Quite wonderful, The Story of the Night, 16 Dec 2008
I have never written a review before , so perhaps the fact I have made the effort says all there is to be said.
Like for others who have read this book, it was almost impossible to put down, and I read it in a day. The narrative is so honest and fresh , so unpretentious . I shall keep my copy safely. I don't think I will ever be able to forget this book ( not a bad thing ! )It was like getting up after an incredible film and feeling affected by it , not being able to get it out of your mind. !!
Colm has a talent so very few writers can match . More please !

TOP MARKS!, 05 Nov 2008
I really don't know what I can add in review of this book, which hasn't already been said by the other reviewers - I was caught up in this wonderful novel from the outset, feeling somehow that the character of Richard got inside my head and I needed to - simply must - find out where he was going.

The story sweeps along through the Falklands war and the economic fallout which effected Argentina, through the changing 80's and ultimately leads to loss, as HIV & AIDS comes to the fore of the gay community.

The book was strange in the fact that nothing really happened and, only the final third of the story, picked up any pace. The rest of the book was told slowly, as if uncoiling. Nothing really happened and, yet, I couldn't stop reading.

The character of Richard is both gentle and yet powerful, his relationship with his mother develops further meaning the deeper you read and his partnership with Pablo touching and real, moving from initial lust through to genuine kinship.

I cannot rate this book highly enough - its definately 'a keeper' (ie. one to keep on the shelf and look forward to enjoying again in the future). This will not disappoint!

Re: Colm Toibin's The Story of the Night., 04 Nov 2008
I finished this book yesterday, and have found myself thinking about it throughout today, especially the ending. The characterisation is excellent and the characters are so real and human. I found it was a book that I didn't want to put down, and couldn't wait to return to. I can't remember the last time a book has had such a profound impact on me. The writing style grips the reader and one becomes absorbed in the story. I have never read any of the authors other work but will now, though they have a lot to live up to as this is the best book I've read in years.

Wolverhampton Libraries LGBT Reading Group Review, 23 May 2008
Richard/Ricardo discovers his identity at a time of great unrest in Argentina during the reign of the Generals and the Falklands war and before the AIDS crisis.

Following the death of his staunchly patriotic English mother, Richard finds himself alone and finding solace with men he encounters on streets and in saunas. After quitting his job as an English teacher, his Anglo-Argentinean language skills come in useful as he is introduced into the world of Americans, politics, business men and corruption. This leads him to meet the elusive but alluring Pablo, brother of Jorge - Richard's friend and English student.

Erotic but never vulgar, the story that ensues is predictable but written in a succinct and realistic style, efficiently portraying the fear and desolation that many gay men must have felt during the 80's.

It is important to bear in mind that this title was first published in 1997 so is a relatively old book and, for some, may not have the same impact that it did at the time.

The group was divided with its appraisal but, worryingly, everyone agreed the middle third of the book could have been omitted with little detriment to the overall story! This read may be best suited to someone new to gay fiction who can keep up with the history lesson too.

the story of the night by colm toibin, 11 Feb 2007
Like other readers, I bought this book by chance. I read it non-stop. i was absolutely captivated. have read some of his other work, The South and the Blackwater Lightship - both were very, very good. Give them a try - you won't be disappointed.

Quite wonderful, The Story of the Night, 16 Dec 2008
I have never written a review before , so perhaps the fact I have made the effort says all there is to be said.
Like for others who have read this book, it was almost impossible to put down, and I read it in a day. The narrative is so honest and fresh , so unpretentious . I shall keep my copy safely. I don't think I will ever be able to forget this book ( not a bad thing ! )It was like getting up after an incredible film and feeling affected by it , not being able to get it out of your mind. !!
Colm has a talent so very few writers can match . More please !

TOP MARKS!, 05 Nov 2008
I really don't know what I can add in review of this book, which hasn't already been said by the other reviewers - I was caught up in this wonderful novel from the outset, feeling somehow that the character of Richard got inside my head and I needed to - simply must - find out where he was going.

The story sweeps along through the Falklands war and the economic fallout which effected Argentina, through the changing 80's and ultimately leads to loss, as HIV & AIDS comes to the fore of the gay community.

The book was strange in the fact that nothing really happened and, only the final third of the story, picked up any pace. The rest of the book was told slowly, as if uncoiling. Nothing really happened and, yet, I couldn't stop reading.

The character of Richard is both gentle and yet powerful, his relationship with his mother develops further meaning the deeper you read and his partnership with Pablo touching and real, moving from initial lust through to genuine kinship.

I cannot rate this book highly enough - its definately 'a keeper' (ie. one to keep on the shelf and look forward to enjoying again in the future). This will not disappoint!

Re: Colm Toibin's The Story of the Night., 04 Nov 2008
I finished this book yesterday, and have found myself thinking about it throughout today, especially the ending. The characterisation is excellent and the characters are so real and human. I found it was a book that I didn't want to put down, and couldn't wait to return to. I can't remember the last time a book has had such a profound impact on me. The writing style grips the reader and one becomes absorbed in the story. I have never read any of the authors other work but will now, though they have a lot to live up to as this is the best book I've read in years.

Wolverhampton Libraries LGBT Reading Group Review, 23 May 2008
Richard/Ricardo discovers his identity at a time of great unrest in Argentina during the reign of the Generals and the Falklands war and before the AIDS crisis.

Following the death of his staunchly patriotic English mother, Richard finds himself alone and finding solace with men he encounters on streets and in saunas. After quitting his job as an English teacher, his Anglo-Argentinean language skills come in useful as he is introduced into the world of Americans, politics, business men and corruption. This leads him to meet the elusive but alluring Pablo, brother of Jorge - Richard's friend and English student.

Erotic but never vulgar, the story that ensues is predictable but written in a succinct and realistic style, efficiently portraying the fear and desolation that many gay men must have felt during the 80's.

It is important to bear in mind that this title was first published in 1997 so is a relatively old book and, for some, may not have the same impact that it did at the time.

The group was divided with its appraisal but, worryingly, everyone agreed the middle third of the book could have been omitted with little detriment to the overall story! This read may be best suited to someone new to gay fiction who can keep up with the history lesson too.

the story of the night by colm toibin, 11 Feb 2007
Like other readers, I bought this book by chance. I read it non-stop. i was absolutely captivated. have read some of his other work, The South and the Blackwater Lightship - both were very, very good. Give them a try - you won't be disappointed.

Lost Souls, 11 Jul 2008
A well written novel, sometimes horrific and other times sad, but a page turner from the start. You should read this if you love Anne Rice... It is an original!

Loved & Shared, 28 Jan 2008
I was first given this book by a friend who had fallen in love with it and thought that due to my love of things dark & homoerotic I would too- she was definitely right to think so. She opened up her book on her most favourite page and passed it to me and I was immediately seduced by the language, pulled into the shadows to exist beside Nothing and truly feel every moment of his unimaginable new life. My copy is now dogeared, crumpled, faded and tear stained (not to mention signed by some of my most favourite rockstars), not because I've been carless, but because I love it so much and have taken it with me everywhere.

I have always loved vampires but never quite found my niche in horror literature, but this book is different- it's unique and leans not towards things that go creak in the night but instead to emotion and need and magic. The horror comes not from the filed fangs of the vampires but from the way they steal Nothing's innocence and the new life they present to him. Cold blooded murder, carnal lust and incest.

This book is not frightening but beautiful and sexual and magical. Each of my friends in turn bought the book because, as outcasts with a love for things that knock most people sick, or simply pass them by, we can connect with it and become a part of it as we read. It wouldn't be far fecthed to say we, like Nothing, long to be a part of the world of the three punk vampires and their road tripping, drug taking existence.

This book isn't for the more conservative reader, or those that like their vampires traditional (Dracula Zillah most certainly isn't), but for teenagers on the brink of freedom, with a love for a slightly wild way of living; rock music, alcohol, midnight and bloodlust, this is perfect. This books drips not only with blood but also with true love, tears and voodoo. It is captivating.

Best book I think I have ever read., 30 Dec 2006
I have read alot of books about vampires, sexuality and adolesence, but Poppy is the only one that combines them al in such an intense way.
Her style of writing is amazing and so profound that I have re-read this book so many times that I think I will have to get another copy soon, because mine is all falling apart.

Amazing startling and intense!!!, 15 Mar 2005
Poppy Z.Brite's Lost Souls is an amazing piece of literature. This book was on my course reading list and to be honest at first i struggled to pick it up. But once i had I simply could not put it down! Its dark, mysterious and often very graphic at times.
I would say however that many male readers (Like my boyfriend did) would struggle with the extremely graphic descriptions of sexual acts between many of the male characters but if you are a lover of intense gothic horror then this is the book for you, delve deep into the world Brite conjours up for the imagination and above all enjoy...just try not to be eating your tea at certain points!!!

Vampires - Hard Core & Goth - Powerful Prose!, 13 Mar 2005
Molochai, Twig and Zillah, three androgynous Goth vagabonds all resembling rock stars, roll into New Orleans ready for Mardi Gras. Drunk on Chartreuse, their mouths full of candy, they make their way to a tiny bar with stained glass windows in the French Quarter. CHRISTIANS says the sign above the door. Christian, the bartender and owner, is a four hundred year-old vampire. Molochai, Twig and Zillah, younger by a few centuries, are also vampires. A thin adolescent girl, pretty Jessy, had long been waiting for the three, or their like. Her dream is to become one of them. She doesn't get her wish though. Unlike the myths, vampires are not made by a bite from the undead. They are born, just like humans. Impregnations are few and far between, and the women who carry them in their wombs, (frequently human women), usually die in childbirth. Bad lead vamp Zillah, with the gorgeous green eyes, takes a special liking to Jessy. After the evening is over, he leaves her alive and carrying his child.

