Last Exit to Brooklyn

Rating:
Summary: Time will tell...
Review: Few books have aroused so much strong feeling as Last Exit to Brooklyn, with reactions ranging from the highest admiration, through horror, pity and disgust, to the blind fury of those who are opposed to the exposure of social evil. Its merits, challenged first by private and then by public prosecution, have been tested in the courts. Those who have spoken for it, both as an original work of modern fiction and as a true documentary account of life in a section of Brooklyn, leave us without a doubt that it is one of the most important books of the post-war period.

The characters who inhabit the book are unforgettable: Harry, the strike leader, who during his weeks of power discovers something of his true nature; Tralala, who rejects the only love she is offered and sinks swiftly to the lowest level of prostitution; Georgette, the 'hip queer' with pathetic aspirations to culture; Abraham, the 'cool ass' black stud, with his girls, his 'bigass' Cadillac, and his undernourished family; the debris of American civilisation, for whom the author ultimately makes us feel a profound compassion.

Last Exit to Brooklyn was found obscene at the Old Bailey in November 1967, a decision which was reversed by a historic Appeal Court judgement in July 1968. Now this 'honest and terrible book', as Anthony Burgess descrbes it in his Introduction to this new edition, can take its rightful place as one of the major books of our time.
A friend of mine gave me this book to read, you never really borrow books unless the lender threatens you that your life depends upon its return. I believe Mr. Selby first published this book in 1964 so its a little dated but for the time it was shere madness which even today you have to admire how much profanity can be fit into so few sentences. I enjoyed the book, it kinda makes ya feel dirty but, ya can always take a bath if ya want, unlike many of the characters.Read the book it stands the test of time, Mr. Selby does not understand the concept of built in obsolescence. It reminds me of the time when I lived in Lizton Indiana and my brother Charles Chadwick and our buddy big John, Roscoe and Joe, all gathered to watch Charles pogo stick over the creek behind our house.We had taken some scaffolding left over from our new home construction and laid it across the creek, it was about twelve inches wide and reinforced with 2 x 4's on each edge. 5/8" plywood and 2x 4 's...Charles as I recall had the most confused look on his face when he made it about two hops across the bridge and then fell about five feet into a gravel creek bed, a great look, I think he said "Wha happen"? He laid in the gravel, pogo stick still in position and at that moment I think he realized that not everything works out as planned.He lost interest in this stunt real fast, unlike you will in Huberts great Novel.
About this time we were reaching an age when my folks felt we were old enough to be left alone for short periods of time while they went to Air-Way and such, these opportunities we seized carpe diem style! Empty the two car garage and stage indoor short track races on our dirt bikes, sure we would leave tire tracks on the concrete, sure the nobby tire marks on the walls were tell tale signs of mischief but my folks where young and inexperienced and did not suspect that we would race motorcycles in a two car garage.We would put the garage back together and other than the lingering two stroke haze, and the above mentioned clues, none was the wiser. Best I can remember I always won these races because I was the superior rider. How we managed not to hit the water heater and tear it from the wall proves there is a divine being watching over us. Which also reminds me of how my da showed me the hot water release valve on the water heater for what reason I dont know, but I retained this knowledge. Unfortunately for Elmo and Myrtle our beagles I had just enough knowledge to cause them great pain. You see Elmo was a walk up dog who adopted us as was myrtle, the two quickly became lovers and engaged in Hubert Selby style liaisons as often as myrtle was in heat.They often became stuck and we all know the best way to separate two beast who are stuck is to throw cold or is it hot water on them? At the time I thought it was hot so one evening while my folks were at Air-Way our two beagles became stuck and were in obvious pain, one faced north the other south and like a compass in a tempest they changed directions in a passionate union. I went to the water heater and filled up a glass with water directly from the unit just like me da showed me and threw it on the two lovers, and contrary to my expectations the two just yelped like scalded wild animals. Eventually they separated on their own.They were fine no burns and such but shortly there after Mrytle took up with the neighbors German Shepherd and Elmo hit the road, never to be seen again. Kinda like a Hubert Selby character. I miss my dogs and I miss dominating the two door garage indoor short track circuit. Enough for now, read the book its dirty.


