Reviews with content warning for Sexual violence - Exquisite Corpse

There’s no words for this book.i dont know if i liked it or if every word made me sick. The story of Luke and Tran is tragic, and the centering of young gay men in the deepest pits of the AIDS epidemic is captivating and crushing all at once. In another world where this book was just about that maybe I would have loved it.

Content Warnings

legere_libros's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

In its gore, this book finds beauty. In its vulgarity, this book finds honesty. In its rawness, this book finds meaning. There is something so blossomingly beautiful about "Exquisite Corpse" and the way it makes all its characters infinitely detestable and reluctantly enjoyable to read about. I didn't expect to like this as much as I did, and my heart ached for Tran (only actually likeable character I fear) but there is definitely something profound here. I do think the beginning was maybe stronger than the end, which is largely tension and shock whereas I feel the beginning has more substance, and there are certain moments where the writing feels a bit clunky - I may have cringed a little when i saw "orbs" used fully unironically in a published work - but this is definitely a sure add to the "disturbing social commentaries" book iceberg.

Content Warnings

cemeteryyy's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Billy Martin is doing what Eric Larocca thinks they're doing but better and with more interesting character development. can get quite extreme at times so just be prepared for that

Content Warnings