Clem trips a spastic cripple and takes his crutches. . . . He does a hideous parody twitching and drooling. . . .
Riot noises in the distance — a thousand hysterical Pomeranians.
Shop shutters slam like guillotines. Drinks and trays hang in the air as the patrons are whisked inside by the suction of panic.
CHORUS OF FAGS: “We’ll all be raped. I know it. I know it.” They rush into a drugstore and buy a case of K. Y.
[William Burroughs, from Naked Lunch]
The Floating Library 
I’m a big fan of burroughs, and I have read pretty much everything he has written, except for the seminal three: Naked Lunch, Junky, Queer. Apparently I have an aversion towards much recommended titles, of the obscure, indie turned mainstream for this such reason. Upon reading this except, I just might try giving Naked Lunch another go.
Drinks and trays hang in the air while the patrons are whisked inside by the suction of panic: the magnificent rendering of a literary cartoon merged with a musical with the chorus of fags purchasing jellies.
zxvasdf:
I too am a big fan of Burroughs, though I’ve ONLY read the “seminal three” (Queer, Junky, Naked Lunch). Of these three, I enjoyed Junky the least. Queer is quite moving (and nice and short), and Naked Lunch is very fun, funny, and often surprisingly beautiful (though even more often incomprehensible).
I understand your aversion to uber-“hip” titles. All the same, I highly recommend Naked Lunch (and Queer, if such topics appeal to you).