Rating: 
Summary: Vertigo without the pictures.
Review: This is another book review from Wolfie and Kansas, the boonie dogs from Toto, Guam. "Exquisite Corpse" is about two cannabalistic human serial killers. We find it amazing that humans can complain about the culinary delicacies that we bring back from the jungle or a dumpster, but then go ahead and read something like this. . . . The book begins with one of the serial killers making a miraculous escape from a pound for rabid humans. We won't give away how he does this, but the same trick was used by Dr. Miguelito Loveless on "The Wild, Wild West". We're pretty sure that the Joker, Dr. Doom, and others have made similar escapes. The result of this comic-booky opening is to limit the reader's suspension of disbelief, so one never gets truly horrified like one does reading a Holocaust memoir or a well-done true crime book. Instead, this book is like a prose version of a Vertigo, Warren or EC comic book. This is not necessarily bad, as it means the entertainment value outweighs the cringe factor most of the time. If, like us, you liked Joe Lansdale's graphic novel "Johan Hex: Two-Gun Mojo" or Garth Ennis's graphic novels "Preacher: Gone to Texas" and "Preacher: Until the End of the World", you will probaby enjoy "Exquitsite Corpse". Poppy Z. Brite's two serial killers, Andrew Compton and Jay Byrne, are not quite as compelling as Hannibal Lecter, but were still convincing enough that we would not raid their garbage
Rating:
Summary: An indelible necromantic feast of homoerotic horror
Review: This book takes a decidely different twist than Poppy's
previous two books, _Lost Souls_ and _Drawing Blood_ which both incorporated elements of cute and clever gothic amid easy, free flowing prose designed to lull the reader along while taking quick, sharp jabs at his sensibility leading to an overwhelming feeling that something is amiss, much like driving off a cliff while admiring pretty scenery.
_Exquisite Corpse_ isn't cute and doesn't waste time with
being clever. Rather it takes the reader by the jockstrap
to a place so incredibly dark, sadistic and perverted that
what would otherwise be genuine blood quenching and stomach
pumping horror becomes at once attractive to the innermost
demon lurking inside the reader. Whether it is the fascination
of slaughtering a willing victim or the free spirit of
necromania at its goriest, one can't help but be pulled along
to the crescendo that ends with a collision of souls of
anger, fear, remoreless and dedication that redefines the
meaning of eternal love.
- Joe Fowler
Rating: 
Summary: wicked read
Review: Well, I am an unshockable and unsquickable reader, so this book didn't really freak me out as it did some of the other reviewers here.
When I first got EC, it seemed the sort of book I had been looking for: hot (...) boys, sizziling sex in New Orleans and twist of the macarbe. And it turned out to be just that, and more.
I loved all the stuff with Tran and Luke, but I wish they could have ended up together, I'm a sucker for happy slushy endings:)
HOWEVER, there could have been more about Andrew and Jay, perhaps looking more deeply at their characters.
I'd highly reccomend this book to: unsquickable slashers, and anyone who wants to try someting a little bit different...
Rating:
Summary: Like a gay, poetic american psycho...
Review: Everything reminds me of american psycho. This book extremely so, seeing as how it's about serial murderers. Except now there are TWO Patrick Batemans who are gay and infested with HIV.
Anyway... I think this book really deserves a three. However, it received a four because I just couldn't stop reading it, all day at school for that matter. I'm now behind in physics and trig. Thanks alot. but who cares about joules and cosine? Not I! I cared about these two feisty killers. I just wish the book would've had more of Andrew Compton in it. He almost made me wish I were a good looking gay boy in his grasp. The way she described him made him seem very... alluring.
The only reason why I didn't really like this book as much as I think I could have was because of all the descriptions of Luke and Tran. I don't care about THEM. they don't interest me. And they're failed relationship and disease doesn't interest me either. The issue should have, indeed, been touched on, but I don't want chapters about them. Luke especially.
However, this book was good nonetheless. It was very depressing, but good. The last part about decomposing bodies almost made me want to gag, but that's alright. It's not boring. So, I'd recommend this to others, but probably not any of my friends, because I think they'd assume that I had some sort of brain dementia, and they wouldn't appreciate it. Oh well.
Rating: 
Summary: Shredded flesh, exciting isn't it? yeah......
Review: This book teters on the edge of becoming nothing but a pretentious exercise in filth. I say almost, because, despite it's seeming preoccupation to be the most vile piece of fiction out there, certain parts of the story really pack a punch. It's nowhere near as graphic as "the 120 days of Sodom", nor is it as utterly sickening as Peter Soto's "Index" (or anything by Sotos for that matter), but underneath the desire to shock (although not really), there is actually a good story (for the most part). I must admit, the beginning and how Compton breaks out of prison is absolutely ridiculous. After reading that, I had a feeling this book would drip with bodily fluids, accompanied WITH immature pretention. Some parts are just odd to the point of being illogical. throughout the course of this book, there were various times when I found myself thinking "Why did this happen?"
Of course, there is no logical answer. We are tossed back and forth from gratuitous sexual horror violence, to actual serious and moving situations, such as the gay boy's confrontation with his father, and then to poetic descriptions of murderous lust. The ending is rather abrupt, and leaves much to be desired. I would have loved some philosophy as to why Compton and Byrne are the way they are. What makes them tick. But no. Instead we are given little more than cute gay boys getting ... and dissected at the same time. maybe that was the point....