Fast forward fifteen years, Zillah and Jessy's son, "Nothing," is living with his adoptive parents in a Maryland suburb, wondering why he feels so different from everyone else. Alienated and terribly lonely, he runs away from home and is picked-up hitching by the ever wandering Zillah, Twig and Molochai. Now he's found! "Lost Souls" chronicles his decline into his father's world and the inevitable loss of his soul. The three vamp sidekicks spend their lives going from place to place - seeing everything - cities and countryside, drinking blood from various sources, leaving scenes of carnage behind, and then turning around and beginning again - taking different routes which lead them back to the same cities. Drunk and/or drugged, these dark hedonists always come out unscathed, unlike their victims. Now they head for Missing Mile, NC, the home of Nothing's favorite musicians, the Lost Souls.

Steve and Ghost are the vocalist and guitarist who make-up the Lost Souls. Nothing loves them, although he has never met them - he has only listened to their sound on tape. Ghost, the grandson of a backwoods' wise woman was born with a caul over his face. Ethereal in body and spirit, he is gifted with the sight, and is a truly decent human being - a man with soul. Steve, on the other hand has a ways to go before he becomes a mensch. As to the state of his soul - it's still up in the air. The musicians meet-up with the preternatural cohorts in a club in Missing Mile, where Nothing at last gets to meet his idols.

Ghost and Steve want to save Nothing from himself and, ultimately, his fate. Steve's former girlfriend, Ann, winds up on the road with the monsters, pursued by our rock star heroes. The battle for the lost souls reaches its dramatic finale when Ms. Brite brings everyone together in The Big Easy.

I was surprised at the quality of Poppy Brite's writing. It's good! Don't ask me why I expected otherwise. Her narrative is taut and her descriptive passages are at times lyrical, and always original. Her weakness lies in her character development. They are one dimensional. Ghost is wonderful, all goodness and light - but too angelic to be real. He is the shining heart of the novel - but not flesh and blood human. Steve, who is almost always on drugs and booze, is never really fleshed-out, although we get a sense that he is salvageable. And the vampires are dark cartoon-type characters - although maybe that's how vampires are supposed to be. They, and the vampire wannabe groupies, are all pale as corpses and dress in black, with black lipstick and mascara - a la Goth.

Poppy Brite paints a picture of today's society through Goth eyes - surreal to say the least. If you're a fan of horror fiction, (the kind with gore and violence), or are into the funky and unusual, "Lost Souls" merits your attention. I enjoyed it very much
JANA

Quite wonderful, The Story of the Night, 16 Dec 2008
I have never written a review before , so perhaps the fact I have made the effort says all there is to be said.
Like for others who have read this book, it was almost impossible to put down, and I read it in a day. The narrative is so honest and fresh , so unpretentious . I shall keep my copy safely. I don't think I will ever be able to forget this book ( not a bad thing ! )It was like getting up after an incredible film and feeling affected by it , not being able to get it out of your mind. !!
Colm has a talent so very few writers can match . More please !

TOP MARKS!, 05 Nov 2008
I really don't know what I can add in review of this book, which hasn't already been said by the other reviewers - I was caught up in this wonderful novel from the outset, feeling somehow that the character of Richard got inside my head and I needed to - simply must - find out where he was going.

The story sweeps along through the Falklands war and the economic fallout which effected Argentina, through the changing 80's and ultimately leads to loss, as HIV & AIDS comes to the fore of the gay community.

The book was strange in the fact that nothing really happened and, only the final third of the story, picked up any pace. The rest of the book was told slowly, as if uncoiling. Nothing really happened and, yet, I couldn't stop reading.

The character of Richard is both gentle and yet powerful, his relationship with his mother develops further meaning the deeper you read and his partnership with Pablo touching and real, moving from initial lust through to genuine kinship.

I cannot rate this book highly enough - its definately 'a keeper' (ie. one to keep on the shelf and look forward to enjoying again in the future). This will not disappoint!

Re: Colm Toibin's The Story of the Night., 04 Nov 2008
I finished this book yesterday, and have found myself thinking about it throughout today, especially the ending. The characterisation is excellent and the characters are so real and human. I found it was a book that I didn't want to put down, and couldn't wait to return to. I can't remember the last time a book has had such a profound impact on me. The writing style grips the reader and one becomes absorbed in the story. I have never read any of the authors other work but will now, though they have a lot to live up to as this is the best book I've read in years.

Wolverhampton Libraries LGBT Reading Group Review, 23 May 2008
Richard/Ricardo discovers his identity at a time of great unrest in Argentina during the reign of the Generals and the Falklands war and before the AIDS crisis.

Following the death of his staunchly patriotic English mother, Richard finds himself alone and finding solace with men he encounters on streets and in saunas. After quitting his job as an English teacher, his Anglo-Argentinean language skills come in useful as he is introduced into the world of Americans, politics, business men and corruption. This leads him to meet the elusive but alluring Pablo, brother of Jorge - Richard's friend and English student.

Erotic but never vulgar, the story that ensues is predictable but written in a succinct and realistic style, efficiently portraying the fear and desolation that many gay men must have felt during the 80's.

It is important to bear in mind that this title was first published in 1997 so is a relatively old book and, for some, may not have the same impact that it did at the time.

The group was divided with its appraisal but, worryingly, everyone agreed the middle third of the book could have been omitted with little detriment to the overall story! This read may be best suited to someone new to gay fiction who can keep up with the history lesson too.

the story of the night by colm toibin, 11 Feb 2007
Like other readers, I bought this book by chance. I read it non-stop. i was absolutely captivated. have read some of his other work, The South and the Blackwater Lightship - both were very, very good. Give them a try - you won't be disappointed.

Lost Souls, 11 Jul 2008
A well written novel, sometimes horrific and other times sad, but a page turner from the start. You should read this if you love Anne Rice... It is an original!

Loved & Shared, 28 Jan 2008
I was first given this book by a friend who had fallen in love with it and thought that due to my love of things dark & homoerotic I would too- she was definitely right to think so. She opened up her book on her most favourite page and passed it to me and I was immediately seduced by the language, pulled into the shadows to exist beside Nothing and truly feel every moment of his unimaginable new life. My copy is now dogeared, crumpled, faded and tear stained (not to mention signed by some of my most favourite rockstars), not because I've been carless, but because I love it so much and have taken it with me everywhere.

I have always loved vampires but never quite found my niche in horror literature, but this book is different- it's unique and leans not towards things that go creak in the night but instead to emotion and need and magic. The horror comes not from the filed fangs of the vampires but from the way they steal Nothing's innocence and the new life they present to him. Cold blooded murder, carnal lust and incest.

This book is not frightening but beautiful and sexual and magical. Each of my friends in turn bought the book because, as outcasts with a love for things that knock most people sick, or simply pass them by, we can connect with it and become a part of it as we read. It wouldn't be far fecthed to say we, like Nothing, long to be a part of the world of the three punk vampires and their road tripping, drug taking existence.

This book isn't for the more conservative reader, or those that like their vampires traditional (Dracula Zillah most certainly isn't), but for teenagers on the brink of freedom, with a love for a slightly wild way of living; rock music, alcohol, midnight and bloodlust, this is perfect. This books drips not only with blood but also with true love, tears and voodoo. It is captivating.

Best book I think I have ever read., 30 Dec 2006
I have read alot of books about vampires, sexuality and adolesence, but Poppy is the only one that combines them al in such an intense way.
Her style of writing is amazing and so profound that I have re-read this book so many times that I think I will have to get another copy soon, because mine is all falling apart.

Amazing startling and intense!!!, 15 Mar 2005
Poppy Z.Brite's Lost Souls is an amazing piece of literature. This book was on my course reading list and to be honest at first i struggled to pick it up. But once i had I simply could not put it down! Its dark, mysterious and often very graphic at times.
I would say however that many male readers (Like my boyfriend did) would struggle with the extremely graphic descriptions of sexual acts between many of the male characters but if you are a lover of intense gothic horror then this is the book for you, delve deep into the world Brite conjours up for the imagination and above all enjoy...just try not to be eating your tea at certain points!!!

Vampires - Hard Core & Goth - Powerful Prose!, 13 Mar 2005
Molochai, Twig and Zillah, three androgynous Goth vagabonds all resembling rock stars, roll into New Orleans ready for Mardi Gras. Drunk on Chartreuse, their mouths full of candy, they make their way to a tiny bar with stained glass windows in the French Quarter. CHRISTIANS says the sign above the door. Christian, the bartender and owner, is a four hundred year-old vampire. Molochai, Twig and Zillah, younger by a few centuries, are also vampires. A thin adolescent girl, pretty Jessy, had long been waiting for the three, or their like. Her dream is to become one of them. She doesn't get her wish though. Unlike the myths, vampires are not made by a bite from the undead. They are born, just like humans. Impregnations are few and far between, and the women who carry them in their wombs, (frequently human women), usually die in childbirth. Bad lead vamp Zillah, with the gorgeous green eyes, takes a special liking to Jessy. After the evening is over, he leaves her alive and carrying his child.

Fast forward fifteen years, Zillah and Jessy's son, "Nothing," is living with his adoptive parents in a Maryland suburb, wondering why he feels so different from everyone else. Alienated and terribly lonely, he runs away from home and is picked-up hitching by the ever wandering Zillah, Twig and Molochai. Now he's found! "Lost Souls" chronicles his decline into his father's world and the inevitable loss of his soul. The three vamp sidekicks spend their lives going from place to place - seeing everything - cities and countryside, drinking blood from various sources, leaving scenes of carnage behind, and then turning around and beginning again - taking different routes which lead them back to the same cities. Drunk and/or drugged, these dark hedonists always come out unscathed, unlike their victims. Now they head for Missing Mile, NC, the home of Nothing's favorite musicians, the Lost Souls.

