Anne Rice: Blood Canticle

[SVSRyder]

Anyone else into the Vampire Chronicles here? I just got the last one (Blood Canticle) from my wife for Christmas. In the first chapter, "Lestat" goes into a tirad, but then gives into Anne Rices' Views on Religion, God and the secular world with such authority.. it almost seems like it's just the way it is.

I was wondering if anyone else had read this and could give me feedback as to what they felt about ch. 1.

[Shügbüg]

I've read at least half of the Vampire Chronicles...but I haven't gotten that one yet. It kind of sounds like the 5th one (Memnoch the Devil)...as far as the focus on religion and whatnot. Let me know if it's any good! :)

[SVSRyder]

well indeed. In the first few pages Lestat goes off directly to the reader on people response to Memnoch (the Book itself). As I said.. a tirad.. its odd. This one seems to take place a short time after Blackwood farms and Blood & Gold.

Im surprised no one else here reads this stuff. I was never into Vampires..etc. but my wife turned me onto this as bathroom reading once.. aint stopped since. :D

[ersigh]

Originally posted by SVSRyder
Anyone else into the Vampire Chronicles here? I just got the last one (Blood Canticle) from my wife for Christmas. In the first chapter, "Lestat" goes into a tirad, but then gives into Anne Rices' Views on Religion, God and the secular world with such authority.. it almost seems like it's just the way it is.

I was wondering if anyone else had read this and could give me feedback as to what they felt about ch. 1.

I just finished Blood Canticle ... which is, IMO, the most annoying book by Anne Rice I've ever read. She has always had a tendency towards over dramatising of personalities and emotions, but I've always enjoyed the books and to some extent enjoyed the freedom to feel she puts in her books ... this book, I ended up disliking some of the characters ... which is just unusual ... as the characters were quite obviously intended for enjoyment, not irritation. And lestats character seemed ... a bit amplified in particular ways ... He's becoming a wuss. (honestly, lestat has never been my favorite anyway, and i was generally disappointed with her focusing on him so much)

I enjoy her view point on many things, because it's clear she gives a LOT of thought into the world around her ... she's not just spouting romantic blood sucking sexuality ... she's integrating OUR world in with that, which I think is part of why these books are so attractive to people, even people who usually aren't too into romance novels (i label her books as historical romance novels, heh) ...

I am constantly drawn back to her books because of the vast detail ... I can imagine a room filled with maps on the walls, of all the characters history and their interactions and inner relations ... I can't possibly see how she could keep tabs on everything as well as she does.

I read a few of the Witching Hour books a few years ago ... and Blood Canticle ties into one of the books I read directly ... I was surprised at how seamless things were ... so even tho' I was agravated by the emotional blah blah whining crap, I was completely drawn in by the history and detail.

[ersigh]

Originally posted by Shügbüg
I've read at least half of the Vampire Chronicles...but I haven't gotten that one yet. It kind of sounds like the 5th one (Memnoch the Devil)...as far as the focus on religion and whatnot. Let me know if it's any good! :)

It's nothing like Memnoch (which i highly enjoyed, I found it funnier than hell ...) ...

Lestat simply goes off from time to time about his experiences in that book ... as clearly, the things he experienced changed his view on things quite a bit ... (else he'd not be obsessed with being a saint).

The book itself focused much more on the Mayfair family from the witches series ...

[SVSRyder]

ya..i was surprised to find Quinn in this one too. I wonder if Marius will make an appearance? Hope so :)

So far it seems a bit patronizing the way Lestat is addressing us directly in the manner he is "Be calm dear reader, the story is coming." I mean..stfu already and just tell the story.

To be fair however, her books have always made me read 1 or 2 chapters before I could get into them.

My favorites to date though, Memnoch and Blood & Gold..

Marius is the shit! lol

*puts away book worm glasses so as not to get beat up by mean guys on motorcycles said to perus these forums from time to time*

[ersigh]

Originally posted by SVSRyder
ya..i was surprised to find Quinn in this one too. I wonder if Marius will make an appearance? Hope so :)

So far it seems a bit patronizing the way Lestat is addressing us directly in the manner he is "Be calm dear reader, the story is coming." I mean..stfu already and just tell the story.

To be fair however, her books have always made me read 1 or 2 chapters before I could get into them.

My favorites to date though, Memnoch and Blood & Gold..

Marius is the shit! lol

*puts away book worm glasses so as not to get beat up by mean guys on motorcycles said to perus these forums from time to time*

Marius definately rocks. I agree that her books need time to catch but ... this one was the least biting.

I look forward to hearing your reactions as the story progresses. I have finished the book ... so ... I know what is to come. :]

[SVSRyder]

really what interested me was her view on..well.. perdition (for lack of a better word).

Her insight seems actualy legit as to what the truth is as to what God believes. Its almost spooky.

her entire diatribe (his) to the Pope was very very well thought out, well rounded and seemingly all-inclusive. Blows my mind.

[ersigh]

Originally posted by SVSRyder
really what interested me was her view on..well.. perdition (for lack of a better word).

Her insight seems actualy legit as to what the truth is as to what God believes. Its almost spooky.

her entire diatribe (his) to the Pope was very very well thought out, well rounded and seemingly all-inclusive. Blows my mind.

I enjoyed Memnoch the Devil for much of this reason. ... I could not remove myself from agreeing with the perspectives and stuff ... I was laughing thru out the whole book ...

... I found Lestats obsession with the saint whatever ... San Juan something something to be a bit ... I dunno ...

I suspect I'd be a very badly behaved vampire. Heh.

[Tillers_Rule]

Well, I enjoyed The Vampire Lestat movie anyway. That should count for something right?

[SVSRyder]

theres a Lestat movie?

[ersigh]

Originally posted by SVSRyder
theres a Lestat movie?

i thought there was interview with the vampire and queen of the damned ... lestat somehow became a brunette ... *shrug* ...

[SteveNZ]

Originally posted by ersigh
i thought there was interview with the vampire and queen of the damned ... lestat somehow became a brunette ... *shrug* ...

Queen of the damned was my least favourite of the books, I found it dragged on far too much, only reason the movie didn't go straight to video as it was initially intended was due to Aaliyah dying just beforehand, I liked the soundtrack, but the movie was extremely average. "The Vampire Lestat" I enjoyed the most of all the books. I've only read as far as "The Vampire Armand", not the 3 newer ones (including Canticle), plus "Vittorio the vampire" from the non-chronicles series. The theology in Memnoch got a bit heavy at times and did tend to head off quite a way, but I still found it very entertaining. Only other Anne Rice I've read was "Servant of the bones" which still has the fairly vampiric feel to it.

I did think the character depictions should have at least, if not followed the book, then follow the first movie (which was pretty true to the book), largely this would have been due to budget issues I suspect.