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

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This was EXTREMELY graphic, sometimes gratuitously so, but I still think it has a lot to say, especially when it was published in the late 70s. Selby's experimentation with minimal punctuation was effective and didn't impact the flow. Probably some of the most complex and evocative character development I've read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Cursing, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Drug use, Excrement, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Torture, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Body horror, Confinement, Drug abuse, Death, Sexism, Toxic friendship, and Violence