Are You Loathsome Tonight?: A Collection of Short Stories

What more can one say about Poppy Z. Brite that hasn't already been said a million times? What more can I, personally, say her about her that I haven't already said in my reviews of EXQUISITE CORPSE and WORMWOOD? Once again, with ARE YOU LOATHSOME TONIGHT?, Miss Poppy delights us with her unique blend of terror, torture and erotic suspension. Once again, she proves to us in her inimitable way, that there really is a fine line between pleasure and pain. LOATHSOME, however, is a slight departure for our Maven of the Macabre. While she still serves up a heapin' helpin' of thrills, chills, seductions and gooseflesh, she also spreads her wings a little ... tries out a new format or two, collaborates darkly with other Dark Geniuses, and gives us a few new insights into some very old and very familiar themes. The result? We continue to squirm with every turn of the page.As with WORMWOOD (a.k.a. SWAMP FOETUS), each story in this latest anthology to emerge from the dark, dank sepulcher of Brite's obscure universe, takes you to a place you have likely never been before ... a dark place with no windows, no way out and the fetid stench of decay at your back. Each story challenges you to wake up from the everyday daydream of sunshine, suburbia and mediocrity and to look deep into your own soul. She challenges you to confront the fears that are latent within you.This time, however, Brite challenges you to go a step further. From the opening story, "In Vermis Veritas", she eloquently uses first person perspective to convey a unique view on death and decomposition ... from the stance of a maggot in a slaughterhouse. In "Saved" she brews a heady stew of gender roles, violence and murder ... and in the end, we somehow find ourselves identifying with both the slayer and the slain. For an extra special treat, Brite throws in three additional gems that parlay her unique perspectives on some rather well-known historical figures - Elvis Presley, Joe Orton and Benito Mussolini - into a divinely decadent dance with history. It is clear from LOATHSOME that Brite remains the unchallenged Vixen of Viscera. Has she taken us a step too far? Perhaps. But like with all good fiction, the choice is yours. Pick your own poison. If you can't stand the raw honesty of Brite's world, you can always put her book aside, bury your dark side deep in your subconscious where it can fester and get your daily dose of the willies from the next riveting episode of "The Jerry Springer Show".

This is my first time reading Poppy Z.Brite and it will most definately be my last. My husband bought this book for me after reading the reviews and seeing that she has wrote along with some of my favorite authors, Stephen King and Peter Straub. I only read two and a half stories before deciding I coudln't take anymore. The story "Saved" was very disturbing and in my opinion, sacrilegious. [...] The stories I read all had homosexual characters and described their sexual activities in way too much detail.The letter in the front of the book begging the editor not to publish this book was right on in his descriptions of her work. I laughed at first when I read the letter, but as I read on I started realizing how true his words were. I wish that I had never read her book because it left me feeling ashamed and dirty after reading it. I normally donate or sale my books. I would not feel right passing such trash on for anyone else to read. And as for the cover, I despised the cover from first glance. It disturbed me somehow, and now that I have read some of the book I see why. So in hindsight, the cover is perfect for the contents.I advise anyone to not waste their money or time on this book. .

Fantastic book, some of the stories are a little lackluster but the majority of them are fantastic, "Arise", "Saved" and "Vine of the Soul" in particular. Also has a great short story featuring Trevor and Zach from Drawing Blood, and a very short one with Steve and Ghost.

Did not realise tht this is actually the same book as Self Made Man, which I also purchased. I sent this one to a friend who is also a fan of Poppy Z Brite, and he thoroughly enjoyed it.

I was not aware that it was really horror stories mixed liberally with gay erotica. I don't like erotica in my horror.

I really enjoyed this as a HUGE fan of Brite. I didn't want it to ever end! I don't think I've ever read anything involving Miss Brite that I didn't like. =)

Wonderful book, came in great shape too!

In twelve stories, Brite explores the darkest recesses of the human id, its erotic and violent drives, its deepest motivations. Reading Brite is often like reading fanfiction in the best, and most essential, sense: her writing is so id-motivated that it's the purest sort of wish-fulfillment--not despite, but rather because of, its lingering and loving gruesome detail. It's about death and drugs and feces; it's about what those conjure and where they originate, for characters but more often for reader and writer. Are You Loathsome Tonight? is that in a condensed form, with bonus cameos from characters in Brite's novels, and so it literally reads as Brite fanfic--of, for, and by the author. This sort of distilled, grotesque indulgence will suit few tastes; nor is it Brite's best. The collection becomes almost masturbatory, which suits its theme but is nonetheless excessive. Some stories are obviously driven by premise or a certain literary experiment, and the effect is too transparent--they'd be better suited to the themed anthologies that prompted them, or to a workbook.But no matter its flaws, Loathsome never fails to be engaging--and for the right sort of reader, its willingness to push and destroy every boundary can make it a success. "In Vermis Veritas" is brief but brilliantly on point, the consummate opener; "Saved" is my favorite story of the collection, surpassing all others with its grasp of theme and proclivity towards excess. In such a short and compelling volume, the standout selections make the whole work well worthwhile. As a Brite fan, I feel privileged to have stumbled upon this collection; I imagine that other fans may also enjoy this distillaition, albeit exaggeration, of Brite's work. New readers will get a strong taste of Brite from Loathsome, but her novels may be a better starting place on account of their sustain, refinement, and accessibility. On the whole, however, I enjoyed and recommend it.

I love most of this authors books, but this one was hardly one of her best! I couldn't get into it. Personally I think her full length novels are much better

Excellent book, at an excellent price!