That was wonderful. I was introduced to Selby's work in 1985 when I worked at a NYC coffee shop called Miss Brook's. A regular customer named Arie gave me a copy of "Last Exit to Brooklyn." He'd known him at one time and he told me that Selby was the only writer he knew that didn't constantly talk about himself or his work. "When Last Exit came out we were all surprised. We didn't even know he was writing a book."
I read Last Exit To Brooklyn, in the Psych Unit at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago. It was winter 2001 and I have been clean and sober ever since. Thank you for this amazing piece on Cubby and a look into you!
Jerry, thanks for posting these pieces! I work as a substance abuse counselor at a maximum security prison and I have been sharing PM with some really amazing clients
I vividly remember that jacket photo when I purchased Last Exit nearly 50 years ago. Fast forward another 25 years or so when I find myself in a 12 step meeting in LA listening to that night’s speaker a charismatic, funny gent named “Cubby”
About halfway through, it dawned on me who he was. After the meeting I chatted briefly with him and when I got home relayed the experience to wife (also a novelist) She said “Oh yeah, I know Cubby, such a great guy”
Great story! A lot of people had that experience of the guy.
He told me the reason he had that expression on his face in the photo is that they were on the roof of a building, and the photographer kept telling him to take a few steps back , and he was terrified he was gonna go over the edge….
Beautiful tribute to Cubby. I didn't know him nearly as well as you, and having not read him at the time had no real comprehension of what an important writer he was. I figured he was just some excitable sober dude and stayed away from him because I thought he might try to tell me to get clean. None of that kept him from inviting me to do a poem at a reading for his birthday; you were there too I believe. He was a Buddha indeed. Glad I got to know him the little bit I did.
Wish I too could have brushed up against the man's genius/kindness, the stories about him are legion.
That "write about your enemies with love" tip is gold. Thank you.
I've gone back to one of the Forewards he wrote to a later edition of Last Exit (which I believe is his first book) several times for inspiration. He talks about what a slog the book was to write, which I've found really helpful when I'm feeling dispirited. I say that because Last Exit really is one of the most amazing books ever written, and it's so inspiring to know that such beauty, clarity and specificity isn't the product of a quick epiphany, but the result of years and years of hard, consistently applied effort.
I've only read it twice, but what is most memorable for me is that characteristic of true art in its hyper-specificity. Like how could the desire to chronicle the exploits of a self-loathing, hyper masculine union rep be anything other than divinely ordained? Beyond that, the willingness to sit with that inspiration, to trust it long enough to put in the exhaustive work required to do the inspiration justice is nothing short of astounding. It’s such a fucking gamble! But the payoff (thankfully, for us) is huge.
I’m currently reading Nein Nein Nein and I love it. What a fucked up book/idea (although I’m only about half way through). I’m so glad you trusted yourself enough to follow that impulse. It’s a joy to read. So many LOL’s it’s nearly painful.
I had a kind of random thought that someday I’d like to hear you talk/write about what it was like riding the NYC subway in the 70’s. You make glancing reference to some such scene (I think when you come across the Polish McDonald’s hoodlum). I rode the subway in the late 80’s and it was bad enough then. I can only imagine what it was like in the 70’s. Perhaps that’s what that movie the Warriors or Bruce Davidson’s photos are for. That show “The Deuce” did a pretty amazing job in the art department in that mien.
You’re right, that book did not come easy. He used to joke that he wasn’t a high school dropout - because he never made it to high school, he dropped out of grade school…And ended up inventing his own grammar, and creating a whole new, fearless way of writing.
Maybe start with Last Exit & Requiem For A Dream. (Requiem is also an amazing movie by Darren Aronofsky, which I believe got the longest standing ovation in Cannes history. Ellen Burstyn will tear your heart out).
After those two, if you’re still standing, read The Room….
One of the rare occasions when the movie actually did great justice to the book. Maybe because the director had the wisdom and humility to encourage Cibby's input throughout its making. He even had a classic cameo --which I won't spoil herr for those who haven't seen it yet.
Cubby was the Man! Now it's up to you, me, and the Man in the Moon to carry on. Much respek, brother!!
That was wonderful. I was introduced to Selby's work in 1985 when I worked at a NYC coffee shop called Miss Brook's. A regular customer named Arie gave me a copy of "Last Exit to Brooklyn." He'd known him at one time and he told me that Selby was the only writer he knew that didn't constantly talk about himself or his work. "When Last Exit came out we were all surprised. We didn't even know he was writing a book."
What a fantastic story! That sounds like him.
Loved this piece
Fantastic piece! I remember you and Cubby trading barbs on stage at Beyond Baroque back in the day. Good times.
