City of NightCity of Night
Score Classic
What it's about
John Rechy's groundbreaking 1960s novel follows a nameless young hustler from Texas to Times Square, Los Angeles and the French Quarter of New Orleans, searching for self-knowledge among the unforgettable characters of a neon-lit underground world.
Why it's worth reading
It was one of the ten best-selling books of 1963. It's a landmark of gay literature, bold and unflinching.
You'll love it if you liked
Giovanni's Room
Our Lady of the Flowers
On the RoadGood to know
It's frank about sex and written in an inventive, rhythmic style.
By the numbers
- Readers52 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking
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A Brief History of TimeExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is City of Night worth reading?
Yes. It was one of the ten best-selling books of 1963. It ranks #1,960 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is City of Night about?
John Rechy's groundbreaking 1960s novel follows a nameless young hustler from Texas to Times Square, Los Angeles and the French Quarter of New Orleans, searching for self-knowledge among the unforgettable characters of a neon-lit underground world.
How long does it take to read City of Night?
About 13 hours (502 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after City of Night?
If you liked it, try Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin, Our Lady of the Flowers by Jean Genet or On the Road by Jack Kerouac.