Leaving Las Vegas
By John O’Brien.
Published by Grove Press.
First published 1990.
Paperback.
ISBN-10: 080212593X
ISBN-13: 978-0802125934
Description:
Leaving Las Vegas, the first novel by John O’Brien, is a disturbing and
emotionally wrenching story of a woman who embraces life and a man who rejects
it. Sera, a prostitute, and Ben, an alcoholic, stumble together and discover in
each other a respite from their unforgiving lives. A testimony to the raw
talent of its young author, Leaving Las Vegas is a compelling story of
unconditional love between two disenfranchised and lost souls – an overlooked
American classic.
“There is not a false
note in the novel . . . O’Brien has a strong tradition behind him here, that of
American naturalism, and he fits into it well. From Stephen Crane to Hubert
Selby, Jr. . . . [O’Brien] achieves real power in his writing. You seldom encounter
it anymore, but when you do you know you’ve been properly whacked by a real
talent.” – New York Daily News.
“Here is that rarest
jewel, a really fine novel. It’s a magical piece of work, one of the best I’ve
seen in a long time. John O’Brien has a very great talent.” – Larry Brown,
author of Joe and Big Bad Love.
“This book is not only
dark and dire, it is crushing. How can a novel so absolutely devoid of hope be
so gripping? The portrait of Sera and Ben is a tour de force – masterful and
relentless. Leaving Las Vegas is the strongest and most extreme look at
alcohol I’ve ever read. This book moved and bothered me and weeks later it is
still in my mind. I think O’Brien is simply terrific.” – Ron Carlson, author of
Plan B for the Middle Class.
“A
brutal and unflinching portrait of the low life in the city of high rollers, Leaving
Las Vegas is both shocking and curiously exhilarating. John O’Brien was a
stunningly talented writer who created poetry from the most squalid materials.
This is a beautiful and horrifying novel.” – Jay McInerney, author of Brightness
Falls.
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