Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Post Office | 1971 | Charles Bukowski | Buy |
| 2 | Factotum | 1975 | Charles Bukowski | Buy |
| 3 | Women | 1978 | Charles Bukowski | Buy |
| 4 | Ham on Rye | 1982 | Charles Bukowski | Buy |
| 5 | Barfly | 1983 | Charles Bukowski | Buy |
| 6 | Hollywood | 1989 | Charles Bukowski | Buy |
| 7 | Pulp | 1994 | Charles Bukowski | Buy |
Charles Bukowski’s novels are largely autobiographical, following his alter ego Henry Chinaski through different periods of life. Post Office (1971) covers his years as a postal worker, Factotum (1975) follows Chinaski through a string of dead-end jobs, and Ham on Rye (1982) looks back at his childhood and adolescence in Depression-era Los Angeles.
Women (1978), Hollywood (1989), and Pulp (1994) round out the novels. Pulp, published shortly before Bukowski’s death, is a departure from his usual style, written as a parody of detective fiction. Barfly (1983) is his screenplay about the drinking life, later filmed with Mickey Rourke.