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307th out of 5,159 books
—
14,337 voters
Violin
by
Anne Rice
If neatness counts for you, don't count on Anne Rice's musical-ghost novel Violin. It is an eruption of the author's personal demons, as messy as the monster bursting from that poor fellow's chest in the movie Alien. Like Rice, the heroine Triana lives in New Orleans, mourns a dead young daughter and a drunken mother, and is subject to uncanny visions. A violin-virtuoso gh...more
Paperback, 289 pages
Published
January 28th 2002
by Distribooks
(first published December 12th 1991)
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Considering the level of all Anne Rice's books that I have already read, this one was a complete let down. Perhaps I was expecting something different, as sexy as the books from her vampires series. How upset I was when I found that this book actually tells the story of a woman in such a depression level that it get actually annoying. Amidst her sorrow, this woman meets the ghost of a violinist.
You hopefully suppose that the story is going to improve now that the woman met the subject of the boo...more
You hopefully suppose that the story is going to improve now that the woman met the subject of the boo...more
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My daughters, one perhaps more than the other, urged Anne Rice and her works on me and I resisted. But when this book was out, it pulled me -- the cover art snagged me, the talk about it, whatever it was -- I bought it and then gave it to the daughter. Years afterward, I sought out a copy and read it and found myself drowning in one of those books which sweep the reader under and into the current before they know what's happening -- and just as suddenly the reader finds themselves coming up for...more
Crap, crap, crap. Quite possibly the worst book I've ever read. Take all of Anne Rice's worst traits as a writer--her self-indulgence, how long-winded and overly detailed she can be, her narcissism--all of it comes full circle to create this piece of crap book. I think it's her fantasy come to life, which is why it's so bloody terrible. The one and only good part of this book is when she tells the story of the violinist. Rice is at her best recounting history; she does her research and truly lov...more
I have to agree with a lot of the other reviewers: This book was boring!
Here we have Triana, a middle-aged, death-obsessed (possibly insane?) woman who is in the depths of despair over her husband's recent death. So much so that her disgustingly morbid state depression attracts the nasty spirit of musician Stefan--like flies to manure. Stefan, who died rather violently, appears to drive Triana even more insane. Why, I'm not entirely sure... Perhaps because he's angry at his father (how Freudian...more
Here we have Triana, a middle-aged, death-obsessed (possibly insane?) woman who is in the depths of despair over her husband's recent death. So much so that her disgustingly morbid state depression attracts the nasty spirit of musician Stefan--like flies to manure. Stefan, who died rather violently, appears to drive Triana even more insane. Why, I'm not entirely sure... Perhaps because he's angry at his father (how Freudian...more
Le récit démarre, qui l'eut cru dans le cadre de la Nouvelle-Orléan, ville pour laquelle l'auteur doit avoir une affection particulière.
Une femme, Triana, vient de perdre son mari, et oscille entre folie et raison.
A ce moment, un spectre violoniste commence un morceau avec une interpétation extrêmement brillante.
Triana (grande mélomane soit dit en passant) se sent envoutée par cette musique qui traduit si bien les sentiments qu'elle peut ressentir.
S'entame alors une lutte entre elle et le fantôm...more
Une femme, Triana, vient de perdre son mari, et oscille entre folie et raison.
A ce moment, un spectre violoniste commence un morceau avec une interpétation extrêmement brillante.
Triana (grande mélomane soit dit en passant) se sent envoutée par cette musique qui traduit si bien les sentiments qu'elle peut ressentir.
S'entame alors une lutte entre elle et le fantôm...more
A partial autobiography disguised as a "horror" novel, Violin is a daunting tale about a 54 year old widow named Triana Becker who constantly delves into her maddened depression over the death of her loved ones. She is driven into even deeper despair when the ghost of a handsome Russian violinist named Stefan Stefanovsky, a virtuoso at his art, comes to her with haunting music played on his precious Stradivarius.
Although Anne Rice does a pretty decent job at making the narration musical in rhyth...more
Although Anne Rice does a pretty decent job at making the narration musical in rhyth...more
Few author's handle the English language as musically and rhythmically as Anne Rice; this book is a beautifully flowing was of words. However, the book is also supremely and tiresomely self-indulgent.
