Just as he was unapologetic with his writing, Bukowski fans are unapologetic in their love for him. I’m (obviously) one such fan, and I’ve been obsessed with his work since I discovered him as an impressionable reader. Since then, I’ve kind of developed a more critical eye for his writing, but my love and admiration for his work has remained steadfast, because the more I understand life, the more I sympathize with his trials and tribulations that led him to write with such honesty. 

If there was ever a poster cutout for the ‘struggling writer’ image, then Bukowski would be a perfect fit, from his troubled childhood and multiple rejections of books to his alcoholism and, finally, his underground work. His life was difficult but despite (and because of) the struggle, his work is vulnerable, introspective, and indelibly beautiful for those who delve into it. It should be said here that his work is deeply immersive and deals with mature themes, so make sure you’re of age to be diving into Bukowski’s stories and poems. So for those who dare (and are 18+!), I’ve put together the best Charles Bukowski books including both prose and poetry so buckle up, and be prepared to be amazed.

1. Ham on Rye – My Favorite

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Ham on Rye: A Novel

• Genre/Sub-genre – Fiction, literature, american, coming of age, poetry
• Content warnings – Graphic content, sexual content, violence, depiction of addiction, explicit language
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 288
• First publication – September, 1982
• Goodreads rating – 4.15

$11.59

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Charles Bukowski has written a handful of novels around Henry Chinaski – his alter ego – capturing his life in bursts of action in the trials of childhood, coming-of-age, and a jaded adulthood. The series itself is so chaotic that it’s not in chronological order and IMHO, cannot even be called a series. But looking chaos right in the face and accepting it for what it is – Bukowski at his most genuine – I’d say Ham on Rye is my favorite out of all his work. 

Henry Chinaski, our (anti) hero, grows up love-less and cheerless into a young man with a dark humor and an unhealthy obsession with booze. Bukowski documents Chinaski’s coming-of-age with brutal honesty and tongue-in-cheek humor as he tries and barely manages to survive the downtrodden alleys of Depression-Era Los Angeles. 

What got me invested in Chinaski and his less than optimistic life though was the sense of alienation that he grew up with and lived with. My heart hurt for the outcasts that both Chinaski and Bukowski were made into by circumstance, and I have to say I was impressed (and a little sad) by the witticisms Bukowski doled out with careless abandon to deal with the rejection and the isolation.  

So it has to be said that Ham on Rye isn’t the kind of book you finish and forget. It leaves a mark. The realness, the humor, the whole story, it’s Bukowski turning his own life into something that sticks with you, like a good song you can’t get out of your head.

Ham on Rye might be up your alley if you’ve ever felt like the odd one out, but I should tell now that it will not be a comforting read. This is a piece of fiction that takes you in without warning and snaps open your eyes to the bleakness of reality so go into the book not to find comfort, but to find relatability – which in my eyes, is definitely a form of comfort. 

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Post Office: A Novel

• Genre/Sub-genre – Fiction, literature, american, coming of age, poetry
• Content warnings – Graphic content, sexual content, alcohol consumption, workplace challenges, explicit language
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 162
• First publication – January, 1971
• Goodreads rating – 3.94

$7.69

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“It began as a mistake,” whispered the first line of Charles Bukowski’s Post Office, and oh boy, what a delightful mistake it was. This book ended up in my hands accidentally like a package delivered at the wrong address and to this day, I am grateful for it because it kicked off a lifelong (so far!) obsession with Bukowski’s work, letting me into a world I had never seen before.

So in Post Office, Bukowski transforms the simple and mundane into a raucous carnival, turning the U.S. Postal Service into a backdrop of wild adventure. Reading the book, I felt like I was personally dealing with waterlogged mailbags, navigating mud-covered mountains, and dodging tricky guard dogs. 

Chinaski, our MC, battles not only the daily grind but also really strong hangovers. His struggle to peel himself off the bed is a comical routine, yet it’s impossible not to root for him. Chinaski brought spice to the narrative with his love for women, booze, and racetrack betting, showing us a slice of life in the run down streets of Los Angeles.

