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Triads
Book by Brite, Poppy Z., Faust, Christa
224 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2004
1 person is currently reading
304 people want to read
About the author
Poppy Z. Brite
164 books3,615 followersPoppy Z. Brite (born Melissa Ann Brite, now going by Billy Martin) is an American author born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Born a biological female, Brite has written and talked much about his gender dysphoria/gender identity issues. He self-identifies almost completely as a homosexual male rather than female, and as of 2011 has started taking testosterone injections. His male name is Billy Martin.
He lived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Athens, Georgia prior to returning to New Orleans in 1993. He loves UNC basketball and is a sometime season ticket holder for the NBA, but he saves his greatest affection for his hometown football team, the New Orleans Saints.
Brite and husband Chris DeBarr, a chef, run a de facto cat rescue and have, at any given time, between fifteen and twenty cats. Photos of the various felines are available on the "Cats" page of Brite's website. They have been known to have a few dogs and perhaps a snake as well in the menagerie. They are no longer together.
During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Brite at first opted to stay at home, but he eventually abandoned New Orleans and his cats and relocated 80 miles away to his mother's home in Mississippi. He used his blog to update his fans regarding the situation, including the unknown status of his house and many of his pets, and in October 2005 became one of the first 70,000 New Orleanians to begin repopulating the city.
In the following months, Brite has been an outspoken and sometimes harsh critic of those who are leaving New Orleans for good. He was quoted in the New York Times and elsewhere as saying, in reference to those considering leaving, "If you’re ever lucky enough to belong somewhere, if a place takes you in and you take it into yourself, you don't desert it just because it can kill you. There are things more valuable than life."
Born a biological female, Brite has written and talked much about his gender dysphoria/gender identity issues. He self-identifies almost completely as a homosexual male rather than female, and as of 2011 has started taking testosterone injections. His male name is Billy Martin.
He lived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Athens, Georgia prior to returning to New Orleans in 1993. He loves UNC basketball and is a sometime season ticket holder for the NBA, but he saves his greatest affection for his hometown football team, the New Orleans Saints.
Brite and husband Chris DeBarr, a chef, run a de facto cat rescue and have, at any given time, between fifteen and twenty cats. Photos of the various felines are available on the "Cats" page of Brite's website. They have been known to have a few dogs and perhaps a snake as well in the menagerie. They are no longer together.
During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Brite at first opted to stay at home, but he eventually abandoned New Orleans and his cats and relocated 80 miles away to his mother's home in Mississippi. He used his blog to update his fans regarding the situation, including the unknown status of his house and many of his pets, and in October 2005 became one of the first 70,000 New Orleanians to begin repopulating the city.
In the following months, Brite has been an outspoken and sometimes harsh critic of those who are leaving New Orleans for good. He was quoted in the New York Times and elsewhere as saying, in reference to those considering leaving, "If you’re ever lucky enough to belong somewhere, if a place takes you in and you take it into yourself, you don't desert it just because it can kill you. There are things more valuable than life."
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 16, 2012
Anything she writes.
March 28, 2023
I loved the writing, but the last story just wasn't satisfying to me. (Insert 'stories don't have to be satisfying, it was still narratively complete, stories don't have to be happy to be meaningful,') I GET IT. But after I finished the book I sobbed because while Jake got his happy ending, Jimmy didn't. We're left with yet another traumatic heartbreak in Jimmy's life after section two, and then he fucking DIES. Like, we're already bringing in the supernatural element with fucking ghosts (literally) and it already kind of reads like a late '90s early 2000s BL drama, do a reincarnated plot line! A flash of Jimmy reuniting with Lin Bai and Victor! Something! God. I'm so sad.
November 12, 2017
The story follows a Chinese male from boyhood in pre-WWII China through present day Los Angeles. Especially gripping is the brutality he endures as a boy at the Opera school and during the Japanese invasion. His character plays an important role as the story shifts to Hollywood in the 40's, and then into today. I'm very interested in reading more by the author, who sadly seems to have stopped writing.
