Tale of the Body Thief

Rating:
Summary: Something different
Review: Before I read this, I'd heard a lot of bad things about it, but I decided to try it anyways.

I loved it. It was something new and different, and kept me excited.

Once again, Lestat is the main character. He's getting tired of his immortality, so he decides to trade bodies with the Body Thief, Raglan James, for a few days. Lestat is so eager to be mortal again that he fails to see Raglan for what he really is: a clever, lying thief.

Lestat finally realizes how blessed he was to be immortal. As a mortal man, he gets very sick and almost dies (he's also haunted by Claudia, his dead vampire child, in his dreams).

With the help of his mortal friend David Talbot, Lestat attempts to get his immortal body back from Raglan.

The only thing that disappointed me was that it didn't have the same...feel...as the previous books. I seem to prefer the 1700's settings like there was in "Interview With the Vampire".

There is also a big part at the end, but I wouldn't want to spoil it for anybody. : )

Rating:
Summary: Not the best of the series, but certainly worth it
Review: I have to say that in terms of the series as a whole, Tale of the Body Thief is not as good as the others. I can't really blame Anne Rice though 'cause Queen of the Damned was just too hard of an act to follow. :) However Tale of the Body Thief is still a damn good book, one of the best I've ever read, and is a must-read for fellow Lestat worshippers. TotBT is definitely a character-driven story, and while it still touches upon many of the larger philosophical issues that Rice deals with in all the books, this one was a lot more "down to earth" and mundane in a sense than the others, which is why I suspect a lot of folks didn't like it. I won't spoil the plot, but basically Lestat, in yet another one of his "do first, think later" endeavors (*grin*), gets the chance to become human again, and of course it's not all it's cracked up to be. I think this book, even more so than The Vampire Lestat (which was really just a history lesson IMHO), really takes us inside Lestat's head, and more importantly his heart. From the truly comical (the scene where he tries going to the bathroom for the first time in 200 years :P) to the truly poignant (the entire section with the nun was worth reading the book for, especially the heartbreaking scene towards the end), this book really touched me. Just as Lestat came away with a new appreciation for his vampiredom, I came away with a new appreciation for my beloved antihero, and a lot of my conceptions of him changed--for the better. I absolutely adored this book, and I think other Lestat fans will too. One last thing, I just have to say that as a bisexual Rice fan I think it's positively ridiculous some of the comments people have made regarding the more open treatment of alternative sexualities in this book. If you have a problem with homosexuality wtf are you doing reading Anne Rice books! There have *always* been homoerotic undertones in Vampire Chronicles, from the very first book. She has always dealt with sexuality and gender issues in these books. If it took Anne telling you outright that Lestat is bisexual in TofBT for you to know at all you must be some kind of moron, or didn't read the other books.

Rating:
Summary: Very good.
Review: I actually really liekd this book, I dont know the exact reason why...but I did. Maybe it was because it was a lot different than the first three, and more modern. Or maybe because it was having a vampire go into a human body for the first time in a couple hundred years. Or maybe the small romance between Lestat and the nun. All of it was good and it all ended perfectly with David becoming a vampire in a...younger form.

Rating:
Summary: Not her finest, but still
Review: I feel slightly weird about this book. I simply cannot decide about. So lets take this one step at a time.

It begins with Lestat at the bottom of a misery curve, and this bit is frightening and delightful to read. His recovery at Davids house has many good moments, and a Rice-fan should not be without them.

I really like the weird, surreal feeling of Lestat initial comunication with Raglan James. Its so weird, seeig an immortal vampire interact so well with a modern setting. Off course we expect notting less from Lestat.

And the objektive look at the mortal world is funny and unsettling at the same time. A great read, most of it, although sometimes it goes over the edge. Not often though.

The book has many highlights, and should not be missed if you have alreade read the other vampire chronicles. But dont begin here if you havent, mind you. Rice is notorious for leaving new readers in the dark. You will be thoroughly confused.

The book looses a star for being outright booring at times. simple as that. Luckly not often, and the rest more than makes up for it.

So, if you are already a secret admirer of the children of darkness, than go ahead, and enjoy the ride.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Vampire Chronicle Yet!
Review: I've been a loyal Anne Rice reader (and vampire fan) for some time now, and it all started with this book! Rather than the usual run down vampire plot (in which a normal person is transformed unwillingly into a vampire and has trouble coping) or the "classic" horror movie motif (usually along the lines of a psychotic vampire terrorizing everyone on his mad and seemingly pointless killing sprees), Anne Rice has pulled through with a truly innovative plot from deep whithin the regions of imagination. The Tale of the Body Thief is the story of a once powerful and headstrong vampire who finds himself with the prosect of becoming human again. He readily accepts the mysterious stranger's offer and recieves what he has always wanted- or has he? Lestat soon realizes that being human isn't all wonderful moments and experiences. He finds himself longing for his strong vampiric body back, only to find that the man he traded bodies with has reneged on their agreement and decided to keep his body after all. Lestat now finds himself in unfamiliar territory- unable to defend himself. All the more determined, he calls upon the help of an old friend, and all of his tricks and cunning. Filled with magic, chases, and friendship, The Tale of the Body Thief leads both characters and readers on an adventure that is sure to change their perspectives forever