The book reflected the quirks of real office life, hilariously dissecting the absurdities of the working world, making you laugh and cringe in recognition. Although written in 1971, the book just feels timeless and relatable, reminding us that some challenges are just part of being human, regardless of the era. 

I fell for this book, and by extension the writer, because the reading experience that combined grim realities with the Bukowski-brand of humor was both fun and thought-provoking. So the final verdict here is that the Post Office has my stamp of approval as a tale where mailbags meet mayhem and every delivery is a surprise worth savoring. Pick up for a read full of hilarity and absurdity, and the occasional reality check. 

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Factotum

• Genre/Sub-genre – Fiction, literature, american, coming of age, triller, mystery, poetry
• Content warnings – Graphic content, sexual content, alcohol consumption, explicit language, mature themes, depiction of world war II-era
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 208
• First publication – January, 1975
• Goodreads rating – 3.93

$14.39

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I picked up Factotum as soon as I was done with the Post Office because I wanted to find out what Henry Chinaski was up to, and boy, was I caught off guard. 

Chinaski is now a drifter and his journey across the Americas is a whirlwind of madness and unexpected adventure. He’s deferred from military service and reluctant to be tied down by a regular job, and although it feels like an anxiety-inducing existence to me now, I remember nodding along to his rebellion against the way of the world – free as a bird and devoid of real responsibilities. 

So for a while, I was happy for Chinaski and his booze-loving way of life and although it did seem hurtful to him, I loved how careless and chaotic he let himself be. Chinaski had it rough, but I was a bit jealous of him for a little while because, at the time I first read the book, a life free of responsibilities that were (in my head) tying me down and delaying me from pursuing my own dreams sounded pretty dang good. I know now Chinaski is probably not the best semi-fictional character to relate to, but hey, he served his purpose when I needed him the most. 

I loved this book for Chinaski, but I should say that it’s definitely the raw beauty and bitterness of Bukowski’s writing that brought him to life, painting a vivid picture of the ruggedness of city life. Chinaski’s story may be chaotic, but within its pages, there’s a method to the madness, a rhythm to the chaos that only Bukowski could compose. 

So give Factotum a try if you want a rebellious, unpredictable story of chasing dreams in a not-so-easy world, giving you a glimpse into the struggle, the hustle, and a life unfulfilled.

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Women: A Novel

• Genre/Sub-genre – Fiction, literature, american, coming of age, poetry
• Content warnings – Graphic content, sexual content, alcohol consumption, explicit language, mature themes
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 291
• First publication – January, 1978
• Goodreads rating – 3.82

$10.89

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Women by Charles Bukowski catapulted me into the tumultuous adult life of Henry Chinaski, a survivor who’s navigated dead-end jobs, cramped apartments, and the gritty landscape of existence. 

We meet Chinaski again, he’s in his fifties and his luck has taken a dramatic turn – from hitting rock bottom to living like a rockstar. Chinaski, the imperfect narrator, boasts three hundred hangovers a year and a love life that he jokes would “cripple Casanova.” And I was happy for him because clearly, the guy got what he wanted his entire life. 

In Women, we get to step into the shoes of a man who’s seen it all, survived it all, and lived to tell the tale. It really did feel like a literary cocktail of outrageous anecdotes, playful romance, and unfiltered humanity and it left me simultaneously laughing and contemplating the messy beauty of life.

In Bukowski’s signature style though, the nitty-gritty of real life, dark humor, and an unapologetic exploration of what it means to be human shine through. I appreciated Bukowski all the more in Women because even at the height of Chinaski’s life, the author sifted through the joys and glory of existence and let realness come to surface, as he always has.

Reading Factotum felt like listening to that drunk, quirky friend spill the tea about their craziest experiences with increasing degrees of disbelief and amusement. If you’re looking for a fun read that will have you laughing (and then getting concerned because things are getting out of hand), give Factotum a try.

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Love is a Dog From Hell: Bukowski’s Raw Poetic Reflections on Life and Heartbreak

• Genre/Sub-genre – Poetry, fiction, literature, american, contemporary, 20th century, love, adult
• Content warnings – Explicit language, intense emotions, narcissism
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 312
• First publication – January, 1977
• Goodreads rating – 4.00

$15.19

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It’s kind of funny to me that this book ended up making my list at the end of the day, because boy did I have some major beef with it at first. This was Charles Bukowski’s first work of poetry that I got into as a starry-eyed teenager, and I remember getting mad at him for saying “there is always one woman to save you from another and as that woman saves you she makes ready to destroy.”

Back then, I thought he was criticizing women with those words, but over the years, I’ve learnt that poetry can be interpreted however a reader wants, and I chose to understand that quote to signal the fickleness and power dynamics of romantic relationships. 

Love is a Dog from Hell is filled with similar nuggets of wisdom about love, relationships, and the inevitability of heartbreak, laid out in raw and irreverent verse. Picture having a heart-to-heart with a drunk friend who’s been hurt by love, and that buddy is Bukowski – that’s what reading this book of poetry is like. What you get is a chatty, disenchanted poet spitting out harsh truths and whiplash sentiments on anything that comes to his mind. 

This collection of poems showcases the incandescent joy and the redemptive power of love while also depicting the ugly, selfish bits of love. The multitude of it all seemed too complicated when I first read it as a teenager, but looking back with a few more years under my belt, I find I can relate to, or at least sympathize with, Bukowski’s trials and triumphs of love. 

Some poems are lyrical prose and some are choppy, emotive pieces but they are all written in simple yet potent language that doesn’t alienate the reader. If at all, the poems might evoke outrage and a healthy dislike of Bukowski’s disillusioned views of love, and if they do, I’d say the poems did what they are supposed to do – invoke emotion. 

So if you want to have a go at Bukowski’s poetry, I highly recommend Love Is a Dog from Hell because of its universal relatability, celebrating love’s highs and throwing jabs at its lows. You’d love it or love to hate it – there’s really no in between.

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Pulp

• Genre/Sub-genre – Fiction, novels, classics, american, mystery, crime, literature, humor
• Content warnings – Graphic content, mature themes, violence, crime themes, explicit language
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 208
• First publication – January, 1994
• Goodreads rating – 3.67

$9.99

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Bukowski’s last work, completed a few months before his death, was… not what I expected it to be. It’s often touted as farewell and a nod to five decades of literary genius, but I felt like he was experimenting something new with the mish-mash of genres he cooked up for Pulp. 

I say this because, while his usual commentary on sex, madness, and death exists in the novel, Bukowski also peppers the novel with sci-fi and noir elements, putting together a motley of sub genres that we would never expect to work together. But they do, and we get a head-spinning mix of intrigue and dark humor with every case Belane is tasked to solve. I had a laugh with how Bukowski writes Belane into plot holes that he can’t escape from as he deals with his clients and subjects, most of whom are spoofs of IRL people/things (‘Lady Death’ is a metaphor for death and ‘Red Sparrow’ is a caricature of Black Sparrow Press). 

But what I absolutely love in Bukowski’s work is how he pokes fun at anything under the sun, and in Pulp, it’s writing itself that he’s laughing at. First off, the book is dedicated “to bad writing,” and second, he parodies pulp fiction as he writes Pulp, making the dime novels of the past appear worse than they actually are. You’ve got to admire a writer who can take his own craft and laugh in its face, and Bukowski, with his satirical inclinations and never-ending tongue in cheek moments, does exactly that. He also manages to incite passionate intellectual and emotional responses with simple yet effective language, and Pulp is a perfect example of this literary genius (or hack). 

So if you want to see Bukowski’s work as they are – satirical, ludicrous, and darkly hilarious – Pulp is a book worth reading. You’d find yourself shaking your head at the book more than a few times, but that’s an occupational hazard of reading Bukowski, nothing less. 

