Requiem for a Dream: A Novel

"Requiem for a Dream" is a novel by Hubert Selby Jr. that follows the lives of four individuals who become trapped in the world of drug addiction. The story is set in Brooklyn, New York and depicts the devastating effects of drug abuse on the characters' lives. The novel is divided into three sections, each one focusing on a different character. Harry, Tyrone, Marion, and Sara all have their own struggles with addiction, and the novel portrays the gradual descent of each character into a life of chaos and despair. Selby's writing style is raw and gritty, and he does not hold back in describing the horrors of drug addiction. The novel is dark and disturbing, and it does not offer any easy answers or solutions to the characters' problems. One of the strengths of the novel is its portrayal of the psychological effects of addiction on the characters. Selby delves deeply into the characters' minds, exploring their fears, hopes, and desires. The novel also highlights the impact of addiction on their relationships with each other, their families, and society as a whole. However, the novel can be challenging to read due to its graphic and explicit content. The language is often vulgar and the subject matter is disturbing, making it a difficult read for some. Overall, "Requiem for a Dream" is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that shines a light on the devastating effects of drug addiction. Selby's raw and gritty writing style may not be for everyone, but the novel offers a powerful and unflinching portrayal of the harsh realities of addiction. Christine Armstrong review for Requiem for a Dream: A Novel "Requiem for a Dream" by Hubert Selby Jr. is a novel that tells the story of four individuals who become trapped in the world of drug addiction. The book is a dark and powerful portrayal of addiction and the destructive effects it has on the characters' lives. The novel is split into three sections, each one focusing on a different character's experience with addiction. Selby's writing style is intense and raw, and he doesn't shy away from depicting the brutal realities of drug abuse. The book is often graphic and disturbing, and it can be a challenging read at times. One of the strengths of the novel is its ability to portray the psychological effects of addiction. Selby explores the characters' thoughts, fears, and motivations in great detail, making it easier for readers to understand how and why addiction can take hold of a person's life. The novel also highlights the societal issues surrounding drug abuse and the impact it has on relationships and families. The characters in the novel are complex and multi-dimensional. While their actions may be hard to understand at times, Selby does an excellent job of making them feel like real people with real problems. The book's ending is particularly impactful, leaving a lasting impression on the reader. While "Requiem for a Dream" may not be suitable for everyone due to its graphic content, it is a powerful and important novel that sheds light on the harsh realities of addiction. Selby's writing style is intense and immersive, making it a book that will stick with readers long after they've finished reading.

I'd seen the movie based on this book a number of years ago on the recommendation of my son. It was brilliant and brutal and I don't want to see it again. The book is much the same. The story matter is difficult to read about but I didn't at any point consider putting it down. It takes a little while to come to terms with the lack of quotation marks that would separate who is saying what within paragraphs but it's worth persevering. I found it didn't detract from the story once I settled in. This book is not for everyone with its street language, explicit sexual content and graphic drug descriptions but they are truly necessary to tell this particular story. I don't want to read it again but I'm glad I read it this once.

I've seen + loved the film for ages. I didn't know there was a book until very recently. I then immediately bought it + started reading. Wow, it's almost exact to the film or vice versa. I know that he wrote the screenplay w/Aronosky, but still. The film is never exactly like the book. What a pleasant surprise. Again, a journey through Hell. These poor people and what drugs do to them. It's up there with Christiane F. I highly recommend this book, but it's not for the faint hearted, most couldn't handle it or don't wanna know. I'm not thrilled with his writing style, as in no punctuation, slashes for apostrophes, no paragraphs basically, misspellings, slang I've never heard in my life, etc. I respect it for the reasons behind it and an artist's choice, but for the reader it can be very confusing. Like "who the hell is talking now". U have to reread a lot for clarification. I would get more in depth with the story + my thoughts, but my Kindle is dying. Cheers. 😜

