Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Rice is a brilliant writer, and her style and ideology is always brilliant, playfully convoluted, and alluring. So why was this book so lifeless and difficult to read? I struggled through the first part, as I have never done with any other contemporary novel (technical manuals, Middle English literature yes), and where was the payoff? At least when I struggled through Dante and The Canterbury Tales, I could at least brag about my accomplishment ;) I will view this book as an experiment and forget it ever happened.
Rating: 
Summary: just mediocre
Review: Since everybody else has discussed plot, I'm going to skip that. I have read all of the other books Anne Rice has written, and all I have to say about this book, is that for a character whose existence spanned thousands of years, the book is awfully short on details. This story would have been much more interesting if Anne Rice would have stretched it out into at least a couple of books (like Lasher and Taltos) that provided greater detail, insight, and more stories of the experiences Azriel encountered through the ages. Instead, she focused briefly on just a very few time periods and left out chunks of history that could have made for fascinating reading.
Rating: 
Summary: Patchy, flat, stale, turgid and shallow.
Review: The basic idea behind this book is not bad. The idea is, to tell the tale of a geni (as, in a bottle - or in this case a bone) from his own perspective, explaining not only how he came about but his experiences through the ages serving different masters. I haven't read "Interview with the Vampire" but this book seems to be a bit of a rehash in the sense that it's an interview with a geni instead of a vampire. So is the book actually any good? Well first, I'm convinced there were two authors to this book. The first half is execrable, it's gauche, awkward, campy, unintentionally funny in parts, with bad grammar and syntax and sketchily drawn, unbelievable characters with infantile mood swings. In short, it was penned by someone who simply can't write. Could it be that Anne Rice turned the first half of the book over to husband Stan, whose truly excruciating poetry appears here and there in the book? Then suddenly, at I think about Chapter 16, the prose deepens and requires rhythm, complexity, a richer vocabulary, and a reasonable degree of subtlety. It just couldn't be the same schmuck who wrote the first half! Unfortunately, the plot in the second half, which is the geni Azriel's experiences in modern America (as opposed to the first half which is his existence in ancient times) is just that tired old "evil genius out to destroy the world" cliche that we've all endured in countless Bond movies. It is Azriel's task, of course, to try and stop the madman. Will he succeed? Few will care by the end of the book, I certainly didn't. I haven't read an Anne Rice book before, if she wrote the second half then she certainly has technical skill, but the storyline is too lacking in originality and the whole thing is flat and one-dimensional. I might give Rice one more chance with "Interview with the Vampire" but if that's no good I will never bother reading one of her books again.
Rating: 
Summary: A must read..
Review: This book is absolutely my favorite out of all the Anne Rice books that I have read. I loved the history of Azriel's life, death, and development as a powerful angel of might. The ending might have been a little better, but on the whole this book is a must read. Anne Rice is a master story-teller.
Rating:
Summary: Third time is the Charm
Review: This book took me three tries to get into. Now, I cannot imagine not having read it. It has a rather slow start, the trek to the mountains of Jonathan, the 'narrator' of the story, following a highly publicized murder. Jonathan nearly dies, but is rescued by Azriel, who has sought him out to deliver his history as 'Servant of the Bones'. Azriel's tale is the key to the murder, and he wishes to divulge this information to a worthy recipient. The tale itself is one of Anne Rice's most fascinating yet. Azriel, a youth of Babylon, is chosen to be presented as an icon to his city. One catch, you must be painted in gold and die before you reach deity status. Azriel at first welcomes the chance to serve his Hebrew God, even though it means he must die to do so, but ultimately realizes the intent of this station is to do whatever evil bidding his master proclaims. Through the centuries he grows in power and wisdom, and overcomes the wrongdoing he is subjected to. In delivering his tale to Jonathan, and providing answers to the murder of Esther Belkin, Azriel hopes at last to redeem his soul for all of his 'crimes', by implicating his most dastardly 'master' in the plot he has conceived to take over the world in the present day. Although not as rich in history or as self-effacing as Rice's other protagonists, Azriel is an exciting character, and his story is wonderfully told in the pages of this book. The ending is timely, touching upon world terrorism in the mid 1990's, although a bit 'Hollywood' and commercial. However, this is one of Anne Rice's stronger recent works, and a very good read.
Rating:
Summary: Servant of the Bones -- A Masterpiece
Review: I've read some of the reviews on this book and I would have to say that I disagree strongly with the comments that state this is not one of Anne Rice's best. Some of the negative comments have centered around beliefs that the first 100 pages or so drag on. I disagree -- strongly. The first 100 pages are entertaining and become ever so enjoyable during the rest of the read. The first part of the book is absolutely essential and make for a very fun and quick read. I absolutely love the character "Azriel." This is a book that, once again, is written elegantly and has enough twists to keep you from putting the book down. I couldn't get enough of it. I want to see Azriel return in another book. All I can say is I've read many of Rice's works and this is BY FAR the most enjoyable book I've read. Read it -- you'll love it.
Rating:
Summary: Complete Twaddle!
Review: I'm sorry, but after wading through this, my first encounter with Ms. Rice, I don't think I'll bother with any more. It was like chewing cardboard. And what the hell was that 'Some Lamb' rubbish???
Rating: 
Summary: Azriel's Journey
Review: Imagine being handed over to the torture of being boiled in a cauldron of gold by your father. Azriel went through this in Anne Rice's The Servant of the Bones. This is a story told by the spirit from ancient Babylon. Azriel has been condemned to being the Servant of the Bones for all eternity. After defeating his strongest master, Gregory Belkin, Azriel goes to the mountain to find Johnathan, a college professor hiding from reality. Once he finds Johnathan, he insists on sharing his entire life story from before his horrible death , to his life with his two favorite masters Zurvan, and Samuel of Strasborough. He then tells in great detail how he defeated his strongest master, and became a free spirit. This book has a slow beginning, then it works it's way into a compelling story of one spirits fight to freedom. Anne Rice does a magnificent job bringing her spirits to life and telling details of their past, and present situations. I recommend this book to anyone who likes thrillers, suspense or even drama; there's a bit of each in this masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Azriel
Review: This book is actually a story about the Servant of the Bones named Azriel.What I like about this book is how it sort of preaches about our purpose here on earth which is to love and to learn.I think that Anne Rice was right about that.Anyway the book is a good read...I wouldn't call it one of Rice's worst but it is not one of her best either....
Rating:
Summary: don't read this book
Review: i love anne rice but this was such a bad book it was painful to turn the page.
|
