Since this came up elsewhere - Am I the only one who hates Anne Rice?

[Andrea]

I, too, despise Anne Rice and my best friend loves everything she writes. I am not a horror reader in general, but Anne just rubs me completely the wrong way!

[Maria]

No. No, you're not. I haven't read her books, but I do know that the internet is full of people who loathe Anne Rice with a passion, and if you haven't found them, you haven't looked. She's quite the wanker, too, giving people an extra reason to hate her.

[Kate]

I can't stand Anne Rice and the weird cult that has developed among her afficionados. I hate her stuff almost as much as I hate Proust. That's pretty hateful.

[ScottK]

OK OK I admit...I liked the first 4 or 5 Vampire books up to and including Tales of the Body Thief, but then I don't know what happened. I guess I had an epiphany and found her after that to be really really annoying. So don't hate me. :)

[Jackie "the Librarian"]

Same here - the first vampire books were cheesy fun, then Anne got the bit between her teeth, and no editor could reason with her. Since then, nothing but turgid dreck. I gave up after slogging through Merrick, in which the title character's allure is based solely on her capacity to drink barrels of rum. Somehow, I just couldnt' identify with her.

[Meredith]

I have mixed feelings about Anne. I am currently reading The Witching Hour and I've read most of the vampire series and still have a few more in my 'to read' pile but I end up getting annoyed with how lengthy it all is. The 400 years history and such is just a bit much. But somehow, I always read something else of hers. I did not like Servent of the Bones at all! I was enjoying Witching Hour until I started getting bogged down in all the history again. If I ever finish this one (its sooooo long) I wont read another of hers for awhile.

[Chrystal714]

I very much enjoyed the first 3 vampire books. So I read Witching Hour. Honestly if I wasn't on bed rest with a pregnancy I would not of gotten through that book. It had good parts, but it was way to long, and had very very boring parts! I haven't read one of her books sense.

[Summer Rae]

I don't like her either, but I probably will be suckered into another one of her horrible books before it is all over with. I read the first 4 vampire books, The Witching Hour, Violin and the Jesus one. Why, am I always a sucker for her? I almost liked Violin, but I think I am bamboozled by the pretty Gothic covers and her hoards of fans. I am saying no from now on.

[Caroline]

When I was younger, I went through a major vampire kick and devoured Anne Rice...but only really enjoyed the first two. Interview with a Vampire and The Vampire Lestat were fun and cheesy, and then with the rest of the series I felt like she swallowed a dictionary of descriptive passages and gave up on writing a story. I love it when authors can vividly describe the scenes, but Anne Rice seemed to go crazy overboard with the details and didn't seem too interested in telling a story when she could tell us every detail of someone's dress.

I kept thinking she'd get better--I mean, so many people love her, so I figured something was wrong with me. And, no, she didn't ever get better. The Witching Hour was decent, but suffered and felt bogged-down in useless details to me, as well.

So, no, you're definitely not alone. ;)

[Christina]

I think I am among those who grew out of Anne Rice. I enjoy her Vampire Chronicles as guilty mind candy. However, I really only enjoyed her books through "Memnoch the Devil."

The Cult of Anne Rice annoys the hell out of me. While some of her work is entertaining, and others are interesting (I did a Master's research paper on the religious iconography in Queen of the Damned highlighting parallel creation myths), she is not the greatest novelist of all time, no matter how much fun her Halloween teas used to be.

[Alexandra]

I liked "Interview with a Vampire" ok, but couldn't get through the next one and never finished - just did not like it. I liked "The Witching Hour" ok too, read the 2nd one and thought it was ok, but not enough to read the 3rd. There hasn't been an Anne Rice book out since that looked interesting to me.

But even the couple books I though were "ok" didn't blow me away, or without their problems.

I don't understand the raves about her books either.

[Laura]

I, too, read many - MANY - of her books under all her pseudonyms. After "Tales of the Body Thief" I just stopped. Don't know why, but some part of my brain was saying "no more, thanks".

Having said that, the only one I would read again and/or recommend is "Feast for All Saints", the historical fiction set in New Orleans. "Cry to Heaven" was good (if you're interested in the subculture of the castrati), but not worth a re-read.

Now, apparently, she's Gone Catholic or something? Anyway, she's no longer writing at the pace she was. But her son is lurking around writing...

