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erica_reads_things'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
4.5
Graphic: Cannibalism, Body horror, Murder, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Death, Gore, Pandemic/Epidemic, Torture, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Violence, Grief, Drug use, Sexual violence, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Classism, Animal cruelty, Addiction, Homophobia, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Incest and Stalking
erkkmoon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Blood, Racism, Rape, Cannibalism, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Gore, Homophobia, Kidnapping, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Alcohol
katelynalice'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
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Murder, Blood, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Addiction, Classism, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Cannibalism, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Sexual content, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
Minor: Incest and Stalking
guhguh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Drug use, Body horror, Alcohol, Child death, Physical abuse, Confinement, Death, Excrement, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Blood
issymaae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Terminal illness, Cannibalism, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Drug use, Drug abuse, Addiction, Blood, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Rape, Self harm, Homophobia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Vomit, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
ellilo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Vomit, Addiction, Sexual assault, Death, Body horror, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gore, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, Sexual content, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Torture
essie101'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
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Cannibalism, Torture, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Murder, and Body horror
Moderate: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Addiction, and Drug use
Minor: Incest and Homophobia
kibernick's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Body horror, Addiction, Death, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Blood, Drug abuse, Murder, Cannibalism, Gore, Domestic abuse, and Excrement
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