Rating: Summary: Portrait of the Vampire as an Ass Review: Beautiful, gothic, gorgeous and wild. The vampire is the most overused character in horror novels. So why do I accost every friend who is remotely interested in horror, especially the Anne Rice stuff, and tell them that they only read garbage if they don't read this book? Because these vampires are nasty hellbent for leather psychopaths and they don't care what people think about them. Unintended incest, betrayal of best friends, broken promises are all in a days' fun for these guys. Poppy Z. Brite obviously had fun shocking us in this book, probably more fun than I have using the highlights to shock the unitiated
Rating: Summary: The best book I've ever read in my life. Review: A brilliant epic tale of vampiric lore, the most amazing tale of despair and longing, a book full of beautiful prose and totally engrossing characters that you can actually become, that you can understand completely, because they live in you, they do the things you've always been afraid of. Nothing and his angst ridden life of feeling he doesn't belong; Ghost and his affliction/gift of psychic power, and Steve with his wild anger and loyal friendship to Ghost, make for the most interesting characters. But the stars of the novel would have to be the vagabond vampires Zillah, Twig, and Molochai; the androgony, the bloodlust, and the nomadic traveling style they live by, makes this book a refreshing meal to suck up at bedtime, or any other time of day. I would recomend this book to any horror fan. Poppy Z. Brite is the most unique and brilliant writer we have to date. She is my inspiration, and I dream of writing like her.
Opium Poppy Fields
Rating: Summary: One of the best horror books I have ever read! Review: With an excellent prose, wonderfull caracters, and lots of blood, I believe this is the best horror book I ever read in my life. Two thumbs up for the Chartreuse, and these excellent friends as Nothing, Steve, Zillah, Ghost, and the two vampire brohters
Rating: Summary: sex, drugs, and bloody gore Review: This book disturbed me on many levels, but once I began reading it, I couldn't stop. This story is quite high in what my friend and I call "ick factor", so if you're easily grossed out, it's not for you. Aside from all the nonchalant drug use and casual sex, there's a good story here, and Poppy Z. Brite's style is quite different and engaging. I would also reccommend The Voice Of The Blood by Jemiah Jefferson, in addition to this book, as it has a similar feel to it (but I advise against Wounds;the sequel to The Voice Of The Blood. It was so excruciatingly pointless and drawn out it was nearly unbearable).
Rating: Summary: Tired of the lazy minds Review: Long have I cherished this book, but it's clear that in her late 30s, Poppy Z. Brite has grown up and is doing more sophisticated work now. Still this is a beautiful document of a moment in time so many of us lived through. However I grow so tired of the lazy minds that insist Lost Souls 'borrows' (to quote another review) from the works of Anne Rice. This is a silly and simpleminded comparison. Other than a New Orleans setting and elements of sexuality, the two writers have nothing in common can I see. I like both. However, Brite has stated many times that she has not read Rice and does not believe her an influence, and it seems rude to basicly call her a liar, which is what you do if you insist on making this comparison.As well, as much as I enjoy the works of Rice, I feel she stopped growing as a writer. She seems stuck on the same subjects, style, ideas. Granted she is a good 20 or 25 years older than Brite, but I still find more refreshing an author who can go from vampire rhapsodys to restaurant comedys in only 10 years.
Rating: Summary: An exquisite read. Review: The characters were very vibrant and alive. The story was very lush and I love her style of writing. Poppy Z. Brite knows how to write a great vampire story. The interactions and relationships between the characters are well done, very beliveable, and sometimes downright delicious. I enjoyed her scenes of homoeroticism and thought that they were tastefully done. I may be a sucker for vampire stories and sexy 'goth' guys but Poppy Z. Brite goes above and beyond the ordinary. A must read for anyone who's interested in vampires or horror fiction.
Rating: Summary: Pretty darn good Review: She is one of the few authors that have trully touched on homoerotic. I have read all of Poppy Z. Brites books and love them all. I like the characters personality and the plot was interesting. Another writer that is right on the mark for homoerotica is d.n.simmons
Rating: Summary: A Homo-Erotic Masterpiece Review: I read this book in high school and still continue to read it once a year. It baffles me that this book has not been made into a movie. It has excellent character development and beautiful, very descriptive settings. The only thing keeping it out of theaters is the fact that the main character, Nothing, is only fourteen and often placed in provocative (and often disturbing) situations.
The book does have its flaws. There are chapters I completely skip over because they involve characters that inevitably never contribute to the story line, but considering this book must have been a challenge to write, it's forgivable.
This book gets slammed a lot because it's not "deep" enough. Show me a vampire novel that is. Perhaps the writing style is too "artsy" for them. Have you ever attempted to get through a book by Anne Rice's son?
Enough said.
Rating: Summary: The greatest book ever written Review: Very few books are able to capture such a raw and in depth tone and make them romantic. This book alone put all of Anne Rice's novels to shame, and became the greatest vampire novel ever written.
The story like most is simple enough, but its the style and emotion put forth by the author that makes this story beautiful. The story follows the path of Nothing, a boy looking for a place he belongs. There are no words that can match the beauty of this book beyond the ones already printed in its pages. Anyone who can identify with feeling alienated, or who has a facination with vampires will love this book.
Rating: Summary: Tired of the lazy minds Review: This book disturbed me on many levels, but once I began reading it, I couldn't stop. This story is quite high in what my friend and I call "ick factor", so if you're easily grossed out, it's not for you. Aside from all the nonchalant drug use and casual sex, there's a good story here, and Poppy Z. Brite's style is quite different and engaging. I would also reccommend The Voice Of The Blood by Jemiah Jefferson, in addition to this book, as it has a similar feel to it (but I advise against Wounds;the sequel to The Voice Of The Blood. It was so excruciatingly pointless and drawn out it was nearly unbearable).
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