Rating: 
Summary: True Dreck -- if only 0 stars . . .
Review: As literature, this book could not have less merit. It has, however, taught me to be utterly skeptical of positive feedback from Amazon customers, and that talent has nothing whatsoever to do with getting published. Even if Christopher Rice ever does become a true writer (which could not be more unlikely), he could never look back and be more ashamed of writing this dreck than I am of having bought and read it.
Rating: 
Summary: A Really Great Book
Review: Being tormented and frightened all through High school is something everyone has gone through, and the added fact of being gay is another thing that a teen is scared of others finding out, though many people don't/ have not been tormented you can relate to being scared of someone in high school.
One thing that Stephen Conlin didn't get to do is have friends that understand him, that wasn't a teacher. I love this book because I admire the way Christopher Rice ties every chapter together using an event in the previous chapter. After thinking about it for a long time, I have come to the conclusion that even though this book takes place in the 90's its content can be related to the Holocaust. Brandon and Greg are the [...], while Meredith is the group that neglects the Jewish and other afflicted races, and Stephen is of course the afflicted, and the homosexuals that were also killed in the Holocaust. I thought of this because Brandon and Greg torment Stephen through high school, and every waking moment of his life until graduation. After Greg dies Brandon Joins the Army of God and he and the group conspire to rid New Orleans and possibly the Country of homosexuals, [...]
Rating: 
Summary: A Promising First Novel
Review: Christopher Rice's first book, A Density of Souls, is fast paced and exciting, with lots of twists and intracacies. It follows the lives of four people, Meredith, Stephen, Greg, and Brandon, and the paths they take which pull them apart upon entering high school: Greg and Brandon becoming part of the popular crowd, as does Meredith, Greg's girlfriend. Stephen drifts away from them, labeled..., he is a constant source of amusement and a target for cruelty and humiliation. Rice isn't afraid to approach a very controversial topic in today's society: homosexuality and homophobia, which seems to be deeprooted in many who are internally concerned that they too, might be different. I wouldn't be put off by this content though, cos the book is more about the relationships between the characters and the events that one by one push them over the edge. While the plot and characters can be a little hard to follow at times, Christopher Rice shows a lot of talent and promise, writing a fresh, enjoyable book that will keep you turning the pages. I think if he continues to progress and mature, he'll be recognized on his own merit, and step out of his mother's shadow.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth the read but...
Review: He's got talent, there's no denying it. Parts of DENSITY have brilliance, reminiscent of Anne - and how could we expect anything less?
But go in knowing that like Anne - his editor, friends, whomever he has read pre-publication, these people did not tell him he could do without one third of the manuscript. It's over written. In parts choppy, with short jumps from scene to scene. His transisitons need work. But his prose is marvelous.
Therein lies his talent.
I loved the intricate, heavy story. It was awesome. I've been to New Orleans because of writers like him who do such a fabulous job at describing the place! I could see every setting perfectly.
And he captures the angsts of imperfections in souls well. The way they effect our lives, stay with us, touch the lives of everyone around us - great stuff.
I will probably read another book but hope Chris gets some better feedback B4 publishing his works so that his work is trim, tight and perfect.
Rating:
Summary: The First Novel to Make Me Say WOW in a Long Time!!!
Review: I finally talked myself into buying a copy of "A Density of Souls" this morning. I was planning on it being a typical gay coming of age story with all the cliques and stereotypes--boy was I wrong. I started reading the novel at 2:30p.m. and was done later that evening. I truely could not put it down. The world that Christopher Rice created captured me and refused to let me go.His descriptions were vivid, to the point, and contained examples of witty humor which brought characters and places to life. The work was realist and believable. Topics were neither sugar-coated nor overly exploided. The novel opened us up to views that we would often overlook on our own. Character behavior
and development was explained by examples of family life and past experiances of characters. This novel brought joy, saddness, arousal, and anger too me all in a matter of hours. This may not be the book that you are expecting, but it is amazing and I would encourage everyone to read it.
Rating:
Summary: An Unexpected Dark Treat....
Review: I have been hesitant to recommend this book to friends because of it's sexual content and that's really a shame. It's something I've decided to get over because this book is just awesome. I personally have never read such a wonderful, complex and beautifully written 'murder mystery' before. The characters are so well developed and so true to "High School" life it can make you cringe inside. I picked this book up on a whim at the library, not knowing what to expect at all and am so glad I did. Christopher Rice has a wonderful way with words and I can't wait to read his second novel.
Just read the first chapter and then see if you can stop. I sure couldn't.
Rating:
Summary: A point of view
Review: I LOVED this book. I was in a bookstore one day, browsing the Anne Rice novels. I am a HUGE fan of vampire fiction. I noticed a book called A Density of Souls by Christopher Rice, whom i knew to be her son because i'd watched a documentary on her life several months before. So i bought it on a whim, thinking it would be similar to Anne Rice's work. Boy was i wrong. I sat down, in the midst of a party going on around me, and read the entire thing in one night. I could not put it down. I was wonderfully written. It was captivating really. I truly felt for these characters, despite not being gay myself. I really love this book and own it. I recommend it to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Great Debut Novel
Review: I read this book about 3 years ago so I am in no condition to summarize accuratly but I have to say this is one of the best written books I have read. While the subject matter is controversial and at times the author can be a bit vulguar the story is so intense and riviting I could not put it down.
How things change when we get a bit older. Friends from our younger years who we shared such fond memories become strangers to us as we grow up and enter high school. This is what happens to the characters in this book. Kids who experienced intense relationships as children become strangers, even enemies in their adolesence, as each attempts to discover who he\she is.
This author has an incredible way of bringing his characters to life, and deeply develops each character. This book deals with high school popularity, homophobia, depression, rage and family secrets. I suggest this book to an older reader with an open mind, as some of the subject matter may not be appropriate for younger teens.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: This is a great book! Once I started reading it, I was hooked until the end. This guy needs a round of applause for writing such a great book his first time around. I can't wait to read his second novel, The Snow Garden!
Rating:
Summary: Decent Debut with a Good Story
Review: This story is interesting and very well worked out, while the author's english and writing skill leaves something to be desired. The publisher most likely relied on Christopher's last name to sell novels (and was write in coounting on it) but there are minor fixes that needed to be made before the story was published. Christopher has proven that he has a remarkable imagination, as his mother has, and can weave a good story. While the ending may be shocking to some, I believe this is what the author was going for, to shock, make the reader think and begin a discussion.
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