Rating: 
Summary: Amazing
Review: This book was absolutely amazing. I just happened to pick it up while I was book shopping. Along with about 5 other books that I knew about. I didn't really know what to expect, but the brief summary seemed interesting. I decided to read it first. I couldn't put it down. I planned on reading just one or two chapters and ended up reading the whole thing in about 5 hours. A true work of art and a beautiful story. I have recommended it to all of my friends and loaned it out a couple of times. I have reread it twice since that first time and each time, I find something new and intriguing about it.
Rating:
Summary: An emotionally charged work of art.
Review: Christopher brings soul and precision to every one of his characters; your mind quivers on the border of fiction and reality. For such a young author to expose his soul to the world, in only his first published work proves that he will be around for years to come. Expect to laugh and cry in this coming-of-age tale of four teenagers poised on the threshold of good and evil, right and wrong. Will Good always conquer over Evil or do they intertwine in the middle? Find out in this exhilarating first novel (and my second favorite book ever) by Christopher Rice.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't bother
Review: Quite possibly the worst book I have ever read. The material did not offend me, it was just disjointed and implausible. I finished it suprisingly, mostly to see if it got better. It is obvious why this got published. Give it a miss, or if you ar just too curious, check it out from the library
Rating: 
Summary: Rape, murder, sex...yes, it's Rice family values time again!
Review: Holy Bourbon Street, Batman, we're not in Gotham City (or Kansas, for that matter) anymore! Nope, "A Density of Souls" is DEFINITELY set in lush, class-conscious, decadent, rat-infested, decaying, water-logged, tragic, unnatural, thin-veneer-of-civilization New Orleans, and its author is definitely a son of Anne Rice! Murder (!), suicide (!), incest (!), great-looking people (!) (mainly boys!), repressed desires (!), deep dark secrets (!), sex (usually violent, usually forbidden!), alcoholism (!), horrible deaths (!), horrible lives (!), stereotyped characters (!), gothic (even ludicrous) plot twists (!), religious (Roman Catholic, of course) imagery galore (!), a trip to Europe (!), art (!), madness (!), and all topped off by a massive hurricane with the bodies of dead people and rats floating through the streets (!). My god, did Anne Rice dictate this novel to her son, or does this stuff just run genetically in the Rice family? (Maybe now that scientists have begun to unravel the human genome, they can take some blood samples or something and actually find out!).Anyway...despite my previous paragraph, this novel actually is not ALL bad. If nothing else, it takes on some serious, important, even ambitious themes. Most important, I would say, is the whole issue of male sexuality and identity, and specifically homosexuality/homophobia, which in our ever-tolerant, easy-going society (NOT!) must be repressed at all costs... And also how (as research has shown) the most homophobic people are usually the ones most obsessed with their own "issues" of repressed homosexuality. Besides that, I would also add that Christopher Rice is not just trading on his mother's name or his looks, but definitely has a good deal of his own talent. Some of his descriptions and psychological insights are very well done, and he certainly has a lot of energy! "A Density of Souls," despite its many flaws, is still a fairly promising first novel. One can only hope that Christopher Rice's writing will become less frenzied, less heavy-handed, less soap opera-ish, and - basically -- less like his MOTHER'S as his career progresses (alternatively, he could just continue the family tradition and start cranking out vampire, witch, and mummy books!).
Rating:
Summary: My apologies to a brilliant new author!!
