Rating: 
Summary: Hard to put down
Review: I bought this book to take with me on vacation initially thinking it would take me at the whole week to read it. How wrong I was! I found myself unable to put it down and had it finished in a day and a half. Christoper Rice's first novel is an excellent read.
Rating:
Summary: Hypnotic!
Review: Christopher Rice has shown with this debut novel that he is not being published because of the reputation of his mother. He has a distinct voice of his own that pulls you in and won't let you go. "A Density of Souls" is about four friends: Stephen, Greg, Meredith, and Brandon. Close in grade school, they disband when high school begins. Stephen is cruelly abused as an outcast because of his sexuality, Greg and Brandon become jocks, and Meredith turns to vodka and bulimia. But there's a dark secret that intertwines the lives of these four, and by the novel's end you're sitting with your mouth hanging down to your chest after the revelation. Well drawn secondary characters include Monica Conlin, Stephen's hip and long suffering mother (who seems to be modeled on Anne Rice), Elise Charbonnet, a guilty housewife, and Jordan Charbonnet, Stephen's companion. The scenes depicting high school cruelty are very realistic and Christopher Rice treats his characters seriously and lovingly. I would love to see this novel made into a film. It has a great canvas of characters and a wonderful message about the nature of mortality. All I can say to Mr. Rice, don't stop writing in spite of the bad book reviews. The readers of this marvelous novel know better!
Rating:
Summary: Mesmerizing...
Review: Beautifully crafted, fast paced... Although the name Rice is known throughout the literary world by his mothers works, Christopher's book should in no way be connected with his mother. I am a tried and true book worm to the core, and often have 3 or 4 books going at a time, giving each one its equal share of "read" time. Not this one! While on Thanksgiving Vacation,I purchased this book after asking the book store clerk her opinion of the book. From start to finish, the book drew me in, and would not let me go. So much in fact, I was unable to put the book down, neglecting my other readings. Very seldom does a book capture my complete attention as this one (and depriving me of sleep!). Coming from a very rural town, I could relate to the imagery that Christopher was portraying in "A Density of Souls". Although not as affluent as New Orleans, the same Hierarchy of students prevailed in my School. Me, being the Stephen of my High School, could relate very closely with the plot. Christopher's characters are well planned and have depth, along with the story line. To anyone who is contemplating this book, I highly recommend it. I know I will be eagerly awaiting his next collection of words!
Rating:
Summary: An Addictive Read..
Review: Will be short here. My one wish for Christmas would be an e-mail from Chris Rice. :) I read this book while on a train to Georgia for Thanksgiving....very well written. Mr. Rice is a wonderful writer and teller of great stories. Most writers do well to have one or two well-developed characters but Chris has many. This is one of those books that you enjoy reading so much, that you start getting depressed as you're nearing the end because you want it to go on. Looking forward to more books from Mr. Rice.
Rating: 
Summary: Life in the FRAUGHT lane
Review: I expected a gothic tale of mystery and emotional extremes, and that's what I got. Without any character development or sensible motivation whatever. This read is full of explosive events (some literally) and is at the same time tedious. Characters act (or fail to act) in ways that apparently appeal to the author's agenda but make no sense. As the plot unfolds in increasingly preposterous directions, the suspension of disbelief becomes impossible. When Hurricane "Brandy" blows in at the end, one finds oneself rooting for the damn storm to blow all these nuts away.