Rating:
Summary: Enjoy, you should
Review: Now, there are very clear words that will tell you whether you'll like it or not. Read the introduction it's all there. Simply, it's unlike the past three. Interview with the Vampire working well as an intro. The Vampire Lestat extending the vampire folklore with many facts. Queen of the Damned introduced us to many character, making it work to follow, still very great.
The new tale was much quicker, it wasn't such a heavy story to handle.
I read a review, mentioning that this book had sections that were boring. I don't agree. The only thing i could imagine being boring to a person was the religious talks between lestat and David, and I, an aetheist, was very into those parts, the beliefs were very interesting, based on christianity.
those parts really open way to Memnoch the Devil. It would be obsurd to read Memnoch without this tale.
Alot happens in this book, I went to merrick first and was completely angry i had missed so much so i didn't proceed until i continued with the order.

Rating:
Summary: Another Dark Adventure In The Life of Lestat
Review: I thought "Queen of the Damned" was a little boring, but I liked this next novel in the vampire chronicles. Good story. Especially the last part of this book was very suspenseful and fast-paced. Sophisticated readers will enjoy some intellectual dialogues in the story too. A keeper.

p.s. I much prefer Anne Rice's vampires to her witches and erotic fairytales.

David Rehak
author of "Love and Madness"

Rating:
Summary: Not too bad
Review: This book was definitely a little different from the previous three. But it was still charming in its own way. Lestat's experiences in the human body alone are worth reading it, I found them hilarious. If you are a Vampire Chronicles fan, and you read the first three books, read it, you won't be dissapointed. The only thing I didn't like was that homosexuality level went way up in this one. I didn't mind the innocent kisses between Lestat and Louis or Nikki in the previous books, but what is up with Lestat trying to get into David's pants while he is in a human body?! I think I could have done without that. Overall it was good though.

Rating:
Summary: Anne Rice's fourth entry in the Vampire Chronicles ...
Review: ... features vampire legend Lestat returning to spin THE TALE OF THE BODY THIEF. This time the troubled ex-rock star has switched bodies with a mortal who's more than he seems. THE TALE OF THE BODY THIEF was the first novel to show that Anne Rice was becoming weirder. She can still write beautiful novels; and yet they become more erotic and sensual every time. BODY THIEF comes nowhere near being as good as her first masterpiece, INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, or the sequels, VAMPIRE LESTAT and QUEEN OF THE DAMNED - but TALE OF THE BODY THIEF is interesting and enjoyable. Anne Rice fans shall be pleased; otherwise, your opinion of the novel may be less good. As a warning for non-fans, let me tell you the themes the book is divided in to:
1. Lestat whining.
2. Lestat's attraction to an older man.
3. Human love.
4. God and the Devil: religion.
5. More Lestat whining.
If that list looks fine to you, go ahead and enjoy it. Whether you do or not, one thing is certainly pleasing:

Lestat lives!

Rating:
Summary: Something's Missing...
Review: I've been reading a lot of Anne Rice lately. And while I can't say I haven't been moved at some points, generally speaking, my experience has been one of frustrating disappointment. Anne has come up with these fascinating and alluring CONCEPTS--these vampires who travel through centuries, across myriad lands and a panoply of cultures, forging and breaking relationships with one another--and with mortals all the while--sounds like a great idea for a series of books, and it IS, that's what's sad.

Somehow she fails when it comes to actually writing about these characters. Something's lacking. I think it's her main character and narrator, The Vampire Lestat. In my opinion he's too whiney and weak to be the hero of the chronicles. He goes on and on at the end of "Body Thief" about how he simply cannot help but be gleefully happy--that it's in his nature and he cannot be depressed for long. This was flabbergasting because Lestat--mischievous though he might be, is ALWAYS upset about something. Rice seems to want Lestat to be viewed in a certain light, so she tells the reader what to feel, but Lestat's actions throughout the book do not SHOW this at all.

In the other books of the chronicles, such as in QUEEN OF THE DAMNED, when she deals with the relationship between Armand and Daniel, THEN it becomes hard to put the book down. But the rest of time, when we are going round and round in circles with Lestat, rather than feeling absorbed and entertained, I find myself hoping she'll write more about those OTHER things.

I haven't read MEMNOCH THE DEVIL, and to be honest, I am afraid to because I hear it's quite dreadful. What I can say is that I think QUEEN OF THE DAMNED was the best book of the chronicles so far, and I recommend it highly.

Rice is a master when it comes to descriptive language, that is for certain, and I agree with all the literary critics who have ever labeled her writing as being "lush" but unfortunately that doesn't make up for the feeling I get when I read Anne Rice, that she is WASTING these wonderful concepts, and that in someone else's hands they could truly come alive.