Exquisite Corpse in Queereaders

Oct 13, 2012 Bill rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: gay-fiction

I set out to read a horror for the season, knowing nothing about the author, but having his name and some books dropped on several groups. What I got was a gay grotesque, horrible I suppose if one were a victim, difficult to identify with the needs of the victimizers (thank the gods). This is a psychosexual horror without any occult elements. It is quite straight forward, requiring little work on the reader's part.

Others have summarized the plot (see below). His style is effective, the characte I set out to read a horror for the season, knowing nothing about the author, but having his name and some books dropped on several groups. What I got was a gay grotesque, horrible I suppose if one were a victim, difficult to identify with the needs of the victimizers (thank the gods). This is a psychosexual horror without any occult elements. It is quite straight forward, requiring little work on the reader's part.

Others have summarized the plot (see below). His style is effective, the characters believable if one has read about serial killers. Depth is lacking. There is little explorations of the roots of Andrew and Jay's sexual dysfunction. It's like a dish served that satisfies for which one has no interest in getting the recipe. In effect it's a simple read that will creep out or disgust most people.

Those were not my main emotions while reading his novel. Its main effect was reminding me of the days when I did autopsies, 80 or so over a year's time as a 1st year pathology resident. It brought back the smells and tastes of the autopsy room and open bodies, the textures of different organs, normal and diseased. One is amazed at the strength of olfactory memories. The main effect of this novel for me was reminiscence, especially of the discomfort of the 1st few autopsies and of places and people I had forgotten. And, how easy it becomes to take such things as just a days work, without feeling. It was an interesting time.

What the book did not do was give me any understanding of why or how the protagonists' behaviors satisfied their sexual and emotional needs. An exploration in depth of these possibilities, giving the characters more dimension, could have made this a great book for those interested in such dysfunction. Also, and I may be a bit old-fashioned in saying this, I was a bit saddened about how such a novel could provide fodder for the social conservatives and theocraps in their fight to stamp out sexual or affectional varieties.

I give an extra star for my personal memories stimulated. ...more

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Dec 28, 2009 Monica rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, gay

This is one of the strangest stories I have ever read.

I do not understand what caused me to buy this book, but I am glad that I did. It is well written and engaging. The characters, perverse as they might be, will pull you it.

Poppy has two main characters and the book alternates between 1st and 3rd person which I like.

Reader be warned: This book is not for the faint of heart. It is extremely graphic and at times disturbing.

This book is about death, dying, AIDS,homosexuality, nechrophilia and t ...more

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Dec 13, 2008 Paul Jr. rated it liked it

Shelves: horror

A graphic mix of the Denis Nilsen and Jeffrey Dahmer cases, this novel is over the top in just about every aspect, from gore to sexual violence. Although the PR materials state that this novel is loosely based on the two serial killers, those who are familiar with both -- especially the Dahmer case -- will see sections that read almost as fictionalized re-tellings of newspaper accounts.

In the end, this one just didn't do it for me, drawing too much on the real life cases. ...more

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