Rating: 
Summary: Not there yet...
Review: As a gay man I thoroughly enjoyed the Jr. High recollection of particularly cruel memories. The name-calling and the taped signs really took me back (even when I'm not from the US). HOWEVER, the actual novel is not that good. The characters treatment is so shallow that you have a hard time trying to distinguish between main and secondary characters and keep guessing the motivations for all the characters actions. The plot is too simple and it is easy to guess what is going on and what will happen pages before it does. The end is quite disappointing as it holds no surprise. There are only two things I think standout from the book: first, the poetry (I assume most of it is from C. Rice himself) and second, the ability of the author of not have fallen into a very tempting melodramatic situation. Anyhow, I don't think it was a waste of my money and I will try the next C. Rice's novel, regardless of the subject, and looking for evolution of what I think may be a literary gem. Mrs. Rice: you should be a proud mommy.
Rating: 
Summary: Christopher won't need to trade on his mom's name!
Review: Amazing to see how the talent of the mother is passed on to the son, but in a startlingly different way. Christopher Rice is talented indeed, but where his mother indulges herself -- and us -- in lush descriptions of settings and deep religious thoughts -- Chrisopher uses a spare style and intriguing dialog to give us a story of teenage angst gone amuck -- with plenty of alcohol, sex, violence and suicide to add to the incredibly grown-up secrets the children in the novel both keep, and are kept from. I can't wait to see what Christopher Rice comes up with next!
Rating:
Summary: Rice hits the scene
Review: The book is a true depiction of high school life
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Beautiful
Review: Many people are criticizing this book, often prematurely, as being totally homoerotic and having no plot or theme. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The "gay sex" in the book is merely alluded to, never blatantly described... . Instead, though, this book lends to the reader something that the general populous rarely sees or thinks about when it comes to the gay community: ROMANCE. This book is genuinely about love, about love between two men, something which many straight people refuse to admit exists.But beyond the gay issue(s) in the book is a beautiful description of New Orleans, from Uptown to Downtown, and even far out and away from the city, into the bayou. This is one of the few books that I've read that ever gave me a strong feel for the city in which I live. My only problem with the book lies not in the plot or theme or anything of that nature. Rather, there is a bit of bad editing here, which shoudn't be attributed to Chris Rice himself, but to the slobbish editing of the company he is publishing with. Thus, this book still deserves the full 5 stars. This is a great premier book for an aspiring author who faces many hurdles. Bravo! Now, but this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Recomend Highly
Review: Within the first 20 pages you are hooked and will not be able to put down this book until it is finished. I loved every minute of the characters lives and could not wait for the next page and found myself graving more when it was finshed. I would suggest setting aside an afternoon for a faboulus read you will relish for a while.
Rating:
Summary: beautiful masterpiece,beautiful man
Review: this book is one of the most important books i have read in a long time.it was written with a highly recognizable surname on the front, even though mainstream literature buffs may cringe at the content. but, it wasnt written for mainstream audiences;it was written to tell a far too common story in modern america.and as a gay man in conservative michigan, i know what its like to have to live two lives.although ive never been bullied or even asked about my sexual orientation,a lot of the emotions were all too familiar.i cried through about 2/3 of this book,which has to say something about its quality. while this is a good story, i think it will be appreciated a little bit more by someone who can relate.
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating...like an autopsy
Review: I picked this book up a couple months after I saw it in book stores. As a long time fan of Anne Rice, I figured I would give her son's first novel a try. As a gay man, I figured I would have a book that would touch a nerve somewhere along the way. I was wrong. Don't get me wrong, I finished this book in a 12 hour period, it reads that fast, but that doesn't mean that the book is well written, in my opinion it shows the lack of depth in these characters. The book is something you can't turn away from, yet don't know why. It's a bit like watching an autopsy. More precisely, an autopsy on "Melrose's Place". It seems this is Rice's way to purge his "straight-guy" obsession, by making the lead character so "desirable" that even "straight" guys fall into bed with him. If this represents reality, book me on a one-way to N'Orleans! And is EVERYONE in Louisiana an alcoholic? Every character is this book is either drunk, or on thier way. I mean, I have nothing against alcohol (I even enjoy it), but come on, not everyone in the social elite of the Garden District is a lush. I cannot believe it. On the other hand, this IS a first novel and the plot is a genuinely unique story filled with twists and turns. It is definitely entertaining, and I do look forward to more work by Rice. Alas, I look forward more to the improvement in the work rather than the work itself. My opinion, take it for what it's worth. PS...a note to Mr. Rice and his editor: Crawfish are crustaceans, NOT mollusks. Thank you.
Rating:
Summary: Makes you want to stay on the plane....
Review: When I started reading Christopher Rice's book it was on a 4 hour trip to Boston. While I am a speed reader generally, this book I savored as the flight made its journey. As we landed at Logan airport in Boston I found myself only 2/3 through it and wishing the flight was longer. This was a real page turner that had so many AH-HAHS and logical twists and turns it kept me entranced. I can hardly wait for his next novel, no matter what the genre.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing, Moving Rice
Review: After rushing home from work just to finish your book "A Density Of Souls". I am compelled to write this review. Not since reading Frank Herbert's "Dune" and Mary Doria Russell's "The Sparrow" have I been more captivated and moved by a book than this. It has been several years that I have picked up a book with gay themes. I had become bored with the usual "coming out" stories and, not to sound uncaring, the AIDS stories. I read about Christopher Rice in the Advocate and was interested to read his book. I am now only singing his praises to my friends and clients. I was hooked from the opening prolog, to the amazing revelation in the last paragraph of the book. Christopher Rice has such a keen sense to his writing that the images he painted with his words were so clear in my mind. His writing style was like water flowing over me, I was so immersed in the world of "A Density Of Souls". The events and happenings in the book were mesmerizing, "page turning"! I would just read in amazement at the developments from paragraph to paragraph. The twists and complications he created were astonishing. The city of New Orleans became so real to me; I knew I was there. His characters had more depth and facets to them than I would have expected from a first novel. There were aspects to each of them that I loved and hated. The intensity of hate that grew in Brandon distressed me. The self-loathing that Greg felt saddened me. Meredith's indifference ticked me off. Jordan's passion for the truth and for Stephen bewildered and filled me with hope. And then Stephen, wow, his vigor and strengths came from his loneliness and from being unique. I didn't like high school, and I didn't share the horrible experiences of Stephen. However I could complete relate to him for feeling isolated, alone and gentle. The parents were wonderfully penned as well. I can't tell you how much I appreciate characters that evolve. Each of his was a different person at the end of the book than they were at the beginning. There is so much more that I could speak about how this book moved me and made me feel. I'll close this letter just by saying "Thank You". I will spread the word about his gift of writing and your wonderful book "A Density Of Souls". I look forward to his future books and endeavors.
Rating:
Summary: Rice has written an awesome debut novel packed with emotion
Review: This book is one of the best books I have ever read. This is mainly about 4 friends, Meredeth, Greg, Brandon, and Stephen growing up together in the Garden District of New Orleans. Their relationships are shattered and some are reconstructed in the end. The ending is sensational and its just a great read. The style of writing is wonderful. In the book things happen and you think you know everything about it but toward the middle and end everything comes up again and you learn so much more about it and you get to know the characters better and you will truly feel for them. I stayed up all night to finish it because i just couldn't put it down. There is lots of emotion and passion in this book as Stephen is engaged in loving relationships but can never know a hidden secret about his last one....
| 