In this book, Rice has committed an egregious offense popular to many amateur authors; she directly of raw emotions rather than showing them inn the actions of the characters, or building them into the atmosphere of the scenes. Unlike most of Rice's other works, which are a more even (and effective)...more
In this book, Rice has committed an egregious offense popular to many amateur authors; she directly of raw emotions rather than showing them inn the actions of the characters, or building them into the atmosphere of the scenes. Unlike most of Rice's other works, which are a more even (and effective)...more
Although Rice writes beautiful internal dialogue especially of the haunted woman, the dialogue between the haunted woman and the ghost seems superficially contrived for dramatic effect. I have nothing against drama in a book but the drama in this book seems overly contrived and generally unrealistic, at least from the dialogue. Also, the ghost to me seems like a supporting character not a main character like the narrator, even though this was suppose to be somewhat of a passionate love story of...more
Stuck with me...
I must admit this story has haunted me a bit over the years. I was sucked into the pulsating rage of depression like an undertow the first time I read it, (which is is not so surprising since I was 17 when it came out, teenage angst galore). I was dealing with some pretty large, life-altering events at that time, which is probably why this struck a chord.
I admit to not wanting to read it again for fear of spoiling the effect/memory of that first reading. As with most of Anne Rice...more
I must admit this story has haunted me a bit over the years. I was sucked into the pulsating rage of depression like an undertow the first time I read it, (which is is not so surprising since I was 17 when it came out, teenage angst galore). I was dealing with some pretty large, life-altering events at that time, which is probably why this struck a chord.
I admit to not wanting to read it again for fear of spoiling the effect/memory of that first reading. As with most of Anne Rice...more
I've tried to read this book before and for some reason failed. I'm not sure if it was the strange and slow start or the dumpy heroine. I'm so used to Anne Rice only writing about beautiful people; perfection themselves. I think the tone in which she described Triana was off-putting, and perhaps that was the point. Anyway, it took me another try years later to give it a go.
The beginning of the story I loved. It was sad but beautifully written, as always is the case with Anne Rice. She can descri...more
The beginning of the story I loved. It was sad but beautifully written, as always is the case with Anne Rice. She can descri...more
As someone who reads as much as I do people are often surprised at how I haven't read many 'Classics' nor big popular authors-This is an example of that. Anne Rice is well known, If you have read her stuff or not you know her name or have had a conversation about her at some point. I have a great friend who is an Anne Rice lover to the core and she kept telling me 'You have got to read some of her stuff'', 'I really think you would like Anne Rice, Pick up one of her books' and so on. My 'To Read...more
I received this book as a gift when the mass market paperback first came out since my aunt knew I liked Anne Rice. I was rather excited, and the start is good. However, the book quickly became plodding. There's a wholoe bunch of characters which really add nothing to the story or plot. Ms. Rice wrote some beautiful sentences and paragraphs and this book did have some good parts. I found the story of the Violin (the instrument in the book) and its origins to be interesting and the best part of th...more
Aug 17, 2012
Candice
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
No one. It was horrid.
Shelves:
fiction
I bought this novel off the bargain table ages ago, in the first year or two out of college, thinking I'd gotten a steal because I really enjoyed The Witching Hour and The Mummy (and the rest of the Mayfair witches trilogy) when I first read them in high school.
Wrong.
It was vile and awful. The first chapter(s) are solely about a woman in The Garden District in New Orleans hanging out, literally, with her dead husband's decomposing bosy in their home. (Or was it their bedroom even??) Weird, macab...more
Wrong.
It was vile and awful. The first chapter(s) are solely about a woman in The Garden District in New Orleans hanging out, literally, with her dead husband's decomposing bosy in their home. (Or was it their bedroom even??) Weird, macab...more
The first half of the book follows Triana as she wallows in self-pity following the death of her second husband. Much of this part reads like an emo 15 year-old's livejournal account and is rather painful to read. Once the ghost, Stefan, comes in they engage in a self-pity off, the millionaire middle-aged white lady who has everyone taking care of her (while she does nothing but feel sorry for herself) vs. the spoiled princeling. The violin seems to be the trophy in this contest, bringing the wi...more
Wow.
