Rating: 
Summary: It's been a while
Review: I read this book when I was a punk-gothic teenager full of angst and rebellion. Now I'm a mother, a career woman, and I remember very little about this book. I do remember one thing though, Lost Souls and Drawing Blood were so amazing, and Exquisite just made me squirm.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining Ersatz Johnson
Review: I came to this book through searching for a horror title(having read Brite's comments on Thomas Ligotti and Caitlin Kiernan).While "Exquisite" is relatively engaging in the same manner as all "who-can-look-away-from-a-train wreck "-type literature is, it is lacking in originality or multi-perspective voice, which is important seeing that it encompasses 4+ characters, all of whom are described(in inner thoughts and outer actions) in relatively the same voice. I think the most telling aspect is the Dennis Cooper blurb on the front cover of the copy that I have. Whether or not Brite's novel is intentionally referencing Cooper's work, it is highly derivative when compared to his oeuvre (in terms of ultra-violence that happens to be homo-sexual and aimed at certain beautiful, young males who seem to, knowingly or not, beg for a victim stance).
It is also a bit tired in terms of the whole serial killer m.o: if its intention is to shock, is the "strangely logical and precise" illogicism of animalistic and repeated murder any longer original or shocking? In sum, no. It is definitely gross and sometimes spot-on in it's aping of the crime descriptions of a killer who sees his crimes through the lens of an arch aesthete. I also admired a late plot turn that -- without giving away too much info -- involved the "fated" meeting of two individuals. The humid, savage New Orleans descriptions were also nice. I also admire Brite's moxie in tackling a male voice and genre and getting so many pornographic (in terms of male, gay sex) details right.
Intriguing, if not ground-breaking or earth-shattering. Recommended for an interesting read, but don't expect to be overly surprised or overcome by subtlety or fineness of prose.
I recommend Cooper's "Closer" for something more believable, if not extreme, in the same vein.
Rating:
Summary: Needed more character depth, less gore
Review: If you have not read Poppy before, do not read this novel first. Even if you have read her, and loved her, proceed with extreme caution. This is not a novel for the faint of heart, or weakly stomached. That being said, I was intrigued by the story, and impressed at the loving detail paid to our culture's last taboos. Ms. Brite's prose is spectacular and tangible; her images so provacative that I caught myself looking away from the page with a wince more than once. Compared to Lost Souls and Drawing Blood (I haven't yet read wormwood), however, I found the character development less complete for Jay and Andrew than it could have been. I do not expect to feel compassion for them, at least not exactly, but they seemed a little hollow. Conversely, I thought that Tran and Luke in particular were exceptional. Overall, Exquisite Corpse was worth the read, and worth owning. Besides, I'm not really sure I could handle understanding a serial necropheliac anyway.
Rating: 
Summary: What happened?
Review: After reading and loving Lost Souls and Drawing Blood I thought I finally had another author to add to my list, but how wrong I was... The writing was fine, but I didn't care about the story or the characters, and page upon page of colorful decomposition I could have done well without!
Rating: 
Summary: The Best Gorey, Homsexually Erotic Novel Out!!!!
Review: When most people give you a review they tend to neglect some important parts of a book. I intend to let you decide whether or not this book is right for you! Poppy is one of the best authors in the macabre. This book describes in detail necrophilia, (sex with corpses), dismemberment, homosexuality, torture, and cannibalism. I can in all honesty say that I have read alot of book's that deal with similar subjects, but I have never had one that has actually turned my stomach and made it to where I could not sleep. If you are a true horror buff and is seeking a book that is riveting and twisted, then this is the book for you.
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Summary: Fools.
Review: This book is NOT a horror novel. I cannot help but shake my head in wonder at the simplicity, the shallowness of a mind that could read this book and think it is something as trite as a horror. It is a sensual experience that breaks free of all bonds of propriety and imposed morality and details with breathtaking delicacy the romance of two truly intriguing characters. The excrutiating details may well nauseate some, but there were times when the tender love of these unrepentent predators brought tears to my eyes. I repeat, this book is NOT a horror novel. It is a love story, plain and simple.
Rating:
Summary: Gruesome! Horrifying! I couldn't put it down!
Review: Although I had read the description and recommendation on the back cover of this book, I never expected it to be so scary and riveting. I started reading it at 11 p.m. before I was to go to sleep and finished sometime around the time I was to get up for the day! I was absolutely mesmerized by the description and plot. Perhaps the plot is a bit too weak, but I think the storytelling around the interactions of the characters is extremely well done. I agree with an earlier reviewer: if you know what the subject matter is about, then don't be shocked by this novel's blunt horror and phantasma.
Rating:
Summary: The first book that almost made me throw up, if that helps
Review: The title of this review might be true, but you see i gave it five stars. I couldn't put it down once i started reading. The charcters are real, it's almost like you are there with them. But I think the worst think of the book is that don't hate the main characters, you fall in love with them. At least I did. All the while they were eating dead people. I can say this is one of the few books that really scared me. And I would let it do again and again. Hoped this helped.
Rating:
Summary: Woah, hold the phone, am I dumb or what?
Review: Yes, I enjoy Poppy Z. Brite it's very obvious from my other reviews, but woah. I read this beginning of Junior year and yet never questioned the title to the point where I should have. Exquiste Corpse? Of course I knew from books I had read previous (Lost Souls and Drawing Blood) that it would be dark with Brite's usual reference to New Orleans, with all its wonders and tastes. Yes there would be sex (I am not a big fan of romance novels or erotica but its Poppy, I had to read it) but wow. All Poppy fans, don't give me that "oh its not that bad" because its not what I would want to have read if I was SMART enough to read the back of the book and examine the cover of tied up hands. Yes it was an excellent book, but wow. I got chills up and down my spines and when my Chemistry teacher picked it up I nearly flipped. Thank GOD that she put it down without reading much. Two serial killers who both go after young males, and then go onto killing them cruelly..it was too much for me at times. If you know what necrophilia is then get ready to read some if you decided to pick it up. The scariest thing about this book is not the fate of the victims or the spilling of entrails, its the fact that I became to understand the one serial killer's views. It was how he put it, it was "in his nature to kill" and I began to accept that, it creeped me out that I was agreeing with the man. It was as if Poppy wanted you to feel that way, it was truly terrifying. It was still and excellent book, but yeah I realized how dumb I was not to read the back until one of the first killings. And to this day I rarely bring Poppy Z Brite stuff to school, for fear of another teacher picking it up and opening it up and...well, if you read Poppy you know how it goes.
Rating:
Summary: Gore and More...
Review: 'Exquisite Corpse' is a 'on-the-edge-of-your-seat' reading. Based around the mishaps and lifestyle of a wealthy, homosexual sadist, Poppy Z. Brite offers a book littered with such violent and detailed masochistic imagery, I was afraid to turn out the light at night, for fear I might meet one of the main characters in the darkness.
A powerful story, many of the characters in the book are destined from the beginning to meet a grisly end - it is so interesting to find out how, though.
I would definitely recommend this book to the darker half of literature-lovers, as I loved it from beginning to end and it continues to rate highly amongst my favourite pieces of 21st century writings.
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