Has anybody read Anne Rice's new book - Blood Canticle?

[hel]

or anybody planning to read?

I must say, combining her witch & vampire series in a book was not a bad idea; but this book lacks whatever made Vampire Chronicles or Mayfair books worth reading. Writing skills, maybe.

[La_Serpiente]

1. I love her books

I haven't started yet but I will be reading Armand the Vampire soon.

I read the five books of her Vampire Chronicles collection. What is your favourite one? Here is my list

1. Memnoch the Devil
2. Queen of the Damned
3. Interview with the Vampire
4. The Body Theif
5. The Vampire LeStat

[hel]

4. Memnoch the Devil

is by far the best book she has ever written. I read all her books, and Vampire Chronicles were going downhill in quality for a time now. She has lost the passion and love for her characters, I think. Latest books in the series (Merrick, Blackwood Farm, etc) were almost like fanfiction, didn't sound as 'real' to me.

Servant of the Bones is very good as well, no vampires in it but great as a historical fantasy novel.

[madaboutharry]

2. Well,

I just started reading it. I loved the witch series, especially The Witching Hour, which I couldn't put down. I am really enjoying Blood Canticle. I do think you may be right about the writing.

[hel]

5. Hope you'll enjoy it more than I do

I felt the same at the beginning, it was almost like 'OMG, this is what I've always wanted her to write!' but... OK, I won't spoil it for you :)

[La_Serpiente]

11. You will enjoy

Memnoch the devil if you read it. Trust me.

[ibegurpard]

3. I stopped reading her a long time ago.

I think the "Vampire Chronicles" ran out of gas after "Memnoch the Devil." And did anyone ever read "Violin?" OHMIGOD! Pure literary masochism! One of the few books I have ever been unable to finish.

[hel]

7. Oh yes, Violin.

That one was a bad decision on her part. I'm sure it must have been fun to write but she should have kept it to herself. I forced myself to finish it, but cannot remember anything about it other than the pain. :)

[Ratty]

6. I read it

It was okay. It had its moments. It was certainly entertaining. I'd say if you keep up with Anne Rice then go for it.

The Tale of the Body Snatcher is probably one of my all time favorite Rice books.

[Kenneth ken]

8. it won't work!

you can try to draw me back in to her books, by dangling the Mayfair Witches in front of me, but I am so very tired of the vampires, they compel me to avoid this offering.

I will hold out for part II of Ramses - that was promised at the end of the first part.

[hel]

9. Oh yes, this book has the witches and vampires

and taltos too! No? Hmm.. a little Talamasca would change your mind, maybe? :)

[Kenneth ken]

15. Taltos, eh?

mmmmmmmm.....

no NO NO - I'm holding out for part II of The Mummy.:D

Acrually, the last thing I read was Violin, and that might have been enough to put me off her forever - even if she eventually does do the 2nd Ramses book.

[skypilot]

12. Mayfair witches

I thought the part of The Witching Hour detailing the history of the Mayfair witches was one of the most brilliant works of fiction I've ever read. I liked the book in general but the contemporary part of the book couldn't hold a candle to that "historical" part. Brilliant.

[ibegurpard]

13. You know what? I have found that in ALL her books

The parts that I enjoy the most are the history and backstory more than the contemporary stuff.

[skypilot]

14. I don't mean this as an insult...

...but I'd bet that Rice is one of those people who is convinced that they were born in the wrong century. I think she's a big history buff, too.

[Kenneth ken]

16. me too

that's why Feats Of All Saints & Cry To heaven are among my favorites of hers.

[finecraft]

10. Started it, but had to put it down

I just couldn't get into the book. I got it from the library at the same time I got this one-(Dave Maraniss) They Marched Into Sunlight:War and Peace Vietnam and America October 1967. I love the Dave Maraniss book. One of the best books I have read in a long time. I recommend it highly.