Forgot about that! Thanks for reminding me.
Cubby was the Man! Now it's up to you, me, and the Man in the Moon to carry on. Much respek, brother!!
Thank you for this. I still think about Cubby almost every day. I miss him.
I read Last Exit To Brooklyn, in the Psych Unit at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago. It was winter 2001 and I have been clean and sober ever since. Thank you for this amazing piece on Cubby and a look into you!
Thanks — Glad you made it out of the Psych ward. Not always easy to to do….
Jerry, thanks for posting these pieces! I work as a substance abuse counselor at a maximum security prison and I have been sharing PM with some really amazing clients
That is incredible to hear.
Means a lot that something I write might connect with people under those circumstances. Appreciate you letting me know.
Absolutely! Thanks for writing!
I vividly remember that jacket photo when I purchased Last Exit nearly 50 years ago. Fast forward another 25 years or so when I find myself in a 12 step meeting in LA listening to that night’s speaker a charismatic, funny gent named “Cubby”
About halfway through, it dawned on me who he was. After the meeting I chatted briefly with him and when I got home relayed the experience to wife (also a novelist) She said “Oh yeah, I know Cubby, such a great guy”
Great story! A lot of people had that experience of the guy.
He told me the reason he had that expression on his face in the photo is that they were on the roof of a building, and the photographer kept telling him to take a few steps back , and he was terrified he was gonna go over the edge….
Beautiful tribute to Cubby. I didn't know him nearly as well as you, and having not read him at the time had no real comprehension of what an important writer he was. I figured he was just some excitable sober dude and stayed away from him because I thought he might try to tell me to get clean. None of that kept him from inviting me to do a poem at a reading for his birthday; you were there too I believe. He was a Buddha indeed. Glad I got to know him the little bit I did.
Yeah, I remember that party.
He treated everybody with respect - even if they didn’t think they deserved any…
Lovely piece of writing.
Thanks, man. It’s tricky writing about your heroes…
Thanks, man.
He also said “it’s easier to write with hate than it is with love… “ Took me a long fucking time to figure out what he meant.
That sounds like a good piece of advice to me.
This is great, thank you!
Wish I too could have brushed up against the man's genius/kindness, the stories about him are legion.
That "write about your enemies with love" tip is gold. Thank you.
I've gone back to one of the Forewards he wrote to a later edition of Last Exit (which I believe is his first book) several times for inspiration. He talks about what a slog the book was to write, which I've found really helpful when I'm feeling dispirited. I say that because Last Exit really is one of the most amazing books ever written, and it's so inspiring to know that such beauty, clarity and specificity isn't the product of a quick epiphany, but the result of years and years of hard, consistently applied effort.
It really is an amazing book esoecidd as on when you consider the man never made it high school. Just a natural born genius.
I've only read it twice, but what is most memorable for me is that characteristic of true art in its hyper-specificity. Like how could the desire to chronicle the exploits of a self-loathing, hyper masculine union rep be anything other than divinely ordained? Beyond that, the willingness to sit with that inspiration, to trust it long enough to put in the exhaustive work required to do the inspiration justice is nothing short of astounding. It’s such a fucking gamble! But the payoff (thankfully, for us) is huge.
I’m currently reading Nein Nein Nein and I love it. What a fucked up book/idea (although I’m only about half way through). I’m so glad you trusted yourself enough to follow that impulse. It’s a joy to read. So many LOL’s it’s nearly painful.
I had a kind of random thought that someday I’d like to hear you talk/write about what it was like riding the NYC subway in the 70’s. You make glancing reference to some such scene (I think when you come across the Polish McDonald’s hoodlum). I rode the subway in the late 80’s and it was bad enough then. I can only imagine what it was like in the 70’s. Perhaps that’s what that movie the Warriors or Bruce Davidson’s photos are for. That show “The Deuce” did a pretty amazing job in the art department in that mien.
Forgive the novel in your comments section.
You’re right, that book did not come easy. He used to joke that he wasn’t a high school dropout - because he never made it to high school, he dropped out of grade school…And ended up inventing his own grammar, and creating a whole new, fearless way of writing.
This was a goddamn treat and now I must find everything written by this man.
So glad you like it.
Maybe start with Last Exit & Requiem For A Dream. (Requiem is also an amazing movie by Darren Aronofsky, which I believe got the longest standing ovation in Cannes history. Ellen Burstyn will tear your heart out).
After those two, if you’re still standing, read The Room….
One of the rare occasions when the movie actually did great justice to the book. Maybe because the director had the wisdom and humility to encourage Cibby's input throughout its making. He even had a classic cameo --which I won't spoil herr for those who haven't seen it yet.