Poppy Z Brite

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I read "Lost Souls" for a course I took on Gothic Lit. She's got some interesting ideas (about vampires) and then some pretty out there scenarios (not worth going into detail here). Anne Rice really nailed the modern vampire, but we can't blame Brite for holding Rice's coat-tails and adding to the mythology.

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To a degree Anne Rice demystified the vampire and made it more human. Which is sort of a shame. I don't think she nailed the modern vampire as much as she made it into an overly sympathetic character. Also, there were other authors, and even films, that portrayed vampires in a romantic light before Anne Rice came into the picture. Le Fanu, for one, wrote Camilla in 1872 and it contained a very sympathetic/romantic vampire figure. Then you have the Hammer films of the 60's/70's that contained some very sexy and romantic type vampires and scenarios.



I don't think Brite added to Rice's mythology as much as she made her own. I think it's wrong to only allow Anne Rice with the power to write a modern vampire tale.

blah blah....I dont thing brite and rice are anything a like. I think Rice is a stronger writer even though I enjoy brites work better. lost souls is pretty dumb. Brites horror books that arent about the lost souls bunch are pretty good and the sex parts are intresting. Im reading Soul kitchen now. Its not horror, its about 2 guys that own a resturant. Its a fast read for anyone who likes her stuff.

I've only read 3 of her books, but I really enjoyed them.



I really enjoyed "Lost Souls" and "Drawing Blood". I haven't read very many of her books to compare them to anything else.



I especially like her short story about "Snow White" in her book "Love and Vein 2".



Ahh....Poppy Z Brite, now that's an author I hadn't thought about in years. I've been looking for a new author to read, but I think I'll just go back to an old one. Let me know which book of hers I should read first.

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I read "Lost Souls" for a course I took on Gothic Lit. She's got some interesting ideas (about vampires) and then some pretty out there scenarios (not worth going into detail here). Anne Rice really nailed the modern vampire, but we can't blame Brite for holding Rice's coat-tails and adding to the mythology.

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Every writer has their own way of thinking. More than often Poppy is compared to Rice. Poppy has respect for the woman but is nothing like her. Poppy is much more graphic, her words are more fluid, and her stories are much more disturbing.

I personally think that since Interview and *Vampire Lestat* Rice has gotten lazier and lazier. Her books tend to ramble on and frustrate, there are a lot of grammar mistakes, and her stories are becoming very uneventful. I think her success has caused her to lose interest. She is and will always be known as a great writer for the genre, especially when it comes to vampires. But what's this new book about the childhood of Jesus?

Poppy has gone off the deep end as well by turning out some lousy novels about the resteraunt scene in New Orleans. As a writer I know we all lose interest in our subjects and often get blocked. Sometimes we just tire of the genre and move on to something else.

Even though I didn't enjoy Poppy's new novels I will continue to read her past stories. If you like her older stuff try out some of her friend's fables. Christa Faust is excellent.