A Density of Souls

Rating:
Summary: An excellent first novel!
Review: Christopher Rice's first novel is beautifully written.You start to feel attached and protective of the main character Stephen.It helps you to see life through the eyes of a homosexual teen and feel his emotions.I could not put the book down and I can't wait for Christopher Rice's next novel.

Rating:
Summary: Needs Work
Review: While this novel is considerably more tolerable than his latest novel "The Snow Garden" which I had the displeasure of reading this past week, it still manages to fall flat in many areas. I find this to be a shame because some of the characters had a good bit of potential. While I am not usually one to criticize, I must say a few things about "A Density of Souls." The novel reads like something scribbled down in a high school junior's notebook, written hastily between classes and lunch hours. It seems the author, born in to what some would define, as literary royalty knew that if he could only get out a few hundred pages, the masses would flock to bookstores nationwide and praise him for doing the world a service. The dialogue is trite, I know 80 year old women that have deeper conversations with their cats, and 6 year old children that give more life to Barbie dolls. To be fair there are a couple of plot twists that you just wouldn't expect in a million years, unfortunately they seem to come out of thin air with no rhyme, reason or explanation.
The one emotional high point in the book is completely ruined with self-gratifying, overdone prose that could have easily been removed. I gave this book a two star review because I am sure it will appeal to many high school students struggling with their sexuality in small towns across America, however don't assume that if you are a fan of the Anne Rice that you will enjoy the work of Christopher.
If you want a book that has plot twists, an almost epic storyline and an intriguing family history try picking up "A Prayer For Owen Meany" by John Irving.

Rating:
Summary: Yes, this must be a gay book
Review: ....I don't think the storyline or character twists were believable. It was very depressing, with all the characters having these horrible lives and turn of events. No real personal growth, just more and more tragedy. I sure don't remember people in high school with that attitude or filled with that much hate. It takes those points WAY out of the realm of reality. Not something I'd recommend for anyone.

Rating:
Summary: Messed Up Book!
Review: What kind of messed up book is this? I wasted 7 hours and 30 minutes reading this book yesterday. I think he's trying to be too mature, just because his mother is Anne Rice, only his attempt failed miserably. Seriously, this book was so CONFUSING! Chris Rice has problems.

Rating:
Summary: Density of Souls
Review: Density of Souls is a novel based around the protagonist, Stephen and his struggles of his three best friends, Meradith, Brandon, and Greg, deserting him when their high school years begin. From all four of them playing hide and seek at the local cemetary, they went to bashing Stephen in front of everyone calling him a fag and taunting him. Stephen seemed to keep this special light in him that the other three lost and wanted so instead of finding it they desperately tried to make him loss it. Eventually, the protagonist wins, and the others aren't so lucky.
I believe this book gave the reader a good image of what it is like to be taunted and to have your best friends betray you, but I feel that the lesson's were hard to see through the descriptive sexual scenes. The story, I find, is extremely simply in it's set up, but the plot very hard to take in. It dealt with the realities of today and with the conflict of man vs. himself. Chris Rice does a wonderful job of describing his characters and their thoughts, making it easier for the reader to gather what Rice is trying to say.
Though I do believe the moral lessons Rice deals with are important, I think i could find the same lessons in a book with less descriptive sexual scenes. I recommand you read a different novel with better values then A Density of Souls, and as for entertaining purposes, I thought it had a level of excitement, but not enough.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific Characters, interesting relationships
Review: Mr. Rice wrote an explosive Gen X mystery novel. The characters are very in depth and he also knows how to throw you for a 180. You think that one thing is going to happen, your positive, but all the sudden, it's something completely opposite. I love the way he used New Orleans as the bcakdrop of this novel,it gave it noir edge, Big Easy style. Stephen and Jordan hooking up at the end was very interesting. I did not understand the made for tv ending,though. But other than that, great book.

Rating:
Summary: Like Mother Like Son
Review: At first I was skeptical of Christopher Rice's writing abilities but after reading just the first chapter of the book he proved to be a master just like his mother. I think this is a true portrayal of modern high school life because I myself am in high school. I loved this book

Rating:
Summary: A truly hilarious read
Review: If only Ed Wood were still alive, what a movie this would make! 'Plan 9 From Outer Space' meets 'Glen or Glenda?' on a really bad day. If you like schlock, don't pass on this book. If you are looking for realism or character development or even a plot that makes sense, I would suggest you look elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: Riveting
Review: What an amazing book...I must admit I read the reviews with disbelief when people claimed to have finished this novel in only two days. That was until I finished in just one day; albeit one very long day - I just couldn't put it down. I have always been a fan of Anne Rice so I was really looking forward to reading this first book by her son but I never expected it to be SO good. Christopher writes with more maturity than many writers twice his age. In the space of only a few lines he can convey feeling and emotions that others would take pages over and still not convey the same visions, the same passion. I found myself at times in tears, at times in rapture, but always feeling for and with the characters. Christopher's writing takes you into the very heart of New Orleans and the lives of Stephen, Meredith, Jeff, Jordan etc. Gay or straight; young or old everybody can, and will, get something out of this. I can't wait for Christopher's next book "The Snow Garden". In the meantime I will have to settle for reading this one again; and again...

Rating:
Summary: Two books in one, and unfortunately not in the good way
Review: First Part: 4.5 Stars / Last Part: 1.5 stars I started reading A Density of Souls and found myelf drawn very quickly into the book, enjoying the characters and the twists and turns that tied them together. Christopher continually applied layer upon layer of these characters - not too thick but enough that you were seeing new facets every time they walked into the room. Very well written, very compelling. I found myslef having to put down the book for a moment several times as things came along that I did not expect. And while the edges were often hazy, the pieces continued to fit together. And then the book turns south. It's almost as if Rice suddenly attached another version of the book to this one - the hoary, overly dramatic Hollywood script. As a hurricaine approaches (supposedly to mirror the growing storm of the dramatic life of our characters) it just falls apart. The "climax" made me think that maybe Rice had been obsessively watching Cape Fear recently - the only thing missing was a soundtrack of appropriately dramatic movie music to accompany you while you read. While I can see what he was trying to say and do with his end, it was such crap. And the little twist "revelation" at the end was unnecessary and just added a layer of skeeviness where it was not needed or appropriate. Rice has geat potential, as the first part showed. However, unfortunately, he can't keep that tone going. Hopefully the next book will find his ability to bring about a satisfactory ending.