41 pages 1 hour read

Hubert Selby Jr.

Last Exit to Brooklyn

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1964

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Last Exit to Brooklyn by Hubert Selby Jr. is a 1958 novel set in Brooklyn, New York, in the 1950s, depicting interconnected lives defined by crime, violence, poverty, drug-use, sex work, and assault. The book's six parts—"Another Day, Another Dollar," "The Queen is Dead," "And Baby Makes it Three," "Tralala," "Strike," and "Coda"—highlight the daily struggles and moral complexities of Brooklyn residents, from young gang members and a transgender woman to a married factory worker and various public housing tenants. Graphic depictions of violence, substance abuse, and sexual assault are present.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Hubert Selby Jr.'s Last Exit to Brooklyn is lauded for its raw, unfiltered portrayal of urban despair and gritty urban life, often shocking readers with its brutal realism. Critics appreciate its unique narrative style and emotional depth. However, some find its explicit content and dark themes overwhelming and difficult to read. Overall, the novel is seen as a powerful, albeit challenging, literary work.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Last Exit to Brooklyn?

Fans of raw, gritty narratives will appreciate Hubert Selby Jr.'s Last Exit to Brooklyn. Readers who admired the uncompromising depictions of urban despair in Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting or the harrowing, dark realism of William S. Burroughs' Naked Lunch will find similar themes and stylistic approaches in Selby's work.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

Trauma / Abuse / Violence

Poverty

Genre

Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

Psychological Fiction

American Literature

Period

Realism

Themes

Identity: Sexuality

Identity: Gender

Society: Class