Are You Loathsome Tonight

Rating:
Summary: If you liked "Wormwood"...
Review: ...you'd probably appreciate this one. Poppy sticks with a formula (erotic horror/thriller fiction starring young gay men) that s/he knows how to work well. Possibly hir greatest moment is "Monday Night Special", in this fan's opinion.

Rating:
Summary: If you liked "Wormwood"...
Review: ...you'd probably appreciate this one. Poppy sticks with a formula (erotic horror/thriller fiction starring young gay men) that s/he knows how to work well. Possibly hir greatest moment is "Monday Night Special", in this fan's opinion.

Rating:
Summary: Are You Loathsome............
Review: As a long standing PZB fan, I was thrilled to see another trade paperback on the store shelves. Although I loved every page of the book, I felt that it paled in comparison to her previous works. The stories seemed less vivid and much more obscure...and I had seen most of them elsewhere. However, the dominant voice was pure Poppy. If you're a PZB fan, "Are You Loathsome Tonight" is a must read. If you're uinfimilar with her works, start with something else.

Rating:
Summary: Are You Loathsome............
Review: I love Poppy's writings. She could publish her grocery list and I'd buy it. Having said that, her collection from Gauntlet Press is a tad uneven. The great stories are here;Arise, Self-Made man, Saved,Pin Money and Mussolini and the Axeman's Jazz. All are great genre-breaking tales. But some of the others seem to be just ramblings, incoherent musings at best. And if someone can tell me what Peter Straub's introduction was meant to do, I'd greatly appreciate it. Caitlin Kiernan's afterword is a fun reminiscence on her first meeting Ms. Brite. Recommended for fans of Poppy Z. Brite, only.

Rating:
Summary: Style over substance is sometimes a good thing.
Review: Poppy Z. Brite, Are You Loathsome Tonight? (Gauntlet, 1998)

I've read some of Poppy Z. Brite's novels over the course of the last ten years, but have somehow not read any of her short stories until now. Perhaps, judging by the reviews, this wasn't the best place to start. If so, I can't wait to get to the other collections I have lined up.

Most fans (and professional reviewers) seem to consider this one a weaker piece of output. While some of the criticisms are justified (not knowing some of the characters are from previous novels, for example, may confuse), they don't take away from the writing in general. And it's the quality of the writing in this collection that makes it worth reading. It's rather like Caitlin R. Kiernan's From Weird and Distant Shores; the subject matter may not be what the more plot-centric fans were hoping for, but the style is unmistakable, and wonderful. Probably the best book I've read in the past three weeks (and that's not as left-handed a compliment as it sounds, since that encompasses some twelve books). ****

Rating:
Summary: Another Hit for Poppy
Review: Poppy Z.Brite creates another masterpiece, as she takes herreaders back into the dark and tricky essence of a world few canventure... "Do You Feel Loathsome Tonight" will most likely be compared to her past stories (i.e. Lost Souls, Wormwood, ect.) and some might look down on it as not as great as her past work, but the author has become the reigning queen of ABYSS horror fiction. In this new story she brings you back into the strange stage that is her mind and will either confuse you or put you in a stage of euthoria. Not as good as "Drawing Blood" or "Esquisite Corpse" but a must have none the less. END

Rating:
Summary: Buy this book
Review: There are two reasons that I suggest you pick up Are You Loathsome Tonight. Reason number one--Poppy Z. Brite is a wonderful author. Each novel, short story, and chapbook that she has written and I have been able to get my hands on I have fully enjoyed. Are You Loathsome Tonight is no exception. It contains some excellent examples of why Poppy is a leading voice in dark horror fiction.

Reason number two--J.K. Potter's illustrations are a perfect match to Poppys writing. His visuals in this book are stunning. His art is dark, macabe and fantastic.

Together Potter and Poppy create the mood of this book. Her writing is potent and wonderful. His illustrations are haunting. Together when they are combined they will leave you (the reader) with a dark resonating image of what true excellent horror fiction and illustration can be.

Rating:
Summary: correction..
Review: This title is available on amazon.co.uk under the alternate title "Self Made Man".

Rating:
Summary: Not As Strong as her Novels, but a good collection
Review: Though Brite's stories are not quite as impressive as her novels (Lost Souls, Drawing Blood, Exquisite Corpse, The Crow: The Lazurus Heart), they are still beautiful little gems that are worth reading. This collection was a bit weaker than her first--Wormwood, a.k.a. Swamp Foetus--but it still has some good strong stories. "Arise" and "Saved" are the finest examles in the book. Some of the worst stories are "Vermis Veritas," "America," and "Are You Loathesome Tonight?" If you are a true fan of Poppy, you won't want to miss this collection, but if you have yet to read her or are not a die-hard fan, I might have to recommend you pass on this one.