Reviews

Leaving Las Vegas by John O'Brien

kratositaly's review

4.0

Depressing and humane in equal measure, LEAVING LAS VEGAS is one of the bleakest books that I have read. This story of a friendship between a prostitute and a man drinking himself to death touches on so many subjects, from the meaning of life, to love and the many facets of addiction. But, most importantly, this feels like John O'Brien's suicide note, a dark shadow that looms through every page of this novel. A hard read, important and profound.

thebookmonger's review

5.0

This is just so amazingly written. I'm not even sure that a whole lot happened, I just got so lost in the words. Dark and honest and beautiful.

j_m_alexander's review against another edition

4.5

A bittersweet, tragic sort of character study; perhaps a relationship study would be a more accurate description. Two people converge; one with purpose - to make it to the end - and another who seems adrift discovers what she has unbeknownst to her been missing and that she does in fact have a purpose as well - to live. Kindness and acceptance in the midst of ugliness. Harsh and vulgar, but only because people make it so.

satelliteheart's review

5.0

Such a deep, dark, disgusting, beautiful story filled with such raw truth and reality of addiction, hurt, damage and love. I was in tears from being able to feel such emotion from O'Brien's clear words of his truth.
Would definitely recommend this book, just maybe not to the faint hearted but those who know real darkness and passion.
Thankyou for sharing this part of you with me, Ben ♥

sisterfibrosis's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This story much like that of the author is a tragic and sad one. I found the portrayal of alcoholism stark and it played true to the character, however I think I found this novella difficult to connect to probably for much the same reason. The other main character didn't seem as fully formed for me so this in combination with the general mood of the prose meant that this book didn't do it for me.

closet_rebel's review

4.0

A tale of broken people.

kasss's review against another edition

3.0

This book was beautifully written - and also truly miserable.

dadsngrads's review against another edition

3.0

Would have been way better if something more happened with the Al character. His arc was wrapped up way too easily!

treacherous's review against another edition

3.0

A classic tale of an alcoholic and a prostitute, that shouldn't have upset me so much. I still liked it somehow though.

trigger warnings:

Spoiler

rape, alcoholism, abuse, suicide

elisa_reads_all's review against another edition

4.0

Parts of this book made me physically ill. The attention to detail led me to almost smell the stale liquor seeping from Ben's pores. A heartbreaking narrative without a glimmer of hope for the protagonist.
P.S.-the movie is great.