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Tales of Ordinary Madness

• Genre/Sub-genre – Fiction, short stories, poetry, love
• Content warnings – Explicit language, mature themes, violence
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 238
• First publication – January, 1967
• Goodreads rating – 3.87

$13.28

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My next Charles Bukowski pick, Tales of Ordinary Madness, is like taking a trip to a world that’s dark and confusing but oddly fascinating. Reading it genuinely felt like I was being driven down the tough streets of LA, with windows rolled down and the chaos of everyday struggles laid bare.

The spectrum of things he covers is wide, from lewd behavior, betting on horses, and dead-end jobs to poetry readings and classical music. But the thing is, I can’t even say I particularly enjoyed it because after reading a series of Bukowski’s novels and poetry, I can certainly see the overlaps of debauchery and drunken outbursts that are staples on every Bukowski special.

That said, I can’t deny that I love the brutal honesty and the dark hilarity as he observed the highs and lows of life from his own brand of lens. He’s like a shot of espresso – bitter and no bullshit – and you can definitely count on him to serve truth raw and unfiltered with a side of Bukowski wit. 

It really shows in this book that he did not care for other people’s opinions on his work, especially because of the chaotic abandon that he writes with – there’s no punctuation, no capitalization, and not even a consistent style of writing in this book. 

My suggestion to those who are picking up this book is: don’t let him offend you. His stories peel back life’s messy layers showing us the ugly and the unwanted that it might be too crude and vulgar sometimes, but the trick to reading Tales of Ordinary Madness is to enjoy the ride through the chaos of life, laughing at its flaws and acknowledging its imperfections. 

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The Last Night of the Earth Poems

• Genre/Sub-genre – Poetry, fiction, classics, literature, american, 20th century, art, contemporary
• Content warnings – Death, violence, graphic content, mature themes
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 408
• First publication – January, 1992
• Goodreads rating – 4.30

$15.15

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I’m not sure if it was because I knew that this was the last poetry collection published in his lifetime, or if the poems themselves were intentionally more passionate than Bukowski’s usual style, but this collection of poetry left a wholly different impression on me than his other poems. 

Sure, there are drunken declarations and angry tirades about the stubbornness of life, but he also writes about appreciating the life we have, trying our best to live our dreams, being true to ourselves, and being good to one another in such tender words and passionate outbursts. In this book, he wasn’t the poet and writer I knew, and I loved him all the more for it because it allowed me to see yet another facet of his mind, unfiltered. 

‘An almost made up poem’ is like a heavy heart-to-heart about the impact of war on people and the world and ‘A Smile to Remember’ urges us to rewind and relish our own memories. Bukowski laughs at himself with ‘Hemingway Never Did This’ where he recounts accidentally deleting a poem from his computer and strangely, all these poems felt vulnerable and plaintive in their beautiful simplicity that I was near tears when I finished reading the poetry collection.

In this book, unlike the chatty Bukowski we usually see that churns out harsh truths like spitfire, we have an introspective, gentle poet writing about the subtleties of life, both joyful and melancholic. Maybe he knew the inevitability that was waiting for him or maybe he didn’t, but The Last Night of the Earth poems remain the most heart-wrenching work of Bukowski, almost like an ode to the life he was going to miss out on.

So, grab a cozy blanket, maybe a cup of cocoa, and have a date with The Last Night of the Earth Poems 📖☕️. Trust me, you’re not likely to regret picking up this particular collection of poems.

Essential Bukowski Poetry

• Genre/Sub-genre – Poetry, classics, fiction, literature, american, philosophy
• Content warnings – Mature themes, explicit language, desperation of ordinary life, sexually explicit themes
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 225
• First publication – January, 2016
• Goodreads rating – 4.23

$19.01

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Essential Bukowski: Poetry is possibly the best gateway to his poems, because this collection of his best work is curated to take you through the edgy voice of early Bukowski through to the worn down, introspective voice of his later years. I ran into a few of my favorite poems when I read this book, but there still were a bunch of poems and flash fiction I came across for the first time.

