Plastic Jesus

Rating:
Summary: Tragic love story
Review: As part of the British band the Kydds, Seth Grealy and Peyton Masters conquered the world in the mid-60s and 1970s. When they came out as lovers, after witnessing the Stonewall riots on TV, Peyton and Seth find themselves both embraced and rejected by those around them and the world, and their lives are changed irrevocably. And years later when Seth is killed, Peyton has to come to terms with his own life and with his lover's killer. "Plastic Jesus" is a glorious homage to the Beatles and Beatlemania, as well as a tragic love story in the vein of Emma Donoghue's "Hood". This illustrated novella, while missing Brite's usual gothic textures, nonetheless radiates her storytelling prowess.

Rating:
Summary: NOT a good Poppy book
Review: PLASTIC JESUS is Poppy Z. Brite's answer to her self -asked question, What if John Lennon and Paul McCartney had been lovers? Brite fictionalizes John and Paul with Seth and ? , a couple of English boys in early 60's England. They meet, realize they make a great musical pair, start a band called the KYDDS, make great music, lots of money and tour.

The homosexual aspect is interesting in how Brite shows how attitudes change, however small, in people once they know or work with a gay male. The best thing about this novella is how Brite uses the backdrop of the Stonewall riots as the KYDDS' coming out party. In the end, the cliche "the more things change the more they stay the same" is all too painfully true.

The ending is smart and true to the theme of the whole piece. Poppy also illustrates the book using some very kidlike drawings...at first glance they are very simple, but upon further reflection they are charismatic and intuitive.

Overall a great piece of fiction from a favorite of mine. The artwork by the author herself is an added bonus that you can't pass up.

Rating:
Summary: Homage to the Beatles
Review: Poppy Brite's novella Plastic Jesus is her homage to the Beatles and the culture of the 1960's. It is not, however, about the Beatles. Make no mistake there are simalarities but Seth and Peyton are not John and Paul. Brite uses the love story between the two founders of the group to explore issues of prejudice and acceptance.Peyton grows as a character by reflecting on his life as a member of the most important rock group of the decade. In doing so he must also reflect upon his life in general, the issues of fame, and finally his ability to go on after a startling tragedy.

This is not profound reading but the book makes some interesting points.

Rating:
Summary: John and Paul in Love
Review: Poppy Z. Brite has previous documented in her book of essays, "Guilty But Insane" that one of her must abiding fantasies was that John Lennon and Paul McCartney were lovers. In "Plastic Jesus," Brite takes this fantasy and turns it into a fictionalized novella that is quite a departure from her previous work.

"Plastic Jesus" tells the story of the rock band The Kydds, who have become the greatest rock band in the world. The group's most influential members, Seth and Peyton, are incredible music partners, and eventually become sexual partners as well. Their openly gay relationship knocks open doors in the 1960's, making the world rethink it's prejudice. All of this comes to a tragic end when Seth is murdered, and Peyton is left alone to tell his story.

This novella does a very good job of creating the late 60's atmosphere, and the characters are exquisitely drawn, always something you can count on with Poppy Z. Brite. Essential for fans of her work, "Plastic Jesus" is probably most enjoyed by those who possess a knowledge of The Beatles and their history, and an open mind.

Rating:
Summary: Homage to John and Paul
Review: Poppy Z. Brite is back with a short novel from Subterranean Press. It's called Plastic Jesus and it will probably be more than a little controversial. It opens with the assassination of a rock singer in New York. He had been a member of a British rock group in the 1960s and even after the group split up, his fame continued. One reason for the group splitting up (not the only reason) was that the group as a whole was unable to cope with the intensity of the love affair between this man and the other major songwriter in the group. Their homosexual love started to loom larger than the music. The pressures broke up the group, but it didn't break the love between the two songwriters - they continued to make music together and on the night that he was gunned down, his lover was in the car and he saw everything. What happens now, asks the novel? How will the survivor cope with losing his lover, his best friend, the man with whom he made such beautiful music?

The premise isn't true, of course. John and Paul weren't lovers (as far as we know) and the Beatles split as much for financial as for personality reasons. But it makes a fascinating speculation all the same. What if John and Paul really had been lovers? Would it have made a difference to the music, a difference to their lives (and indirectly to ours)?

I vividly remember the day John Lennon was shot. I remember going into work that day feeling quite numb. And one of my work colleagues sat all day at her desk just sobbing quietly, but uncontrollably.

