If you enjoy reading novels by Hubert Selby Jr. then you might also like the following authors:
If you enjoy Hubert Selby Jr.'s raw, powerful storytelling, Charles Bukowski might hit the spot for you. Bukowski’s writing is gritty and unapologetic, deeply rooted in the darker corners of urban America.
His novel “Post Office” pulls you into the harsh yet humorous world of Henry Chinaski, an alcoholic drifter who finds temporary refuge working for the U.S. Postal Service.
Bukowski chronicles Chinaski’s life in vivid snapshots, laying bare the monotony, absurdity, and humanity he encounters in sorting rooms and on mail routes.
The book doesn’t sugarcoat life’s messiness but manages a dry wit as Chinaski wrestles with bureaucracy, hangovers, and troublesome relationships. Bukowski’s honesty cuts deep, making “Post Office” unforgettable in its blunt realism.
William S. Burroughs was a major writer of gritty, provocative fiction, famous for novels that explore the darker sides of human nature and society’s fringes.
If you enjoyed Hubert Selby Jr.'s stark depiction of urban life in books like “Last Exit to Brooklyn,” you’ll probably be drawn to Burroughs’ “Junkie.”
This semi-autobiographical novel follows the day-to-day experiences of a young drug addict navigating the underground heroin scene in 1950s America.
Written in a style that’s direct and honest, Burroughs paints a harsh but fascinating picture of addiction, isolation, and survival. The book doesn’t shy away from the raw reality of its subject. It gives the reader an authentic look into a world few have experienced firsthand.
Books by Bret Easton Ellis often explore darkness beneath everyday life and the emptiness behind wealth and glamour. If you appreciate the raw honesty and intense emotional depth in Hubert Selby Jr.'s novels, “Less Than Zero” by Ellis could be a great book for you.
It tells the story of Clay, a wealthy college student who comes home to Los Angeles for his winter break.
He soon finds himself lost in an endless cycle of drug parties, superficial conversations, and indifferent relationships, trapped in a fast-paced lifestyle that feels meaningless.
Ellis captures the loneliness and moral disconnect in a privileged yet emotionally hollow generation. Like Selby Jr.'s work, the novel presents an uncomfortable yet powerful look at characters searching for meaning but unable to escape their destructive choices.
Irvine Welsh is a Scottish novelist known for sharp, gritty portrayals of life on society’s darker edges. His novel “Trainspotting” drops readers into the chaotic lives of heroin addicts and misfits in Edinburgh.
Through twisted humor and stark realism, Welsh pulls no punches in showing the depravity, humanity, and tragic absurdity of his characters. The narrative is raw and honest, similar in tone to Hubert Selby Jr.'s “Requiem for a Dream.”
Welsh brings these troubled souls vividly to life with harsh dialogue and unapologetic storytelling. If Hubert Selby Jr.'s exploration of desperation and bleak urban scenes appeals to you, Irvine Welsh offers a similarly intense literary experience.
Cormac McCarthy is an American author known for gritty novels that explore dark corners of society with brutal honesty. If you appreciate Hubert Selby Jr.'s raw depiction of human despair, you might connect with McCarthy’s stark style.
His novel “Blood Meridian” drops the reader into the harsh reality of the American West, following a young man’s journey with a ruthless gang of scalp hunters.
The group, guided by the eerie Judge Holden, traverses a landscape soaked in violence, chaos, morality twisted beyond recognition. McCarthy’s powerful and unflinching prose exposes disturbing truths about human nature, pulling you deep into the shadows where his characters live.
Readers who appreciate Hubert Selby Jr.'s raw and intense storytelling might find Dennis Cooper’s work appealing. Cooper’s novel “Frisk” dives into dark territories of obsession and disturbing fantasies.
The narrative follows Dennis, a young man fixated on violent desires, whose twisted thoughts blur the boundaries between fantasy and reality.
Cooper’s fearless style and stark scenes confront readers head-on, offering an unsettling but powerful exploration into the shadows lurking within human nature.
Fans of Selby’s blunt portrayal of the darkest human impulses could well resonate with Cooper’s equally unflinching vision.
Jim Carroll was an American poet, novelist and musician whose raw, honest writing style often appeals to readers who appreciate Hubert Selby Jr.'s gritty realism. Carroll’s best-known book, “The Basketball Diaries,” vividly portrays his teenage years in the streets of New York.
Once a promising basketball player and student, Carroll soon descends into heroin addiction, crime and desperation. His diary entries openly capture the grim reality of addiction and street life in stark, emotional language.
Fans of Selby’s brutally honest depictions of urban life in “Last Exit to Brooklyn” may find Carroll’s candid account equally captivating.
James Ellroy is an author worth exploring if you’re drawn to the gritty intensity of Hubert Selby Jr. Ellroy’s novel “L.A. Confidential” immerses readers in 1950s Los Angeles, a city packed with corruption, glamour and deeply flawed characters.