Steve and Ghost are the vocalist and guitarist who make-up the Lost Souls. Nothing loves them, although he has never met them - he has only listened to their sound on tape. Ghost, the grandson of a backwoods' wise woman was born with a caul over his face. Ethereal in body and spirit, he is gifted with the sight, and is a truly decent human being - a man with soul. Steve, on the other hand has a ways to go before he becomes a mensch. As to the state of his soul - it's still up in the air. The musicians meet-up with the preternatural cohorts in a club in Missing Mile, where Nothing at last gets to meet his idols.

Ghost and Steve want to save Nothing from himself and, ultimately, his fate. Steve's former girlfriend, Ann, winds up on the road with the monsters, pursued by our rock star heroes. The battle for the lost souls reaches its dramatic finale when Ms. Brite brings everyone together in The Big Easy.

I was surprised at the quality of Poppy Brite's writing. It's good! Don't ask me why I expected otherwise. Her narrative is taut and her descriptive passages are at times lyrical, and always original. Her weakness lies in her character development. They are one dimensional. Ghost is wonderful, all goodness and light - but too angelic to be real. He is the shining heart of the novel - but not flesh and blood human. Steve, who is almost always on drugs and booze, is never really fleshed-out, although we get a sense that he is salvageable. And the vampires are dark cartoon-type characters - although maybe that's how vampires are supposed to be. They, and the vampire wannabe groupies, are all pale as corpses and dress in black, with black lipstick and mascara - a la Goth.

Poppy Brite paints a picture of today's society through Goth eyes - surreal to say the least. If you're a fan of horror fiction, (the kind with gore and violence), or are into the funky and unusual, "Lost Souls" merits your attention. I enjoyed it very much
JANA

Rollickingly raunchy story of life on the gay game in 1930s London. , 18 Dec 2008
Paul Lemoyne leaves his home in rural southern England to make his way in London. He gets no further than Waterloo Station before his gay sexual adventures begin. Paul quickly discovers that he can have fun (and this is a guy who is out to enjoy himself) and make money from the punters at the same time. Over the next chapters we have a voyeur's eye view of Paul's commitment to his craft, lovlingly, graphically and explicitly portrayed.
What makes this great erotic writing is the style and humour, as well as Lear's skill at portraying fantastic gay sex. Paul describes his rake's progress,and downfall, with irony. There is a particularly good section on his relationship with a wild Russian modernist paianter, whose picture entitled 'Red Hole' is deemed by later critics to be a prophecy of Stalin's Russia whereas in fact it describes a particularly adventurous episode of sex involoving large quantities of red paint.
This is a re-issue of one of Lear's earlier books. As a fan, I would say this is one of his best. If you lke erotic writing that is also good, witty literature then you will love this.

Sleazy, sexy and highly entertaining..., 18 Nov 2006
This is the book I wish I'd written myself. It's sleazy and highly explicit; not for the faint-hearted. But it summons up brilliantly the atmosphere of the Halls and of the queer subculture of the thirties, (not that I remember!)

Paul Lemoyne is a pretty unpleasant character, but like his few real friends, you can't quite abandon him, and despite yourself, you care what happens to him. I suppose the fact that he knows he's behaving badly is a considerable redeeming feature. The end suggests that this may be the first of a series -- I would guess a trilogy -- a prospect which makes me very happy.

The book is written in spare prose and with a lightness of touch which makes it a pleasure to read.

Quite wonderful, The Story of the Night, 16 Dec 2008
I have never written a review before , so perhaps the fact I have made the effort says all there is to be said.
Like for others who have read this book, it was almost impossible to put down, and I read it in a day. The narrative is so honest and fresh , so unpretentious . I shall keep my copy safely. I don't think I will ever be able to forget this book ( not a bad thing ! )It was like getting up after an incredible film and feeling affected by it , not being able to get it out of your mind. !!
Colm has a talent so very few writers can match . More please !

TOP MARKS!, 05 Nov 2008
I really don't know what I can add in review of this book, which hasn't already been said by the other reviewers - I was caught up in this wonderful novel from the outset, feeling somehow that the character of Richard got inside my head and I needed to - simply must - find out where he was going.

The story sweeps along through the Falklands war and the economic fallout which effected Argentina, through the changing 80's and ultimately leads to loss, as HIV & AIDS comes to the fore of the gay community.

The book was strange in the fact that nothing really happened and, only the final third of the story, picked up any pace. The rest of the book was told slowly, as if uncoiling. Nothing really happened and, yet, I couldn't stop reading.

The character of Richard is both gentle and yet powerful, his relationship with his mother develops further meaning the deeper you read and his partnership with Pablo touching and real, moving from initial lust through to genuine kinship.

I cannot rate this book highly enough - its definately 'a keeper' (ie. one to keep on the shelf and look forward to enjoying again in the future). This will not disappoint!

Re: Colm Toibin's The Story of the Night., 04 Nov 2008
I finished this book yesterday, and have found myself thinking about it throughout today, especially the ending. The characterisation is excellent and the characters are so real and human. I found it was a book that I didn't want to put down, and couldn't wait to return to. I can't remember the last time a book has had such a profound impact on me. The writing style grips the reader and one becomes absorbed in the story. I have never read any of the authors other work but will now, though they have a lot to live up to as this is the best book I've read in years.

Wolverhampton Libraries LGBT Reading Group Review, 23 May 2008
Richard/Ricardo discovers his identity at a time of great unrest in Argentina during the reign of the Generals and the Falklands war and before the AIDS crisis.

Following the death of his staunchly patriotic English mother, Richard finds himself alone and finding solace with men he encounters on streets and in saunas. After quitting his job as an English teacher, his Anglo-Argentinean language skills come in useful as he is introduced into the world of Americans, politics, business men and corruption. This leads him to meet the elusive but alluring Pablo, brother of Jorge - Richard's friend and English student.

Erotic but never vulgar, the story that ensues is predictable but written in a succinct and realistic style, efficiently portraying the fear and desolation that many gay men must have felt during the 80's.

It is important to bear in mind that this title was first published in 1997 so is a relatively old book and, for some, may not have the same impact that it did at the time.

The group was divided with its appraisal but, worryingly, everyone agreed the middle third of the book could have been omitted with little detriment to the overall story! This read may be best suited to someone new to gay fiction who can keep up with the history lesson too.

the story of the night by colm toibin, 11 Feb 2007
Like other readers, I bought this book by chance. I read it non-stop. i was absolutely captivated. have read some of his other work, The South and the Blackwater Lightship - both were very, very good. Give them a try - you won't be disappointed.

Lost Souls, 11 Jul 2008
A well written novel, sometimes horrific and other times sad, but a page turner from the start. You should read this if you love Anne Rice... It is an original!

Loved & Shared, 28 Jan 2008
I was first given this book by a friend who had fallen in love with it and thought that due to my love of things dark & homoerotic I would too- she was definitely right to think so. She opened up her book on her most favourite page and passed it to me and I was immediately seduced by the language, pulled into the shadows to exist beside Nothing and truly feel every moment of his unimaginable new life. My copy is now dogeared, crumpled, faded and tear stained (not to mention signed by some of my most favourite rockstars), not because I've been carless, but because I love it so much and have taken it with me everywhere.

I have always loved vampires but never quite found my niche in horror literature, but this book is different- it's unique and leans not towards things that go creak in the night but instead to emotion and need and magic. The horror comes not from the filed fangs of the vampires but from the way they steal Nothing's innocence and the new life they present to him. Cold blooded murder, carnal lust and incest.

This book is not frightening but beautiful and sexual and magical. Each of my friends in turn bought the book because, as outcasts with a love for things that knock most people sick, or simply pass them by, we can connect with it and become a part of it as we read. It wouldn't be far fecthed to say we, like Nothing, long to be a part of the world of the three punk vampires and their road tripping, drug taking existence.

This book isn't for the more conservative reader, or those that like their vampires traditional (Dracula Zillah most certainly isn't), but for teenagers on the brink of freedom, with a love for a slightly wild way of living; rock music, alcohol, midnight and bloodlust, this is perfect. This books drips not only with blood but also with true love, tears and voodoo. It is captivating.

Best book I think I have ever read., 30 Dec 2006
I have read alot of books about vampires, sexuality and adolesence, but Poppy is the only one that combines them al in such an intense way.
Her style of writing is amazing and so profound that I have re-read this book so many times that I think I will have to get another copy soon, because mine is all falling apart.

Amazing startling and intense!!!, 15 Mar 2005
Poppy Z.Brite's Lost Souls is an amazing piece of literature. This book was on my course reading list and to be honest at first i struggled to pick it up. But once i had I simply could not put it down! Its dark, mysterious and often very graphic at times.
I would say however that many male readers (Like my boyfriend did) would struggle with the extremely graphic descriptions of sexual acts between many of the male characters but if you are a lover of intense gothic horror then this is the book for you, delve deep into the world Brite conjours up for the imagination and above all enjoy...just try not to be eating your tea at certain points!!!