Exquisite Corpse is a jumbled waste of potential, and that's too bad because Brite really could have done something wonderful with this story, had she worked out the few kinks. In the end, it all seems rather unnecessary. She doesn't "take us into the mind of a serial killer", as we only see how the killers react to there situation, how they so obviously love what they do. BUT WHY!!!!???
As Jay Byrne puts it, "Because it's what we do."
I recommend this book to others, simply because it's worth the read, and so you can draw your own conclusions. Also, to anyone who is turned on by living dissection/rape of young boys.
P.S One of the reasons I was nice enough to give Exquisite Corpse a 3 and not a 2, was because I was reading Barker's "The Hellbound Heart" and the same time, which put me in a rather good mood, being as Barker is an absolute genius in horror fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling and frighteningly poetic
Review: When I first read this book, I'd never read anything remotely like it before. I was a King/Koontz constant reader who wanted to broaden her wings a little. A friend recommended Exquisite Corpse and innocently I began reading. What I found was the ride of my life. I don't think I have ever been so impressed with an author from the very first page (I am a postgrad student studying literature so am predisposed to be a dismissive snot) Doc Brite's prose is almost poetic - but not enough to distract you. It seizes you with an iron grip and then seduces you into loving your captor. All very melodramatic, you might say, but if this author has no skill, I'll eat a donkey's eyeball!! Maybe it's not everyone's cup of tea, but it was an experience that changed my perspective, and you can't say fairer than that.
Rating:
Summary: me thinks this book was intended for the adolescent crowd...
Review: I'd rate this book 2 stars for its slapped together feel and 4 for its boundary pushing content. I spilt the difference and ended up at 3. This story is not for the faint hearted and contains disturbing scenes and characters and shows flashes of potential but ultimately, the author was not skilled enough to pull it all together. The title is a great one considering the subject matter. Bodies are revered but only upon death and this applies to all of the characters not just the two serial killers. At first, AIDS has a commanding presence here and helps the point of appreciating a body or life only upon the presence of death but then evaporates to make I'm not sure what point? Can someone help me out here or am I looking for depth where none exists? Overall, an interesting concept which is overshadowed by the rampant gore fest that is "Exquisite Corpse". If you want to be somewhat shocked and creeped out, then this is the book for you. I, however, like a good story that might involve some disturbing scenes but this book was just shocking scenes slapped together to resemble a story. The book starts with great promise as we see the world through a serial killer's (Andrew) point of view. Then we meet Luke and Tran and discover their ill fated love story. Great characterization so far but then things start to fall apart when we are introduced to Jay and his subsequent partnership with Andrew. Jay is also a homosexual serial killer and reading from here on gets really creepy what with the detailed descriptions of cannabalism, torture and necrophilia. But overall, one gets the feeling that the author threw every depravity thought of into this book just for shock value. I don't mind reading this genre - hey, I bought the book didn't I? - but it didn't rate up there compared to the writing skills of say Tom Savage or Keith Ablow. Or, if you want the truly twisted try something by Richard Laymon. Jay's infatuation with dead bodies was written to be very uncomfortable but his character is too flat for anything other than a "gross" factor. Luke was the most fascinating character but at the end, even he falls way short of his potential. The ending was pretty good if you ignore all the loose threads but the hint of a sequel scared me.
Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: I read this book within a span of 48 hours. Despite the incredibly cruel descriptions of death and sadistic torture I could not put this book down. It was like a horrific car wreck, it's morbid and disgusting , yet you cannot look away. This book was well written, the characters well developed and the plot urging the reader on in anticipation. The author cleverly convinced me to almost sympathize with the main characters in their sexual deviances. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, yet it does leave a strange aftertaste in your mouth after reading of things so disturbing. Am I just as vile for reading (and enjoying) such macabre subject matter? Um...yeah..perhaps.
Rating: 
Summary: Hmmmm
Review: Andrew Compton is a sickly twisted serial killer who seeks both solace and beauty in the slaying of young boys. However, his art cannot be perfected while in prison. Thus, Compton feigns his own death and escapes to the US. Quite unintentionally, Compton runs into a man named Jay Byrne while in New Orleans. They find they have a deep, inexplicable bond that few would understand. They both revel in the beauty that is death and torment. Thus, the two set out in search of their next victim, Tran, a disillusioned youth recently kicked out of his home and onto the streets because of his homosexuality. Though this book contains necrophilia, extreme violence, cannibalism, and gore, in no way is this a horror novel. Rather, "Exquisite Corpse" seems to fall into a category of disturbingly erotic romance and/or twenty-first century pop-culture literature. No matter how one decides to classify this novel, it can be said that this is a novel that will not soon be forgotten. This thought-provoking book will have you cringing in disgust, writhing in torment, and engaged with awe all at the same time. Poppy Z Brite has a way of sucking the reader in with her elegant prose and gorgeously vivid description that seems unrivalled by many other authors. There are few who can make torture and pain beautifully artistic. True, this book is not for the feint of heart, but if you can stomach the seemingly repulsive atrocities on the surface and dig for the deeper meaning, there is wisdom and insight to be found there. Poppy Z Brite approaches homosexuality and AIDS in a straightforward, no-holds barred manner. What has been, and still is, taboo for many is not for her. She brings current issues plaguing our society to the surface and forces the reader to acknowledge them. This is the first book I've read by Poppy Z Brite, and it most certainly will not be my last. Brite is the type of author who demands attention. If you are a fan of dark literature then give Brite a try!
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