Rating: 
Summary: X Doesn't Mark the Spot
Review: Poppy Brite, an author who has penned some amazing proze in her past, is very vocal these days about changing her style and wanting to write more honestly about her hometown. Brite has even gone so far as to be openly derisive in interviews and on her website of her past works and, to some, seems bent more towards divorcing her fans than carrying them along with her on a new and potentially exciting journey. I must admit, I am a fan of this lady. Whether she chooses to write horror or not doesn't really amount to a hill of beans to me as long as she writes something interesting, with strong characters who go through an interesting life. So, the question is, is this new journey, about which Brite is so excited, worth it?The Value of X , a pre-quel to Brite's forthcoming "Liquor", revolves around Rickey and G-Man, two youth of New Orlean's Ninth Ward. Rickey wants to be a cook. G-Man wants to be with Rickey. Rickey's parents don't want them together and devise a plan to send Rickey to the Culinary Institute of America in order to put a stop to the love affair developing between the two. Simply put, The Value of X is a coming-of-age love story. As such, this novella falls amazingly flat. Brite has always been able to create characters who stand out and apart from one another, who have pasts which sneek in through the prose and create two unique personalities. Unfortunately, that is missing here. Throughout the book, the reader is forced to continually page back and forth to figure out who was speaking and which boy was which or to whom they were related. Rickey and G-man are nearly identical in tone and texture and, in my opinion, indescernible from one another, which makes the love story suffer for lack of caring. Granted, Brite has chosen to pull back on her flowery style (and she can still turn a phrase quite well at times in this book), but I was left with the impression that "writing more honestly" has come to mean leaving out details which create strong, memorable characters with whom the readers can connect. The secondary characters, parents, sisters, CIA students and a famous chef fare no better, suffering from a severe lack of definition. The setting of New Orleans, as well, lacks clarity. While Brite wanted to get away from the gothic, mystical New Orleans of her past work (an understandly so), her lack of any substantial descriptive elements has esentially neutered New Orleans, removing *any* character for fear of it being the "wrong" character. While her past work may have enticed visitors to the city for all the wrong reasons, this novella would probably make them choose an Iowa cornfield for their next vacation. The next question will be, does "Liquor" succeed where X fails? That remains to be seen. I am hopeful. I look forward to reading "Liquor" and I will always look at future works by Brite with an open mind. However, I have learned to stop reading interviews by her. I'm rather tired of being made to feel the prat for enjoying works for which the author no longer has an affinity.
Rating: 
Summary: Our Lovely Poppy Grows Up
Review: Poppy has yet to write a novel that has disappointed me. So when I picked up The Value of X, I knew I was in for something good. But I didn't know it would be THIS good. Poppy has matured as a writer into something so rich not even words can describe. If you're a fan of Poppy's work, add this book to your collection. To some it may be just a novel about coming of age in New Orleans, but to many others it's the way life is.
Rating:
Summary: The PZB Buffet - a variety of good things
Review: Poppy is a talented writer who is not limited to one genre.
Everyone grows and changes, and Poppy Z. Brite and her writing are no exception. If the things you loved about Poppy's previous books were the believeable settings, the richly painted characters that made you care about them, and the suspense of what comes next, then you'll likely enjoy "The Value of X". The only slicing and dicing done here are in the kitchen, but even the peripheral characters are interesting enough to make you want to get to know them better. The issues that crop up in the boys relationship could apply to *any* relationship - gay, straight, young or old. I was disappointed only when the story ended, as I wanted to find out what happens next for them. For that, I have to wait for "Liquor" to come out in 2004, though there is a short story in "The Devil You Know" which is out now. If all you want is dark gothy horror, then this gem is not for you. If your horizons are broader than that, make sure you get this before it's gone.
Rating:
Summary: Poppy's New Voice
Review: Poppy Z. Brite has been a cult horror phenomenon for quite a while, and has been a major voice for all the little gothlings out there. But even the Brite One gets tired of purple proze, I guess. So she gives us this gem! I don't want to spoil too much of the plot for anyone, so I will leave my review at this: Poppy's writing style has CHANGES. This is no lush, florid tome where you read endless descriptions of blood in the moonlight and the lynx-green of a serial killer's eyes. No, here you will simply meet two nice young guys (who are, indeed, in a relationship--Poppy hasn't changed THAT much) who live in a rather slummy section of New Orleans and who dream of being chefs. (Cue lush, florid descriptions of food. I swear, you'll gain a couple pounds just reading this book.) There is no supernatural horror here...there is only the much more realistic horror of a young couple in love being separated by the parents who only want to "do the right thing." The book follows their tenative courtship, their early, rocky relationship, their time working in restaurants in the city, and their separation. It's a great little love story, and a much more accurate portrayal of New Orleans than one would find in, say, an Anne Rice book. For anyone else who liked this, Subterranean Press is also publishing a chapbook of Poppy's, entitled "The Feast of St. Rosalie," also about the Stubbs family. Her recent short-story book, The Devil You Know," also features a few stories about Gary and Rickey (as well as the illustrious Dr. Brite, for anyone who read "Are You Loathesome Tonight?"). Forthcoming in 2004 is another story about these characters, entitled "Liquor."
Rating: 
Summary: Simple, but wonderful...
Review: Poppy's new book is unlike anything she has written before. Her writing style and everything has become more sparse, but at the same time more concrete. I have always been a borderline fan of Poppy's, but that might be because the first book of hers I tried to read was _Exquisite Corpse_, which I had to put down. Her writing of late, whether it be short fiction or novel length, is just really good! Because of this, I now count myself an addict and avidly look forward to what ever comes next.