Love, death, sex, and writing—Bukowski captures it all in his poems, striking a chord with the raw emotions of everyday life. Delving into his poems I’ve read before and exploring new ones had me appreciating his raw honesty even more, because it gave me a glimpse into experiences that feel as real as my own.

The downside to that is the booze, depressive jobs, fights, lousy homes, and existential dread can creep into you as you read, because as real as Bukowski gets, he never shies away from the low and ugly moments of life. So as much as I love his genuinity and simplicity, I found myself pacing the poems apart so I won’t be as affected with the bleak outlook into life that Bukowski unrelentingly portrayed.

But if you’re looking for a read that allows you to just feel and block out everything else, this collection might just be perfect, because with Essential Bukowski: Poetry, you can go on an intellectual journey across pretty much the entire spectrum of human emotion – not an easy feat for a regular book, but this is Bukowski, and you’re all set. 

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Notes of a Dirty Old Man

• Genre/Sub-genre – Fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, thriller, horror, adventure historical
• Content warnings – Graphic content, sexual content, alcohol consumption, explicit language, mature themes
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 204
• First publication – January, 1969
• Goodreads rating – 3.93

$14.15

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I picked this up thinking this was a series of personal essays and realized this was a series of articles he wrote for a paper. But I didn’t need to change my expectations because true to his form, Bukowski weaves his own life into these articles, offering a front-row seat to his unfiltered experiences against the rebellious backdrop of the city. 

For me, Notes of a Dirty Old Man reads like a personal tour through the highs and lows of 1960s Los Angeles with Charles Bukowski as my guide. No sugar-coating, no holds barred – Bukowski lays it all bare with raw honesty. His gritty reality and counterculture vibe of 1960s LA comes through his simple and powerful language, creating a genuinely immersive experience into a bygone era.

Bukowski’s writing doesn’t tiptoe around the edges; it dives headfirst into the chaos, exposing things you might not even wish to know about, including, but not limited to, prostitution, abuse, rape, alcoholism, suicide, and murder. The effect of his unapologetic humor and gritty commentary is potent because they can resurrect the past, making it feel alive and palpable simply through his words.

Give Notes of a Dirty Old Man a try if you are interested in getting an uncensored view into 1960’s LA and Bukowski’s lived experience of it, but remember, this is reserved for the bold and the curious, and not for the faint of heart nor the easily offended. 

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Hot Water Music

• Genre/Sub-genre – Fiction, short stories, poetry, working class, dark humor
• Content warnings – Graphic content, sexual content, alcohol consumption, explicit language, mature themes
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 221
• First publication – January, 1983
• Goodreads rating – 3.89

$12.69

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I picked up this book because I liked the title – Hot Water Music – for its simplicity and charm that I (mistakenly) thought was there inside the book as well. It was simple enough, don’t get me wrong, but whether it’s charming or not is a question I’d leave you to answer, depending on your definition of ‘charm.’

As always, Bukowski’s writing is plain, no-nonsense, and authentic – perfectly fitting the gritty moments of life he chronicles. His stories let us make pit stops at the less-than-glamorous spots in town – a smelly motel, a couple’s bickering haven, and a bar tended by a skeleton – and show us the harsh realities of working class life, profoundly and without judgment.  

Whether it’s love, working a menial job, or the aftermath of one too many drinks, Bukowski captures the quirks of everyday life with that darkly comical twist that he’s known for. His simple language hit me right in the feels because it was almost as if I was having a one-on-one chat with him about the oddities of life. 

I could say I did like it, but was it charming that it left me content after I finished reading it? Hardly. That said, Hot Water Music is worth a try if you think you’ll love the ride downtown, but I definitely recommend going into it expecting a gritty reality check.

There you have it – my list of best Charles Bukowski books. These books are great pick ups if you’re exploring realistic fiction and poetry with some healthy cynicism in it, because Bukowski writes with unflinching honesty and a blatant dislike for the phony and the fake. The reality check might seem too harsh at times, but with the raw honesty comes this heartfelt appreciation for life’s joyful moments, and that’s something that I feel is really unique to his writing. Happy reading!