Rating:
Summary: not selby's best work
Review: *hubert selby jr. is my favorite writer of all-time, specifically for his brutal honesty
-all of selby's work will be regarded in my eyes as genius,but l.e.t.b. just was not his best work in my opinon
+ + +what i liked
*several short installments (good for readers who dislike selby's quick, non-stop pace)
* "Tralala"-my favorite section of the novel, not too short, not too long, despicable yet intriguing character

- - - Dislikes
* "The Strike"-agonizing at times and quite tedious, an overdose of selby's trouncing darkness

Rating:
Summary: has its moments
Review: After reading 'Requiem for a Dream' I was enthusiastic about reading this highly rated book. Like 'Requiem for ...', all of the characters in this novel do not do any introspection and are either unable or unwilling to see themselves objectively largely because of their environment. Basically this book takes us into the minds of the powerless; those who live on the fringes of society; the people looked down on by society at large. We see things from their eyes, we walk in their shoes and experience what they experience.

The idea that the playing field is level and anyone can do what they want if they just work hard is just plain .... Although I didn't grow up in the inner city, I was not completely sheltered and hence can understand how a person's environment shapes who they are and their opportunities in life. After reading this book, I became even more educated about life on the fringes in the inner city. I've met people from the inner city who've told me that I can't understand where they are coming from since I haven't 'experienced' what they have 'experienced'. Regardless of what people say, I think reading Last Exit brings one closer to experiencing life in 'the other america' and forces us to really appreciate our lives more.

The sad thing about books like this is that the people who really need a dose of it turn their noses up and ignore the message.

Rating:
Summary: Well worth the penetration.
Review: And I don't mean that as a pun. I picked up this book being an enormous fan (like some other reviewers here) of Darren Aronofsky's movie version of Selby's Requiem for a Dream (which is, by the way, the best title of a novel. Ever.).

Normally I can't get into prose written this way; it's very dense because its cadences are not like anything else out there. But, like an album that grows on you to become one of your favorites, the novel takes off into a swirl of rage that explodes off the page, which, even in the nicer parts, is seething with the darkest parts of the human heart. If you ever wanted to see the monster you could become in worse circumstances, read this book. It's well worth the time it takes to penetrate the prose and get down to its bones. Selby doesn't use proper punctuation, apostrophes, or anything but raw, conversational language that gets you right inside the characters' heads and doesn't let you out. And that's its genius: not letting you out. I've finished the book, and I'm still not out.

Rating:
Summary: The pulse of a world dying in inane screams...
Review: Anyone who has lived in a city will recognise the stories narrated in this book even if he's never come to direct contact with the type of characters depicted in them.
It's an instinctive recognition though. I grew up part of my life in Queens N.Y and while reading through this book i felt that these were stories i heard as a kid being screamed through my window.

Shelby is not using any imagination in the "Last exit..." but this isn't his talent to begin with. His talent is being an impeccable "watcher", he has watched the world around him and he's been able to describe it with brutal accuracy, much like a camera filming riots or the daily life of anyone. You cant argue much with a camera and Shelby functions very much like a human one, simply or "simply" reproducing the reality we all love to ignore on paper.

It's certainly a world with very lil love or compassion to offer, the one Shelby describes, but for anyone who thinks this might be somewhat exaggerated i'd have to say this: look again and this time with your eyes open.
He chooses unmistakebly dark characters for his stories: prostitutes, dark dealers, cryptohomosexuals who lead the "normal" life on the surface and the such, but his knife cuts way deeper when he opts for the "guy next door" character, the one who lives in -again- "normal hell", the one who spends his life in an agony of pointless routine, who lives but doesnt live, who is there but he might've just as well (for his/her) sake not existed.

....
This is what the "Last exit..." is all about.

The schemes, the vanities, the shortcomings of the many different characters involved in Shelby's stories are maybe nothing you havent at least heard before, but do trust me, they do make up for one massive horror story.
Now, speaking of a horror story, horror film [fans] on reality. This applies spot on with this book.
It's a dark world out there, and no matter what your personal situation might be (even if it coincidentally is a lil better than the next guy's) there's no need painting it with rosy colors. It's what it is, and Shelby comes through with a disarming honesty about it. His first intention might not be honesty itself but you'll find it hard to fault him for what he chooses to bring to the surface.

The narrative style of this book is nothing short of genius, especially considering the time it was written. In a sense, picking your narrative style when writting a bok is very much like casting actors for a film. Cast the wrong ppl and the film goes down the drain, choose the wrong narrative technique and there goes your whole book being self-trashed.

