Vittorio, the Vampire

Rating:
Summary: What An Ending Madame Rice!!!
Review: I found "Vittorio" to be sort of a short story. I was never touched by his suffering, and his falling for Ursula was somewhat rushed. Well, there's also some other things I enjoyed about this book. First off, a new installment that has nothing or very little to do with her previous vampire tales. Her introcuction to "Angels" comes as a great surprise, (I know "Memnoch" was a fallen angel, but in "Vittorio" Madame Rice deals with them in a completely new light) As I said before, this is a book you may read in one day, not because it's that interesting, but because of its length. If you happen to be reading this comment, and had a chance to read the book too, tell me: ¿Did you understand how Vittorio came to servive being crucified upside down? Anne never explains how or who helped him escape "The court of the holy grail" Well, it's definitely not one of her best books, but it sure has one of the best endings, (ironic, isn't it?) Yes, this time Madame Rice touched my heart and made me understand a little more the wonder of being alive! Don't take me wrong, this is not a mixed opinion, it's just that the book is kind of a strange ride, but all in all read it. Especially if you're a die-hard fan. Madame Rice, God bless you for your unending talent.

Rating:
Summary: Vittorio the Bore
Review: This is the worst book in either of Anne Rice's two vampire series of books. In each of the other books the reader had reason to care about the main character. Vittorio drones on with his story of becoming a vampire to the point of boredom. In each of Anne Rice's other vampire books there is always some hint of what is happening with the other vampires in the series. Here Vittorio starts out stating that he has no connection to these others and the reader will not be enlightened as to them. What follows is a tale with just that - no connections to the previouse tales - including how vampires are made. This vampire seems to exist in another universe of vampires. There is nothing alluring about him. There is no excitement or mystery about him. One begins to think that someone other than Anne Rice wrote this book. Sadly, Vittorio is a great disappointment.

Rating:
Summary: A gentle version of a continental vampire
Review: Anne Rice, has truly woven a tale of vampires distinctively different from Lestat and Armand. Anne Rice captivated an audience with her talent as a storyteller in Interview of a Vampire. With Vittorio she mesmerizes her audience with her talent as a storyweaver. With meticulous detail to the art and artists of Florence, she paints characters and settings that become intriguing and enigmatic. Unlike the other vampires, we have come to know through her works, Vittorio evokes empathy from us rather than sympathy. He must choose between his passion and his soul. As any youth crossing the threshold of maturity, he is seduced by his passions. Because he stands at the threshold of maturity, when he succumbs to his passions, he enters into the abyss of darkness rather than the realm of light. He is given the choice between the Ivory Tower and the Sacred Fount. He chooses the latter and thus begins his eternal conflict. Vittorio may not have the action that readers have come to know and anticipate, but Vittorio shows Ann Rice's mature control of style. She uses diction as vehicles of artistic expression and creates a portrait of a vampire whose passion for art becomes his demise.

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Summary: A boring history of Florence
Review: Boy, did this one bite. Hoping that Rice's newest would be in the Tale of the Body Thief category, or quality, or that she found something else interesting to say, all I found was detailed Florentine history, of which I had my fill in Western Civ. classes. And the Satanic rituals outlined go completely against Lestat's philosophical apologies in previous novels. A book chronicling the history of Sesame Street's "the Count" (ah, ah, ah... one, one more Rice novel that was no good) would be better than this drivel.

Rating:
Summary: Too much detail not enough action!
Review: Unfortunately, I like to read about characters and actions not long descriptives narratives about music, archecture, clothing, and soul searching. I miss Ms. Rice's Lestat-type writing style. It was witty, fast moving, and action packed. Her new books are a real disappointment.

Rating:
Summary: A Book You Can Really Get Into
Review: I found this book to be extremly intriguing. I didn't want to put it down. I would've of read the whole book in a day if I didn't have other obligations. This is a must read for all of her Vampire Chronicles fans.

Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: she did it again. i could not put the book down. at first i was upset that this was not going to be a book of my favorite vampires:armand, lestat, and louis, but i thought i would give it a chance. i'm glad i did because now vittorio has been put on my list with the other wonderful vampires. i hope she keeps on coming up with characters like this every time she picks up the pen and starts writing a new book. vittorio is unlike lestat and the rest. he's different and turns the whole chronicles into something entirely new. superb book.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, descriptively wonderful!
Review: I've enjoyed all of Anne Rice's novels and this one is definitely worth reading. The wonderful descriptions of Italy and the character of Vittorio leaves you pained by his circumstances of family honour, being a saviour/redeemer and in the end succumbs to his passion for an immortal woman. The granduer and horrors of the Court of the Ruby Grail was quite unique compared to the other Vampire Books. However, I was mystified by the ending...it left me no closure and a little puzzled.

Rating:
Summary: An amazing book... very timely
Review: OK, I'll attempt another review. I'll try to be a little more constructive than "This was boring" or "It wasn't like Lestat or Interview" Duhhh! The fact that it is different than her other novels is a GOOD thing. This is a beautiful and complete work. The plot is thoroughly engaging, and (much more importantly) the messages and moral debates raised in the book can make us think about our own world and our very human condition. Despite what others have written, Vittorio is one of the most completely fleshed out characters Rice has EVER created.....and his tale is a complete one. I read the novel and loved it. Then a week later, I read the story aloud to friends while taking a very long road trip. I loved it even more the second time and could bearly read the final chapter aloud because the emotions and message of the novel were so overwhelming. My friends kept pressing me: "Read another chapter and another....this is so amazing!!!" (hey everybody, try Rice on audio readings....especially Pandora) Also, after reading the novel....I came across a protester outside the post office speaking out against the bombings in Yugoslovia. I thought: "how can we not stop short of war against these soulless monsters?" Then I recalled how Vittorro thought his enemies soulless monsters and the price he paid to learn the truth. This is the power of this novel and many of Rices work. They help us know.. or SEEK to know...about ourselves and what it is to be a human being... if we take the time to think. I, for one, believe Rice's novels have been getting BETTER, richer, and more thought provoking.

Rating:
Summary: Seems like a basis for a new cottage industry
Review: This book read like a work-in-progress. As if a deadline had to be made and "something" had to be delivered. So little happens here that it seems Rice is setting us up for a series of Vittorio books. Contrary to what other people have thought the parts about Fra Filippo were the most interesting. And of course they were true as Rice tries to impress us with her bibliography. But at least she didn't resort to the soft-porn of Cry of Heaven.