Rating: Summary: Sorry, But Not This Time Review: Okay no offense, Strieber can write. His creative genious is envious. But this book really sunk. The sequel to this book was really much better. This one left me confused and wanting backstory like crazy. I was only able to understand what happened in THIS one because I read the sequel FIRST. Although, if you want to spend time inside the mad, self-righteous mind of the vampire Miriam Blaylock (I highly recommend it!) you'll be fascinated and horrified all at once. She's the kind of villain you'll love to hate, and she makes Lestat look like a sweet angel by comparison. -LV
Rating: Summary: BLACK BEAUTY Review: Okay, I've reviewed this book at Amazon before, but having read Steve's comments, I'll have to review it again. I, too, read The Hunger when I was fourteen. I, too, found my life shaped by the tale of Miriam and her sad, lonely existence. I, too, dress in black. I treasure the year in which I read this book (1995). And I cried when I read the final pages. So many emotions were packed into that ending, I felt gutted. Whitley Strieber, you've created a masterpiece. Let's hope the publishers cotton on that this tome is, in fact, a cult classic and give it another print run.
Rating: Summary: A classic of modern literature Review: Such a pity this book's out of print. It's a literary masterpiece. It tells the haunting, tragic story of vampiric Miriam and her search for eternal love. Not just a graphic horror novel, but an intriguing sci-fi and a beautiful romance. The ending is at once horrifying, lovely, and heartbreakingly sad. Read this book!!!!
Rating: Summary: Suspenseful and Mesmerizing Review: The Hunger is a mesmerizing tale of a Vampire that has existed for thousands of years. Miriam Blaylock's thirst of the Hunger and the love of suitable companion is largely what drives her through the centuries. She offers her chosen mate immortality, and all of the powers that come with the transfusion of her blood. What her mates do not know is that they are not truly immortal, but will last only several centuries. After that they will age extremely fast and although they cannot die, they will suffer in a coma like state until the end of time; a horrible existence. Mariam is now preparing for a new companion; a doctor who has been doing research on the aging process. Things begin to get complicated and Mariam's life is in jeopardy. This is a very well written book and captures both you attention and imagination. While Mariam is considered evil, it's hard not to cheer for her cause. The writing style is fast paced with alot of suspense and danger. As with many of the vampire novels available, this one also has it's own rules for Vampires with regard to their powers, strengths, and limitations. Vampire and horror readers should not pass this one up.
Rating: Summary: Makes a wonderful coaster! Review: The reviews beneath this one are a joke. I believe Whitley Strieber must have paid off his alien abductors to possess people to write such glowing reviews. Srieber himself and everything about him, all his alien books, this book, a joke. I read this book because of all of the glowing reviews given to it, applauding its dark, seductive energy and whatnot. Upon finishing this truly immature book that astonishly lacks depth, I have to wonder, those who proclaimed this book a classic, I fear what other books they have read in their lifetime that this one would get such accolades. The plot is shallow, there was not a single twist that I did not see coming a mile away, the character Miriam is deplorably shallow, a walking Lestat-cliche (despite the release date, I know). Her silly passions and quirks are the fascinations of 7th grade creative writing students, and geez, the USA Channel TV series "The Highlander" did better history flashbacks than this. Even the other person who gave this book one star did so because they said it was sick. Hardly. It tries pretentiously to shock, but it flops at that too. This might have impressed me if I was a sixth-grader, cracking my first volume of Keats' poetry and taking my first trip to "Rocky Horror Picture Show," but, I am not 11 anymore, and unless you are, or have the mentality of one, I advise you to stay away from this book. To finish this review on a positive note, it makes a darn fine coaster.
Rating: Summary: My Personal Favorite Review: This book changed my life. More like, defined it. I was introduced to it when I was 14, and was completely amazed by it. Miriam's perpetuating fortitude throughout time was incredible. It was really the most amazing love story to me. As I passed into my teenage years, this story continued to tie in with my social structure, being an avid fan of Bauhaus, Joy Division, and other death punk bands and their spinoffs. I bought the movie soundtrack and even had a poster of David Bowie playing the role of John. If you ever wondered what people who dress in all black could possibly read, this is probably on the list.
Rating: Summary: Very, very sick and degrading book Review: This book is a true sickie. We're not talking about vampire existentialism a la Anne Rice; we're talking about hardcore nasty, short, and brutish nihilism of a depth unlike anything I've ever seen. Read at your own peril.
Rating: Summary: Good Book. Very deifferent from the movie. Review: This book is one of the mote (sexual), yet well written, and fascinating vampire storuys i have read. It is in meny ways cooler then DRACULA, wiche it copys some. I like the movie more, but this novel is not bed. the sequel is THE LAST VAMPIRE.
Rating: Summary: Classic Horror Review: This book is the best of the genre. It was around long before Anne Rice became a household name, and inspired one of the biggest cult films of the 80's. The story is supurb, and the plot shifts between the eternal life of Miriam Blaylock and her quickly dying present love, John. Underneath the horror is a love story. What does it mean to live forever? What does it mean to taste eternity, but never have it? What is life, and what is death...? If you have read Rice's mainstream vampire stories with any interest, you should love The Hunger.
Rating: Summary: Interesting, unique, fresh approach to an ancient species Review: Vampire tales can get mundane and boring, but this is a unique and eternally creepier approach to a predatory species who walks among us. Miriam Blaylock is a Vampire, stunningly beautiful and intelligent, and very lonely. Centuries old, she is forever seeking one who will be her companion throughout time. Her current lover and companion is John Blaylock, only a couple hundred years old when he starts to age rapidly, showing the signs of degeneration Miriam has seen so many times before. As John deteriorates, Miriam prepares her next companion for the transformation, but John consumes her before she's ready. Desperate, Miriam impulsively chooses Dr. Sarah Roberts to be her next, for Dr. Roberts has been intensively researching aging and the human biological clock. Sarah's boyfriend is suspicious, and ultimately pays the price for investigating Sarah's strange behavior, but Sarah is not cut to fit the mold that Miriam plots for her. An incredibly great tale of Vampires, who Sleep (with a capitol S) for about six hours a day, a coma like state where they are entirely vulnerable, but are able to walk about during the day and appear normal except for their hair and eyes, which the modern world covers up with contact lenses and wigs. Strieber brings Miriam's flashbacks to life, going back as far as ancient Egypt when Miriam was young, and bringing us the horrifying fact that Miriam keeps her lovers with her always, for they cannot ever die once they have been "transformed" for her. A definite read for any Vampire fan, and recommended even if you are not.
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