I'll never forget the first time I read The Room. Even after Last Exit and Requiem, that was SUCH a rough ride. A great book - Selby never wrote a bad one - but by God, did I want to scrub my brain after it.
Yes, The Room is quite the ordeal. A crazed fever dream: almost like Notes from Underground turned up to eleven. It was my favourite of Selby's for the longest time, but, eventually, I've had to give a slight edge to Last Exit because of its immediate effect on me as a reader and writer.
I once read somewhere that Selby wrote it (The Room) quickly, in a sustained fugue, and when he completed it, he wasn't able to look at it again for many years.
Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment, Ray. Apologies for my late response; I've been away (in a tent, camping).
I'll never forget the first time I read The Room. Even after Last Exit and Requiem, that was SUCH a rough ride. A great book - Selby never wrote a bad one - but by God, did I want to scrub my brain after it.
Yes, The Room is quite the ordeal. A crazed fever dream: almost like Notes from Underground turned up to eleven. It was my favourite of Selby's for the longest time, but, eventually, I've had to give a slight edge to Last Exit because of its immediate effect on me as a reader and writer.
I once read somewhere that Selby wrote it (The Room) quickly, in a sustained fugue, and when he completed it, he wasn't able to look at it again for many years.
Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment, Ray. Apologies for my late response; I've been away (in a tent, camping).
Last Exit To Brooklyn was ahead of its time!
One hundred percent. A landmark book. I cover Last Exit a little more in part two.
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment, David. You're the first!