A review by joeyoudan
Requiem for a Dream by Hubert Selby Jr.

4.75

So very, very bleak. Put this off for a while as I didn’t love Last Exit to Brooklyn but this book, for me, displays Selby’s unique style, grown up and more assured, and utilised far better. The book is fantastic and difficult; the narrative voice ingeniously weaving between the characters, all of whom have a distinct and interesting narrative tone, and a omniscient third person narrator that is absolutely vital in delivering the ironic judgement on the horrendous realities that the characters themselves try so hard to ignore. One minor criticism- thought ending the novel

with Tyrone in prison work was maybe not as impactful as the ending could have been. Despite the cheesiness, would have loved a phone call between Marion and Harry like in the movie (though make no mistake, this book is leagues beyond the movie).