Books like Ham on Rye
Ham on Rye by Charles Bukowski reads as bleak, cynical. These 12 books share its genome — matched by how they actually read, not just their shelf label.
The Pleasures of the Damned
Charles Bukowski · 2007
Shares the bleak + vspare thread
85% genome match
Traplines
Eden Robinson · 1996
Shares the escape + bleak thread
69% genome match
Knockemstiff
Donald Ray Pollock · 2008
Shares the bleak + vspare thread
69% genome match
Junky
William S. Burroughs · 1953
Shares the vspare + vvoice thread
69% genome match
Death Wish
Iceberg Slim · 1977
Shares the bleak + vspare thread
69% genome match
Brownsville
Oscar Casares · 2003
Shares the escape + vspare thread
69% genome match
Tex
S. E. Hinton · 1979
Shares the escape + vspare thread
69% genome match
Angels
Denis Johnson · 1983
Shares the bleak + vspare thread
69% genome match
Call if you need me
Raymond Carver · 2000
Shares the bleak + vspare thread
69% genome match
Trainspotting
Irvine Welsh · 1993
Shares the escape + vvoice thread
69% genome match
Run with the hunted
Charles Bukowski · 1993
Shares the bleak + vspare thread
81% genome match
Candy
Kevin Brooks · 2005
Shares the escape + vspare thread
69% genome match
Find your next read by its genome
Tell Novelome one book you love — get recommendations tuned to your taste, including the ones other sites never surface.
Start free →More readalikes: Books like Atomic Habits · Books like The 48 Laws of Power · Books like It Ends with Us · Books like Rich Dad Poor Dad · Books like The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck · Books like Control Your Mind and Master Your Feelings · Books like It Starts with Us · Books like Think and Grow Rich