I don't know where to even start. This book is just a chunk of disappointing pages. The story has a lot of potential but Anne Rice does not pull it off.
The main character, Triana is possibly the most irritating character I have ever come across reading. When I read, all I imagined was Anne Rice herself. I believe that's what Anne was going for though. Obviously she needed to work through some stuff with this...this is probably her secret fantasy or something.
It's not just full on irritating...more
I don't know where to even start. This book is just a chunk of disappointing pages. The story has a lot of potential but Anne Rice does not pull it off.
The main character, Triana is possibly the most irritating character I have ever come across reading. When I read, all I imagined was Anne Rice herself. I believe that's what Anne was going for though. Obviously she needed to work through some stuff with this...this is probably her secret fantasy or something.
It's not just full on irritating...more
Dec 25, 2012
Meli
added it
Anne Rice es mi autora favorita, encuentro todo lo que hace inspirador, brillante y poético. Incluso encuentro belleza y poesía en sus monólogos llenos de dudas existenciales, conclusiones y reflexiones que a veces son algo reiterativas. Pero este libro pudo conmigo, fui incapaz de terminarlo. Es evidente que lo escribió en un profundo pozo depresivo, en alguna etapa muy negra de su vida. No me venía enganchando, no me venía gustando y la gota que rebalsó el vaso fue la minuciosa descripción de...more
Now I will read just about anything that seems mildly interesting and I love (or used to love) Anne Rice, but I never made it through this book. It is very rare that I don't finish a book, but this one just held no interest for me. How could I possibly be interested in the author as the main character? It was probably vaguely entertaining when she finally got to the violinist, but it just took too long. Now, if like Stephen King, she had actually just come out and said she was the main character...more
This is quite literally the WORST BOOK I'VE EVER READ; evoking the great discomfort that is felt when one stumbles upon the private diary of a twisted, manic-depreasive old woman who is as conceited as she is insecure.
I hated all the emotional ramblings and the unnecessarily detailed and repetitive intrusion into people's lives while they took a sh!t and discarded their period blood. It was just too much, and pointlessly so. I learned nothing and I felt nothing but a distinct hatred for Triana a...more
I hated all the emotional ramblings and the unnecessarily detailed and repetitive intrusion into people's lives while they took a sh!t and discarded their period blood. It was just too much, and pointlessly so. I learned nothing and I felt nothing but a distinct hatred for Triana a...more
This book reminded me a little of The Little Engine That Could. I think I can...I think I can....slowly....slowly....slowly...up and over the mountain. Violin had such a slow start that when it did peak I had about 100 pages left. Not to mention the peak or climax wasn't that exciting.
Violin is basically about a woman who's husband dies and leaves her a rather large fortune. Filled with family dramas; neglect, and the death of her young daughter, a man from the 1700 century comes to call upon he...more
Violin is basically about a woman who's husband dies and leaves her a rather large fortune. Filled with family dramas; neglect, and the death of her young daughter, a man from the 1700 century comes to call upon he...more
Frankly, I had high expectations about this book since it was written by one of the highly acclaimed authors of all time next to Stephen King (in my opinion). But I was a bit disappointed because I couldn't quite picture out the point of the story. Or, maybe because I never got used to reading fiction. And if you're used to reading suspense novels where the main character triumphs over his/her nemesis or troublesome predicament by revealing the truth and having a happy ending, well, this might j...more
Wow! I have owned this book for over a decade and I have finally, FINALLY finished reading it.
"Why so long?" you ask; pick up the book and if you make it past page 10 then you'll completely understand what I mean.
This book should come with some sort of a health warning on the front cover: Do not read if you are not in a good head space or it will mess with you.
Dark & depressing and very very slow to begin with but if you push through the first hundrd (or so) pages then it does pick up.
Set mo...more
"Why so long?" you ask; pick up the book and if you make it past page 10 then you'll completely understand what I mean.
This book should come with some sort of a health warning on the front cover: Do not read if you are not in a good head space or it will mess with you.
