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Title: BUKOWSKI DID IT BETTER
Review: Bukowski's coming-of-age novel HAM ON RYE recounted a coming-of-age story that millions of Americans could and should relate to.It was the story of an alienated public school and working class kid who reacted to hypocracy by refusing to conform to society, unlike Salinger who brazenly promoted himself and his works by ingratiating himself with the New Yorker and New York literatti. A story about a spoiled preppy can only appeal to preppies and wannabe-preppies.People overlook Bukowski because they refuse to acknowledge their working-class similarities to the Bukster. Rather, they pretend that they too are preppy types.Caulfield's problems are self-inflicted. He's a whiny moron who deserves nothing but contempt. Readers of Salinger are gullible nuts who are just padding Salinger's bank account.If you want a real look at reality and adolescence then read more Bukowski!
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