[Lisa]

I enjoyed the Vampire Chronicles but the Mayfair witch series didn't appeal to me as much. But I find that with many popular authors I enjoy the first few books and then they start to seem derivative...John Grisham comes to mind.

[Clare]

I read many of Anne Rice's early vampire books. By the time I got to about the tth or 6th I felt as if I was reading the same thing over and over. I enjoyed the drama in the original books I read. Would the vampire agree to induct someone he loved into the vampire cult knowing what he knew about the loss vampires felt? I enjoyed the sensuality of her writing and couldn't figure out how she could write so romantically/so sexually about a guy without a penis. I would love to see Anne Rice write a regular book.

[Chrystal714]

You know she started with writing Erotica. Before the vampire novels.

[Clare]

I was aware of that but had forgotten. I wonder if she could just write a good normal story.

[Summer Rae]

I think the only thing worse the vampire books are the erotica. I just didn't find them erotic, I thought they were silly. And I am a sicko, so you would think it would have enticed me a bit, but no.

[Erica]

Well, I like Vampire stories, and erotica as a whole, this you know Srae, but I cannot stand Anne Rice. I tried to get through Interview, and Lestat, but could not. While I do admit to having a weak stomach, I can usually handle bloody gross stuff when it is on the page (vs the screen) but I couldn't handle some of her descriptions of the bloodsucking. She enjoyed it WAY too much! Made me a bit queasy!

Also, I took a stab at that Sleeping Beauty series. I imagine Anne is into S&M and other things, that while I make no judgement if you are into those things, they just aren't my cup of tea. So, I pass on Anne Rice! I know, I like vampire romance novels because even though they try to create this world where these things are real, I don't get the feeling that the authors I have read take themselves that seriously. I don't take them that seriously. But I feel that Anne takes herself ENTIRELY too seriously. THAT is why I don't like her stuff. Whew, glad I figured that out!

[Melody]

I checked out the Sleeping Beauty audio book from our library and listened to it one morning while I was running. Elizabeth Montgomery read it. It was one of the most bizarre runs I've every had - I was NOT prepared. I kept picturing Samantha casting a spell on Darin and making him wear his little tail and nay like a horse.

[Cameron]

I read the Sleeping Beauty and Vampire Lestat books when I was still quite young (HS and early college) and at the time enjoyed them very much. I did try to reread them when I was in my early 30s and found them to be funny in a not funny kind of way. I suppose it really does have a lot to do with the person who is doing the reading and more importantly how naive they are at the time of reading.

[Summer Rae]

Melody, I almost spit out my when I read your darin and Samantha comment, very funny.

I liked "The Story of O", and I do dig the S&M story thing, but I still thought these were so absurd. I guess because since it IS seedy stuff, i like it to BE seedy, and not silly, flowery and like a fairy tale.

[Summer Rae]

yes, she does! Ha, that is funny.
http://www.amazon.com/Cassettes-narra...

[Jason]

I have nothing against Anne Rice per se. I think if you want to read about vampires and seducation and whatnot that's fine, I don't care.

My problem is that people have a conception of science fiction and fantasy of people like Anne Rice, Terry Goodkind, and people like that. I'm a huge scifi/fantasy fan, but I've actually never read a single tradeback. People forget that 1984, Brave New World, Lord of the Rings series, The Time Machine, and Frankestein, just to name a few CLASSICS were all scifi or fantasy.

[Jason]

I take that back I did read a few Dungeons and Dragons Forgotten Realms novels awhile back, but that's it! I still standby my argument.

[Sarah]

I have never read a word of Anne Rice, but I hate horror, erotica, and especially vampires.

[peg]

Clare-

I don't know how "normal" the story is but you may enjoy Rice's "Cry to Heaven." It is the story of a young child who is castrated at an early age in order to become a castrato in 18th century Viennna. The story is very compelling and provides a rich history of the operatic phenomena of the castrati.

As far as Rice's other writing is concerned, I have only read one other book of hers and that is The Witching Hour. I did enjoy the story of the Mayfair Witches but not enough to read a sequel.For some unknown reason vampires have never piqued my interest. You are right about the sensuality of her writing but a little bit goes a long way with me.

