A long-time favorite author of mine, Hubert Selby Jr. has passed away.

He jumped to much wider fame in the last few years with the two movie adaptations of his books, first, the landmark Last Exit to Brooklyn and then Requiem for a Dream. Strangely, I saw neither. I'm not sure why.

I went through a period ten or twelve years ago when I read all but one of his books. They had a huge impact on me, and it's a wrenching loss that he's gone.

As much as I think Last Exit to Brooklyn is essential reading, there's always been this quiet voice in the back of my head that keeps wanting to go back to Song of the Silent Snow, a collection of short stories that I loved. Alongside the squalor that animates so much of his subject matter, there were these beautiful, still, sweet moments that were all the more radiant for their situation. I recommend it strongly, along with the leading novels.

Los Angeles is just that little bit more poor today.