Rating:
Summary: A whole new world
Review: The first PZB tale I read was "Lost Souls", over a decade ago. In the time since then, she has been called a "Queen of Vampire Erotica", which is not fair, as only one of her ten original books even has vampires in it. She has dealt with vampires, zombies, spooky cats, the Beatles, and a coroner alter-ego named Dr. Brite. PZB has been one of my favorite writers since the first time I read Lost Souls back in the early 90s. Each volume she releases, be it a simple chapbook or a 300 page novel, shows growth and more depth. In Value of X, PZB continues her departure away from the horror tales of her early career. X is the story of (John) Rickey, and (Gary) G-Man Stubbs, two residents of New Orleans, and best friends since the fourth grade. Rickey and Gary are not just best friends. They are gay and in love with each other, only they don't realize it. The secret each holds - that he is in love with the other - is complicated by the fact that all of their other friends spout homophobic slurs on a daily basis, and neither knows the other is gay. After they finally figure it out, they become inseperable ... much to the annoyance of Rickey's mother and Gary's parents. A plan is hatched to drive them apart, by sending one of them across the country, while the other must stay in New Orleans, both missing each other terribly and wondering if they will ever see each other again. This book is part one of a trilogy, which includes Value of X, Liquor, and The Big D. Liquor, the second book in the series, was actually written first. Absolutely typical of what I've come to expect from Poppy. 5 stars, and well worth your time. Brilliantly written and engaging, these characters will stay with you for a long time to come.
Rating:
Summary: A whole new world
Review: The first PZB tale I read was "Lost Souls", over a decade ago. In the time since then, she has been called a "Queen of Vampire Erotica", which is not fair, as only one of her ten original books even has vampires in it. She has dealt with vampires, zombies, spooky cats, the Beatles, and a coroner alter-ego named Dr. Brite. PZB has been one of my favorite writers since the first time I read Lost Souls back in the early 90s. Each volume she releases, be it a simple chapbook or a 300 page novel, shows growth and more depth. In Value of X, PZB continues her departure away from the horror tales of her early career. X is the story of (John) Rickey, and (Gary) G-Man Stubbs, two residents of New Orleans, and best friends since the fourth grade. Rickey and Gary are not just best friends. They are gay and in love with each other, only they don't realize it. The secret each holds - that he is in love with the other - is complicated by the fact that all of their other friends spout homophobic slurs on a daily basis, and neither knows the other is gay. After they finally figure it out, they become inseperable ... much to the annoyance of Rickey's mother and Gary's parents. A plan is hatched to drive them apart, by sending one of them across the country, while the other must stay in New Orleans, both missing each other terribly and wondering if they will ever see each other again. This book is part one of a trilogy, which includes Value of X, Liquor, and The Big D. Liquor, the second book in the series, was actually written first. Absolutely typical of what I've come to expect from Poppy. 5 stars, and well worth your time. Brilliantly written and engaging, these characters will stay with you for a long time to come.
Rating:
Summary: Genre schmonra
Review: The most frequent comment I've read of the novel is that it's a "coming of age tale of two young boys". The phrase makes me laugh a little, mostly because I feel the characters of the book, John Rickey and Gary "G-Man" Stubbs, would hate hearing it as much as I believe the author, Mrs. Brite, might. The story introduces us to John, Gary, and their families, and sets the stage for life as adults, as friends and lovers, as well as their introduction to the culinary world.
I read this after finishing Poppy's follow up novel, Liquor, so I was already aquainted with both G-Man and Rickey, and it probably helped me to enjoy this novel a little more since I was already familiar with the plot and was concentrating more on the characters themselves. Taken by itself, the novel comes across to me as a little bit light, but I think that it lays some very important groundwork for the boy's relationship and aspirations that will pay off for readers in later novels, like Liquor, which follows the two through the opening of their first restaurant, and the forthcoming The Big D. For me this works, as if each entry is another glimpse of a much larger whole that will be filled in as time goes by.
Rating:
Summary: Genre schmonra
Review: The most frequent comment I've read of the novel is that it's a "coming of age tale of two young boys". The phrase makes me laugh a little, mostly because I feel the characters of the book, John Rickey and Gary "G-Man" Stubbs, would hate hearing it as much as I believe the author, Mrs. Brite, might. The story introduces us to John, Gary, and their families, and sets the stage for life as adults, as friends and lovers, as well as their introduction to the culinary world.
I read this after finishing Poppy's follow up novel, Liquor, so I was already aquainted with both G-Man and Rickey, and it probably helped me to enjoy this novel a little more since I was already familiar with the plot and was concentrating more on the characters themselves. Taken by itself, the novel comes across to me as a little bit light, but I think that it lays some very important groundwork for the boy's relationship and aspirations that will pay off for readers in later novels, like Liquor, which follows the two through the opening of their first restaurant, and the forthcoming The Big D. For me this works, as if each entry is another glimpse of a much larger whole that will be filled in as time goes by.
Rating:
Summary: Genre schmonra
Review: The most frequent comment I've read of the novel is that it's a "coming of age tale of two young boys". The phrase makes me laugh a little, mostly because I feel the characters of the book, John Rickey and Gary "G-Man" Stubbs, would hate hearing it as much as I believe the author, Mrs. Brite, might. The story introduces us to John, Gary, and their families, and sets the stage for life as adults, as friends and lovers, as well as their introduction to the culinary world.
I read this after finishing Poppy's follow up novel, Liquor, so I was already aquainted with both G-Man and Rickey, and it probably helped me to enjoy this novel a little more since I was already familiar with the plot and was concentrating more on the characters themselves. Taken by itself, the novel comes across to me as a little bit light, but I think that it lays some very important groundwork for the boy's relationship and aspirations that will pay off for readers in later novels, like Liquor, which follows the two through the opening of their first restaurant, and the forthcoming The Big D. For me this works, as if each entry is another glimpse of a much larger whole that will be filled in as time goes by.
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