Rating: Summary: blood canticle Review: one of the best books she has written
Rating: Summary: Not Worth the Paper it's Printed on Review: I have read Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles in their entirity. Never before have I been so engrossed and constantly surprised by a writers style. Despite the fact a few of the later books in the series have been flawed in certain respects, never have I been totally dissatisfied - before now. The Blood Canticle from the first promises a great, strong story, but it doesn't deliver. I was forced to suffer not only the wooden Quinn but Mona, an equally two dimensional female character who wouldn't be thought credible in an episode of Buffy! The writer shows none of her previous depth of wordpower and characterisation. Lestat, the main character who we all thought had signed off in Memnoch The Devil, has returned in the worst possible way. What we are given at times seems to be a mimmick of the character we knew and loved. And to add to my displeasure, the enigma of Memnochs note is still not unravelled. This, unless we have a chance meeting with the author, will never be revealed! If this happens to be the first book in the series you plan to read then I will give you some words of advice. Firstly either sell or throw away The Blood Canticle and secondly read either Merrick or The Vampire Lestat first, as they very much epitomise Rice's style and, perhaps lost, passion. Seeing as I bought a 1st edition of her book I am planning on keeping it as some collector in a fit of madness may one day buy it for a sizeable price, if it wasn't I'd leave it to the dustman. I have rated this book one star, and is one star too many.
Rating: Summary: what happened?! Review: If I could, I'd give this book 2.5 stars, because it's really in between. On the one hand, Rice [I suppose] makes an effort [does she?] to make a modernized Lestat while still making it Lestat's voice, and I have to admit, I was pretty engaged towards the latter half of the book, not having read any of her other series regarding the Mayfairs. But, of course, on the other hand, Rice's writing has really gotten ridiculous, her dialogue and her language unnatural and forced in its attempt to sound modern, and her characters are just that -- characters. I really didn't feel any connection or sense of emotion towards them. I don't know what else to say except that if you're a Vampire Chronicles or Anne Rice fan, might as well get this one, but try to find a copy at discount. If you're new to Rice, read one of her earlier Vampire Chronicles, as they are much better.
Rating: Summary: I cried... Review: ... and not in a good way. The whole book was one long cringe from beginning to confused end. It felt like a really badly written Mayfair/Vampchron crossover spec with a bit of supernatural James Bond thrown in for the 'big climax'. I seriously cried at the end, because this IS the last of the Vampire Chronicles and I can not believe that one of the most beautiful, eloquent series of novels I have ever come across has ended in such a pathetic attempt at ...... well, I'm not sure WHAT it was an attempt at actually. Not worth any stars whatsoever, but Amazon demands minimum one. I am so disappointed. Merrick was bad, Blackwood Farm was OK but definatly not up to par ( Why bring Lestat or the Mayfairs in at all ? Why not bill it as one of the 'New Series' like 'Vittorio' ?) but Blood Canticle was a farce. What did we die-hard fans do to deserve THIS finale ?
Rating: Summary: Blackwood Farm Revisited Review: I've read each of Rice's books, save for the Sleeping Beauty Trilogy. If I didn't like her work I would have never done this. If Blood Canticle truly is the coda to the Vampire Chronicles (and, by implication, to the Mayfair Chronicles as well) then her audience has been rudely cheated. Rice can't live in a vacumn; surely she knew the Blackwood Farm setting was not the source of her greatest inspiration. The inhabitants of that dire old mansion are self-indulgant and silly to the point of farce. And their insipid nature all but nullifies the semi-high bearing of her finest creation: Lestat. I know this novel was, at best, written under the duress of grief for the loss of a spouse. The author would earn nothing but plaudits for simply taking up both Chronicles as if BC never happened, ala an Ira Levine like "it was all one long bad dream" and finishing each series in a way befitting the obvious merits of both. In the mean time nothing is left to me but her full foray into erotica to quell my taste for blood. "Mon Dieu!"
Rating: Summary: An absolutely wonderful book Review: Blood Canticle was the first book by Anne Rice that I had read. I immediately fell in loe with it and couldn't put it down once I had started it. Shortly After I finished it, I read the Vampire Lestat. Although there were some major changes in Lestat's personality, I still love Blood Canticle. I love how Lestat is talking directly to you, throughout the entire book. I have heard that this is going to be the last book in the Vampire Chronicles, and I am deeply saddened by it. There were many loose ends in Blood Canticle and that was one of the few things that I did not like about of the book. Hopefully, this will not be the last book in the series.
