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299th out of 697 books
—
869 voters
The Value of X (Rickey and G-Man #1)
The Value of X is a rose-tinted gay coming-of-age story set on the mean streets of New Orleans' rundown Lower Ninth Ward. The son of hardworking blue-collar Catholic parents, 16-year-old Gary Stubbs is growing increasingly troubled by his sexual feelings for John Rickey, his best friend since childhood. Rickey, living with his divorced mom, takes the realization that he hi...more
Hardcover, 200 pages
Published
January 1st 2003
by Subterranean Press
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I think I’ve found a new obsession and their names are Rickey and G-Man. Actually, her name is Poppy Z. Brite, so yeah, she made me love these boys; I’ll give credit where credit is due, but Rickey and G-Man are the reason I’ll keep coming back for more until there is no more left to come back for.
The Value of X is the beginning of their story together, and it’s not an easy start. How can it be when neither of the boys is old enough to have any say-so in what goes on in their lives? They’ve been...more
The Value of X is the beginning of their story together, and it’s not an easy start. How can it be when neither of the boys is old enough to have any say-so in what goes on in their lives? They’ve been...more
I re-read this so often, because it's just the right length to sit and read in one sitting. Perhaps it works better for readers already familiar with the two main characters who have been the focus of the more recent work of Poppy Z Brite, as this little book tells the back story of how the two friends became lovers and life-partners. It's one of the most beautifully written same-sex romances telling the story of two young guys falling in love with each other and with cooking as they train to be...more
I usually avoid coming-of-age stories, but I really enjoyed this one. It's very short, and a light read, but I enjoy that kind of thing once in a while. It felt real, and it wasn't trying too hard to glorify something or target a particular group of people. It was simply a story about two best friends who happened to fall in love and their struggle to find a place in the world together.
Brite's writing is descriptive and down-to-earth. I just love her writing style. I haven't read the other books...more
Brite's writing is descriptive and down-to-earth. I just love her writing style. I haven't read the other books...more
I read this at a point when I was reading anything by PZB that I could get my hands on. I remember liking it quite a bit at the time, and have been wanting to re-read it since then but haven't gotten the chance. I Didn't enjoy this book as much as Brite's horror fiction, but it still had the same gritty edge, and an interesting enough story line. I liked this book a lot more than any of the latter books in this series, as I don't really think the latter books have the same edge that I grew to lo...more
This was my second time reading Poppy, it actually seemed tame after reading "Exquisite Corpse" and I was ready for some crazy stuff, what happened instead was a story about love really, what else can I call it, maybe not your usual and banal love but a love story never the less, one marred with obstacles, unfairness and lots of good food that should make any reader an instant fan of food obsessions of all sorts. I love cooking and I love reading so having two things smashed so well with some ad...more
The Value of X is a prequel to Liquor, the story of G-man and Rickey as two chefs who decide to open their own restaurant in New Orleans. This novella starts with both men as kids when they meet and bond a lifelong friendship/relationship. The writing is very good and filled with tons of New Orleans flavor. You can’t help but envision the city as it was, down to the last detail. Additionally watching how the two men grow up, change, and deal with individual challenges sets up the tenor and basis...more
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The first book I've read by this author. The first half was somewhat promising, but the dialogue was an issue for me. I found it largely unrealistic. I felt that it sounded more like dialogue spoken by 7th graders than by 17-year-olds. As the book went on, though, I really got caught up in the characters and their story of being gay teens, as well as the lush New Orleans background and gritty restaurants. So I did end up enjoying it, and may seek out more of Brite's books.
Pretty good. In some ways it felt like this is more of a set up for the rest of the books, which to be fair it is.
Also, I think the writer did a good job on writing the parents as the biggest obstacles in the protagonists lives, without them being too villiany. I did understand why they made the choices they did, but it was also so frustrating. Stop fucking with your children's lives!
Also, I think the writer did a good job on writing the parents as the biggest obstacles in the protagonists lives, without them being too villiany. I did understand why they made the choices they did, but it was also so frustrating. Stop fucking with your children's lives!
A very romantic story explaining how two of the main Poppy z Brite characters, G-man & Ricky, got together. Some kind of revisit of Romeo & Juliet, but modern, gay and set in New Orleans & NY -and less dramatic-.
You'll like it if you've read Liquor, Prime, etc, and want to know more about them, or simply if you like romance with some tweaks.
You'll like it if you've read Liquor, Prime, etc, and want to know more about them, or simply if you like romance with some tweaks.
I really enjoyed this book. It was very different from her early writing, though some hints of her old style peeked through.
But all in all its a fast read and a cute story.
The characters are believable and likable.
But all in all its a fast read and a cute story.
The characters are believable and likable.
Sweet teen love story
4.5 stars
Sep 25, 2008
Darenna
added it
This book continues my unintentional but highly enjoyable theme read. For some reason the books I've been compelled to read over the past month have been either set in New Orleans or feature a gay charactor. In the case of "The Value of X" both are true. This particular book has already become a sentimental favorite. It's about Ricky and Gman, two 17-year old boys who both know they are gay but discover their love for each other.
Young gay guys in their hometown of New Orleans and cooking.
I enjoyed this book. It was interesting to read after reading the rest of the series. I did find the author's style a bit dull and predictable. The first book [Liquor] was great, but every book after that was pretty much the same. The plot was lacking, but overall the characters were very likable. That itself is what made the book an enjoyable read.
very trashy and entertaining fantasy about high school sweet harts from a bad New Orleans neighborhood, who may grow up to be chefs. If I someone were to give me crap about my bad taste in books, this would probably be the best example =p
The book that started the series, this was a quick but enjoyable read. I will definitely be reading the third book in the series. Just good all around.
Nice, easy read. A bit too much misunderstanding between the characters for my taste, but still fun to read.
Pretty good. I liked reading about young G-Man and Rickey. I loved Liquor and Prime and really liked The Value of X.
A feel-good coming of age story set in New Orleans Lower Ninth Ward. Do you know the value of X?
Devoured it in 3 hours. Divine.
I really liked this novella, and do not know why it is not more widely read as a good example of a teen level gay romance novel.
Highly recommended. By the end of the book, the characters felt like old friends to me.
Jun 17, 2013
Danielle Ferrandi
marked it as to-read
Jun 16, 2013
Sarah
marked it as to-read
Jun 13, 2013
Scott
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Jun 11, 2013
Alicia Christine
marked it as to-read
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Poppy 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...more
More about Poppy Z. Brite...
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...more
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“There were books about how to be gay; he'd seen them in stores and libraries. Some of them even had diagrams. But there weren't any diagrams about how to fall in love with your best friend and not fuck everything up.”
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