Rating: Summary: Well...it had lots of promise but it didn't deliver Review: I just read all the Amazon on-line reviews and was surpised to see the extremes in opinions. I own all of Anne Rices' novels and I eagerly await each new one. I expected to "fall into" this novel as I have with so many of her other novels. But, unfortunately, I found myself skimming to see what would happen next rather than savoring the prose and plot development. I agree with other reviewers that characters were "out of character" and what was going on with Lestat?????!!!!
Rating: Summary: Elementary Review: Being a big fan of Ms. Rice's work, I was somewhat discouraged by this work. She has done an exceptional job in the past with her other works, but this one was weak. For quite a time I thought she would be a legend in the literary field. Her older works I would rate up there with the works of JRR Tolkien, Dr Jeff McNair, and CS Lewis. But this one missed the mark. Hopefully this is just a stumble
Rating: Summary: Not yet finished, but.... Review: Unless she blows it in the last chapter (as she did in Memnoch), it's looking like Anne is back.However, I have a serious gripe with her publisher: Is there not ONE copyeditor or proofreader in the entire PUBLISHING HOUSE who knows the difference between an egg YOLK and an ox or dress YOKE? Driving me batty, that one is.....and it's EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy. Anyway, Anne herself seems to be back. And, as for those reviewers who would impose 1998's moral standards on even works of FICTION about 'child sex'--I'm glad, thoroughly thankful, that these people aren't in charge of libraries. Get beyond it, people. It happened--all over the world. It's history. Ergo, it's acceptable fodder for the fiction writer. And, it's such a SMALL part of the book, it seems odd that one would obsess over it. So far, a worthier read than the last few books. Best since "Tale of the Body Thief."
Rating: Summary: ENLIGHTENING & JOYOUS ENDING! Review: I WAS VERY EXCITED TO HEAR THAT ANNE RICE WAS GOING TO GIVE THE VAMPIRE, ARMAND HIS OWN NOVEL. I READ IT FROM COVER TO COVER AND MUST SAY THIS HAS TO BE JUST A NOTCH BELOW THE VAMPIRE LESTATE-CHRONICLES II. DON'T GET ME WRONG ITS EXCELLENT, AS IT DEALS MORE IN DEPTH THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ARMAND AND MARIUS, WHICH IS OF COURSE MENTIONED IN THE VAMPIRE LESTAT. MY FAVORITE PART OF THIS BOOK, PART III APPASSIONATE. WHICH TELLS US MORE ABOUT ARMAND AND HIS INNER DEMONS, REGARDING THE VEIL. THE LAST PAGE AND A HALF WAS A JOYOUS EVENT. I LOVED IT! OF THE SEVEN BOOKS IN THE VAMPIRE CHRONICLES THIS BOOK RANKS SECOND ON MY LIST.
Rating: Summary: Another classic! Review: Anne Rice continually astounds me. Since the first book I read, Cry to Heaven, which still remains tied for my favorite with "The Witching Hour," each of her novels has at the very least grabbed my attention and challenged my intellect; also being a published writer has made me green with envy. The Vampire Armand is quite simply BRILLIANT. What's very different about this installment of the Vampire Chronicles is the sensual element of the relationship between Armand and Marius. The very concise and articulate telling of the emotional involvement between these two is one of the most intensely revealing I've read, even more so because both characters were familiar to me for years. In regard to statements that the story is historically inaccurate, someone needs to hit their history books again. And, the assertion that Anne Rice has hit the "sex with children is GOOD" bandwagon is ludicrous seeing that in Venise, (and everywhere else in Europe for that matter) in the time the questionable relationship takes place, people were oft times married as early as twelve. Also it would be hard not to induldge in pederasty when one is centuries old. Anne Rice has, in my opinion, written an installment of the Vampire Chronicles that rivals "Interview with the Vampire" and "The Vampire Lestat."
Rating: Summary: Almost a disappointment. Review: I have loved almost everything Anne Rice has written in the past, but this book needs something more than sex. It is amazing how much homosexual activity she has packed into just the first 200 pages. It seems like she is focusing more on this part of Armand's life rather than anything else. But, if you look past that, the story is very good. Parts of the book are enthralling and impossible to put down. Fortunately those parts are often enough to make the book somewhat enjoyable. I advise picking up CRY TO HEAVEN first. Not only is it a better read, but it will prepare you for this book. I recommend this book to those with an open mind. Overall, though, it is a pretty good book.
Rating: Summary: It was a good 'Vampire' book, but not a mind-blower Review: In 'Interview', Anne blows your mind with something completely new: a vampire story from the vampire's POV. In 'Lestat', she once again blows your mind with a book which swallows 'Interview' whole and engulfs it. Both were revelations, wholly new works to me, unlike anything else. But since then, each Vampire book has seemed like a weak sequel. 'Body Thief' was 'Freaky Friday' with vampires; 'Memnoch' is an old story with a new paint job -- Dante, Goethe, etc. Nothing truly new; nothing mindblowing. Yet ... I liked 'Armand' anyway. It was good. Better than the other 'sequels'. There were new things *in* it, I felt. I would recommend this novel, even if you haven't liked the other 'sequels'. Note however that it is flawed: there were times where I asked myself, "This is the same Armand we've known in these novels for years? This is the same guy?" Another Amazon.com reviewer found his experiments with Claudia to be completely out of character and jarring: I had the exact same reaction. What was up with *that* Anne? But .. despite the criticism, you'll note I keep reading & buying these novels, so I must like them :> And that I liked 'Armand' better than the others, though it didn't completely open the heavens for me as the first two in the series did. Keep trying, Anne! This was much nearer the mark than the books in between ... perhaps the next one will be yet another one of your books which engulfs all its predecessors, repalletizing eveything which has gone before and which is subsequent to it.
Rating: Summary: This Book is Fantastic Review: This book brought back the real focus of the Vampire series,Vampires. Not the brat prince which I quite frankly was getting quite sick of. I new there were other vampires with interesting beginings just as Louis and Lestat. I am still waiting to hear more of Pandora , Santino, Maherat,Gabrielle,just to name a few I hope this new book puts Ms. Rice back on the path .It was starting to seem like Lestat and the hardy boys mystery. Good job Anne I can hardly wait for the next chronicle.
Rating: Summary: Masterpiece! Review: Like one of the other reviewers, I'll make this short and sweet. This book can be summed up in 3 words...Fab-U-Lous! Keep up the good work!
Rating: Summary: the best of the best Review: I just have to say that being an avid reader of Anne Rice is always surprising. I never thought a tale could swallow the readers imagination as fully as this book does. I have read the other tales in the vampire chronicles and must say this is one of the best she has written. I fell in love with Lestat, but am obsessed with Armand. Not only has Anne Rice been able to ressurrect the past, but also the present in so much detail. Armands story is both mortal and immortal, giving him more emotion then I though he was capable of having. Armand is strong, lovable, wise, old and imperfect. All the things in a perfect, harmonious balance that cant be found in the other characters. This is by far the best of the best for Anne Rice. I hope she continues to pleasanlty surprise her readers and fans with more novels of this calaber.
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