A few years ago Ann Rice joined the Christian faith and her writing has taken a dramatic turn. Rice has written two books on the early life of Christ. I believe the titles are "Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana" and Christ Our Lord Out of Egypt: A Novel." I haven't read either of these books. I assume that they are historical fiction based on the fact that Christ is the narrator in at least one of the books. I would be interested in seeing how she handled her subject:)

[Clare]

You reminded me of a book I have read and enjoyed, Peg. I read "Cry to Heaven." I remember being aghast at the thought of castration so that a beautiful singing voice could be maintained.
I think that's so interesting about Anne Rice becoming Christian. I wonder if she was afraid she'd go to hell for all that sex and vampire stuff. I haven't read either of the Christ books but a book with Christ as the narrator sounds very interesting.

[Summer Rae]

I read the first Christ book, I thought it was like reading a crappy Anne Rice book without the homo erotic sheen on everything. So was it better or worse, I don't know. It was kinda sleepy.

[peg]

The fact that the narrative voice belongs to Jesus gives me pause. I also wonder how much of her story is factual. Some of the reviews I have read imply that she got a lot of her material from the gnostic gospels.

I think that Anne Rice suffered a profound depression after her husband passed away.According to an article I read,his death served as the impetus for her to return to the Catholic church. As you probably know, she also lost a young daughter to cancer many years ago. It has been said that the character of a little girl in her vampire stories is representative of her daughter.

[Summer Rae]

Yeah, I saw an interview with her about her finding her religion again. I am catholic and I am creepy, so I was really excited about these books. It was just so slow, and Jesus was a child the whole time, so there wasn't a lot of wisdom being tossed around, maybe the next one was better. I was hoping for a dark, sublime, painful, hinting erotic things, but not completely historically and biblically unfounded kind of book.

I thought it was an awesome idea since the bible is so dark, yet since she is a Christian I thought it would be an interesting take on it, oh well.

[Summer Rae]

I found this
http://www.worldmag.com/articles/11316

but it is super mild and not that negative. I think she may have got more criticism from her vampire fans from going Christ than from Christers about her being all porno-vampy. I found than more people are just shocked because she found Christ, maybe when that sinks in they will get mad about her going from sleeping beauty to Christ's words.

I figured everyone would flip too. I mean I like a side of de Sade with my Bible, but I am pretty sure that isn't standard. I was excited because I have always found a way to reconcile my enjoyment of violent, sexual, morbid and dark stuff with my genuine Christian beliefs.

I don't know anything about the golden compass, what is the hub bub?

[Chrystal714]

I read the books and am going to see the movie today. I can't wait! I don't expect it to be as good as the book, but am hoping that because it was so long ago I read the books that I won't be disapointed.

I think I remember a small hubub over the books, yet not huge. They are very athiest, and to be honest anti-God. So I get the church being angry. I have gotten 3 emails from in-laws about how horrible this book is trying to convert your children to atheism. I don't think it is. Trying to convert I mean. I think the author was trying to put out a different point of view, and tell a good story. I could be wrong but I don't think his point was to convert children to Godlessness.

[Chrystal714]

The books get mixed ratings. Some people truely love them. Others feel the writing is bad. I found them profoundly intersesting at the time. Now though I can barely remember them. If you like the genre give them a shot.

OH and my in-laws send me all kinds of retoric. I ignore most of it. They are nice people, I just don't agree with everything they pass on through email. To be honest not even sure they do.

[Summer Rae]

I pretty much steep myself in blasphemous material and I still believe what I believe, I never understood religious folks getting their panties in a wad over anti-church or Christian stuff, or the stuff they just think might be, but aren't sure.\

If playing all that D&D in 1986 hadn't already sealed my pact with the devil, I would be concerned, but I am already doomed. oh well

[Summer Rae]

I think you are right. I converted as an adult and it was the sublime haunting morbid stuff that I could identify with.

[Chrystal714]

Kind of way off topic here. I just got back from The Golden Compass. I really enjoyed it, but as I said I barely remember the books. My daughter and her friend just recently read them and screamed bloody murder about how much they changed. Even though they were offended at the changes to the story and the ending, they still enjoyed the movie.

[Chrystal714]

Kristie, It's not real obvious until the second or third book. The magisterium is the church and the authority is god. It isn't pretty what it does with some bible story's.

