Prime: A Novel [Paperback]

I finished Prime this afternoon, and not three hours later I found myself re-reading it. The night that I began reading it, I dreamed about it all night. So, I suppose you could say that this book has endeared itself to my soul. Much better than Liquor (even though I loved that one too), I found the characters I already knew to be fleshed out even more, and the ones I didn't know were fascinating. Oscar and Woofer deserve stories of their own. Just a suggestion: possibly a story of Oscar's bid for D.A.? At any rate, my desire to learn more about these characters will expedite the process of reading some of the older stories they appear in.

I've been hearing a lot of talk about the friendship that was struck up between G-man and Dirty King, and how it seemed like a weak plot point, and at first I was inclined to agree. After thinking about it, I changed my mind. I know first hand that when you treat someone special in a restaurant, especially when family is involved, strong bonds can be formed. Just as Rickey thought, extreme, yes, but not impossible. After all, a restaurant can be a great place to network.

Given the fact that Chris is a restaurant veteran, and Poppy is a restaurant fan (for lack of a better term), I still find it amazing how dead on she is with the culture. Having worked in restaurants for thirteen years, I can truly say that she nails it every time. I would read books about these characters even if they were about the everyday nonsense. I would even venture to say that the scenes in the restaurant are some of my favorites.

My only hope, and I admit that it is somewhat selfish, is that someday G-man will be the driving character in this saga. Rickey is great and I see why Liquor and Prime feature him as the main character, but a future story with a strong G-man influence would be awesome. G-man ponders that he may not be where he is without Rickey, but I submit that the reverse may also be true. Prime made me appreciate G-man so much and I can only think that a story with him in the driver's seat is in order. I found it very interesting that while Rickey battled with his attraction and ultimately would not even think of cheating in any way, G-man realized that whoring himself out a bit might help his partner. I know the situations were different, and G-man was never really in a real position to cheat, nor did he have any desire. The fact that he was dedicated enough to do something that he perceived as wrong, even for the greater good, warrants a G-man fueled tale. Not only that, his struggle with his faith surely deserves further investigation.

Above all, I think that these characters can and surely will go on for some time. Mysteries aside, I can see many possible futures for these characters. Honestly, in my opinion, the mystery was the back story. I've found both Liquor and Prime to be well thought out, character driven stories. The back drop that is New Orleans and the restaurant world are far more interesting. Even though I'm dying for a G-man story, I could enjoy a tale about Liquor, the restaurant, as mundane as having to deal with a day that the produce forgot to be ordered. Then again, we know how that would play out. Rickey would freak, and G-man's cool composure would save the day. Unsung heroes keep the world turning. I may be the first member of the G-man fan club.

All I know for sure is that all the Doubting Thomases about Poppy should get over it. We can all appreciate the past, but Prime seals the deal. Further discussion of old work vs. new work is no longer valid, and I, for one, couldn't be happier.

Poppy Z. Brite paints an awesome picture of kitchen life. You'd think she had been cooking in restaurants for 20 or 30 years. (I know her husband has, but hey, my wife is a lawyer and I haven't written the great legal thriller yet.) It's amazing the little details she get right. When I heard there was a sequel to Liquor, I thought 'The restaurant's open. What else can she do - write about the daily specials?' She does write about the daily specials, but the plot twists and turns keep Prime just as exciting as Liquor. I'd love to cook for her someday! (Oh, and the chick who didn't like it because of 'too much foie gras' can bite me. Foie gras rocks.)

The latest installment of the fortunes of Rickey and G-man is a delight. I had never read any of Ms. Brite's work until a friend sent me a copy of Liquor last year, as a cheering-up present when I was down about MY kitchen job. I fell in love with her characters, her dead-on description of kitchen life, and the way that she made larger-than-life thriller elements seem plausible and natural. I've been eagerly awaiting Prime ever since.

It doesn't disappoint. Rickey and G-man are as appealing as ever, and she manages to make me identify with both of them, despite their very different personalities. The dialogue was perfect; I could hear every word in the voices of my colleagues. I especially loved the bit where Rickey was trying to write the letter to Firestone about the consulting job; it's no mean feat for a writer as talented as Ms. Brite to capture the style of a man who isn't comfortable writing at all.

I bought the book right before I started a dinner shift, and didn't start reading it until I was home at around midnight. I found myself staying up and reading it straight through until 4 or 5 AM. Not only couldn't I stop turning pages, but in some spots, I was laughing so hard that I was afraid I'd wake up my husband.

If you're at all interested in the restaurant world, or even if you're not, but just like a well-plotted story with wonderful characters and elements of intrigue, give Prime a look. You won't regret it.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 28 reviews  4.7 out of 5 stars