Violin by Anne Rice Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Violin
Book Review: A Difficult Read
Summary: 2 Stars
I'm a big Anne Rice fan. I loveed The Mummy- a sweet novel given little credit, and the Vampire Lestat, Interview With A Vampire, and The Body Thief. The remainder of Rice's books were difficult to get through but I hung in there.
The Violin, though, was an effort in frustration. This novel begins well, with the heroine Triana snuggling with her dead husband and seeing the ghost, Stefan. Once the body's in the morgue and she's in the hospital, the story becomes constantly side-tracked with a stream-of-consciousness guilt trip into Triana's- and Mrs. Rice's - mind. Lots of writer intrusion, extremely painful to read, as Triana and Anne Rice fixate on the guilt and misery from a alcoholic mother and a six year old daughter's untimely deaths.
Mrs Rice- through Triana - takes every opportunity to write about the child, Lily's "cancer-bald head", swollen face, how the child looked in the coffin, and pondering whether the corpse is now covered with mold.
I found myself forgetting the story and feeling miserable for Mrs. Rice.
Then, Triana gets a grip on herself and the plot moves forward a bit- and we are treated to some very nice interaction between Stefan and Triana. With the two threads- Triana's modern day life in New Orleans and her travels through Time with Stefan - constantly intertwining, trying to remember the new characters' names, who what when where and keep up with the ramblings will keep you on your toes- and put you to sleep, unfortunately.
Sometimes, even when Triana isn't focused on death and molding bodies, Rice seems to lose the plot and go off on tangents of description, as though Triana is bragging. She tells us about how rich she is, and the mirrors, polished floors, chandeliers, sterling silver, inlaid tables, etc. and I'm scratching my head wondering WHY am I being subjected to these tangents? I love description and "stage setting" but it goes on and on and on ad nauseam.
The ending, where Triana gets her wish to become an adept violinist- just seemed a bit much to me. But I was feeling pretty grouchy by the so...
Book Review: A Reader's Review
Summary: 1 Stars
I find my self once again disappointed in one of my favorite authors. While Ms. Rice spins a lush backdrop of beautiful homes, grand cities and great concert halls spanning the globe, it is not enough, for the tapestry is not only unfinished, but raveling. Here again, as in Servant of the Bones, I find my self turning pages doggedly in hopes of something happening. Not turning the pages for "what happens next?" The descriptions of alcohalism and the decay of the mother with some unnecessarily gross commentary on Triana's mother's sanitary habits were nearly enough to make me put the book down and not pick it up again.
The descriptions of family bickering over inheiritance money, the missing sister and family hangers-on are all too dismal and pedestrian. Triana's mental transportation into times past are muddy and difficult to follow. More than once I lost the thread to the story and interest in finishing it.
Ms. Rice's usual rich character descriptions are wanting in this story. It is as though richly portrayed and highly detailed geographic locations were substituted instead of a story and character interactions. One may as well resort to reading a travelouge brochure.
I am sorry to say this is another of Anne Rice's books that I would not pass along to a friend. One does not find one's self so eagerly awaiting any more the publishing of Ms. Rice's novels.
Book Review: A book that the fans will love
Summary: 3 Stars
I do think that this book was more autobiographical than many of her former ones. The daughter, Lily, that died of luekemia, (I think Rice's daughter died of Leukemia), the fact that Rice was often criticized for formulating novels with beautiful svelte heroines though she herself is (as the book describes) "Rubenesque". Rice had promised to write a novel with a "rubenesque" protagonist prior to this.Well, all that aside, this was a mediocre novel from a writer who can be truly great. No one can write with as much dimension and lushness as Rice on a good day.I guess I expected more. Rice will be remembered, her great books will stand the test of time. This one won't be one of them. Much like Stephen King, his greatests are unparalleled, but there is so much filler in between.Book Review: A book that the fans will love
Summary: 3 Stars
I do think that this book was more autobiographical than many of her former ones. The daughter, Lily, that died of luekemia, (I think Rice's daughter died of Leukemia), the fact that Rice was often criticized for formulating novels with beautiful svelte heroines though she herself is (as the book describes) "Rubenesque". Rice had promised to write a novel with a "rubenesque" protagonist prior to this.Well, all that aside, this was a mediocre novel from a writer who can be truly great. No one can write with as much dimension and lushness as Rice on a good day.I guess I expected more. Rice will be remembered, her great books will stand the test of time. This one won't be one of them. Much like Stephen King, his greatests are unparalleled, but there is so much filler in between.Book Review: A fine example of steam of unconciousness writing.
Summary: 1 Stars
Mrs. Rice has created the most impressive work of directionless drivel I have ever had the displeasure of reading. After the first ten pages I checked the spine of the book to see how much money I wasted. Twenty pages later I realized that the book was a sunk cost and I was continuing to pay with each disjointed sentence I read. The only redeeming quality of this book is that by comparison it lends artistic credibility to pornography and sitcoms.