Requiem for a dream paints such devastating pictures of addictions (NOT JUST ILLEGAL DRUGS) that I'll guarantee that after reading this book, you'll evaluate your life. Hubert Selby Jr. kept it raw! There was no sugar coating; no syrup; no rainbows; no happily ever after. After reading the book and seeing the movie, if you don't ache for Sarah Goldfarb then I wonder about your heart condition. It took me a short while to get used to Hubert Selby Jr.'s writing style. He barely uses puntuation marks. He doesn't use apostrophes or quotation marks at all. The characters talk with different "accents". Tyrone say "ah" when he means "I". Marion is well travelled and educated so she talks properly. Harry and Sarah are easy to figure out if you'd just keep in mind what I just told you about Tyrone and Marion. Sarah never talks to Tyrone or Marion in the book so you'll catch on to the writer's unique style. If this book doesn't do anything else it will most likely keep you from ever doing heroin. This is one of the best books that I've ever read because it changed my life. I have a different zest for life. Sarah's plight affected me most. I'm inspired to have more positive human contact. I want to give more. I want to be more positively involved with people. Every day I want to brighten someone's day. I take better care of my body, mind and spirit. I'm not afraid to feel pain because I'm human. I will give more love to my family, friends, co-workers and close associates. I will extend more kindness to strangers. I JUST WANT TO GIVE MORE. I WILL GIVE MORE. *I am LC from NC*

The story was captivating, the life of addiction depicted very realistically. The ending left me wanting to know what happened to everyone! Terrible ending!!

This book can be life changing, if read at the right time. Anybody with a proclivity for addiction should be required to read this book. It paints the insidious rot that occurs in lives through many kinds of different substance abuse. The author brilliantly portrays overeating as yet another example of substance abuse that becomes a gateway for an even more serious addiction. The writing is brilliant, evocative, and typical Selby (devoid of proper punctuation and all the better for it, in my opinion. His voice is his own.) While this novel has been put into cinema form, the true power of the writing is still far more moving than the excellent film development by Darren Aronofsky. If you have never experienced Selby, this is an excellent book to start with, before trying on the seminal Last Exit to Brooklyn, which is Selby at his rawest. Requiem is a fine, moving, and heartrending story. The author's take on humanity is both pitiless and sympathetic, stark and loving. Read this book, if you have a need to understand how addiction can trap anyone, even your grandmother.

I agree with some reviewers,the writing style, lack of punctuation and street slang can be difficult to read and distracting, but I stuck with it and am so glad I did. At the end I cared about these characters. The story the devastation due to addiction is one I have never personally witnessed, but watching these characters melt away from living breathing people full of life and hope to mere shells of their former selves is heartbreaking. It is like witnessing a personal apocalypse of each character. "How do you know a heroin addict is lying? Answer - He is talking" I never understood this saying until I read this book. These people lie to themselves and each other as the drug takes over their lives. Heartbreaking. Would have given it 5 stars if the writing style was easier to read. Still worth it. Can't wait to watch the movie.

Irvine Welch's novel *Trainspotting* depicts a world, set in working class urban Scotland, in which a lost generation sinks into hard drugs to escape a valueless present and a directionless future. The main characters are all dropouts from mainstream society. They want no part of a middle class culture that craves dental insurance and barca lounge chairs. Selby's *Requiem* picks up the ball by focusing not on dropouts from the middle class mainstream, but on the mainstream itself. In describing the destruction of Sara Goldfarb, the diet pill queen, her son Harry and his girlfriend Marion, who sell (and become addicted to) drugs in order to raise cash to start a yuppie business, and Harry's friend Tyrone, Selby forces us to realize that the conventional values we cherish are as addictively destructive as the habits of "junkies" such as Trainspotters. The novel is relentless in its depiction of a society that's addictive to the core. Unlike Welch's *Trainspotting,* there are no moments of hilarious humor. But the book is well worth reading, despite being so painful, because it forces us to question our own addictive behavior as well as our own hypocrisy. *Requiem* forces us into the unpleasant awareness that the "freaks," the "weaklings," the "losers" aren't just the people who stagger around on Skid Row corners or flop in crack houses. They're also us "respectable" types who feed the monkeys on our backs in more socially acceptable ways.

Great book, excellent edition.

The book is looking great and clean in condition. I'm joyful.

It is better than the movie.

Very dark and thought provoking

Dangerous book.The psychological impact it delivers is astonishing.