Charles Bukowski on the dubious allure of beaches

“What was the fascination of the beach? Why did people like the beach? Didn’t they have anything better to do? What chicken-brained fuckers they were.”
–Charles Bukowski, Ham on Rye (1982)

Note: I’ll confess that Bukowski’s quote isn’t of the soaring, inspirational variety usually found on internet travel quote pages, but — since I also think beach tourism is overrated and a tad insipid — I appreciate its irreverence.

Posted by Rolf Potts | Comments (2)  | March 4, 2003
Category: Travel Quote of the Day


2 Responses to “Charles Bukowski on the dubious allure of beaches”

  1. Andie Says:
    March 4th, 2003 at 12:42 pm

    He didn’t seem to like the sea either…

    genius

    charles bukowski

    I met a genius on the train
    today
    about 6 years old,
    he sat beside me
    and as the train
    ran down along the coast
    we came to the ocean
    and then he looked at me
    and said,
    it’s not pretty.

  2. bill Says:
    September 23rd, 2006 at 7:28 pm

    How can you leave out the last line? “It was the first time I’d realized that.” Who quotes a poem and leaves out the last line?