Vampires - Hard Core & Goth - Powerful Prose!, 13 Mar 2005
Molochai, Twig and Zillah, three androgynous Goth vagabonds all resembling rock stars, roll into New Orleans ready for Mardi Gras. Drunk on Chartreuse, their mouths full of candy, they make their way to a tiny bar with stained glass windows in the French Quarter. CHRISTIANS says the sign above the door. Christian, the bartender and owner, is a four hundred year-old vampire. Molochai, Twig and Zillah, younger by a few centuries, are also vampires. A thin adolescent girl, pretty Jessy, had long been waiting for the three, or their like. Her dream is to become one of them. She doesn't get her wish though. Unlike the myths, vampires are not made by a bite from the undead. They are born, just like humans. Impregnations are few and far between, and the women who carry them in their wombs, (frequently human women), usually die in childbirth. Bad lead vamp Zillah, with the gorgeous green eyes, takes a special liking to Jessy. After the evening is over, he leaves her alive and carrying his child.

Fast forward fifteen years, Zillah and Jessy's son, "Nothing," is living with his adoptive parents in a Maryland suburb, wondering why he feels so different from everyone else. Alienated and terribly lonely, he runs away from home and is picked-up hitching by the ever wandering Zillah, Twig and Molochai. Now he's found! "Lost Souls" chronicles his decline into his father's world and the inevitable loss of his soul. The three vamp sidekicks spend their lives going from place to place - seeing everything - cities and countryside, drinking blood from various sources, leaving scenes of carnage behind, and then turning around and beginning again - taking different routes which lead them back to the same cities. Drunk and/or drugged, these dark hedonists always come out unscathed, unlike their victims. Now they head for Missing Mile, NC, the home of Nothing's favorite musicians, the Lost Souls.

Steve and Ghost are the vocalist and guitarist who make-up the Lost Souls. Nothing loves them, although he has never met them - he has only listened to their sound on tape. Ghost, the grandson of a backwoods' wise woman was born with a caul over his face. Ethereal in body and spirit, he is gifted with the sight, and is a truly decent human being - a man with soul. Steve, on the other hand has a ways to go before he becomes a mensch. As to the state of his soul - it's still up in the air. The musicians meet-up with the preternatural cohorts in a club in Missing Mile, where Nothing at last gets to meet his idols.

Ghost and Steve want to save Nothing from himself and, ultimately, his fate. Steve's former girlfriend, Ann, winds up on the road with the monsters, pursued by our rock star heroes. The battle for the lost souls reaches its dramatic finale when Ms. Brite brings everyone together in The Big Easy.

I was surprised at the quality of Poppy Brite's writing. It's good! Don't ask me why I expected otherwise. Her narrative is taut and her descriptive passages are at times lyrical, and always original. Her weakness lies in her character development. They are one dimensional. Ghost is wonderful, all goodness and light - but too angelic to be real. He is the shining heart of the novel - but not flesh and blood human. Steve, who is almost always on drugs and booze, is never really fleshed-out, although we get a sense that he is salvageable. And the vampires are dark cartoon-type characters - although maybe that's how vampires are supposed to be. They, and the vampire wannabe groupies, are all pale as corpses and dress in black, with black lipstick and mascara - a la Goth.

Poppy Brite paints a picture of today's society through Goth eyes - surreal to say the least. If you're a fan of horror fiction, (the kind with gore and violence), or are into the funky and unusual, "Lost Souls" merits your attention. I enjoyed it very much
JANA

Rollickingly raunchy story of life on the gay game in 1930s London. , 18 Dec 2008
Paul Lemoyne leaves his home in rural southern England to make his way in London. He gets no further than Waterloo Station before his gay sexual adventures begin. Paul quickly discovers that he can have fun (and this is a guy who is out to enjoy himself) and make money from the punters at the same time. Over the next chapters we have a voyeur's eye view of Paul's commitment to his craft, lovlingly, graphically and explicitly portrayed.
What makes this great erotic writing is the style and humour, as well as Lear's skill at portraying fantastic gay sex. Paul describes his rake's progress,and downfall, with irony. There is a particularly good section on his relationship with a wild Russian modernist paianter, whose picture entitled 'Red Hole' is deemed by later critics to be a prophecy of Stalin's Russia whereas in fact it describes a particularly adventurous episode of sex involoving large quantities of red paint.
This is a re-issue of one of Lear's earlier books. As a fan, I would say this is one of his best. If you lke erotic writing that is also good, witty literature then you will love this.

Sleazy, sexy and highly entertaining..., 18 Nov 2006
This is the book I wish I'd written myself. It's sleazy and highly explicit; not for the faint-hearted. But it summons up brilliantly the atmosphere of the Halls and of the queer subculture of the thirties, (not that I remember!)

Paul Lemoyne is a pretty unpleasant character, but like his few real friends, you can't quite abandon him, and despite yourself, you care what happens to him. I suppose the fact that he knows he's behaving badly is a considerable redeeming feature. The end suggests that this may be the first of a series -- I would guess a trilogy -- a prospect which makes me very happy.

The book is written in spare prose and with a lightness of touch which makes it a pleasure to read.

Amazingly brillaint, a story that wont let you be!!!!, 16 Oct 2008
Well, I have just finished readin this book ,it took me 3 days in total, i could not put it down, as a matter of fact it made me late for college last friday, and only yesterday i managed to finnnish the second in the the two books.

i found this book, to be insiaring, amazing and a total worth of money.
I promise you, you wont be able to put it down.. and if you can, well theres something wrong with you

BUY it...



Started poor, but finished strong!, 29 Feb 2008
I debated buying this book for several weeeks before I actually brought it, simply because I didn't like the cover! It said far too much as to the possible story and text inside - not a book for public transport!

However, despite a dodgy start (when I almost abandoned the book) it went from strength to strength. I got involved with the characters, both of whom are likable, and really championed them through the different events that mark their summer.

Although the book is supposed to be set over a period of months, during summer break, the way the story plays out it seems to only be weeks as the guys - Ryan & Scott - cope with many very adult situations.

Their independence is fun and exciting and the romance & love that eventually develop heartful and beautiful to read. There is also humour and some thundering sexual moments.

The writing isn't the best, so you must see through the grammar and punctuation errors and I found the early chapters confused and hardwork to read but stick with it. From mid-way through the text picks up and I personally found I couldn't put it (even on public transport - I didn't care anymore, i had to keep reading!).

If you enjoy gay romance, then this is for you - you won't be disappointed. I wasn't!

Enjoy!

Gorgeous Guys & Young Love, 25 Feb 2008
This book is a must! The story of Scott and Ryan is incredibly well handled - it's not just full of sex (though there's plenty of that!) but it deals with real issues and emotions. Buy it today!

Read it and then read it again .... and again, 02 Nov 2007
Why haven't you read this yet?

What are you waiting for. It is well written and captivating as the boys grow together and love together.

It invites you to read it again and again - come on get buying from Amazon!

A tender, erotic and heartwarming love story , 20 Sep 2007
Scott and Ryan are high school guys in Califronia. Both are gay but Scott admits it to himself, and to one or two others, and is happy in his sexuality. Ryan has had more experience but so traumatic that he cannot come to terms with the fact that he is gay. The story is about how the two meet,are immediately struck by a mutual physical attraction and soon start a passionate affair. But the book is also about friendship, family, acceptance and the sheer wonder of love between two very attractive human beings. No one with any human feeling could be homophobic after reading this book. And the rest of us can enjoy its open and joyous portrayal of passion, beauty and love.

Quite wonderful, The Story of the Night, 16 Dec 2008
I have never written a review before , so perhaps the fact I have made the effort says all there is to be said.
Like for others who have read this book, it was almost impossible to put down, and I read it in a day. The narrative is so honest and fresh , so unpretentious . I shall keep my copy safely. I don't think I will ever be able to forget this book ( not a bad thing ! )It was like getting up after an incredible film and feeling affected by it , not being able to get it out of your mind. !!
Colm has a talent so very few writers can match . More please !

TOP MARKS!, 05 Nov 2008
I really don't know what I can add in review of this book, which hasn't already been said by the other reviewers - I was caught up in this wonderful novel from the outset, feeling somehow that the character of Richard got inside my head and I needed to - simply must - find out where he was going.

The story sweeps along through the Falklands war and the economic fallout which effected Argentina, through the changing 80's and ultimately leads to loss, as HIV & AIDS comes to the fore of the gay community.

The book was strange in the fact that nothing really happened and, only the final third of the story, picked up any pace. The rest of the book was told slowly, as if uncoiling. Nothing really happened and, yet, I couldn't stop reading.

The character of Richard is both gentle and yet powerful, his relationship with his mother develops further meaning the deeper you read and his partnership with Pablo touching and real, moving from initial lust through to genuine kinship.

I cannot rate this book highly enough - its definately 'a keeper' (ie. one to keep on the shelf and look forward to enjoying again in the future). This will not disappoint!

Re: Colm Toibin's The Story of the Night., 04 Nov 2008
I finished this book yesterday, and have found myself thinking about it throughout today, especially the ending. The characterisation is excellent and the characters are so real and human. I found it was a book that I didn't want to put down, and couldn't wait to return to. I can't remember the last time a book has had such a profound impact on me. The writing style grips the reader and one becomes absorbed in the story. I have never read any of the authors other work but will now, though they have a lot to live up to as this is the best book I've read in years.

Wolverhampton Libraries LGBT Reading Group Review, 23 May 2008
Richard/Ricardo discovers his identity at a time of great unrest in Argentina during the reign of the Generals and the Falklands war and before the AIDS crisis.

Following the death of his staunchly patriotic English mother, Richard finds himself alone and finding solace with men he encounters on streets and in saunas. After quitting his job as an English teacher, his Anglo-Argentinean language skills come in useful as he is introduced into the world of Americans, politics, business men and corruption. This leads him to meet the elusive but alluring Pablo, brother of Jorge - Richard's friend and English student.

