antaresrises's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
meaghanelizabook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Addiction, Drug use, Gore, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Injury/injury detail, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Violence
xan_van_rooyen's review against another edition
4.0
This collection featured a short about Ghost and Steve. I read it just for that and loved it even though it was way too short and I could happily read an entire novel dedicated to the awesome whimsy that is Ghost.
sarahconnor89757's review against another edition
5.0
A great selection of stories that demonstrate the diversity in Brite's writing.
anthroxagorus's review against another edition
4.0
Sometimes I just want to read something that tickles the back of my brain, that unsettling and off sort of thing. No wait, all the time. I meant all the time. Thanks Billy/Poppy.
But anyways, they're just short stories, a bit more fun than Wormwood's collection (but not as serious feeling, if that makes sense). I enjoyed "Arise" and "King of the Cats," as well as "Self-Made Man."
It was also great to see Trevor and Zach again, being well and "boring."
It's not the best thing I've ever read, but it's a short, entertaining read. You probably want to come at it once reading Brite's other stuff, and take it as a type of gift for fans, not necessarily as a stand-alone introduction to Brite's work.
But anyways, they're just short stories, a bit more fun than Wormwood's collection (but not as serious feeling, if that makes sense). I enjoyed "Arise" and "King of the Cats," as well as "Self-Made Man."
It was also great to see Trevor and Zach again, being well and "boring."
It's not the best thing I've ever read, but it's a short, entertaining read. You probably want to come at it once reading Brite's other stuff, and take it as a type of gift for fans, not necessarily as a stand-alone introduction to Brite's work.
bookcrazylady45's review against another edition
3.0
Kinky horror you cannot put down and the title just grabbed me.
jonbar94's review against another edition
4.0
I feel like Brite flourishes most when he goes for the gore factor. If I had to sum up three words for the stories in this collection it’d be sex, gore, and ghosts. Lol.
lauriereadslohf's review against another edition
4.0
"Are You Loathsome Tonight?" is a little pricey for such a small volume (185 pages) but as a big fan of Poppy Z. Brite's work I felt it was worth splurging on. Why? Because I got a quickie update on two of my favorite lovers, Trevor and Zach from "Drawing Blood" who, as she puts it, are still in "happy, disgusting, perfect love" - that short story alone was worth the cost of the book for me. Other highlights were "King of the Cats" a sweet, kinky, imaginative retelling of the fairytale "The Poor Miller's Apprentice and the Cat", "Self-Made Man" is another favorite because I can't seem to resist a good graphic zombie/cannibalistic tale, and "Saved" was another stand-out that is both violently erotic and terribly sad. If you've never read Poppy Z. Brite you might want to start out with "Drawing Blood" or "Lost Souls" before you delve into this collection.
xterminal's review
4.0
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). ****
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). ****
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