Dark & depressing and very very slow to begin with but if you push through the first hundrd (or so) pages then it does pick up.
Set mo...more
While there isn't much of a plot, it is a very moving journey through grief and using your talent to truly live and to give expression to the darkness inside. Anne Rice said this book was intensely personal, rightly so, as the main character deals with the deaths of her 6 year old daughter and alcoholic mother. I was surprised this was written before her husband died as well, and wonder how it would have altered. Some of the raw emotion only could come from what one has experienced. I didn't ful...more
Jun 05, 2009
Wendy Reiersen
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
mostly musicians, or wannabes
Shelves:
fiction
This book called to me from the library shelf when I was learning to play the violin, something that I always wanted to do. I related to the main character's longing for the music, and more specifically, to be able to produce the music. I was just discovering the connection between playing the violin, and the musician's mood. It is amazing, but if I'm anxious (not necessarily about playing - I could be practicing with no audience at all) or in a bad mood, I can't play the violin at all. Anyway,...more
Several years ago, I bought it with more than 70& discount. I still wish I could get my money back. haha.
Most boring book I've ever read. I'd recommend vcr manuals over this.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Strange. So hard to get into yet read it in a day as when I was into it I wanted more. Slow, slow start and not light reading. Morbid, kind of depressing yet spellbinding Not to be read when you are feeling down although I didn't identify with the main female character at all which helped. Usually, I would consider that as a negative, but this time as a good thing. My first Ann Rice. Made me curious about what her best sellers are like but definitely need something lighter between her books if t...more
I always heard about Anne Rice and kind of got the idea that she was the Stephanie Meyer before Stephanie Meyer. I just found this book at a garage sale so I didn't go looking for the most popular novel of hers which you could argue to be Interview With a Vampire. I am not even sure why I finished this book. Half the time I had to put it down because the writing was so ridiculous and flowery. Not good flowery just please stop talking flowery. Definitely was not impressed and I really had hope fo...more
Triana Becker una mujer en sus 50, quien ha visto fallecer a más personas de las que debería, carga en su conciencia con demasiadas culpas y sucesos trágicos y que busca refugio constantemente en la música para ahuyentarlos.El último al que asistió en su lecho de muerte fue a su segundo marido Karl, enfermo de sida, al que mantuvo en secreto en su casa de Nueva Orleans dos días luego del deceso, soñando con que se reunía junto a él en la tumba al lado de su madre, padre e hija muerta.¿Está loca?...more
El libro trata de una mujer a la que le ha ido de la patada en la vida. La historia comienza con la muerte del segundo esposo de Triana. Poco a poco nos vamos enterando que anteriormente Triana tuvo una hija, la cual había muerto también hacia muchos años. Triana ya no soporta más la presión y comienza a recordar su pasado, la casa paterna en semi-abandono por parte del padre y su madre alcohólica. Sus otras dos hermanas tratando de sobrevivir y una más pequeña en camino de nacer.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Couldn't make it through the book | 7 | 18 | Mar 05, 2013 05:37am |
Anne Rice (born Howard Allen Frances O'Brien) is a best-selling American author of gothic, supernatural, historical, erotica, and later religious themed books. Best known for The Vampire Chronicles, her prevailing thematical focus is on love, death, immortality, existentialism, and the human condition. She was married to poet Stan Rice for 41 years until his death in 2002. Her books have sold near...more
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“If only we would wake from (these) states of oblivion with some certain sense that there was no mystery to life at all, that cruelty was purely impersonal, but we don't.”
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4 people liked it
“¡Es tan fácil desear la muerte cuando se está sano! Es muy sencillo enamorarse de la muerte, como lo he estado yo toda mi vida, igual que he visto a sus adoradores más fieles venirse abajo en los últimos instantes, gritar porque deseaban seguir viviendo, como si los velos oscuros, los lirios, el olor de las velas y las grandiosas promesas de la tumba no significaran nada.
Ya lo sabía, pero siempre deseé estar muerta. Era una forma de seguir viviendo.”
—
2 people liked it
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Ya lo sabía, pero siempre deseé estar muerta. Era una forma de seguir viviendo.”