Erotic but never vulgar, the story that ensues is predictable but written in a succinct and realistic style, efficiently portraying the fear and desolation that many gay men must have felt during the 80's.

It is important to bear in mind that this title was first published in 1997 so is a relatively old book and, for some, may not have the same impact that it did at the time.

The group was divided with its appraisal but, worryingly, everyone agreed the middle third of the book could have been omitted with little detriment to the overall story! This read may be best suited to someone new to gay fiction who can keep up with the history lesson too.

the story of the night by colm toibin, 11 Feb 2007
Like other readers, I bought this book by chance. I read it non-stop. i was absolutely captivated. have read some of his other work, The South and the Blackwater Lightship - both were very, very good. Give them a try - you won't be disappointed.

Lost Souls, 11 Jul 2008
A well written novel, sometimes horrific and other times sad, but a page turner from the start. You should read this if you love Anne Rice... It is an original!

Loved & Shared, 28 Jan 2008
I was first given this book by a friend who had fallen in love with it and thought that due to my love of things dark & homoerotic I would too- she was definitely right to think so. She opened up her book on her most favourite page and passed it to me and I was immediately seduced by the language, pulled into the shadows to exist beside Nothing and truly feel every moment of his unimaginable new life. My copy is now dogeared, crumpled, faded and tear stained (not to mention signed by some of my most favourite rockstars), not because I've been carless, but because I love it so much and have taken it with me everywhere.

I have always loved vampires but never quite found my niche in horror literature, but this book is different- it's unique and leans not towards things that go creak in the night but instead to emotion and need and magic. The horror comes not from the filed fangs of the vampires but from the way they steal Nothing's innocence and the new life they present to him. Cold blooded murder, carnal lust and incest.

This book is not frightening but beautiful and sexual and magical. Each of my friends in turn bought the book because, as outcasts with a love for things that knock most people sick, or simply pass them by, we can connect with it and become a part of it as we read. It wouldn't be far fecthed to say we, like Nothing, long to be a part of the world of the three punk vampires and their road tripping, drug taking existence.

This book isn't for the more conservative reader, or those that like their vampires traditional (Dracula Zillah most certainly isn't), but for teenagers on the brink of freedom, with a love for a slightly wild way of living; rock music, alcohol, midnight and bloodlust, this is perfect. This books drips not only with blood but also with true love, tears and voodoo. It is captivating.

Best book I think I have ever read., 30 Dec 2006
I have read alot of books about vampires, sexuality and adolesence, but Poppy is the only one that combines them al in such an intense way.
Her style of writing is amazing and so profound that I have re-read this book so many times that I think I will have to get another copy soon, because mine is all falling apart.

Amazing startling and intense!!!, 15 Mar 2005
Poppy Z.Brite's Lost Souls is an amazing piece of literature. This book was on my course reading list and to be honest at first i struggled to pick it up. But once i had I simply could not put it down! Its dark, mysterious and often very graphic at times.
I would say however that many male readers (Like my boyfriend did) would struggle with the extremely graphic descriptions of sexual acts between many of the male characters but if you are a lover of intense gothic horror then this is the book for you, delve deep into the world Brite conjours up for the imagination and above all enjoy...just try not to be eating your tea at certain points!!!

Vampires - Hard Core & Goth - Powerful Prose!, 13 Mar 2005
Molochai, Twig and Zillah, three androgynous Goth vagabonds all resembling rock stars, roll into New Orleans ready for Mardi Gras. Drunk on Chartreuse, their mouths full of candy, they make their way to a tiny bar with stained glass windows in the French Quarter. CHRISTIANS says the sign above the door. Christian, the bartender and owner, is a four hundred year-old vampire. Molochai, Twig and Zillah, younger by a few centuries, are also vampires. A thin adolescent girl, pretty Jessy, had long been waiting for the three, or their like. Her dream is to become one of them. She doesn't get her wish though. Unlike the myths, vampires are not made by a bite from the undead. They are born, just like humans. Impregnations are few and far between, and the women who carry them in their wombs, (frequently human women), usually die in childbirth. Bad lead vamp Zillah, with the gorgeous green eyes, takes a special liking to Jessy. After the evening is over, he leaves her alive and carrying his child.

Fast forward fifteen years, Zillah and Jessy's son, "Nothing," is living with his adoptive parents in a Maryland suburb, wondering why he feels so different from everyone else. Alienated and terribly lonely, he runs away from home and is picked-up hitching by the ever wandering Zillah, Twig and Molochai. Now he's found! "Lost Souls" chronicles his decline into his father's world and the inevitable loss of his soul. The three vamp sidekicks spend their lives going from place to place - seeing everything - cities and countryside, drinking blood from various sources, leaving scenes of carnage behind, and then turning around and beginning again - taking different routes which lead them back to the same cities. Drunk and/or drugged, these dark hedonists always come out unscathed, unlike their victims. Now they head for Missing Mile, NC, the home of Nothing's favorite musicians, the Lost Souls.

Steve and Ghost are the vocalist and guitarist who make-up the Lost Souls. Nothing loves them, although he has never met them - he has only listened to their sound on tape. Ghost, the grandson of a backwoods' wise woman was born with a caul over his face. Ethereal in body and spirit, he is gifted with the sight, and is a truly decent human being - a man with soul. Steve, on the other hand has a ways to go before he becomes a mensch. As to the state of his soul - it's still up in the air. The musicians meet-up with the preternatural cohorts in a club in Missing Mile, where Nothing at last gets to meet his idols.

Ghost and Steve want to save Nothing from himself and, ultimately, his fate. Steve's former girlfriend, Ann, winds up on the road with the monsters, pursued by our rock star heroes. The battle for the lost souls reaches its dramatic finale when Ms. Brite brings everyone together in The Big Easy.

I was surprised at the quality of Poppy Brite's writing. It's good! Don't ask me why I expected otherwise. Her narrative is taut and her descriptive passages are at times lyrical, and always original. Her weakness lies in her character development. They are one dimensional. Ghost is wonderful, all goodness and light - but too angelic to be real. He is the shining heart of the novel - but not flesh and blood human. Steve, who is almost always on drugs and booze, is never really fleshed-out, although we get a sense that he is salvageable. And the vampires are dark cartoon-type characters - although maybe that's how vampires are supposed to be. They, and the vampire wannabe groupies, are all pale as corpses and dress in black, with black lipstick and mascara - a la Goth.

Poppy Brite paints a picture of today's society through Goth eyes - surreal to say the least. If you're a fan of horror fiction, (the kind with gore and violence), or are into the funky and unusual, "Lost Souls" merits your attention. I enjoyed it very much
JANA

Rollickingly raunchy story of life on the gay game in 1930s London. , 18 Dec 2008
Paul Lemoyne leaves his home in rural southern England to make his way in London. He gets no further than Waterloo Station before his gay sexual adventures begin. Paul quickly discovers that he can have fun (and this is a guy who is out to enjoy himself) and make money from the punters at the same time. Over the next chapters we have a voyeur's eye view of Paul's commitment to his craft, lovlingly, graphically and explicitly portrayed.
What makes this great erotic writing is the style and humour, as well as Lear's skill at portraying fantastic gay sex. Paul describes his rake's progress,and downfall, with irony. There is a particularly good section on his relationship with a wild Russian modernist paianter, whose picture entitled 'Red Hole' is deemed by later critics to be a prophecy of Stalin's Russia whereas in fact it describes a particularly adventurous episode of sex involoving large quantities of red paint.
This is a re-issue of one of Lear's earlier books. As a fan, I would say this is one of his best. If you lke erotic writing that is also good, witty literature then you will love this.

Sleazy, sexy and highly entertaining..., 18 Nov 2006
This is the book I wish I'd written myself. It's sleazy and highly explicit; not for the faint-hearted. But it summons up brilliantly the atmosphere of the Halls and of the queer subculture of the thirties, (not that I remember!)

Paul Lemoyne is a pretty unpleasant character, but like his few real friends, you can't quite abandon him, and despite yourself, you care what happens to him. I suppose the fact that he knows he's behaving badly is a considerable redeeming feature. The end suggests that this may be the first of a series -- I would guess a trilogy -- a prospect which makes me very happy.

The book is written in spare prose and with a lightness of touch which makes it a pleasure to read.

Amazingly brillaint, a story that wont let you be!!!!, 16 Oct 2008
Well, I have just finished readin this book ,it took me 3 days in total, i could not put it down, as a matter of fact it made me late for college last friday, and only yesterday i managed to finnnish the second in the the two books.

i found this book, to be insiaring, amazing and a total worth of money.
I promise you, you wont be able to put it down.. and if you can, well theres something wrong with you

BUY it...



Started poor, but finished strong!, 29 Feb 2008
I debated buying this book for several weeeks before I actually brought it, simply because I didn't like the cover! It said far too much as to the possible story and text inside - not a book for public transport!

However, despite a dodgy start (when I almost abandoned the book) it went from strength to strength. I got involved with the characters, both of whom are likable, and really championed them through the different events that mark their summer.

Although the book is supposed to be set over a period of months, during summer break, the way the story plays out it seems to only be weeks as the guys - Ryan & Scott - cope with many very adult situations.

Their independence is fun and exciting and the romance & love that eventually develop heartful and beautiful to read. There is also humour and some thundering sexual moments.

The writing isn't the best, so you must see through the grammar and punctuation errors and I found the early chapters confused and hardwork to read but stick with it. From mid-way through the text picks up and I personally found I couldn't put it (even on public transport - I didn't care anymore, i had to keep reading!).

If you enjoy gay romance, then this is for you - you won't be disappointed. I wasn't!