As your next read, I recommend The Captain Is out to Lunch – a collection of journal entries penned by Bukowski which document the last few years of his life, and how he tragically came to terms with his diagnosis of leukemia. They do the work of making a humane figure out of his caricature-like public image, and it truly moved me. 

If you’ve read Bukowski’s work, you might be trying to connect the dots on how he fed his creative genius, so to that end, Charles Bukowski: Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life is a perfect fit that narrates his life in minute detail, including some very rare pictures.

The post 11 Best Charles Bukowski Books To Get You Thinking appeared first on Bookishnerd.

If you’re like me, some of the first real poetry you were exposed to was from William Shakespeare. And if you’re like me, you also couldn’t stand it. Sorry, but not sorry. Shakespeare’s just not my thing–although you’ve got to respect his contributions to writing as a whole. But there’s a whole world out there full of amazing poets. Hopefully, this list will help you to see that.

The Best Poetry Books to Read Right Now

1. Soft Science
2. Severe(d)
3. Milk and Honey
4. Salt Water
5. Good Bones
6. Lunch Poems
7. Autobiography of Death
8. Songs of Innocence and Experience
9. The Complete Poetry of Maya Angelou
10. When Rap Spoke Straight to God
11. How to Pull Apart the Earth
12. Bestiary: Poems 
13. The Divine Comedy
14. The Flowers of Evil

Soft Science

Soft Science

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Choi Franny (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 91 Pages - 04/02/2019 (Publication Date) - Alice James Books (Publisher)

$14.43

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This book is really a mind-bender. It’s a book of poetry written from a queer, Asian-American feminine viewpoint. It’s an oddly specific way of looking at things. And that alone is well worth the read.

But what really sets these poems apart from the rest is the literary agents and themes used. Its interesting and thought provoking views on what it means to be human and the future woes of automation are sure to mesmerize anyone. From Turing-like Tests to cyborgs, this book of poetry really hits the spot for a sci-fi poetry enthusiast.

Severe(d)

Severe(d): A Creepy Poetry Collection

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Riordan, Holly (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 127 Pages - 09/13/2017 (Publication Date)

$4.99

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Ok. So, when you think of horror and poetry, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Obviously, it’s Edgar Allen Poe–the true master of horror. And if you’re a fan of Poe, there’s a great chance you’ll appreciate the poetry of Holly Riordan.

Holly’s writing is exploratory and dark to say the least. Her poems cover everything from heartbreak, grieving, and bouts of depression. But in a good twisted kind of way.

Milk and Honey

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Milk and Honey

• Genre: Poetry, Body + Mind + Spirit
• Rupi Kaur (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 208 Pages - 10/06/2015 (Publication Date) - Andrews McMeel Publishing (Publisher)

$6.59

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There’s a reason Rupi Kaur’s poetry reached #1 on the New York Times Bestseller’s List. It’s one of the best poetry books of the modern age. Translated into over 40 languages and sold worldwide, Milk and Honey proves that poetry is alive and well. And that she’s one of the reasons it is.

The book is actually divided into four different chapters. Each chapter serves a different purpose and addresses a different kind of pain. And as a heads up… this isn’t necessarily kid-friendly. There’s a lot of mature subjects and topics in here. If you’re looking for something PG-rated, do not buy this. But if you can handle (or prefer) more mature poetry, this might just be a good read for you.

Salt Water

Salt Water

• Brianna Wiest (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 171 Pages - 07/19/2025 (Publication Date) - Thought Catalog Books (Publisher)

$16.99

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Salt Water is author Brianna Weist’s debut poetry collection. And let’s just say, she really gets it right the first go-around.

The main premise of this book is analyzing your self-collective, understanding what it takes to forgive yourself, and moving forward to realize your true potential. It’s a soulful read that can truly motivate you without shoving everything down your throat.