Review: I adore Anne Rice. Indeed, she is probably my favorite author. So when I heard her son had written a book, there was no question that I'd buy it. I was also prepared to like it regardless, because it would seem somehow disloyal to her to not appreciate her child's work. How shallow that was of me!! By the time I reached the middle of the third page of A Density of Souls, I had forgotten that the author had a famous mother, or that the book happened to be set in the same city where vampires and witches roam in other novels. I was totally ensconced in the world of New Orleans with four children, riding their bicycles through the humid, iron laced decadence that is the Garden District. Stephen, Meredith, Brandon, Greg and the other characters of this book became my constant companions for the next few hours. I read while they grew, loved, hated and lived through what could very well be a true story. I think that the scariest stories of all are about the true feelings of people. In this book it shows, in all its ghastly truth, how one line uttered by one individual can change another person's destiny and life. I don't beleive that there isn't a time that any of us haven't tried to grasp what we think will be popularity or happiness at the expense of another individual. It's a nasty trait in all of us and this book shows how that kind of selfishness can effect, not just one, but several people. Christopher Rice has a great knack of showing off the story at different viewpoints. Whether it's a character you like, or one of the characters you don't care for, you get a glimpse of what they are all feeling and what is compelling them to do the things they do. Don't get me wrong, you have to be patient, as the flower will not bloom completely until the book is almost over. But you will get all the answers and, if not relate to the character, at least you will understand them and what their motivation is. A Density of Souls also happens to be a terrific mystery. It's not set up in the typical who-done-it formula. It's more an unveiling of emotions and actions that make for even more compelling reading. You grow with the characters, with society and within yourself as you read. I would definately recommend A Density of Souls. It's by a really terrific new author. Coincidentally, his last name happens to be Rice. Judge him all on his own....he's worth it!!!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent First Novel
Review: Great debut effort for Christopher Rice. I found the story mesmerizing and easy to digest with a number of plot twists. Some of the reviewers here really picked the book apart citing what they consider an implausible story and unbelievable characters. Yes, the story is a bit over-the-top (in a good way) but I didn't pick it up hoping for Tolstoy. The purpose of this novel is to entertain and that's exactly what it did for 275 pages.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Story, Bad writing
Review: This book has a good story, unfortunatly his writing style was hard to understand. He would be writing about a dream sequence and reality the next. You never fully understood where he was coming from. Other times he would not give enough detail to understand what was going on in the book. At one point there was a death that you whitnessed and while you knew a death happended you never fully understood what happened until the next chapter.
Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful book with a great story!!
Review: I really enjoyed Christopher Rice's first novel. I thought the story was great. I thought it started a little slow but after the first few pages the book off and it never looked backed. I am looking foward to his next book. Hope it comes out soon!!
Rating:
Summary: Open your heart and mind
Review: I was very impressed to see so many wonderful reviews A Density of Souls has received. I am an avid reader, yet lately I have been reading the same authors without much variation. I finally decided enough was enough, I needed a change. I cannot express how grateful I am to have come across this book in the book store. It was purely a chance happening, but one that will remain in my heart. This book touched me, deeply. I was extremely impressed, as it is Christopher Pike's first novel. I have told many people about the book and I am hopeful more people can have the opportunity to enjoy it as I did. I know many people will have a hard time with the homosexuality, not believing that such things happen, but the truth is that they do. In fact, a book like this is almost necessary in helping to open people's minds. Now let me make one point, I am not gay nor am I male (not that it would matter if I was.) I am a hederosexual female. Even though that shouldn't matter, I am hopeful other hederosexual's will read this review and understand that you do not have to be gay to enjoy it. It is a book about love, hate, cruelty, and most of all how to overcome great pain and challenges in one's life. I am avidly awaiting Christopher Rice's next novel, and someday I hope he receives great acclaim for writing with such passion on such a taboo subject.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Fascinating!
Review: It absolutely amazed me that a young writer could tackle such "taboo" subject matter with incredible truth and sincerety. New Orleans is a fascinating city with sultry history and Rice did an excellent job of describing its raw beauty and mystery. I sat down to read this book around 8pm and about eight hours later found myself in tears. The intensity and bitterness of all these intertwined relationships was overwhelming at times. One of the things that immediately pulled me in to the book is that Rice introduced the homosexual element in their childhood. You'll find no sugar coating in this book! Without giving too much of the book away, it brought tears to my eyes to discover their loses and pain along the way. Sexuality is a powerful subject and Rice brought into an enormous spotlight the fact that emotions and complications occur no matter our orientation. Denying our true self in the face of society is often our biggest downfall.
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