booze and fast woman. His childhood was a train wretch of unfortunate circumstances. His adult life is caused by his own paranoia and mental defects. He has a rampant Id and acute inferiority complex; stuck in a life he can’t dig himself out of. I don’t know anyone who looks up to him as an ideal and would wonder about those poor souls who do, as I do upon the followers of William S. Burrows. Burkowski worked hard at his craft. I do look up to him for his hard work but on the whole I am always a bit depressed by Burkowski.

However, the fruits of his labor produced beautiful art. His art might be about the worst part of life or from a grim outlook, but his merit lies in his use of the English language. In a world of bar room intellectuals and would be writers lost to the bottle, Brukowski merged his addiction and passion in a pure ugly light.

“Ham on Rye” is the a semi autobiographic novel about his twisted childhood during the depression and into the young adult drunk years. He tells stories about a father who would measure the grass after a clipping with an eye to beat his son, of his young lust for a over weight nurse, and many more grim detail. Scholars look up to Brukowski for his brutal look at a part of life they will never see and drunks look up to him as a further justification for their drug addicted lives. In any event, both types are fun at parties and will be impressed by the yellow binding on your book shelf.

Place any Burkowski book next to a copy of “Young Drunks in Love” by Matt Ferrara. The essential key to any quality book shelf is to have a book known by the hep masses and the inclusion of an unknown author. The very act says I know what you know and I know more. People love to be let in on knowledge, when you have the backing of a known cool perspective. In the same ways, you have read this article so far proves my statement. In the school of cool, I have passed all color belts and I want you to be cool. Take my word or listen to my explication.

“Young Drunk in Love” is the first book by Ferrara. A collection of short stories wrapped around a central theme of young drunks in love. Like a Billy Joel song, Farra’s tales recall the trials and tribulations of a young life bent on booze, . While “Young Drunks in Love” is a tad rough around the edges, Farra’s talent shows through on each page. I will say, I do have arterial motives here. I really enjoy Matt Ferrara’s work to the extent I wrote him a letter to get him to contribute to ANF. Give “Young Drunks in Love” a read and you will agree, his name is worth a spot on your book shelf. For further trivia to regale party guest, be sure to inform your guest Ferrara is from Massachusetts and he has taught English in Soul Korea.

For more about Charles Burkowski or Matt Ferrara contact your local library, independent book store, or Google search. We have two books but as the good “I AM” said, no two books do a Hep Bookshelf make. We will have more recommendations on how to impress your friends with astounding feats of literature. Remember until next time, no bookshelf is a real bookshelf till you have read the books you place on the shelf.