Rating:
Summary: A story that never lets go
Review: I have been hearing a lot about this book, and to be honest, not all of it was good. After having read the book, I know now that the naysayers are wrong. Let's get one thing straight (no pun inteneded): HE IS NOT HIS MOTHER. I am a big fan of hers, but no comparison should be drawn between the two. Christopher has written a novel about something that most people can relate to:LIFE. While the situations in the book may not happen to most of us, the basic story line can and usually does. For me, one phrase sums up the book: LIFE DOESN'T ALWAYS TURN OUT THE WAY YOU WANT IT TO. While there are some elements to the story that are very "soap-operatic", taken in context of the story, they fit. The main story never lets go of you, it grabs hold of you, innocently enough, in the prologue, then takes you on a ride that, while most of the time dark and ominous, nevertheless lets you know that these are characters who could be REAL PEOPLE living REAL LIVES. And just when you think that the twists and turns are gonna stop, the last three paragraphs of the novel take you on one last mind spinning twist. In my mind, this is the beginning of a career that can only get better. I look forward to anything Christopher writes, I know I will not be let down. I STRONGLY recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: A Barring of Souls; lilting prose, surprisingly powerful
Review: Christopher Rice pulls powerful emotions from the reader, forcing them to relate to the struggles of high school and the realization that you aren't like others. We are drawn into the lives of four friends, a circle of friends not unlike that from many of our own childhoods. But here there are deeper secrets, things left unsaid - untold that grow into inner demons that stalk our characters into young adult hood. While many readers will undoubtedly be disappointed that the style and substance aren't copies of his mother's writing, I was very pleased to see such original talent. The Rice family is gifted indeed! The over all theme of the novel runs toward alternative lifestyles, choices that one should make for themselves, Christopher deals with this issue masterfully. The plot has items that I can relate to having lived in Atlanta, GA during the Olympics when alternative clubs were bombed. It's unfortunate that there are not more works of fiction in this province that show the humanity of gay characters as well as Rice. In closing, if you enjoy suspenseful novels set in the modern day with characters you can care for, then pick up a copy of this outstanding novel from Christopher Rice.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: This book reflected the truth about high school life. It didn't lie about how perfect everyone was and the money they had. Instead, it brought the truth into vision-from alcohol to the vicious jocks. As the book progresses, you learn to care about the characters and their struggles. Even though it may not make sense in the beginning, in the end, everything finally clicks. With flowing words and bright descriptions, Christopher Rice proves that he doesn't have to rely upon his mother's name to make a living.
Rating:
Summary: 'Overrated' would be an understatement.
Review: I am flabbergasted when I read gushing reviews of this novel, I must have read a different book than that I see being described here by some reviewers. There was 'atmosphere' aplenty, sure; but no real, solid character development whatever. Lots of happenings, way too many happenings in fact, no 3D people. The book contains elements of gay sex, alcoholism, suicide, bastardy, adultery, incest, drug use, rape, domestic violence, a fatal road accident, religious terrorists, a bomb, a shoot-out, gay-bashing, a hurricane, a flood. In fact, short of an alien invasion, I am not sure there is a single possible plot device that is NOT used in this story somewhere. But despite seemingly containing the essence of every gothic potboiler ever published, one finishes the book and realizes one has experienced nothing really, nothing at all. I learned nothing from an author that I had thought would have a unique vantage point on many of the issues touched upon in the book. It will be a fine day when gay audiences in particular demand authentic, intuitive writing about their lives. A cute young author with a pedigree simply cannot justify a rave review for this novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful character development... good tale
Review: I picked up Density of Souls because I am an Anne Rice fan and had read an article about Christopher. Knowing he has excellent writer-genes I wondered what he would come up with. Within the first chapter I was hooked. The characters are vivid full techni-color souls with their own set of demons and secrets. What makes this book so real is that everyone has been tormented by classmates however, Christopher Rice takes what can be perceived as harmless schoolhood traumas and exploits them into full blown tragedy. The tale begins with four friends practicing their own set of rituals however, Rice hints at the onset of something bigger running through the quad. The beginning felt like "The Body" by Stephen King but this tale soon blossomed into a mixture of VC Andrews weirdness. While you will not find vampires or witches in this novel... there are many subtle nuances to keep you guessing. I look forward to reading more work by Christopher Rice. His style is straight forward and flavorful at the same time. His character development is intriguing and very complex. If you're looking for a good read this is a good avenue to wander down.
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