Good Bones

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Good Bones

• Smith, Maggie (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 114 Pages - 10/01/2017 (Publication Date) - Tupelo Press (Publisher)

$11.82

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Maggie Smith writes this out of her own personal experiences with motherhood–the main theme of this collection. Her writing is directly inspired from the interactions she has with her own children and with their own brand new encounters within the world.

The titular poem “Good Bones” was officially named the poem of the year by Public Radio International, and she herself Ohio Poet of the Year both in 2016.

Lunch Poems

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Lunch Poems (City Lights Pocket Poets Series)

• Frank O'Hara (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 76 Pages - 04/01/1964 (Publication Date) - City Lights Publishers (Publisher)

$8.32

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Lunch Poems is a collection written by the late Frank O’ Hara. And it unequivocally represents 1950-60s New York City. It’s an autobiographical account of his daily life straight down to taxicab journeys and his favorite lunch spots.

O’ Hara’s work has been equated to broadcasting across modern day social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.

Autobiography of Death

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Autobiography of Death

• Hyesoon, Kim (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 128 Pages - 11/27/2018 (Publication Date) - New Directions (Publisher)

$14.98

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This isn’t a book for the weak-hearted as Kim Hyesoon’s poetry faces trauma and death head on. She addresses the unjust violence suffered in Korea’s contemporary era from the Korean War onward.

She is considered to be one of Korea’s most important poets and has won several awards for this book including The Griffin International Poetry Prize and the Lucien Stryk Asian Translation Award.

Songs of Innocence and Experience

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Songs of Innocence and Experience: Shewing the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul, 1789-1794 (Oxford Paperbacks)

• William Blake (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 226 Pages - 10/27/1977 (Publication Date) - Oxford University Press (Publisher)

$13.79

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Although largely unrecognized during his lifetime, William Blake is now considered to be one of most (if not the most) important poets of the Romantic Era. And his most famous work is Songs of Innocence and Experience.

This work represents the duality of human nature. It’s divided into two separate parts. His songs of innocence deal more with respect for rules, moralism, and repression. Whereas the songs of experience are jaded against and begin to oppose these virtues.

The Complete Poetry of Maya Angelou

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The Complete Poetry

• Hardcover Book
• Angelou, Maya (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 336 Pages - 03/31/2015 (Publication Date) - Random House (Publisher)

$16.52

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Maya Angelou is easily one of the greatest American poets of all time. And this collection is a complete anthology of every poem–short and long form–she’s ever published. This includes her well-known works such as “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” to those less known like “Human Family”.

If you’re a fan of American literature, you need to have this book in your library.

When Rap Spoke Straight to God

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When Rap Spoke Straight to God

• Dawson, Erica (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 70 Pages - 09/18/2018 (Publication Date) - Tin House Books (Publisher)

$14.39

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Often, when you think of poetry, small excerpts of text come to mind. Many forget that poetry can actually come in many different lengths. From short little haikus to epics such as The Divine Comedy below. Now, this book isn’t an epic, but it is long form poetry. And that might not rub the right way with some readers.

The book’s about stepping up an owning your voice as a woman–particularly a woman of color–and asserting dominance in the all-too familiar white male patriarchy. Dawson defines her body as one of the main adversaries in her poem early on. And uses it to address previous and current political issues. Honestly, it’s a great read and testament to the power of women.

How to Pull Apart the Earth

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How to Pull Apart the Earth

• Cordero, Karla (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 80 Pages - 11/12/2018 (Publication Date) - Not A Cult (Publisher)

$11.90

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This is a strong book written by an even fiercer woman about the interconnection between Mexico and the United States. Cordero herself grew up along the borderlands and through her poetry tells of the struggles and sacrifices that are all to common for the American Dream there.

This can be a very politically rousing and stimulating read. And it’s a must-have. This book is great even for those who’ve never liked or appreciated poetry.

