Rating: 
Summary: Though not what I expected, definatly a great book
Review: I wasn't expecting short stories, but when i found out that a few of her stories had the same characters in it as the first two books, I was in love. I think it is ingenius to be able to write books with totally different themes, but be able to include the same characters, even if only as a cameo. She has impressed me yet again.
Rating:
Summary: great collection
Review: If you are a fan of Poppy Z. Brite then this is a must have to add to your collection. The short stories in Wormwood feature some of our favorite characters from Lost Souls, showing us glimpses of Steve and Ghost's life aside from what we already know. Wormwood is a verdant collection of raw and oozing tales with the ever present scent of eroticism. PZB fans will enjoy every word of every story.
Rating: 
Summary: A Great Collection--A Definate Must For Brite Fans
Review: If you are already a Poppy Z. Brite fan, this colletion is a must read, and far better than her more recent collection: Are You Loathesome Tonight. If you have not yet read Brite, however, I recommend that you start with one of her novels, as her stories are a bit weaker and better appriciated once you are already familiar with her style. This collection contains some wonderful little gems--in fact, it's filled with them. Probably the best work in the collection--which also happens to be her most reprinted story--is "His Mouth Will Taste of Wormwood." "Georgia Story," is also a nice little piece and will be particularly loved by Brite Fans because it features Ghost and Steve from Lost Souls. The story which I feel has the best title, and is a great story on top of that, is "Footprints in the Water." Another great story which gets second place as far as best title is "Optional Music for Voice and Piano." I could go on and on like this, because I loved every story. This is a collection well worth owning. Previously titled Swamp Foetus.
Rating:
Summary: Must Have for Poppy Fans! Great place to start.
Review: If you haven't yet discovered Poppy Z. Brite, this is a good place to start. Especially for any of the Anne Rice Vampire Trilogy fans. Poppy has a young fresh approach to writing. You find yourself in richly described New Orleans with characters easily related to if you are into the "gothic" culture ( I want to shoot myself for saying that, but it is true). Her writing is eveloping and the characters, at times, seem so realistic you are wondering if maybe they are based on someone you know. And at other times, they are so horrific - you wish you did know them. (Well, depending on who you are.) A great fiction writer for a younger generation (20's-30's, and intelligent teens). Short stories are always a great way to get a grasp on a writer, and Poppy takes it a step farther. For her devoted readers - she throws in extras in these short stories that are bits and pieces, continuations of characters from her novels. Ever wonder what happened to The Twins, Ghost or Steve? If you like Poppy - this is a must have.
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Summary: Poppy, Goddess of Nerves
Review: Imagine the body of a beautiful young oriental woman laying in front of you. She doesn't move or flinch. You can touch her anyway and anywhere you want. And you do so. But all of a sudden she gives you the look, that special unnameable glance. But not from her eyes in her face, but from the one between her legs. Yeah, and what do you have to say then, tough guy? Do you declare yourself insane on the spot, or do you have enough sense in you to realise you're just stuck in side the narration of Poppy Z. Brite's 'Xenophobia'? Hey, come on. Don't be shy. You know she gives you really a treat, right?
Brite proves she's at her best when the dying flesh is being transformed into an object of art by her blossoming language. (But beware, Brite's blossoming words do bleed a bit, once and a while...)
The eroticism of death and decay is pictured with even more astonishing beauty in another story called 'Calcutta, Lord of Nerves'. My favorite, if you care. It's a tale of wandering through a city that is in pain and in a far state of decomposition itself, for it is buried underneath piles and piles of lepers, dead people, and sometimes undead people. It's a second rate metropolis, who's alleys are filled with deceases, ritually decapitated victims, the stench of the undead, and the eager hands of the Goddess Kali.
This story is more than just 'eerie sadness, haunting silence and explicit solitude', described in a voluptuous, sexy language. It's the literary equivalent of the crede 'mutilation is art'. And this art is being depicted in broad strokes, showed and staged franticly beautiful, screened in Panavision, and not just outspoken in fancy lines and disposable horrorcliche's.
And this is what makes 'Calcutta, Lord of Nerves' more than just a movie of the year. It's a whole new literary cinema of it's own.
Rating:
Summary: No loves lost more devastating, no horrors creepier
Review: In this little anthology, Poppy Z. Brite manages to be gross, lewd, enthralling, apalling, hungry, innocent, and masterful. Her writing is full of that lush, dewy New Orleans imagery that many of us will associate with Anne Rice or James Joyce, with its dense wordcraft and macabrely self-realizing first-, second-, and third-person narration. Each story is a horror unto itself; the mass is denser than a collapsed sun, and it will suck you in as irrevocably. Buy all of her books. Poppy Z. Brite is brilliant.
Rating:
Summary: um, completely totally absolutely amazing?
Review: Last year, when I was barely fourteen, my friend let me borrow her copy of Wormwood. It's one of the best pieces of literature I have yet to read. Words cannot describe fairly the way this book left me feeling. I was literally thirsty for more, for anything else. I had never before read anything that I considered flawless until I found Poppy Z. Brite. The use of language, and the stories themselves, are stunningly perfect, at least in my eyes. If you write, or if you love amazing stories, you should love this.
Rating:
Summary: You can taste, smell, and feel her stories in "Wormwood".
Review: My friend and I were in a book store when she told me she had read "Wormwood", and that it was so good she and her boyfriend read it in one night. She was so right...the night I finished it I thought about each story, how the characters fascinated and angered me, how the outcome was slightly unfinished. I let friends of mine read select parts, and they thought she was very graphic-and it makes the story so much more real, interesting, so beautifully written. Ever since that book Poppy has been my favorite writer. I will continue to read and recommend her books.
Rating: 
Summary: Some good...others not
Review: On the whole I enjoyed most stories, but after Drawing Blood and Lost Souls, which I loved, there's no comparison...Also, the abortion story in this book, the pregnant girl in another had me wondering...Does Poppy hate women? If you've read all her works you'll know what I mean...
Rating:
Summary: If you read anything of Poppy's please read this!
Review: Poppy is one of the brighest stars in the horror galaxy today. While her full length novels can be a bit hard to swallow at times this collection of short stories is hauntingly beautiful. The highlight of the collection is Calcutta Lord of Nerves, though there is not a weak story in the bunch. If you want a book that has a very high reread level this is a good place to go.
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