Exquisite Corpse (novel)
OCLC 38225918 | |
Exquisite Corpse is a
Plot summary
The novel unfolds in alternating chapters from the
After learning that he is
Meanwhile, Tran is driven from his home after his parents learn that he is gay. Tran, who previously had a casual acquaintance with Jay, takes refuge at Jay's home, where the two have a brief sexual encounter. Jay finds himself emotionally drawn to the beautiful, vulnerable Tran but refuses to pursue him any further because he cannot conceive of a relationship that does not end in death. When Jay introduces Tran to Andrew, Andrew becomes obsessed with the idea of murdering and eating him. Jay, though reluctant, agrees to Andrew's plan, in part to rid himself of the temptation of falling in love with Tran. The two kidnap Tran and begin to slowly torture him to death.
Lucas realizes that Tran has fallen into Andrew and Jay's deadly hands, and the goal becomes not reuniting with Tran, but rescuing him. Arriving too late to save him, Lucas murders Jay and confronts Andrew. Recognizing that Lucas is already on the verge of death, Andrew refuses to kill him, instead offering him several means to commit suicide. Lucas realizes that his life, no matter how short, is still of value to him and flees, telling no one what he has seen.
After partially consuming Jay in a final act of love, Andrew leaves New Orleans to continue his murderous career, while Lucas, returning home, vows to spend his remaining time writing a novel to try to make sense of what he has witnessed.
Publication history
In 1991, Brite signed a contract to write three novels for
References
- ^ a b Poppy Z. Brite, "The Poetry of Violence" in Karl French (ed) Screen Violence, London: Bloomsbury, 1996, 62-70.
- ^ Fensterstock, Alison (June 14, 2017). "New community radio station WHIV-FM plans to raise awareness over the airwaves". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved May 20, 2021.