It is funny that the Bishop wrote a positive review of the movie. Although the movie wasn't nearly as blasphamous as the books.

[Melissa]

No, you're not the only one. I read Interview With the Vampire in agony trudging through the monologues of Louis the Emo Vampire and wondered how others kept going.

The movie didn't make it any easier.

[Laure]

I tried to read Interview. Really, I did. I got about halfway through, and I am not usually one to give up easily. Her prose reads like a cheap, pulpy, softcore romance novel, and not in the post-modern ironic sort of way. Elongated teeth pierce instead of throbbing members plunging, but that's the only difference.

[Tracy]

and she sucks at that too. i tried reading some snow white erotic fairy tale she wrote, and i just couldn't do it. her son writes "erotica" too, but it's really just chronicles of kinky sex.

[Susan]

I could be way off-base here (know the wrong sort of people, etc.) but I don't know any Anne Rice fan who thinks her work is scary or reads it expecting that--I don't really think that's what she's going for at all. I find her reasonably entertaining in small doses, but only small sporadic doses because of many of the things mentioned here. A lot of her stuff starts to sound the same, some of her characters are so infatuated with themselves it can pretty revolting, and she can be guilty of overwriting. That being said, I really think the first books in some of series (the witch series, and the Lestat series for example)aren't bad at all. I think people just tend to cling to those and choose to keep their rose-colored glasses on for sentiment's sake when they're reading the follow-ups, as if everything after is of the same quality, when that's really not the case.

[Nancy]

You are not alone. Harlequins with vampires. Yuck to the nth power.

[[deleted user]]

King Dinösaur wrote: "I tried to read her stuff, and I have friends who defend her to the end, but I can't stand her. I'm a hardcore horror fan and I find her need for all her characters to be so damn pretty very aggra..."

Yes. You are in fact the only one. *stares hard* Better pop a PILL for it fast, before this nonconformist against-the-crowd shit gets out of hand. jk lol but anyhoo I don't really look to her for scary. She's always been good for my fantasy/fairy tale lover side. And my ancient middle east/biblical/sumerian/whatnot side LOVED Servant of the Bones. So ancient.

[Brenda]

Can't stand Anne Rice...though I did love the movie Interview with a Vampire though.

[Valerie]

Nope. I dislike her, both literature- and personality-wise. I remember flipping through Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt and being terribly embarrassed by her writing style...

[Jenn "JR"]

I confess, I started reading her stuff in college, then moved to New Orleans for grad school where I felt inspired to read EVERYTHING she had written up to about 1994 or so. I realized quickly that she's a very talented business woman - she's great at maintaining her media persona & writing books within the formula that works for her for the audience who enjoys such things.

An Australian housemate I had in Mexico City, however, was less diplomatic - after calling in sick two days in a row to read through "Queen of the Damned" - he roared "OVER 500 PAGES AND IT DOESN'T END!!" and tried to chuck the book over the balcony to the street.

I feel rather the same about Stephen King... you read a handful of his books, you get the formula and you can move on. There's not a lot of strong character building.

The one thing that totally irked me about Anne Rice, however, was having first hand knowledge of city geography - she intentionally wrote it differently. I'm a stickler for continuity!

[Ellen]

I'm with you. I did like Interview With the Vampire-a lot. I ran out to read her other books. The Vampire Lestat was ok. The Queen of the Damned started out interesting but couldn't finish it: as the man said, "It doesn't end"! LOL

And I tried a few others but really disliked & couldn't get through them.

But I'm glad I'm not alone.

[Ben]

I think that the first four or five of the Vampire Books are pretty decent. They are redundant, but, you can't go in expecting great, ponderous literature from someone who is obviously a "new and in paperback" author. However, her religious novels (after her re-conversion) are detestable. Their hagiography is hackneyed and contrived, and she loses what merits she had. I know plenty of people who love her, and just as much that hate her, and here I am, awkwardly, in the middle.

[Ellen]

I wouldn't say I hate Anne Rice but I don't like her. Except for Interview With the Vampire, I find most of her books to be an irritating combination of pretentiousness and mediocre writing. I'm pretty sure you're far from alone!

One of the reasons I love checking in with this group-it often gives me company in the books I don't like, :D.

[[deleted user]]

Anne Rice made vampires gay.