Bestiary: Poems

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Bestiary: Poems

• Kelly, Donika (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 80 Pages - 10/11/2016 (Publication Date) - Graywolf Press (Publisher)

$14.23

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Bestiary: Poems truly is a collection of wild and wonder. Winner of several awards including the 2017 Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for Poetry, this book explores animalistic themes–both real and imaginative.

Donika Kelley is able to weave stories about whales, chimeras, unicorns, ostriches, etc. into real life lessons about self-discovery, the importance of travel, and love. At the end of this book, you’ll be left wondering who the real beasts actually are and whether humanity is all it really seems to be.

The Divine Comedy

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The Divine Comedy: Inferno; Purgatorio; Paradiso (Everyman's Library)

• Hardcover Book
• Dante Alighieri (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 798 Pages - 08/01/1995 (Publication Date) - Everyman's Library (Publisher)

$22.40

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This is honestly one of my favorite books of all time. Well, favorite three books of all time. Dante’s The Divine Comedy is broken down into three separate parts: Inferno (the most famous), Purgatorio, Paradiso. It’s not just one of the best poetry books, but one of the greatest works of world literature of all time.

Dante Alighieri was able to use this work as a sneaky way to point out the hypocrisies and issues with the Catholic Church. And at that time, going against the Church could mean excommunication or death. This work of art is often accredited to the beginning of the Renaissance.

The Flowers of Evil

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The Flowers of Evil (Oxford World's Classics) (English and French Edition)

• Baudelaire, Charles (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 464 Pages - 05/15/2008 (Publication Date) - Oxford University Press (Publisher)

$12.97

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If you’re looking for something controversial, then this collection by French author Charles Baudelaire is right up your alley. As a matter of fact, even though written in 1857, printing of some selections from this book were banned from printing all the way up to 1949.

This book of poems is all about opulence, decadence, and eroticism. But it was an extremely important part of symbolist and modernist movements. And it’s long reaching legacy has influenced everything from rock and roll music to science fiction.

Different Forms of Our Best Poetry Books

Poetry can come in all sorts of different forms. From haikus to limericks to epic poems, there are literally so many different types of poems. When read individually, each unique style stands alone. But what about as a book? I think there’s two main things we should consider when looking at poetry in full book form: length and style.

Length

Short Poems: These are some of the most common types of poems. You’ll find these as part of a composition or collection.

Long-form: When Rap Spoke Straight to God would be the best example of this on our list. It’s an entire book that follows one central storyline.

Epic: This would be more along the lines of Dante’s The Divine Comedy. This work is actually three different books explaining a singular significant event Dante’s journey through Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory.

Style

Many poems rhyme and establish cadence. However, it’s a common misconception that poems have to rhyme. They do generally have a rhythm to them though. This can be done through syllabic placement and structure. Haikus are short poems with extremely strict syllabic guidelines. And William Shakespeare wrote in his storied Iambic Pentameter.

Structure of Poetry

The structure of a poem refers to exactly how it was crafted and how it appears on page. Poems that have a more pronounced structure are often much easier to navigate and read. In order to properly structure your poetry, you need to know what each component of the structure is.

Line

A line of poetry is just that. It’s a sentence or complete thought. Lines can come in many different lengths, but normally they are relatively uniform throughout a single poem.

Stanza

A poem stanza is a group of lines. Think of them as paragraphs of the poetry world. Again, like lines, these are normally uniform throughout the poem.

Rhyme

We all know what rhyme is. But there are two particular types of rhyming schemes.

The End Rhyme: This is when you have rhyming components at the end of a line.

The Internal Rhyme: These rhymes actually occur within the middle of lines.

The funny thing about rhyme schemes is that you can mix and match them just about however you like. You will come across extremely simple rhyme schemes like Dr. Seuss or insanely deep like Wu-Tang Clan.

Rhythm

This is the sound pattern that you build within your poem. If you’re curious to hear what your rhythm sounds like, just read it aloud.

Best Poetry Books All Summed Up

Well, now that you know where to get started with poetry, go pick up your favorite ereader and get started!

Cheers,

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