They Shoot Horses, Don't They‪?‬

Set during the Great Depression, this harrowing novel follows desperate contestants in a grueling dance marathon in Los Angeles. The story is narrated by Robert, who recounts how he came to be on trial for the murder of fellow contestant Gloria. The novel explores the psychological and physical toll of poverty, despair, and the search for meaning in a brutal, exploitative world.
Major themes include existential nihilism, spectacle and exploitation, hopelessness, economic desperation, and mercy killing.