Leaving Las Vegas

by John O'Brien

book data

183 ratings, 4.10 average rating, 24 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		38%
4		37%
3		19%
2		3%
1		0%

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published

June 1991 by Watermark Pr (first published 1990)

details

Hardcover, 189 pages

isbn

0922820120 (isbn13: 9780922820122)

description

The wrenching but compelling story of unconditional love between two lost and disenfranchised souls. Sera, a prostitute, and Ben, an alcoholic, stumb…more

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 266)

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Jan 09, 2010

J Bug rated it:

(review of isbn 0802134459)

bookshelves: fiction, movie-too, shelf-09

Owns a copy — Read in September, 2009

SHOCKING, GRITTY AND AMAZING

Charming at times yet brutal in its honesty LEAVING LAS VEGAS is ultimately a graphic and depressing love story. There is no hope for redemption here and John O'Brien makes no apologies for it. Having committed suicide soon after the movie rights to this book were sold, many consider LLV to be his suicide note to the world. However this is also a beautiful and compulsively readable masterpiece. Exploring the dark depths of alcoholism, the ne...more SHOCKING, GRITTY AND AMAZING

Charming at times yet brutal in its honesty LEAVING LAS VEGAS is ultimately a graphic and depressing love story. There is no hope for redemption here and John O'Brien makes no apologies for it. Having committed suicide soon after the movie rights to this book were sold, many consider LLV to be his suicide note to the world. However this is also a beautiful and compulsively readable masterpiece. Exploring the dark depths of alcoholism, the needy loneliness of prostitution and the unconditional love between two lost souls.

LLV is told in 4 sections. Alternating between Sera, a content yet increasingly jaded hooker and Ben an alcoholic on one final bender. We also get to meet Al (unlike the movie) Sera's violent and broken former pimp who's hoping to reclaim what was his. I will admit to having a bit of trouble following the story in the beginning as I got used to O'Brien's style of writing. He tended to jump between the past and present in a pretentious manner that was very hard to keep track of. In these beginning chapters we watch Sera go about her daily routine and witness some of the harshest and most shocking moments in the book.

Section 2 traces Ben as he ties up the loose ends of his former life in California and prepares to drink himself to death in Las Vegas. Ben never makes excuses for being an alcoholic, the issue is completely irrelevant to him he just shows us what it takes to get through the day as one. With his alcoholism progressing Ben has become a time keeper; when do the bars open? When do they close? Which stores sell liquor? How much will he need to see him through the night? And how the hell did he get home? It's all quite exhausting and he knows he doesn`t have much time left. Ben now dreams of Las Vegas where he can pawn his watch because they never stop serving there. Through circumstance Ben and Sera meet in Vegas and immediately identify each other as kindred spirits. Each accepting the other for who they are and entering into a desperate and bleak relationship that you just know isn`t going to end well as neither is about to change.

This is one of those books that stays with you long after you've finished. I found myself captivated by Ben's world and all his tricks to remain as intoxicated as possible. His POV is awesome and I think Nicholas Cage was cast flawlessly in the movie as there are moments of harsh, sardonic humour that he captured perfectly.

I recently lost a dear friend to alcoholism (he was a funny, no excuses man too) and I read this book in an attempt to somehow understand why. Now that I'm finished I still don't understand why, Ben doesn't know why either, he just is. I suppose you have to admire someone who leaves this life on their own terms, however horrible they might be. (less)

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Jan 13, 2010

Dalleer rated it:

(review of isbn 0802134459)

Read in January, 2008

The love story in this book is naturally very unique in its' portrayal. I would definitely see that this is a very fitting storyline for the modern era, where all that Cinderella meets prince charming stuff has been thrown out of the window a long time ago and has become undoubtedly outdated.

So you know, the alternate tale of love portrayed in this book is simply amazing because it is so unique and has not been that much explored in literature, I believe. It is truly a sad story, and...more

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Oct 16, 2007

stacy rated it:

(review of isbn 0802134459)

recommends it for: anybody interested in or already courting disaster

this book was so powerful... (how powerful was it?)

it made me call my brother and ask how's he doing.

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1 comment

Jan 02, 2009

Walter rated it:

(review of isbn 0802134459)

Read in September, 2008

This is one of the better books I've read that dives into the soul of the characters. Yes, it's very dreadful, but the beauty in the langauge is what forced me to read this book several times

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Dec 06, 2008

Caty Simon rated it:

(review of isbn 0802134459)

This is one of the few cases where the book & the movie are equal in quality--that is, shattering, amazing.

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Dec 26, 2008

Peter added it (review of isbn 0802134459)

This is a bad-good book that has an underground feel for a very glitzy place...

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Dec 31, 2009

Jonathan Sturak rated it:

(review of isbn 0802134459)

Read in May, 2005

A tragic story about life and death. The love story transcends its pages.

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Jan 08, 2009

Carissa Thrush rated it:

(review of isbn 0802134459)

One of the saddest, most hopeless, books i've ever read

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Oct 11, 2009

Jared Busch added it (review of isbn 0802134459)

Read it about 12 years ago... couldn't even rate it.

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Apr 30, 2009

Mesha rated it:

(review of isbn 0802134459)

Read in April, 2009

I just started this book and it is already fucking amazing...

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1 comment

Jul 10, 2009

Maria Potts rated it:

(review of isbn 0802134459)

The saddest book I have ever read, the first book that ever made me sob and weep. Better than the movie and the movie was damn good.

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1 comment

Apr 07, 2009

SmarterLilac rated it:

(review of isbn 0802134459)

Read in June, 2009

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 20, 2008

Jennifer rated it:

(review of isbn 0802134459)

Read in November, 2008

Flawed, but good.

Parts of it really seemed like a drunk fantasy. Like: what kind of beautiful prostitute actually picks up a dying drunk and offers to love him and take care of him in his last days, no strings? But the psychology of Sera otherwise -- her memories, her motives for working, and her self-preservation are pretty great.

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3 comments

May 03, 2007

Mo rated it:

(review of isbn 2743600985)

bookshelves: lush

Read in January, 1996

This is one of the rare, rare instances where I actually liked the book and the movie, instead of just the book. Unlike Bukowski and Fante, this does not make me want to drown my sorrows in box wine---it makes me want to check myself into rehab. Scary, heartbreaking and beautiful.

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Apr 22, 2008

Steveg rated it:

(review of isbn 0802134459)

This book will blow you away. Heartbreaking story of an alcoholic who journeys to LV to drink himself to death and the hooker who loves him. Desperate and troubled humanity at it's best. Great book and great movie.

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Jul 11, 2008

J.C. rated it:

(review of isbn 0802134459)

bookshelves: fiction

Read in July, 2008

it's more like three and a half stars. very much like the movie but also has the added element of really good writing, once you get into the authors style that is.

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May 02, 2008

Fred rated it:

(review of isbn 0802134459)

Read in January, 1995

I must have thrown this book into the trashcan at least half a dozen times, while reading it, only to fish it out and continue. In the end it was a one day read!

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