The story follows three detectives tangled up in a brutal murder investigation. Each cop pursues justice through his own set of questionable means and murky ethics. Ellroy brings Los Angeles to life with sharp prose and a vivid sense of the time period.
The twists and turns reveal a web of conspiracy, exposing the dark underbelly of Hollywood’s golden age. If you appreciate the edgy realism and morally ambiguous characters found in Selby’s work, you might find Ellroy’s novels equally powerful.
Readers who appreciate Hubert Selby Jr.'s raw and intense storytelling may find Jack Kerouac’s work equally engaging. Kerouac is famous for capturing the restless spirit of American youth, and his novel “On the Road” offers an authentic snapshot of the Beat generation.
It follows Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty through a series of spontaneous road trips across the U.S., filled with jazz, friendship, confusion, freedom, and searching. The prose is rhythmic and passionate, mirroring the highs and lows of their adventures.
Kerouac vividly portrays the unconventional characters they meet, their desperate hunger for authentic experiences, and their questioning of mainstream values. “On the Road” remains a classic portrayal of youthful rebellion and self-discovery.
Readers who appreciate Hubert Selby Jr.'s raw, intense storytelling may find Chuck Palahniuk equally captivating. Palahniuk’s novel “Fight Club” revolves around an unnamed narrator trapped in a monotonous job and mundane life.
His reality shifts dramatically after meeting Tyler Durden, an anarchic figure who challenges all societal conventions. Together, the pair establishes an underground fight ring, a secret world where men break free from conformity through violence.
The story escalates into something deeper and darker, full of shocking twists, biting satire, and sharp social commentary that examines consumerism, identity, and modern alienation.
Palahniuk’s distinct, blunt narrative style offers readers an impactful experience reminiscent of Selby’s own boundary-pushing fiction.
John Fante was an American novelist known for his raw and honest depiction of life’s struggles, especially among ordinary, working-class characters. If you’re into Hubert Selby Jr.'s stark portrayals of desperate souls, you might enjoy Fante’s “Ask the Dust.”
The novel features Arturo Bandini, a young, ambitious writer who moves to 1930s Los Angeles. Arturo scrapes by living paycheck to paycheck while dreaming of literary fame.
In shabby hotels and cheap diners he tries to find his voice, falling in love, often hopelessly, and confronting doubts about himself and his talent.
Fante captures loneliness, ambition, and desire through a dark yet humorous lens, depicting the gritty side of L.A. that few writers reveal.
Henry Miller was an American novelist famous for bold writing and vivid portrayals of life on society’s fringes. His book “Tropic of Cancer” takes readers to the streets of 1930s Paris through the eyes of Miller himself.
Broke but determined, he navigates poverty, complex relationships, and the search for artistic truth. His raw honesty and unapologetic style in depicting life’s darker moments share a similarity with Hubert Selby Jr.'s writing.
Those who appreciate Hubert Selby Jr.'s stark look at flawed characters and gritty realism may find Miller’s exploration of Parisian bohemia equally captivating.
David Foster Wallace wrote fiction that tackles tough topics, often with honesty, humor, and a sharp eye for human flaws. Readers who appreciate the raw realism of Hubert Selby Jr. might find Wallace’s approach similarly engaging.
In his book “Infinite Jest,” Wallace presents a sprawling tale set in a future North America where people obsess over entertainment to extreme degrees.
He explores addiction, family struggles, and society’s fixation with pleasure, weaving multiple storylines with layers of wit and tragedy.
The characters—tennis prodigies, substance addicts, mysterious filmmakers—all grapple with finding meaning in a world saturated by distraction. Wallace’s storytelling style is complex but rewarding, filled with footnotes, dark humor, and honest insights into human weakness.
Books by Richard Price capture the raw intensity and deep emotional struggles similar to the works of Hubert Selby Jr. One excellent example is “Clockers,” a realistic story set in the gritty streets of New Jersey.
The novel centers on Strike, a young drug dealer caught between his violent world and the fragile hope of a different life. Price portrays urban life through authentic dialogue, complex relationships, and characters you care about, even when they’re making troubling choices.
Readers who appreciate Selby’s honest depiction of troubled souls in tough environments will find meaningful connections in Price’s compelling storytelling and vivid setting.
Books by Selena Kitt capture characters in bold and often controversial situations, similar to the raw style readers appreciate in Hubert Selby Jr.'s work. In “Babysitting the Baumgartners,” Kitt explores intense emotions behind closed doors.
Ronnie, a young college student, finds herself drawn into the private lives of her charismatic employers, Doc and Mrs. Baumgartner. As boundaries blur and hidden desires surface, the novel moves swiftly from subtle hints to explicit moments of desire and discovery.
Kitt isn’t afraid to portray characters who confront taboo subjects head-on. The story offers a provocative and emotional look at intimacy, temptation, and moral ambiguity, themes readers of Selby will find familiar and engaging.