Rating: Summary: Please, this isn't the Last is it? Bring back the Old Lestat Review: I adore these books, I am in love with the works of Anne Rice! The movie Interview with the Vampire started me off and since I have read all the Vampire Chronicle books, the New Vampire Chronicles, several of her single works and am now just beginning to read The Mayfair Witches. *In French Accent* "Lestat, Je Vous Adore!" I was SOOO incredibly happy when I first found that Lestat would again be narrating a book. I caught up with the Vampire Chronicles in time for the release of Merrick and have since been waiting through Blood and Gold and Blackwood Farm (very good read this one!) for a book by our beloved Brat Prince. So, what happened? I give this book a four star rating simply because Lestat is back full-time in his superb supernatural body. But what happened to him while he was gone? This is not the Lestat I remember! Where is the irreverence? Devil-may-care attitude? Strength of character? To me, Lestat still seems to be quaking from his, er, "experience" with Memnoch. He's disorganized, scattered about like the remains of some of his more evil victims. He's too, I don't know, sedate here! What happened to our party boy? And where, oh where, is the beautiful Louis??? After Merrick sacrificed herself you would think that our poor Louis would still have some issues to resolve! AND WHAT ABOUT THE TALAMASCA??? What happened to their threats? Lestat has taken yet another of the Mayfair family, why aren't the Talamasca still after him? They were threatening anhilation! Did they suddenly forget about Lestat altogether? Impossible! And hey, I want to know who these elders are who are behind the whole organization, secret, ancient cult thing! THIS CANNOT BE THE END!!! IT SIMPLY CANNOT BE!!! SOOO many unanswered questions! Plus, the ancient of the Vampires warned Lestat not to make any new members, he's done it again though, what about their reaction? Not much happens altogether really. Mona becomes a vampire, she cries a lot, runs away, comes back, runs away again, cries some more, acts childish, then turns into an old woman. Michael and Rowan are both rather insane, Quinn seems to be the only voice of reason. Lestat is not back on his game yet, I want the old Lestat!!! I mean, I love that he only preys on criminals but he needn't be a complete saint about it! Why does he eternally behave so sorrowfully? Can't he see that he's doing humanity a favor now? The only interesting part about this book was the Taltos and their private island, other than that, it was just a big whine-fest between Lestat, Mona and Julien. Why is Lestat so bothered by a ghost? He did the best thing he could for Mona, tell Julien that he isn't the omnicient master of the clan and GET OVER IT!!! I really hope Anne Rice has more in store for us, I mean, I can understand that with the death of her husband (my most sincerest of sympathies Mrs. Rice) she is likely having a hard time putting her best into a novel. But please, I hope her gift comes back soon and we are able to find out more about our Eternally Beloved Brat Prince and all the other Children of Darkness/Dwellers of the Savage Garden that we have come to know and love so dearly and the Society who keep watch over ALL.
Rating: Summary: A Fantasy Come True for Avid Anne Rice Fans Review: I just finished reading "Blood Canticle." I thoroughly enjoyed it. It brought together so many of my favorite Anne Rice characters and mythos (Is that singular or plural?)
"Blood Canticle" is definitely written for die-hard Anne Rice fans. It would be difficult to fully understand or appreciate if the reader has not been exposed to the referenced tales before (Blackwood Farm, Queen of the Damned, the Mayfair trilogy, Merrick, etc.) IF you loved those books, though, you will love "Blood Canticle."
And last...for those of you who were "offended" because Lestat implied that people who did not understand "Memnoch" were unable or unwilling to...I quite agree with Lestat. I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Rice at a book-signing for "Memnoch" that I thought it was one of her best books ever. I stand by that statement today. The theology is high-brow but...hey...there's more to Anne's vampires than just chomping necks.
:)
Rating: Summary: In Agreement With the Rest of the Disappointed... Review: I have usually disagreed with poor reviews of Rice's books. I have always enjoyed the stories, I do not expect every one of them to be as memorable as the first ones. But Blood Canticle is truly an exception. Yes, it was nice to see the next part of the story unfold, nice to see Rowan, Lestat, and others. But the language in this book is almost hard to accept as that of Rice, much less the words of Lestat. It sounds nothing like that of her previous novels. While Lestat does mention his trying to use more modern language, we would expect him to at least sound like the thoughtful cynic that he is, and he sounds like a compltetely different character in this book. Most Lestat fans love him for the way his words flow out so beautifully. So, yes, the book may be a necessary read in order to keep up with your beloved characters, but don't expect to enjoy this as much as some of her earlier novels.
Rating: Summary: Thank you Anne Rice Review: Dear Ann
I read the reviews of you latest book and can't wait to read it. I love the character Lestat. My nephew Michael stole your works from me, because he doesn't think I should be following such things being a Christian. God only knows what he did with them, may he be judge. Again thank you for your very talented work. All the best to you. Peace and Love
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