Anne Rice - YOU GO GIRL!!!!!

strandinthewind · #1 10-11-2004, 02:32 PM

In response to the rabid reviews by some posters of Amazon.com of her book "Blood Canticle," Anne Rice posted this:

from Anne Rice herself!!! thought I'd bump this, October 4, 2004
Reviewer: Timothy Gager "writer" (Boston) - See all my reviews
381 of 770 people found the following review helpful:

From the Author to the Some of the Negative Voices Here, September 6, 2004
Reviewer: Anne Obrien Rice (New Orleans, LA United States) - See all my reviews

Seldom do I really answer those who criticize my work. In fact, the entire development of my career has been fueled by my ability to ignore denigrating and trivializing criticism as I realize my dreams and my goals. However there is something compelling about Amazon's willingness to publish just about anything, and the sheer outrageous stupidity of many things you've said here that actually touches my proletarian and Democratic soul. Also I use and enjoy Amazon and I do read the reviews of other people's books in many fields. In sum, I believe in what happens here. And so, I speak. First off, let me say that this is addressed only to some of you, who have posted outrageously negative comments here, and not to all. You are interrogating this text from the wrong perspective. Indeed, you aren't even reading it. You are projecting your own limitations on it. And you are giving a whole new meaning to the words "wide readership." And you have strained my Dickensean principles to the max. I'm justifiably proud of being read by intellectual giants and waitresses in trailer parks,in fact, I love it, but who in the world are you? Now to the book. Allow me to point out: nowhere in this text are you told that this is the last of the chronicles, nowhere are you promised curtain calls or a finale, nowhere are you told there will be a wrap-up of all the earlier material. The text tells you exactly what to expect. And it warns you specifically that if you did not enjoy Memnoch the Devil, you may not enjoy this book. This book is by and about a hero whom many of you have already rejected. And he tells you that you are likely to reject him again. And this book is most certainly written -- every word of it -- by me. If and when I can't write a book on my own, you'll know about it. And no, I have no intention of allowing any editor ever to distort, cut, or otherwise mutilate sentences that I have edited and re-edited, and organized and polished myself. I fought a great battle to achieve a status where I did not have to put up with editors making demands on me, and I will never relinquish that status. For me, novel writing is a virtuoso performance. It is not a collaborative art. Back to the novel itself: the character who tells the tale is my Lestat. I was with him more closely than I have ever been in this novel; his voice was as powerful for me as I've ever heard it. I experienced break through after break through as I walked with him, moved with him, saw through his eyes. What I ask of Lestat, Lestat unfailingly gives. For me, three hunting scenes, two which take place in hotels -- the lone woman waiting for the hit man, the slaughter at the pimp's party -- and the late night foray into the slums --stand with any similar scenes in all of the chronicles. They can be read aloud without a single hitch. Every word is in perfect place. The short chapter in which Lestat describes his love for Rowan Mayfair was for me a totally realized poem. There are other such scenes in this book. You don't get all this? Fine. But I experienced an intimacy with the character in those scenes that shattered all prior restraints, and when one is writing one does have to continuously and courageously fight a destructive tendency to inhibition and restraint. Getting really close to the subject matter is the achievement of only great art. Now, if it doesn't appeal to you, fine. You don't enjoy it? Read somebody else. But your stupid arrogant assumptions about me and what I am doing are slander. And you have used this site as if it were a public urinal to publish falsehood and lies. I'll never challenge your democratic freedom to do so, and yes, I'm answering you, but for what it's worth, be assured of the utter contempt I feel for you, especially those of you who post anonymously (and perhaps repeatedly?) and how glad I am that this book is the last one in a series that has invited your hateful and ugly responses. Now, to return to the narrative in question: Lestat's wanting to be a saint is a vision larded through and through with his characteristic vanity. It connects perfectly with his earlier ambitions to be an actor in Paris, a rock star in the modern age. If you can't see that, you aren't reading my work. In his conversation with the Pope he makes observations on the times which are in continuity with his observations on the late twentieth century in The Vampire Lestat, and in continuity with Marius' observations in that book and later in Queen of the Damned. The state of the world has always been an important theme in the chronicles. Lestat's comments matter. Every word he speaks is part of the achievement of this book. That Lestat renounced this saintly ambition within a matter of pages is plain enough for you to see. That he reverts to his old self is obvious, and that he intends to complete the tale of Blackwood Farm is also quite clear. There are many other themes and patterns in this work that I might mention -- the interplay between St.Juan Diago and Lestat, the invisible creature who doesn't "exist" in the eyes of the world is a case in point. There is also the theme of the snare of Blackwood Farm, the place where a human existence becomes so beguiling that Lestat relinquishes his power as if to a spell. The entire relationship between Lestat and Uncle Julien is carefully worked out. But I leave it to readers to discover how this complex and intricate novel establishes itself within a unique, if not unrivalled series of book. There are things to be said. And there is pleasure to be had. And readers will say wonderful things about Blood Canticle and they already are. There are readers out there and plenty of them who cherish the individuality of each of the chronicles which you so flippantly condemn. They can and do talk circles around you. And I am warmed by their response. Their letters, the papers they write in school, our face to face exchanges on the road -- these things sustain me when I read the utter trash that you post. But I feel I have said enough. If this reaches one reader who is curious about my work and shocked by the ugly reviews here, I've served my goals. And Yo, you dude, the slang police! Lestat talks like I do. He always has and he always will. You really wouldn't much like being around either one of us. And you don't have to be. If any of you want to say anything about all this by all means Email me at [email protected]. And if you want your money back for the book, send it to 1239 First Street, New Orleans, La, 70130. I'm not a coward about my real name or where I live. And yes, the Chronicles are no more! Thank God!

