Waiting Period

A former military serviceman grapples with suicidal thoughts and increasingly dark impulses while navigating his civilian life. His isolation and psychological turmoil lead him to fixate on perceived societal injustices. The narrative follows his internal monologue as he develops plans to address what he sees as systemic problems in society. His military training and tactical knowledge inform his methodical approach to his self-appointed mission. Set against an urban backdrop, the story tracks the protagonist's transformation from a man seeking self-destruction to someone with a new, disturbing sense of purpose. The bureaucratic systems and social structures he encounters fuel his escalating obsessions. The novel examines themes of alienation, moral decay, and the thin line between justice and vengeance in modern society. Through its stream-of-consciousness style, it presents an unfiltered window into the mind of someone pushed to society's edges.

Readers describe the book as a dark psychological journey that maintains tension throughout. Many note the stream-of-consciousness writing style creates an immersive experience inside the protagonist's mind. Likes: - Raw, unflinching portrayal of mental illness - Building suspense and pacing - Stark, minimalist prose style - Exploration of bureaucracy and societal systems Dislikes: - Dense, challenging writing format with no chapters/paragraphs - Some find it repetitive and overly long - Bleakness and darkness overwhelming for some readers - Less engaging than Selby's other works Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (30+ reviews) Notable reader comments: "Like being trapped in someone's deteriorating mind" - Goodreads reviewer "Selby's trademark run-on style perfectly captures the character's mental state" - Amazon review "Powerful but exhausting to read" - LibraryThing user

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🔹 Hubert Selby Jr. wrote this entire novel without using quotation marks or apostrophes, creating a unique stream-of-consciousness style that mirrors the protagonist's mental state 🔹 The book explores a veteran's planned suicide turned homicidal mission, drawing from Selby's own battles with PTSD and substance abuse following his service in the Merchant Marine 🔹 Published in 2002, this was Selby's final novel before his death in 2004, marking the end of a controversial literary career that spanned nearly 40 years 🔹 The title "Waiting Period" refers not only to the mandatory waiting period for purchasing firearms but also to the psychological limbo between contemplating and committing violent acts 🔹 During the writing of this book, Selby taught creative writing at the University of Southern California while requiring an oxygen tank to breathe due to chronic health issues