Enjoy!

Gorgeous Guys & Young Love, 25 Feb 2008
This book is a must! The story of Scott and Ryan is incredibly well handled - it's not just full of sex (though there's plenty of that!) but it deals with real issues and emotions. Buy it today!

Read it and then read it again .... and again, 02 Nov 2007
Why haven't you read this yet?

What are you waiting for. It is well written and captivating as the boys grow together and love together.

It invites you to read it again and again - come on get buying from Amazon!

A tender, erotic and heartwarming love story , 20 Sep 2007
Scott and Ryan are high school guys in Califronia. Both are gay but Scott admits it to himself, and to one or two others, and is happy in his sexuality. Ryan has had more experience but so traumatic that he cannot come to terms with the fact that he is gay. The story is about how the two meet,are immediately struck by a mutual physical attraction and soon start a passionate affair. But the book is also about friendship, family, acceptance and the sheer wonder of love between two very attractive human beings. No one with any human feeling could be homophobic after reading this book. And the rest of us can enjoy its open and joyous portrayal of passion, beauty and love.

Hot Erotic Romance? Yes!, 19 Dec 2008
Cowboys in Texas. Hot erotic romance. Bit of an oxymoron? Yes. But is it true? Yes. After Brokeback Mountain, gay cowboys may seem a bit of a cliche or at least bandwagon jumping, [and that may well be the case] but it makes a change from the usual staple fare of gay novels, the teenage coming out story. Pacily written, with steamy, nay, explicit sex scenes, [tell me how does a woman know what gay sex can or should be like so accurately?] and yet still romantic. Worth reading? Definitely. High literature? No. The plot is predictable, and some of the characters would strain to be called sketchy, but the main characters are fairly well developed and the pacing is good. The tension is maintained throughout, even though one knows the outcome before the end, in fact probably before the end of the first chapter. A good fun read, escapist and perhaps what one would like to dream of.

Hot drama, sizzling sex and true love., 29 Oct 2008
Older ranch owner has had the secret hots for Jamie ever since the lad was an adolescent. When Jamie comes out to his dad and is chucked off the family ranch guess who he turns to for help? The author could keep the secret longing of the book's heroes simmering undeclared until the last chapter but she prefers (thankfully)to have the two guys get it on within a few pages. Thereafter, they do not seem to have much time for ranching,as opposed to raunching but who's complaining? This is a graphically erotic novel, hugely enjoyable. And there is some real adventure outside the bedroom as well lots of adventurous sex within it.

The Tin Star, 15 May 2008
A fabulous love story between two hot, sexy men. I loved it from the first chapter. Very good book and well worth a bedtime read.

Just Brilliant, 20 Jan 2008
I was drawn in from the first page, you can't help but fall for Ethan and Jamie. Cowboys, sex and so much more. A great read!

DALLAS GOES GAY!, 29 Oct 2007
Fabulous - what a truely great read!

A gay, romantic lovestory (taken straight from the pages of a Dallas TV script!). This great story includes family woes, mystery, evil, love, brothers, sisters, cattle, ranch hands, a steakhouse, trucks, homophobia, secrets and MOST IMPORTANT fabulous gay characters!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - its lighthearted, romantic fun, with gay characters taking centre stage. ENJOY!!

Quite wonderful, The Story of the Night, 16 Dec 2008
I have never written a review before , so perhaps the fact I have made the effort says all there is to be said.
Like for others who have read this book, it was almost impossible to put down, and I read it in a day. The narrative is so honest and fresh , so unpretentious . I shall keep my copy safely. I don't think I will ever be able to forget this book ( not a bad thing ! )It was like getting up after an incredible film and feeling affected by it , not being able to get it out of your mind. !!
Colm has a talent so very few writers can match . More please !

TOP MARKS!, 05 Nov 2008
I really don't know what I can add in review of this book, which hasn't already been said by the other reviewers - I was caught up in this wonderful novel from the outset, feeling somehow that the character of Richard got inside my head and I needed to - simply must - find out where he was going.

The story sweeps along through the Falklands war and the economic fallout which effected Argentina, through the changing 80's and ultimately leads to loss, as HIV & AIDS comes to the fore of the gay community.

The book was strange in the fact that nothing really happened and, only the final third of the story, picked up any pace. The rest of the book was told slowly, as if uncoiling. Nothing really happened and, yet, I couldn't stop reading.

The character of Richard is both gentle and yet powerful, his relationship with his mother develops further meaning the deeper you read and his partnership with Pablo touching and real, moving from initial lust through to genuine kinship.

I cannot rate this book highly enough - its definately 'a keeper' (ie. one to keep on the shelf and look forward to enjoying again in the future). This will not disappoint!

Re: Colm Toibin's The Story of the Night., 04 Nov 2008
I finished this book yesterday, and have found myself thinking about it throughout today, especially the ending. The characterisation is excellent and the characters are so real and human. I found it was a book that I didn't want to put down, and couldn't wait to return to. I can't remember the last time a book has had such a profound impact on me. The writing style grips the reader and one becomes absorbed in the story. I have never read any of the authors other work but will now, though they have a lot to live up to as this is the best book I've read in years.

Wolverhampton Libraries LGBT Reading Group Review, 23 May 2008
Richard/Ricardo discovers his identity at a time of great unrest in Argentina during the reign of the Generals and the Falklands war and before the AIDS crisis.

Following the death of his staunchly patriotic English mother, Richard finds himself alone and finding solace with men he encounters on streets and in saunas. After quitting his job as an English teacher, his Anglo-Argentinean language skills come in useful as he is introduced into the world of Americans, politics, business men and corruption. This leads him to meet the elusive but alluring Pablo, brother of Jorge - Richard's friend and English student.

Erotic but never vulgar, the story that ensues is predictable but written in a succinct and realistic style, efficiently portraying the fear and desolation that many gay men must have felt during the 80's.

It is important to bear in mind that this title was first published in 1997 so is a relatively old book and, for some, may not have the same impact that it did at the time.

The group was divided with its appraisal but, worryingly, everyone agreed the middle third of the book could have been omitted with little detriment to the overall story! This read may be best suited to someone new to gay fiction who can keep up with the history lesson too.

the story of the night by colm toibin, 11 Feb 2007
Like other readers, I bought this book by chance. I read it non-stop. i was absolutely captivated. have read some of his other work, The South and the Blackwater Lightship - both were very, very good. Give them a try - you won't be disappointed.

Lost Souls, 11 Jul 2008
A well written novel, sometimes horrific and other times sad, but a page turner from the start. You should read this if you love Anne Rice... It is an original!

Loved & Shared, 28 Jan 2008
I was first given this book by a friend who had fallen in love with it and thought that due to my love of things dark & homoerotic I would too- she was definitely right to think so. She opened up her book on her most favourite page and passed it to me and I was immediately seduced by the language, pulled into the shadows to exist beside Nothing and truly feel every moment of his unimaginable new life. My copy is now dogeared, crumpled, faded and tear stained (not to mention signed by some of my most favourite rockstars), not because I've been carless, but because I love it so much and have taken it with me everywhere.

I have always loved vampires but never quite found my niche in horror literature, but this book is different- it's unique and leans not towards things that go creak in the night but instead to emotion and need and magic. The horror comes not from the filed fangs of the vampires but from the way they steal Nothing's innocence and the new life they present to him. Cold blooded murder, carnal lust and incest.

This book is not frightening but beautiful and sexual and magical. Each of my friends in turn bought the book because, as outcasts with a love for things that knock most people sick, or simply pass them by, we can connect with it and become a part of it as we read. It wouldn't be far fecthed to say we, like Nothing, long to be a part of the world of the three punk vampires and their road tripping, drug taking existence.

This book isn't for the more conservative reader, or those that like their vampires traditional (Dracula Zillah most certainly isn't), but for teenagers on the brink of freedom, with a love for a slightly wild way of living; rock music, alcohol, midnight and bloodlust, this is perfect. This books drips not only with blood but also with true love, tears and voodoo. It is captivating.

Best book I think I have ever read., 30 Dec 2006
I have read alot of books about vampires, sexuality and adolesence, but Poppy is the only one that combines them al in such an intense way.
Her style of writing is amazing and so profound that I have re-read this book so many times that I think I will have to get another copy soon, because mine is all falling apart.

Amazing startling and intense!!!, 15 Mar 2005
Poppy Z.Brite's Lost Souls is an amazing piece of literature. This book was on my course reading list and to be honest at first i struggled to pick it up. But once i had I simply could not put it down! Its dark, mysterious and often very graphic at times.
I would say however that many male readers (Like my boyfriend did) would struggle with the extremely graphic descriptions of sexual acts between many of the male characters but if you are a lover of intense gothic horror then this is the book for you, delve deep into the world Brite conjours up for the imagination and above all enjoy...just try not to be eating your tea at certain points!!!

Vampires - Hard Core & Goth - Powerful Prose!, 13 Mar 2005
Molochai, Twig and Zillah, three androgynous Goth vagabonds all resembling rock stars, roll into New Orleans ready for Mardi Gras. Drunk on Chartreuse, their mouths full of candy, they make their way to a tiny bar with stained glass windows in the French Quarter. CHRISTIANS says the sign above the door. Christian, the bartender and owner, is a four hundred year-old vampire. Molochai, Twig and Zillah, younger by a few centuries, are also vampires. A thin adolescent girl, pretty Jessy, had long been waiting for the three, or their like. Her dream is to become one of them. She doesn't get her wish though. Unlike the myths, vampires are not made by a bite from the undead. They are born, just like humans. Impregnations are few and far between, and the women who carry them in their wombs, (frequently human women), usually die in childbirth. Bad lead vamp Zillah, with the gorgeous green eyes, takes a special liking to Jessy. After the evening is over, he leaves her alive and carrying his child.

Fast forward fifteen years, Zillah and Jessy's son, "Nothing," is living with his adoptive parents in a Maryland suburb, wondering why he feels so different from everyone else. Alienated and terribly lonely, he runs away from home and is picked-up hitching by the ever wandering Zillah, Twig and Molochai. Now he's found! "Lost Souls" chronicles his decline into his father's world and the inevitable loss of his soul. The three vamp sidekicks spend their lives going from place to place - seeing everything - cities and countryside, drinking blood from various sources, leaving scenes of carnage behind, and then turning around and beginning again - taking different routes which lead them back to the same cities. Drunk and/or drugged, these dark hedonists always come out unscathed, unlike their victims. Now they head for Missing Mile, NC, the home of Nothing's favorite musicians, the Lost Souls.

Steve and Ghost are the vocalist and guitarist who make-up the Lost Souls. Nothing loves them, although he has never met them - he has only listened to their sound on tape. Ghost, the grandson of a backwoods' wise woman was born with a caul over his face. Ethereal in body and spirit, he is gifted with the sight, and is a truly decent human being - a man with soul. Steve, on the other hand has a ways to go before he becomes a mensch. As to the state of his soul - it's still up in the air. The musicians meet-up with the preternatural cohorts in a club in Missing Mile, where Nothing at last gets to meet his idols.

Ghost and Steve want to save Nothing from himself and, ultimately, his fate. Steve's former girlfriend, Ann, winds up on the road with the monsters, pursued by our rock star heroes. The battle for the lost souls reaches its dramatic finale when Ms. Brite brings everyone together in The Big Easy.

I was surprised at the quality of Poppy Brite's writing. It's good! Don't ask me why I expected otherwise. Her narrative is taut and her descriptive passages are at times lyrical, and always original. Her weakness lies in her character development. They are one dimensional. Ghost is wonderful, all goodness and light - but too angelic to be real. He is the shining heart of the novel - but not flesh and blood human. Steve, who is almost always on drugs and booze, is never really fleshed-out, although we get a sense that he is salvageable. And the vampires are dark cartoon-type characters - although maybe that's how vampires are supposed to be. They, and the vampire wannabe groupies, are all pale as corpses and dress in black, with black lipstick and mascara - a la Goth.

Poppy Brite paints a picture of today's society through Goth eyes - surreal to say the least. If you're a fan of horror fiction, (the kind with gore and violence), or are into the funky and unusual, "Lost Souls" merits your attention. I enjoyed it very much
JANA

Rollickingly raunchy story of life on the gay game in 1930s London. , 18 Dec 2008
Paul Lemoyne leaves his home in rural southern England to make his way in London. He gets no further than Waterloo Station before his gay sexual adventures begin. Paul quickly discovers that he can have fun (and this is a guy who is out to enjoy himself) and make money from the punters at the same time. Over the next chapters we have a voyeur's eye view of Paul's commitment to his craft, lovlingly, graphically and explicitly portrayed.
What makes this great erotic writing is the style and humour, as well as Lear's skill at portraying fantastic gay sex. Paul describes his rake's progress,and downfall, with irony. There is a particularly good section on his relationship with a wild Russian modernist paianter, whose picture entitled 'Red Hole' is deemed by later critics to be a prophecy of Stalin's Russia whereas in fact it describes a particularly adventurous episode of sex involoving large quantities of red paint.
This is a re-issue of one of Lear's earlier books. As a fan, I would say this is one of his best. If you lke erotic writing that is also good, witty literature then you will love this.

Sleazy, sexy and highly entertaining..., 18 Nov 2006
This is the book I wish I'd written myself. It's sleazy and highly explicit; not for the faint-hearted. But it summons up brilliantly the atmosphere of the Halls and of the queer subculture of the thirties, (not that I remember!)

Paul Lemoyne is a pretty unpleasant character, but like his few real friends, you can't quite abandon him, and despite yourself, you care what happens to him. I suppose the fact that he knows he's behaving badly is a considerable redeeming feature. The end suggests that this may be the first of a series -- I would guess a trilogy -- a prospect which makes me very happy.

The book is written in spare prose and with a lightness of touch which makes it a pleasure to read.

Amazingly brillaint, a story that wont let you be!!!!, 16 Oct 2008
Well, I have just finished readin this book ,it took me 3 days in total, i could not put it down, as a matter of fact it made me late for college last friday, and only yesterday i managed to finnnish the second in the the two books.

i found this book, to be insiaring, amazing and a total worth of money.
I promise you, you wont be able to put it down.. and if you can, well theres something wrong with you

BUY it...



Started poor, but finished strong!, 29 Feb 2008
I debated buying this book for several weeeks before I actually brought it, simply because I didn't like the cover! It said far too much as to the possible story and text inside - not a book for public transport!

However, despite a dodgy start (when I almost abandoned the book) it went from strength to strength. I got involved with the characters, both of whom are likable, and really championed them through the different events that mark their summer.

Although the book is supposed to be set over a period of months, during summer break, the way the story plays out it seems to only be weeks as the guys - Ryan & Scott - cope with many very adult situations.

Their independence is fun and exciting and the romance & love that eventually develop heartful and beautiful to read. There is also humour and some thundering sexual moments.

The writing isn't the best, so you must see through the grammar and punctuation errors and I found the early chapters confused and hardwork to read but stick with it. From mid-way through the text picks up and I personally found I couldn't put it (even on public transport - I didn't care anymore, i had to keep reading!).

If you enjoy gay romance, then this is for you - you won't be disappointed. I wasn't!

Enjoy!

Gorgeous Guys & Young Love, 25 Feb 2008
This book is a must! The story of Scott and Ryan is incredibly well handled - it's not just full of sex (though there's plenty of that!) but it deals with real issues and emotions. Buy it today!

Read it and then read it again .... and again, 02 Nov 2007
Why haven't you read this yet?

What are you waiting for. It is well written and captivating as the boys grow together and love together.

It invites you to read it again and again - come on get buying from Amazon!

A tender, erotic and heartwarming love story , 20 Sep 2007
Scott and Ryan are high school guys in Califronia. Both are gay but Scott admits it to himself, and to one or two others, and is happy in his sexuality. Ryan has had more experience but so traumatic that he cannot come to terms with the fact that he is gay. The story is about how the two meet,are immediately struck by a mutual physical attraction and soon start a passionate affair. But the book is also about friendship, family, acceptance and the sheer wonder of love between two very attractive human beings. No one with any human feeling could be homophobic after reading this book. And the rest of us can enjoy its open and joyous portrayal of passion, beauty and love.

Hot Erotic Romance? Yes!, 19 Dec 2008
Cowboys in Texas. Hot erotic romance. Bit of an oxymoron? Yes. But is it true? Yes. After Brokeback Mountain, gay cowboys may seem a bit of a cliche or at least bandwagon jumping, [and that may well be the case] but it makes a change from the usual staple fare of gay novels, the teenage coming out story. Pacily written, with steamy, nay, explicit sex scenes, [tell me how does a woman know what gay sex can or should be like so accurately?] and yet still romantic. Worth reading? Definitely. High literature? No. The plot is predictable, and some of the characters would strain to be called sketchy, but the main characters are fairly well developed and the pacing is good. The tension is maintained throughout, even though one knows the outcome before the end, in fact probably before the end of the first chapter. A good fun read, escapist and perhaps what one would like to dream of.

Hot drama, sizzling sex and true love., 29 Oct 2008
Older ranch owner has had the secret hots for Jamie ever since the lad was an adolescent. When Jamie comes out to his dad and is chucked off the family ranch guess who he turns to for help? The author could keep the secret longing of the book's heroes simmering undeclared until the last chapter but she prefers (thankfully)to have the two guys get it on within a few pages. Thereafter, they do not seem to have much time for ranching,as opposed to raunching but who's complaining? This is a graphically erotic novel, hugely enjoyable. And there is some real adventure outside the bedroom as well lots of adventurous sex within it.

The Tin Star, 15 May 2008
A fabulous love story between two hot, sexy men. I loved it from the first chapter. Very good book and well worth a bedtime read.

Just Brilliant, 20 Jan 2008
I was drawn in from the first page, you can't help but fall for Ethan and Jamie. Cowboys, sex and so much more. A great read!

DALLAS GOES GAY!, 29 Oct 2007
Fabulous - what a truely great read!

A gay, romantic lovestory (taken straight from the pages of a Dallas TV script!). This great story includes family woes, mystery, evil, love, brothers, sisters, cattle, ranch hands, a steakhouse, trucks, homophobia, secrets and MOST IMPORTANT fabulous gay characters!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - its lighthearted, romantic fun, with gay characters taking centre stage. ENJOY!!

Yet another masterpiece from Langley!, 10 Oct 2008
The title of this review is TOTALLY serious - I love JL Langley! Having read and re-read several of her previous novels, I couldn't wait for this one to arrive (after Amazon thankfully made me aware of its forthcoming publication) and I wasn't disappointed!

Langley writes about Cowboys and Indian's (Native American). She writes about Cowboys loving Cowboys and Indian's (who are secretly warewolves) loving other Indian's (who are also warewolves). Realistic? Clearly not, but lighthearted, sexy romps? Then, definately!

'With Caution' is a semi-follow up to the wonderful 'Without Reservations' - characters from the two novels cross-over - however, this book is the tale of how Remi and Jake (first introduced as bit-characters in the earlier book) find love and happiness... only after alot of angst, upset, sadness and some real SEXY loving!

These raunchy tales are thoroughly enjoyable; Langley takes her writing seriously as the sexy hook-ups between the characters only fill part of the text, while the rest of the story takes in other, more serious elements (such as murder, abuse and death).

What is especially pleasant is the kinship between the gay characters. In this book, it tells how members of the same warewolf pack care for and defend each other other from outsiders and interlopers. The central romance is dealt with passionately and, often, quite believably.

I recommend anyone who enjoys a hot man-loving read, buy this book (only after buying and reading 'Without Reservations' first, so you know where, how and why Jake & Remi get together) and if you enjoy... then knock yourself out with her Cowboys books - 'The Tin Star' and 'The Broken H'. You won't be disappointed!!

Quite wonderful, The Story of the Night, 16 Dec 2008
I have never written a review before , so perhaps the fact I have made the effort says all there is to be said.
Like for others who have read this book, it was almost impossible to put down, and I read it in a day. The narrative is so honest and fresh , so unpretentious . I shall keep my copy safely. I don't think I will ever be able to forget this book ( not a bad thing ! )It was like getting up after an incredible film and feeling affected by it , not being able to get it out of your mind. !!
Colm has a talent so very few writers can match . More please !

TOP MARKS!, 05 Nov 2008
I really don't know what I can add in review of this book, which hasn't already been said by the other reviewers - I was caught up in this wonderful novel from the outset, feeling somehow that the character of Richard got inside my head and I needed to - simply must - find out where he was going.

The story sweeps along through the Falklands war and the economic fallout which effected Argentina, through the changing 80's and ultimately leads to loss, as HIV & AIDS comes to the fore of the gay community.

The book was strange in the fact that nothing really happened and, only the final third of the story, picked up any pace. The rest of the book was told slowly, as if uncoiling. Nothing really happened and, yet, I couldn't stop reading.

The character of Richard is both gentle and yet powerful, his relationship with his mother develops further meaning the deeper you read and his partnership with Pablo touching and real, moving from initial lust through to genuine kinship.

I cannot rate this book highly enough - its definately 'a keeper' (ie. one to keep on the shelf and look forward to enjoying again in the future). This will not disappoint!

Re: Colm Toibin's The Story of the Night., 04 Nov 2008
I finished this book yesterday, and have found myself thinking about it throughout today, especially the ending. The characterisation is excellent and the characters are so real and human. I found it was a book that I didn't want to put down, and couldn't wait to return to. I can't remember the last time a book has had such a profound impact on me. The writing style grips the reader and one becomes absorbed in the story. I have never read any of the authors other work but will now, though they have a lot to live up to as this is the best book I've read in years.

Wolverhampton Libraries LGBT Reading Group Review, 23 May 2008
Richard/Ricardo discovers his identity at a time of great unrest in Argentina during the reign of the Generals and the Falklands war and before the AIDS crisis.

Following the death of his staunchly patriotic English mother, Richard finds himself alone and finding solace with men he encounters on streets and in saunas. After quitting his job as an English teacher, his Anglo-Argentinean language skills come in useful as he is introduced into the world of Americans, politics, business men and corruption. This leads him to meet the elusive but alluring Pablo, brother of Jorge - Richard's friend and English student.

Erotic but never vulgar, the story that ensues is predictable but written in a succinct and realistic style, efficiently portraying the fear and desolation that many gay men must have felt during the 80's.

It is important to bear in mind that this title was first published in 1997 so is a relatively old book and, for some, may not have the same impact that it did at the time.

The group was divided with its appraisal but, worryingly, everyone agreed the middle third of the book could have been omitted with little detriment to the overall story! This read may be best suited to someone new to gay fiction who can keep up with the history lesson too.

the story of the night by colm toibin, 11 Feb 2007
Like other readers, I bought this book by chance. I read it non-stop. i was absolutely captivated. have read some of his other work, The South and the Blackwater Lightship - both were very, very good. Give them a try - you won't be disappointed.

Lost Souls, 11 Jul 2008
A well written novel, sometimes horrific and other times sad, but a page turner from the start. You should read this if you love Anne Rice... It is an original!

Loved & Shared, 28 Jan 2008
I was first given this book by a friend who had fallen in love with it and thought that due to my love of things dark & homoerotic I would too- she was definitely right to think so. She opened up her book on her most favourite page and passed it to me and I was immediately seduced by the language, pulled into the shadows to exist beside Nothing and truly feel every moment of his unimaginable new life. My copy is now dogeared, crumpled, faded and tear stained (not to mention signed by some of my most favourite rockstars), not because I've been carless, but because I love it so much and have taken it with me everywhere.

I have always loved vampires but never quite found my niche in horror literature, but this book is different- it's unique and leans not towards things that go creak in the night but instead to emotion and need and magic. The horror comes not from the filed fangs of the vampires but from the way they steal Nothing's innocence and the new life they present to him. Cold blooded murder, carnal lust and incest.

This book is not frightening but beautiful and sexual and magical. Each of my friends in turn bought the book because, as outcasts with a love for things that knock most people sick, or simply pass them by, we can connect with it and become a part of it as we read. It wouldn't be far fecthed to say we, like Nothing, long to be a part of the world of the three punk vampires and their road tripping, drug taking existence.

This book isn't for the more conservative reader, or those that like their vampires traditional (Dracula Zillah most certainly isn't), but for teenagers on the brink of freedom, with a love for a slightly wild way of living; rock music, alcohol, midnight and bloodlust, this is perfect. This books drips not only with blood but also with true love, tears and voodoo. It is captivating.

Best book I think I have ever read., 30 Dec 2006
I have read alot of books about vampires, sexuality and adolesence, but Poppy is the only one that combines them al in such an intense way.
Her style of writing is amazing and so profound that I have re-read this book so many times that I think I will have to get another copy soon, because mine is all falling apart.

Amazing startling and intense!!!, 15 Mar 2005
Poppy Z.Brite's Lost Souls is an amazing piece of literature. This book was on my course reading list and to be honest at first i struggled to pick it up. But once i had I simply could not put it down! Its dark, mysterious and often very graphic at times.
I would say however that many male readers (Like my boyfriend did) would struggle with the extremely graphic descriptions of sexual acts between many of the male characters but if you are a lover of intense gothic horror then this is the book for you, delve deep into the world Brite conjours up for the imagination and above all enjoy...just try not to be eating your tea at certain points!!!

Vampires - Hard Core & Goth - Powerful Prose!, 13 Mar 2005
Molochai, Twig and Zillah, three androgynous Goth vagabonds all resembling rock stars, roll into New Orleans ready for Mardi Gras. Drunk on Chartreuse, their mouths full of candy, they make their way to a tiny bar with stained glass windows in the French Quarter. CHRISTIANS says the sign above the door. Christian, the bartender and owner, is a four hundred year-old vampire. Molochai, Twig and Zillah, younger by a few centuries, are also vampires. A thin adolescent girl, pretty Jessy, had long been waiting for the three, or their like. Her dream is to become one of them. She doesn't get her wish though. Unlike the myths, vampires are not made by a bite from the undead. They are born, just like humans. Impregnations are few and far between, and the women who carry them in their wombs, (frequently human women), usually die in childbirth. Bad lead vamp Zillah, with the gorgeous green eyes, takes a special liking to Jessy. After the evening is over, he leaves her alive and carrying his child.

Fast forward fifteen years, Zillah and Jessy's son, "Nothing," is living with his adoptive parents in a Maryland suburb, wondering why he feels so different from everyone else. Alienated and terribly lonely, he runs away from home and is picked-up hitching by the ever wandering Zillah, Twig and Molochai. Now he's found! "Lost Souls" chronicles his decline into his father's world and the inevitable loss of his soul. The three vamp sidekicks spend their lives going from place to place - seeing everything - cities and countryside, drinking blood from various sources, leaving scenes of carnage behind, and then turning around and beginning again - taking different routes which lead them back to the same cities. Drunk and/or drugged, these dark hedonists always come out unscathed, unlike their victims. Now they head for Missing Mile, NC, the home of Nothing's favorite musicians, the Lost Souls.

Steve and Ghost are the vocalist and guitarist who make-up the Lost Souls. Nothing loves them, although he has never met them - he has only listened to their sound on tape. Ghost, the grandson of a backwoods' wise woman was born with a caul over his face. Ethereal in body and spirit, he is gifted with the sight, and is a truly decent human being - a man with soul. Steve, on the other hand has a ways to go before he becomes a mensch. As to the state of his soul - it's still up in the air. The musicians meet-up with the preternatural cohorts in a club in Missing Mile, where Nothing at last gets to meet his idols.

Ghost and Steve want to save Nothing from himself and, ultimately, his fate. Steve's former girlfriend, Ann, winds up on the road with the monsters, pursued by our rock star heroes. The battle for the lost souls reaches its dramatic finale when Ms. Brite brings everyone together in The Big Easy.

I was surprised at the quality of Poppy Brite's writing. It's good! Don't ask me why I expected otherwise. Her narrative is taut and her descriptive passages are at times lyrical, and always original. Her weakness lies in her character development. They are one dimensional. Ghost is wonderful, all goodness and light - but too angelic to be real. He is the shining heart of the novel - but not flesh and blood human. Steve, who is almost always on drugs and booze, is never really fleshed-out, although we get a sense that he is salvageable. And the vampires are dark cartoon-type characters - although maybe that's how vampires are supposed to be. They, and the vampire wannabe groupies, are all pale as corpses and dress in black, with black lipstick and mascara - a la Goth.

Poppy Brite paints a picture of today's society through Goth eyes - surreal to say the least. If you're a fan of horror fiction, (the kind with gore and violence