Billy Martin

Periodically I feel unbearably suffocated by how much stuff I own and how unnecessary nearly all of it is. One such phase has just engulfed me, thus I've sifted through my shelves to find books that I either never intend to re-read or want to re-read once then give away. 'Drawing Blood' falls into the latter category. I first read it as a teenager, indeed reading Poppy Z. Brite was formative for me. It was a little odd re-reading it for the first time in years. I still enjoyed it and think show more it deserves five stars, but perhaps now I am too old and cynical to get quite so immersed in the love story of Trevor and Zach. After all, their relationship is violent and somewhat problematic, albeit very Romantic-with-a-capital-R. These days the character I identify with most is Kinsey, as he cooks badly, worries about his friends, and displays no sexual interest in anyone. I still like the horror elements very much, especially the powerful and disturbing sequence in Birdland. It’s the settings and little details that make this novel really special, I think. It has such atmosphere. Even as a teenager, though, it never made me want to go to New Orleans and the Deep South to loaf around gothically; why bother, when Poppy Z. Brite brings it to you? I should re-read [b:Lost Souls|452244|Lost Souls|Poppy Z. Brite|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1420793346s/452244.jpg|440863] as well and then pass both on. show less

Strange places, incredible imagery, sharp-edged characters and a difficult romance--this is a book that does what horror does best and always keeps its eye on the pain, discomfort and darkness of life and art. Hits hard if your head's in the right place.

A beautifully written, highly unpleasant story. Not, strictly speaking, horror - at least, it fails on my basic calculation. No one ever, for more than a few minutes, feels helpless. In fact, the horror is rather ineffectual - short-term scary, but never anything like overwhelming. It is a very nasty story, on several levels - lots and lots of (mostly illusionary, but not entirely) gore, but more importantly some seriously screwed-up characters. And all of them seem to be determined to do a show more thorough job of screwing up any parts of their lives that aren't already screwed up. Drugging yourself constantly (whether with legal or illegal drugs) is a really bad way of handling problems - they only show up later, and worse, and accompanied by the problems caused by the drugs. In fact, my objection to the book is less that it's horror and more that it's too literary - unpleasant things happening to unpleasant people. It does improve on most literary novels by having something of a happy ending - several of the characters are actually better off, both physically and emotionally, than they were when we first met them. So I'm not really sorry I read it. However, I have no intention of ever reading it again, or any others by the author. Not my cup of tea. If you truly enjoy R. Crumb comics, though, read this - you'll love it. show less

I finally picked up this book after remembering what a big splash the author made back in the mid-90s. I have to say that the splash was well deserved. If you know anything about the author’s books, you know that I mean that in the ways you’re probably thinking. But I also mean it in others.

The quality of the writing here is very strong. The characters are all generally drawn quite well, with the exception of

Andrew’s voice is compelling, and as he drives a majority of the events, show more having him take the lead in the first chapter is an excellent choice. And, despite the fact that he is a serial killer who revels in all the usual cruelty and unique bloodiness his obsession entails, he is a compelling character whenever his scenes queue up. A bad guy readers love to hate and love at the same time.

It is a particular testament to the author’s skill to note that the method by which Andrew escapes from prison is drawn quite believably in the novel…even skeptical readers will agree to suspend their disbelief.

Jay is a budding killer who has the discipline to avoid fouling the city where he lives with his own kills…until Tran, a particularly beautiful Vietnamese hustler throws his considerable charms at Jay’s feet.

Tran’s sections are very well drawn, and allow readers to walk in yet a third lifestyle and mindset that is very different than the first two offered up in this book.

Lucas is the one that is the least compelling. Perhaps this is because his illness keeps him quiet in terms of activity, or perhaps it’s because he has the most common, almost suburban, existence of all the characters. Still, his portrait, when added to the other three, rounds out this work and creates a richness that otherwise would be lacking.

The four are pulled ever more tightly together. The two killers begin to work together, and there is that bloody finale that had so many people squawking when the work came out. (The author was rejected by the publisher of all his previous books because of the gruesome climactic orgy.) Which certainly is shocking but really isn’t any more horrible or ugly to read than many of the sections the killer recalls and enacts in preceding scenes. Which leads you to wonder why this was rejected at all.

If you’re a gory fiction fan, this one is for you!

4 stars

If you enjoy stories that capture the mind of killers, you should check out [b:Beloved: A Sensual Noir Thriller|31159964|Beloved A Sensual Noir Thriller|Laine Cunningham|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1469650329s/31159964.jpg|23316671]. show less