Poppy Z. Brite was only thirteen when John died. She was really a generation too young for the Beatles and their music. But that didn't stop her and she loved them dearly. She has a copy of a quirky little self portrait that John once drew tattooed on her left bicep.

Plastic Jesus is her intriguing speculation about what might have been and it is her homage to the ideas and ideals of a very great man. She's done a wonderful job and written a very moving story.

Rating:
Summary: So many heroes are more deserving of worship.
Review: Poppy Z. Brite, Plastic Jesus (Subterranean Press, 2000)

I tried not to be negatively influenced when reading Plastic Jesus by the fact that it is, essentially, a piece of fan fiction about one of the most ridiculously hyped, and the single most overrated, band in music history. Unfortunately, I don't think I succeeded.

Plastic Jesus is the story of the two founding members of a sixties rock sensation called the Kydds. (Oh, let's drop it. It's John and Paul. I mean, even the illustrations are... you know.) The book jacket gives away the whole thing, but I'll just sketch here; the story opens with one of them being shot dead in New York in 1980. (Guess which?) It then goes back and traces the genesis of the band to that point, while attempting to explain why he got shot. The fictional part of it is that, pursuant to Brite's usual obsessions, he's shot because of homophobia, because the two of them are gay.

Well, little surprise there. And when I can divorce myself from the subject matter, it's workable, if workmanlike, Brite; quick, easy reading, pages turning at a decent pace. The characters are believable (though one tends to suspect that's because they're based on real people here, rather than any native authorial skill), the plot plausible. The theme less so, but then, this is a work of fantasy, so we'll allow a little leeway. On this level, at least.

And this is where it breaks down. The line between professional work and fan fiction is usually more a chasm than a line, but sometimes it gets blurry. Plastic Jesus is very much one of those times. While it's quite obviously the work of Poppy Z. Brite (and thus as polished and professional as anything she puts out), it still treads uncomfortably close to the slash line too many times.(Again, I cause myself to wonder if I'd have had this problem were it, say, X-Files fan fiction or John Lee Hooker fan fiction or... you get the idea.)

The bottom line is it's readable. Whether you will find its subject matter to your taste is likely a matter of personal choice. I can't stand the Beatles, never could, and that negatively affected my ability to read this. Your mileage, as they say, may vary. ***

Rating:
Summary: A new look for Poppy fiction, yet still very good
Review: This is a good Poppy book. It may be different from the likes of Lost Souls, Drawing Blood, ect. Yet, it is still another wonderful illustration of Poppys detailed, fantastic writing. This book is based on Poppy's (delightful) fantasy of if John and Paul for the Beatles had ever become involved. While the book is based on that dream this is definately an independent and creative novel from Poppy. The chapbook that was sold with the original printing of the novel intitled Would You?--is really Poppys true John and Paul fantasy. Plastic Jesus is a fictional account of two English musicians who start a band called the KYDDS. During the trials and tribulations that every band faces the two lead characters in the band find themselves turning towards each other for support, help, and a long term committed relationship. The story is wonderfully short novella that is both a delight to read and look at. It contains many great Poppy illustrations. If you can find a copy of the book and the chapbook I recommend it. The chapbook Would You? shows Poppy's inspiration for the story. Plastic Jesus is the story that brings both smiles, and sadness. I feel this book showed what a wonderfully diverse writer Poppy is!!

Rating:
Summary: Understanding the Lion
Review: When I got this book I put of reading for a week. I read Guilty But Insane first. I came upon the chapter "Would You?" and I thought Poppy only you would. This however was not negative. I am not a child of the 60's and Beatles have never had a place in my heart but I know many millions of people love out there have been "changed" by this band. They have become this beautiful perfect, pristine entity and no longer humans.

Poppy Z. Brite is the only writer audacious enough to say, "This is my fantasy. This is my story about two legends who were human, who where real and who were in love."

Push the envelope, print your dreams, expose your thoughts and come what may. I think Poppy did embrace the lion in this book and I was captivated. Many fans out there cannot accept when your favorite genre writer writes in another. They become stagnant and create a success formula. This is dominant in the Horror genre and that's why we seek out new writers for our catalogues.

Thankfully Poppy Z. Brite hasn't fallen into the trap of formulas and that makes this novella even more of a masterpiece. Those of you out there, who are willing to understand the lion (Guilty But Insane #5), will embrace this novella as the magnificent, charming, eloquently written love story that it truly is.

My hat is off to you Poppy Z. Brite and thank you for your genius.