Last Exit to BrooklynLast Exit to Brooklyn
Score Classic
What it's about
A raw portrait of the junkies, hustlers, drag queens and prostitutes of Brooklyn's housing projects, bars and streets, including Georgette, Vinnie, Tralala and Harry, a power-hungry strike leader with a fatal secret.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's an unforgettable, unflinching cast of characters on the edge.
You'll love it if you liked
City of Night
Giovanni's Room
Bright Lights, Big CityGood to know
It's brutal and raw.
By the numbers
- Readers34 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller19 out of 100 · counts 14%
- 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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Quick answers
Is Last Exit to Brooklyn worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,445 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 60.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Last Exit to Brooklyn about?
A raw portrait of the junkies, hustlers, drag queens and prostitutes of Brooklyn's housing projects, bars and streets, including Georgette, Vinnie, Tralala and Harry, a power-hungry strike leader with a fatal secret.
How long does it take to read Last Exit to Brooklyn?
About 7 hours (290 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Last Exit to Brooklyn?
If you liked it, try City of Night by John Rechy, Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin or Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney.