PZB goes from writing cult teen horror novels to writing about chefs in New Orleans? We'd passed around Drawing Blood in high school like it was treasure, savoring the angst and the blood and the angsty sex and the artsy blood and gore, and then I was 30 years old and in a tourist shop in New Orleans and her new series was featured on a prominent table? PZB featured in a gift shop full of mainly southern tourists? Never mind that Anne Rice is writing about Jesus in the first person. Is this an a [...]

This was my first PZB book, and I must try another soon. I've never read a book about the restaurant "life", and it was a great change to my typical reads.

I'll admit to having been a fan of PZB's gore-filled goth horrors in my angsty teen years and, whilst that familiarity is what drew me to this book initially, I feel that the author has changed, almost as if she (like me as a reader) has grown up. In Lost Souls and Drawing Blood, we saw rich, moody, characters and were drawn into Missing Mile almost as if by enchantment. Those stories for me were categorised by their graphic violence and gore, which was stomach-churning at times. They were shock [...]

Yeah, I've been pretty meh about the writer these days (nothing to do with his lifestyle choices, just so you know; it's more of a personal thing) so I'm not sure what made me pick these books up again, but damn I still love me some PZB. I always love foodie novels, and the thing that made the publishers drop them (too niche) is exactly why I love these novels so. There's food, restaurant culture, New Orleans culture, crime and mystery, and of course, the relationship between Rickey and G-man. S [...]

Very good gay fiction about a couple who are line cooks in New Orleans and are approached by a financier interested in helping them open a restaurant. I especially enjoyed reading this while in New Orleans.

Liquor may not be perfect but like any great drink with ingredients that shouldn’t go together but do, you simply enjoy the ride and ignore the aftertaste. The mix of fantastic New Orleans setting, great foodie descriptions, an intimate knowledge of the underbelly of the cooking scene, and some interesting characters combine to create a fun book with a hefty dose of classic New Orleans style. On the downside, the characters are flat and predictable, from beginning to end, and the mystery is so [...]

4.75 Stars because I dont give 5 stars very often. I am so glad that I found this gem of a book! PZB wrote something truly unique and special with this novel I haven't read anything else by this author but I truly fell in love with Ricky and G-Man. And foodie novels who knew that was a thing! They are amazing why haven't I read or heard of more?!! This book description of food was perfect as though I was with Ricky and G-Man in the kitchen tasting their ideas with them. in Liquor PZB really capt [...]

The story begins in a pre-Katrina New Orleans with two out of work line cooks sitting in a tree while getting drunk. So far, this book is a big departure from Brite's earlier work. So far no explicit sex or gore just lots of great descriptions of New Orlean's and food and life as a line cook (a job I'm glad I never tried out!).The two out of work drunkards concoct a business idea that might actually work out, a liquor based gourmet restaurant. The book mainly concerns these two, their offbeat ac [...]

Two New Orleans gay chefs live the dream and open up their own restaurant. There's also a vague crime/danger plot, but mostly this is just a book about food. This book made me want to eat things I don't even like. I needed this today. It's fun and soaked in restaurant culture, with a generally interesting M/M long-term relationship around the edges. A light-weight escapist good time.

This is an excellent series. Gritty, real and from one of my favourite authors.

Fun book The main thread of the story was just OK and a bit predictable, but what really shined was the clear love the author has for New Orleans and the food culture there. The bio says she is married to a chef, but she must have at least waited on tables or worked in kitchens somehow because there's stuff in here that I don't think someone could just research. The relationship between Ricky and G-man is nice and established, with just enough backstory you can get the sense of them.Would defini [...]

Poppy Z. Brite was one of the names I was aware of when I first tried the gay-fiction/MM romance genre back around 4-5 years ago. His books were always been on the list on the "recommended for you" feature. So I have been wanting this one for such a long time, only to buy it just now using Kobo discount code (since the ebook price is more than $10).I wholeheartedly enjoyed this -- it was more of gay fiction, with a dash of suspense, not a romance. Rickey and G-Man were an established couple who [...]

Attention foodies: This is your kind of book! Liquor is about two friends/partners that are tired of working for someone else as cooks in New Orleans. When they get fired from "Tequilatown", the franchise-y, crappy food restaurant owned by the country singer Jesse Honeycombe,(Can you say Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville?) they come up with an idea to start their own restaurant.It's not going to be just any restaurant. It's going to be called Liquor. And all of their dishes will contain you guessed [...]

I've been following Poppy Brite's blog (docbritevejournal) since not long after Katrina hit New Orleans, but this is the first of her books I've actually picked up.I read it in a day, but I had a hard time putting my finger on what was so gripping about it. The writing is passable, certainly not outstanding. Some of the characters are rather flat. But Brite captures a place and a mood and a time so vividly that it's hard to stop reading.The book is about two New Orleans cooks who decide, sort of [...]

Prior to "Liquor" the only books from Brite I had read were in the horror genre. So I wasn't really sure what to expect. But, being a foodie and being appreciative of Brite's writing style, I thought I would give it a whirl.I am very glad I did. Brite does an outstanding job of creating characters that have depth, ones you care about, and even those you despise. Plus, all the foodie details in the book gave me lots of ideas for future forays into the kitchen.This reads like a cross between "Kitc [...]

I read this several months after returning home from a Hurricane Katrina-induced exile. Maybe it was the heightened emotions of that time period, but I found myself alternately laughing out loud, nodding vigorously, and even wiping away tears while reading this book. It's like A Confederacy of Dunces: if you're from New Orleans, or have lived there, you'll get it. You'll recognize ya Mam an' ems. You'll say, uh huh, I know these people. Know that guy. Yeah, know that guy too. Oh gawd, I know tha [...]

I loved this tale of two line cooks who live their dream amid a cast of colourful characters in the Big Easy. It totally immerses you in the atmosphere of New Orleans and the culture of restaurants and food preparation. There is a little touch of romance and some mystery thrown in. Great writing. I love Rickey and G-Man and will definitely read more of their adventures. More for fans of general fiction novels than m/m romance, although the first book in the series The Value of X is much more rom [...]

This book was lovely, and I know that isn't a great adjective - in fact, myriad people would be loathe to hear their work described as "lovely" - but this book really was lovely. I say that because this book is the coziest piece of fiction by Poppy that I've ever read. A couple of books before this, I read Exquisite Corpse and nearly burnt the book after finishing it, such strong distaste for the subject matter I felt. So yeah, reading about Liquor, Rickey, and G-Man was a nice break from the da [...]

The story begins in a Pre Katrina New Orleans with two out of work line cooks getting drunk sitting in a tree.They concoct a business idea that might actually work out. Aliquor bases gourmet restaurant. T he story is mainly about them and their off beat acquantances and the problems and trails of starting a business from the ground up. I t was a good read.

I really like the direction of Poppy Z. Brite's more recent novels--dark fiction, as opposed to horror. The NOLA backdrop, characters to which you can relate, and the food-centric story are all win in my book. Can't wait to read the other books she's written with these same main characters.

Ooh this was good! I kept expecting something terrible to happen having read a couple of his books when I was younger but this was fun and thrilling and it was great to read a story that was taking place in the city I was born in. Can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Seriously, I can't cope with how good this book is. Every. Single. Time.

I still loved it c:

The charm of these books lies mostly in the brilliant characterization and the wonderful recreation of New Orleans. The good is great too.

I started reading this series backwards and read he third book in the series, Soul Kitchen , about a year ago. Recently I picked up this one and the following book “prime” because I loved the intersection of New Orleans culture, foodie culture, and the great characters. This book was pleasing in the same way that a new episode of a Netflix series you really like is - more of everything I wanted. I smashed it in a day which should tell you how easy a read it is. What I particularly love is Br [...]

Read this on a plane and it is a fine example of that sort of book. easy to read, pretty light, but enough to it to keep me going for the hours in flight. Two young guys from the (now mostly lost?) Ninth Ward of New Orleans. Hardly from the lap of luxury, they grow up together and become chefs and lovers. The book chronicles their efforts to open a restaurant--Liquor. There's a bit of a mystery thrown in. Strong on food and also on characters. There's a couple more that I'll probably read, too.

I really enjoyed this book! I don't know if it's because NOLA was such an important character or because the Ricky/G-Man relationship was so refreshing or because the story of two really hard workers achieving their dream is just such a great theme or because the side characters were so wonderfully colorful or because people's insanity is so riveting. At any rate, I had a hard time putting this book down when I needed to, despite the fact that it's wildly different from anything I've read in age [...]

Fun, but forgettable story taking place in the New Orleans culinary scene. Possibly the most "2004 edgy" thing I've read since 2004. The main couple are kind of bland, with interchangeable personalities. And the villain is cartoonish and clearly only there to provide some sort of conflict. But I like all the attention to detail in the setting and the food descriptions, plus the ruthless Guy Fiere stand in that mentors the main characters as they open their own restaurant.

I've tried so hard with this book. I really wanted to love it; I mean, New Orleans, food, booze, a charming gay couple, what's not to love? But I've started it several times over the last decade (or more) and never finished it. Finally gave up and am returning my sister's copy to her. Apparently this is the second book in a series, though. Maybe someday I'll go back and try the first book.

It's about New Orleans restaurants, the writer likes food and talks about it without letting the plot thickens. The plot is as thin as mille-feuille. This book is like a stew in a slow cooker, that you stir and stir around forever; no thanks , lost my appetite.