Overall, if you like dark literature, if hi-fidelity reproduction of reality on paper is your thing you will be more than well served here. A true classic beyond any question.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Believe the Hype
Review: Do not read this book because you liked Requiem for a Dream the movie. It is totally dissimilar. For that matter, don't read this book if you like a novel to have a plot. Last Exit to Brooklyn is made up of several unrelated stories that constantly switch back and forth throughout the book. The result is that you find yourself no more involved on the last few pages than you were on the first few. The stories go nowhere and could just as easily been arranged in a different order. Specifically, the stories are comprised of transexual and homosexual activities, drug use, spousal abuse, and child abuse. None of the characters are likeable. If you're looking for something contemporary, try anything by Chuck Palahniuk instead.

Rating:
Summary: Literature is not Morality
Review: Don't expect this book to be a moral mouthpiece. Don't expect this book to be light-hearted entertainment. And whatever notion you have of it teaching you a lesson, should be shuffled aside.

The only difference between the rich lady from Uptown Manhattan the junkie from the Lower East Side is money. That's it. And whatever you need to do to close the gap, is your business.
If you need to peddle yourself off to sailors and steal their wallets, if you need to change out of briefs and into some panties to get green while you walk the streets and if you need to drill horse in your veins as an after-work hobby, so be it.
Everyone gets desperate for what is lacking in life--they get desperate for what they need and can't have. And even if they think it's just money while it's really something much more human and simpler than that, that onus is on the reader to develop as s/he watches the characters weave in and out of degrading situations.

Selby's job as novelist is not to make you socially aware or engage your moraliy as some have suggested. And the quality of this book certainly has nothing to do with how well Requiem For A Dream did in the theatres in comparison.

This book's elegance rests on its narrative. It's ability to give voice to different people, of different socio-economic backgrounds, dwelling in different pockets of NY trying to survive. And the only thing shocking in this book is not the drug use, the sexuality, or even the colourful cussing. What remains with the reader long after the pages have been digested is that overwhelming sense of unsettled nausea--no human being ever escapes their vices without it taking a toll on them. Last Exit to Brooklyn, read it.

Rating:
Summary: Affecting
Review: Enjoyed Selby's prose...Tried to pick up another book after finishing "Brooklyn" and couldn't concentrate. Not for the squeamish or closed-minded. Definitely a re-read down the road.

Rating:
Summary: A skanky urban nightmare
Review: Feel the disease, to paraphrase Depeche Mode. This is a compelling read if only for a peek at pre-Stonewall gay life in Brooklyn. I, like one of the other reviewers, felt that the drag queens were a little to "out" for the early 1960's, even if it was Brooklyn. I had trouble identifying with any of the characters, they were all such a mess. I don't know a lot about recreational drug use, but in the story "Queens", the titular queens were popping "bennies" like M&M's...is that possible, or wouldn't you OD on them.

I really wasn't sure what to make of Harry in "Strike", Selby alternated between making you feel sorry for this poor closeted schmo and then made you hate him for various acts of brutality and/or cowardice. The violent ending didn't make sense in the context of Harry's character, it also reflected the homophobic myth that gays are also child molesters. This was probably function of the times in which it was written.

Those who have seen the movie, the book is quite different. Not so much a story as a pastiche of different scenes, none of which are really contected.

The best of the bunch is the last story which follows a slew of housing project denizens through their various dreary lives. Some of the passages are funny, some are heartbreaking, and all are engrossing. I liked the rhythm of the narrative and the way Selby portrayed each character from his or her own point-of-view.

Rating:
Summary: A Life Changing Event
Review: Fifteen years ago I was busted out, suicidal, and 60 days off the juice. I hated all living things. Especially myself. One day I stumbled on to Last Exit To Brooklyn at a used book store in Venice.

I believe it was Kafka who said that a good novel should have the same effect as a blow to the head. Last Exit To Brooklyn had that impact on me. I was never the same after the first page.

Said plainly, Selby is a master at exposing his guts. His truth and the truth of the human condition screams and bleeds from every page. Every endless sentence.

Last Exit is the finest thing of its kind I have ever read. Maybe the best novel in the last 50 years. It tore my heart out and made me beg God to be a writer.

Today, when I look in the mirror, I still see the same two heads looking back but I know for certain that there's at least one other whackjob like me witnessing a similar event. I owe the end of my isolation from the human race and my birth as a writer and my love of books to Hubert Selby Jr.

Great stuff. Thanks Cubby.