Rating: 
Summary: Fame By Association
Review: Okay, let's get this straight -- just because he's Anne Rice's son AND he's gay, he gets to be on the cover of The Advocate. Not only that, but he gets a publishing deal too? Woah, was I born into the wrong family or what? If my mom was someone famous, I'd be able to pass off a terrible novel like this too!
Rating:
Summary: Buy something else
Review: Yes, it's easy to turn your high school diary into a novel, isn't it. Unfortuately, the author doesn't shed any inight on his position in this thinly veiled autobiography which takes his real life and then distorts it with, oh, a rape here, some sex there, gothic this, gothic that, blah blah blah. Read "Mysterious Skin" by Scott Heim; pick up "Dream Boy" by Jim Grimsley; or, try "A Boy's Own Story" by Edmund White. There are some EXCELLENT books out there about young gay men and their struggles. "A Destiny of Souls" is not one of these excellent books.
Rating:
Summary: INCOHERANT
Review: I had to stop reading the book about 3/4 the way through because it was just a jumble of words. I was looking forward to this book for a long time, but I am truly disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Good first book
Review: As a first novel, this book was a difficult write. Mulitple points of view, especially in each chapter can easily become confusing if not well done. Christopher handled this task well. The obvious problems with this book were several grammatical mistakes and typographical errors which slipped though the editing process. The obvious strength was the description of settings and characters. Even though I've never visited that locale, I felt as though I was seeing the people and their surroundings as I read. Christopher captured the experience of a gay youth dealing with prejudice and open hatred quite well. Although the emotions are general to humanity, the nuances specific to that experience might be overlooked by a non-gay person without the emotional descriptions provided throughout the book. They were appropriate and well written, based on my experience. I'm looking forward to reading Christopher's next offering.
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing Dense About Density!
Review: Lucky enough to get my hands on an advanced copy of Christopher Rice's first novel, I couldn't wait for it to be released so I could share my thoughts with upcoming readers. Rice starts out a little too poetic, and I feared he was forever trapped in the footsteps of his mother. Anne's work is beatifully written, but often too absorbed in its detail and straying from plot. Chris gives all that up quickly and dives deep into the souls of his characters, giving them life and meaning. I had to stop several times and reread a page just because it touched me so deeply. You feel every second of his youthful characters' rage, gripping the book tightly in your hands and holding your breath. The high school popularity, the homophobia, the family secrets, the madness and rage...there is something that will tease you and make you stop reading for just a second and think of your own life and your experiences. If you don't cry, if you get mad and throw the book down, or even if you don't hold your breath and rush to finish just one more page, then you will never experience the "soul" of this book. It is truly amazing, and one of the best books I have ever read from any new author. Forget for one moment who his mom is and what she has written; listen to Christopher and the story he has to tell. You will be amazed!
Rating:
Summary: AMAZING!
Review: this is the most amazing, hypnotising and emotional book i have read. ever! i started it in the afternoon and stayed up all night to read and i literally couldn't put it down. the characters were so real i could practically reach out and touch them. anyone who has ever lost friendship, been rejected by people who barely know you, or felt different will relate to the emotions and events in this book. coming to the dinner table i had been so absorbed that i couldn't understand why everyone was acting so normally, i wanted to know why they weren't as upset by the events as i was! i laughed, i cried, i wanted to reach out, wrap stephen in a hug and take his pain away... everyone should read this book. for understanding, for help or for a connection to a world that you existed and that never knew was universal. As stephen finds out: being a 'freak', you have a deeper understanding and connection to the world and people.
Rating:
Summary: You can't put this one down!
Review: i could not put this book down. Christopher Rice's debut novelis full of twists and turns that makes the reader turn each page in anticipation of the next shocking event. "A Density of Souls" is shocking, sexy, romantic, violent, scandalous, and mysterious. It has the makings of an excellent feature film and keeps the reader glued to the page until its scandalous and shocking ending. Buy this book today!
Rating:
Summary: This is a great first book!
Review: What a great book. I could not put it down. A great first book for Mr. Rice. He has his mom's writing styles and ability to capture the feel and emotions of people, places, things. Keep up the good work.
Rating:
Summary: Haunting and captivating...
Review: Christopher Rice has written a bold and dark novel that explores the depths of a person's soul. Stephen Conlin, Greg Darby, Brandon Charbonnet and Meredith Ducote share a bond that has been laid open before us in haunting detail. This is Christopher's first novel and I cannot wait to see how his talent grows with future works. Most expect him to live up to his mother's reputation but I believe that he will follow his own path of brilliance. I applaud his first novel and anticipate his future works. If you enjoy reading a story that surrounds you and takes you into it's soul than I highly recommend this novel.
Rating:
Summary: A story so compelling, so real... so easy to relate!
Review: It is rare to find a novel which so seamlessly integrates the trials and tribulations of a homosexual protagonist with an incredibly well-written story, well-defined characters, and a setting at once foreign yet strikingly familiar. The ability to relate with Stephen, regardless of the reader's sexual orientation, is by far Christopher's paramount achievement. Who hasn't faced social difficulties, admired others from a distance, or questioned their own worth in the eyes of others? Who hasn't lost friends to the purely political demands of society-at-large or suffered from twists of fate that leave you stunned and gasping for breath in a single cruel instant? Written with an intensity lacking in many mainstream publications, "A Density of Souls" combines an intuitive insight into the motivations and machinations of human character with a truly compelling storytelling pace which leaves the reader breathless with anticipation between the turning of one page to the next. Masterfully conceived, powerfully written, and remarkably presented, "A Density of Souls" is sure to earn a cherished spot on any reader's bookshelf!
| 
