If you enjoy reading novels by Hubert Selby Jr. then you might also like the following authors:
Charles Bukowski often wrote novels that showed the less glamorous side of everyday life through the eyes of relatable characters. His book “Post Office” tells the story of Henry Chinaski, a man who works at the post office and struggles with his dull job and personal issues.
Chinaski deals with difficult supervisors, heavy drinking habits and awkward relationships, all described in a humorous and straightforward style.
Bukowski’s writing captures ordinary people’s hardships with a direct, honest voice that readers who enjoy Hubert Selby Jr.'s novels might appreciate.
William S. Burroughs was an American author known for his dark and honest storytelling. His book “Junky” has a gritty, straightforward style similar to the hard-hitting novels of Hubert Selby Jr.
In “Junky,” Burroughs describes the daily struggles of drug addiction through clear and simple prose. He shows the harsh side of life but does it without sentimentality or judgment.
The book follows Lee, a young man who travels between New York and Mexico looking for drugs, money, and some way out. The characters and situations feel realistic because Burroughs writes from his own experience.
If Hubert Selby Jr.'s direct and raw approach to storytelling appeals to you, William S. Burroughs’s “Junky” will likely catch your interest.
If you enjoyed Hubert Selby Jr.'s direct and raw storytelling style, you might also connect with Bret Easton Ellis. Ellis writes stories that explore dark aspects of everyday life without making things soft or comfortable for the reader.
His novel “Less Than Zero” follows a young college student named Clay who returns home to Los Angeles during Christmas break. Clay reunites with old friends involved in partying, drugs and easy money.
The novel closely follows Clay’s thoughts and experiences as he becomes aware of the emptiness beneath the glamour. Ellis never tries to make you feel good or relaxed, instead he helps you see the darker reality underneath a glossy surface.
Irvine Welsh writes stories about gritty lives in Scottish cities. His characters speak like real, everyday people, and he doesn’t shy away from tough situations. Welsh’s popular book “Trainspotting” looks closely at young people with drug problems in Edinburgh.
Readers meet Mark Renton and his friends, who get involved in trouble and strange situations as they deal with their addictions. The story shows clearly how friendships and life choices can shape people’s lives in harsh environments.
Welsh takes readers into these people’s worlds and lets them see what motivates them, even when things go wrong.
Cormac McCarthy is an American author known for his solid storytelling and memorable characters. Readers who enjoy Hubert Selby Jr.'s straightforward and gritty style might appreciate McCarthy’s novel “No Country for Old Men.”
This book follows Llewelyn Moss, a hunter who finds a briefcase full of money after a violent shootout near the Texas-Mexico border. A cold-blooded criminal named Anton Chigurh then pursues Moss relentlessly to get the money back.
Sheriff Ed Tom Bell tries to maintain order in this harsh environment and struggles with the violence surrounding the case. McCarthy creates tension and depth that fans of dark, realistic fiction often enjoy.
Dennis Cooper writes stories that show the darker sides of people’s inner worlds. If you like Hubert Selby Jr., Cooper might also appeal to you. His novel “Closer” follows a teenager named George who is fascinated by violence and his friend Alex.
The book explores disturbing desires among young people in Los Angeles. Cooper uses straightforward language and real, flawed characters to explore difficult topics. His approach is raw and direct, without hiding unsettling truths.
Jim Carroll was an author from New York who wrote openly about his life and struggles in the city during the 1960s. His book, “The Basketball Diaries,” tells the story of a teenager who is growing up on the tough streets of New York City.
He mixes basketball games, friendships and trouble alongside his increasing issues with drug use. Carroll offers readers a raw look into real teenage life and the darker side of city living.
For those who enjoy Hubert Selby Jr.'s straightforward style and honest depiction of urban life, Carroll’s writing feels honest and familiar.
James Ellroy writes crime fiction with gritty realism and characters who live on society’s darker edges. His novel “The Black Dahlia” is about two Los Angeles police officers who become personally obsessed with solving the murder of a young woman.
Inspired by a real unsolved crime from the 1940s, the story goes deep into corruption, violence and scandals of that era. Ellroy’s direct, honest writing style shows similar raw intensity to the worlds Hubert Selby Jr. creates.
Jack Kerouac was an American author closely associated with the Beat Generation. His writing comes directly from his own life experiences and travels. One of his most popular novels is “On the Road.”
The book follows Sal Paradise and his friend Dean Moriarty as they travel back and forth across the United States. They encounter interesting characters, search for meaning, and live spontaneously. Kerouac uses casual, direct language to describe their adventures.
Readers who enjoy Hubert Selby Jr.’s realistic style and exploration of American counterculture may connect with Kerouac’s work.
Chuck Palahniuk has a style that readers of Hubert Selby Jr. often appreciate. His novel “Fight Club” captures modern life’s emptiness and anger. The narrator struggles with insomnia and leads a life that feels meaningless until he meets Tyler Durden.
Tyler is bold and rebellious, which pushes the narrator into a different life. Together they create an underground fight club that offers men a way to escape their dull routine.
The novel explores themes of identity and dissatisfaction in a direct and intense way that readers interested in Hubert Selby Jr.'s books usually enjoy.
John Fante writes stories in a direct and honest way. His book “Ask the Dust” takes place in Los Angeles during the Great Depression. Arturo Bandini, the main character, is a young writer who struggles to make a living and find meaning in his life.
He falls for Camilla, a waitress in a nearby cafe. Arturo’s adventures and failures show the tough side of chasing success in a big city. Readers who enjoy Hubert Selby Jr.'s raw storytelling style may find “Ask the Dust” familiar and appealing.
Henry Miller stands apart with writing that’s open, direct, and personal. His book “Tropic of Cancer” tells about his days as a broke, wandering writer in Paris in the 1930s.
It’s raw and honest, showing his days and nights filled with poverty, friendships and women he meets along the way. If you enjoy Hubert Selby Jr.'s way of talking openly about life’s struggles, Miller might catch your interest too.
David Foster Wallace was an American author known for his dark humor and deep explorations of modern life. His book “Infinite Jest” is an ambitious novel set mostly at a tennis academy and a halfway house.
It revolves around quirky characters, such as Hal Incandenza, a talented tennis student, and Don Gately, an ex-addict on recovery. The book tackles addiction, depression, and the overwhelming amount of entertainment in modern America.
Wallace uses humor, strange characters, and his unique storytelling style to capture readers’ attention. People who enjoy Hubert Selby Jr.'s realistic depiction of tough subjects may find Wallace’s works interesting.
If you enjoy authors like Hubert Selby Jr., you might also like Richard Price. He writes stories about gritty urban life in New York City. One of his best-known novels is “Clockers.”
It’s about two men whose lives cross paths due to a murder investigation in a tough neighborhood. Price portrays both sides, police and street life, providing honest and realistic characters that you want to follow.
The story focuses on Strike, a young drug dealer caught up in a murder case, and the detective working to solve it. The book gives readers a clear view of inner-city struggles and conflicting choices people face.
Selena Kitt writes stories that directly explore complicated, honest and sometimes disturbing themes, which readers who enjoy Hubert Selby Jr. may appreciate.
In her novel “Babysitting the Baumgartners,” Kitt tells the story of a college student named Ronnie who takes a babysitting job with the Baumgartner family.
Ronnie becomes gradually involved in their intimate lives, and the boundaries between employer and employee slowly disappear.
The novel openly examines human relationships and desires in a realistic way, similar to how Hubert Selby Jr. approached topics in “Last Exit to Brooklyn.”