Requiem for a Dream: A Novel Paperback – October 12, 1999

"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 Armstrongreview 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.

This is a great book, I got the soft cover and I'm not sure if it's just my copy but there isn't any punctuation when people are talking so it can be tricky keeping track of if a person's is talking or if it's narration other than that fantastic gripping story cover to cover

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*

I saw the movie in 2000 and of course was disturbed by the imagery and plot. The film stayed very true to the book, and I imagined the characters and scenes exactly as they were from the movie. The few scenes the director left out from the book just add to a bleaker read.This book has, for me at least, the most powerful ant-drug message I can imagine. Will resonate for anyone who has struggled with addiction or has even thought about trying heroin. It is very stark and dreary. A cold, black and white portrait of the insidious hell of drug addiction. It took a few chapters to get used to the odd punctuation and absence of quotation marks, but once I got into it, it read very smoothly.

Like many others, I had trouble getting past the writing style and lack of punctuation/quotations. I noticed that I was almost halfway through the book, and realized that I no longer noticed those things bothering me. I became so absorbed in the story and the beautifully written words, almost like poetry, that I simply overlooked them and became part of the book.Some time ago I had seen the movie, remembering the general plot as I read this book. Everyone knows books are generally better than their motion picture counterparts, and while I love the movie, there was a lot lost in it. The exact feelings of the lives we follow was somewhat toned down in the movie. Reading this book, I felt everything. I understood everything. The character I felt the least for in the movie was Sara, and the character I felt the most for in the book was Sara. I had a much deeper understanding of what she went through and how she felt once she got to the hospital in the book.