October 15, 2018
#28 A book by two authors
Once again, getting to a book that has been on my shelf for the longest time and never had the chance to read before. You've already heard me wax so much poetic about Poppy and his work.
There were elements of this story that reminded me of some of his other short stories. They might even be connected. I like to think that they are.
Once again, getting to a book that has been on my shelf for the longest time and never had the chance to read before. You've already heard me wax so much poetic about Poppy and his work.
There were elements of this story that reminded me of some of his other short stories. They might even be connected. I like to think that they are.
September 15, 2019
I miss Brite's horror, but I'm really glad that he's writing what he loves. And this is the author at his best. The book incorporates his trademark dark romance throughout, and a sort of supernatural theme connects all three stories.
April 6, 2011
I saw this book on the library shelf, and picked it up because it was thin, and I was intrigued by the title. When I saw it was Poppy Z. Brite, I *had* to get it. I have a lingering affection for her from my high school horror years, and Lost Souls remains one of my favorite, most evocative books of all time. So when I saw this book, (I am much less familiar with Christa Faust) and read the book jacket, I thought it would be a no-brainer. (Explicit sex? Violence? Gender bending? Sign me up!)
If this was any other author, I'd have given it a 4. Based on my own disappointed expectations, I give it a 3. I really expected a more visceral experience, both emotionally and, well, viscera-ly.
If this was any other author, I'd have given it a 4. Based on my own disappointed expectations, I give it a 3. I really expected a more visceral experience, both emotionally and, well, viscera-ly.
May 24, 2009
Don't read this book if you are easily shocked! The book contains three long stories centered around a gay Chinese man.
The first story starts off in China at the beginning of the second world war and tells the story of two young men who escape from their master into the wide world. It's a love story of sorts, but the description of thier lives makes it sad. Graphic homosexual sex scenes abound, not only in this story, but throughout the book.
The second story takes place in post war hollywood. Attempted love fails.
The third story takes place in the present day, and is again a love story. It's actually fairly tender, and seeing how the lives of some of the characters in the earlier stories end up is done very well.
The first story starts off in China at the beginning of the second world war and tells the story of two young men who escape from their master into the wide world. It's a love story of sorts, but the description of thier lives makes it sad. Graphic homosexual sex scenes abound, not only in this story, but throughout the book.
The second story takes place in post war hollywood. Attempted love fails.
The third story takes place in the present day, and is again a love story. It's actually fairly tender, and seeing how the lives of some of the characters in the earlier stories end up is done very well.
November 27, 2014
Not for the squeamish or the easily offended. (Graphic violence and gay/lesbian sex) This is a set of three interlocking stories that take place over about 60 years. Although the stories are violent and often tragic, at the end of the day this book is a love story or actually a series of love stories. I have been a fan of Poppy Z. Brite's work for years. Although this book is rougher than most of her other work, it displays the same quality plotting and strong character development that is typical of her. Sadly, he (now Billy Martin), no longer seems to be writing.
March 13, 2009
There's something about reading Poppy Z. Brite for me that's like watching a generally transfixing marionette show where the strings are often visible, but it usually doesn't matter. A decent story with several passages that are a treat for the language/imagery alone. This book was coauthored by Christa Faust, which isn't immediately evident from glancing at its goodreads listing.
July 13, 2018
As close as Brite can get to historical fiction with their horror elements. Taking place in China and Hollywood in the 20th Century and then later in current day Los Angeles. Triads focuses on four men dealing with their gender identity and sexuality. This is my least favourite of PZB's books. The chronicle order is all over the place and it is hard to follow.
July 3, 2011
3 related stories with Asian protagonists, typical Poppy Z Brite M/M sex, love and tragedy. Follows a young Chinese man from 1938 China to modern day Los Angeles. Really good.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews