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venpyre's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It was like…. if you were to take a metal detector to a polluted swamp. You’d have to drudge through the gunk and bear the claustrophobic humidity at the chance of finding even a bit of treasure. But somehow that makes what you <i>do</i> find all the more valuable? Not that anyone would advise you to go metal detecting in a swamp but I digress.
I feel like this book has aged particularly well in time for our era. In a post-NBC-Hannibal world we can more openly study depictions of love and lust in literature that splinter into death, obsession, and the need to consume/meld into one.
Brite’s ability to conjure these characters, the vilest people you could never dream up in your worst nightmares, is nothing short of astounding. Without comparing the texts too heavily (as I believe they exist for starkly different reasons) Andrew’s inner monologue reminded me somewhat of the eloquent but absolutely atrocious musings of Nabokov’s infamous protagonist, Humbert Humbert. The gleam of poetry and intelligence in the prose is enough to propel you forward despite the horrors you have to endure on page.
I wish the book was comprised mostly of Andrew’s perspective rather than switching between his and a summary of Jay. I did, however, appreciate Tran’s chapters, as it humanized him and made him much more than just an object/victim.
That being said, I’m not sure how to parse the descriptions of Asian men in this novel. While not excusing the racist remarks of the book’s characters, I did have to remind myself it was written in the 90s, and depicts the time period faithfully. The way Tran is described is undoubtedly fetishistic. That may be the point. EC treads a fine line that unfortunately holds it back from landing its otherwise graceful pirouette.
Not sure if I knew EC was splatterpunk before diving in, but I’m glad I waited until I was a little older and more versed in horror before reading it. Trigger warning for about everything imaginable and then some. Your mileage may vary to the extreme. If you feel like you can find beauty in near senseless chaos, and have the stomach for its graphic descriptions, you might enjoy Exquisite Corpse.
Graphic: Cannibalism, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, Suicide, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Torture, Homophobia, Addiction, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Body horror, Blood, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Self harm, Confinement, Medical content, Excrement, and Outing
Minor: Vomit, Eating disorder, and Police brutality
emmanayler_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Chronic illness, Murder, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Death, Rape, Cannibalism, Drug use, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
deitydad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The epilogue really gave this book the closure it needed. I was most fascinated with Luke and his story, and it was him that I felt most sad for in the end. He was incredibly flawed, but I suppose we could blame it all on the black, looming cloud marked "AIDS".
As a member of the LGBT+ community, I have a particular... softness you could say? with the AIDS epidemic. It was prevalent in this story, yet skulked in the background like a third, hidden character in each chapter.
Despite this being about murdering, I thought most of the characters were likeable. Am I going to leave this book feeling sorry for them or reasoning with them though? Absolutely not.
Graphic: Rape, Police brutality, Torture, Violence, Death, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Murder, Gore, and Drug use
llewelynsghost's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Cannibalism, Murder, Violence, and Gore
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide, Homophobia, and Drug abuse
gracehodges's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Body horror, Violence, Murder, Torture, Blood, Sexual harassment, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Rape, Alcohol, Self harm, Cannibalism, Abandonment, Drug use, and Terminal illness
Minor: Suicide, Gun violence, and Toxic relationship
maritoad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Body horror, Drug abuse, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Rape, Drug use, Cannibalism, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Sexual violence, and Torture
racl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Death, Drug use, Rape, Sexual content, Gore, Grief, Abandonment, Cannibalism, Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Excrement, Vomit, Cancer, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Incest, Police brutality, Hate crime, Misogyny, and Pandemic/Epidemic
ptrmsschrs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Torture, Cannibalism, Murder, Rape, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Body horror, and Sexual assault
f18's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicide, Gore, Violence, Toxic relationship, Rape, Murder, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Terminal illness, Animal death, and Homophobia
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, and Incest
remghoul's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Cannibalism, Body horror, Torture, Violence, Death, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Drug use, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse
Minor: Police brutality, Racial slurs, Cursing, and Outing