strandinthewind · #2 10-11-2004, 02:33 PM

Let us hope Stevie never tees off on our heads like that.

I mean could you imagine - "It is my FUC&^^** Black dress - so back off" and "my hip hurts so piss off"

dissention · #3 10-11-2004, 02:40 PM

I'm reading it now, but I just wanted to post about her Sleeping Beauty books. I stumbled across them in my grandmothers garage when I was little and that's how I learned about sex.

estranged4life · #4 10-11-2004, 03:08 PM

Abso-F**kin-lutely rules!!! I think she should run for President, She would definitely get the votes from this household!

I am also glad she smoked those negative reviewers asses...I know alotta people who also deserve the same "yer ass has been smoked" job and the line should start forming on the right hand side!

Brian j.

DeeGeMe · #5 10-11-2004, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

I'm reading it now, but I just wanted to post about her Sleeping Beauty books. I stumbled across them in my grandmothers garage when I was little and that's how I learned about sex.

Diss--that disturbs me more than you will ever now. As I recall from trying to read one of those books--they had a rather, uh, twisted slant to them.

dissention · #6 10-12-2004, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeeGeMe

Diss--that disturbs me more than you will ever now. As I recall from trying to read one of those books--they had a rather, uh, twisted slant to them.

All Anne Rice books do, silly.

My grandmother practically whipped me when she found out I had gotten into them.

She was a BIG reader and her big thing was horror (Stephen King, Dean Koontx, Anne Rice, John Saul, etc.), so she had every book you could imagine. She must have picked up the Sleeping Beauty books thinking that they were horror; I can't imagine her reading those freakin' things. Anne Rice is one crazy character and those books reinforce that.

DeeGeMe · #7 10-12-2004, 08:01 AM

Now, I like a good vampire story better than the next person (devoted Buffy/Angel fan here), but I could never, ever get into the Anne Rice books. I'm sorry, but I just don't think she's that good of a writer. I'm not a huge Steven King fan either. I liked his earlier books (The Stand is still, hands down the scariest book I've ever read) but later, I just couldn't get into his work either. And twisted, S&M style sex just doesn't do it for me.

dissention · #8 10-12-2004, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeeGeMe

Now, I like a good vampire story better than the next person (devoted Buffy/Angel fan here), but I could never, ever get into the Anne Rice books. I'm sorry, but I just don't think she's that good of a writer. I'm not a huge Steven King fan either. I liked his earlier books (The Stand is still, hands down the scariest book I've ever read) but later, I just couldn't get into his work either. And twisted, S&M style sex just doesn't do it for me.

I don't like either one them, to be honest. I loved The Witching Hour from Rice, but that's it. Her books are too laborious and irritating for my taste.

The Stand, Cujo, Dolores Claiborne (his best, IMO), and The Tommyknockers are the only King books I've really enjoyed. I think he's become incredibly bad in recent years. I've liked his short story collections, too, though.

I just finished reading Sue Miller's "While I Was Gone" and it was nothing short of fantastic. I highly recommend it if you haven't read it.

I didn't know that they had made a movie out of it but when I picked up the TVGuide Sunday night, it was listed for the CBS Sunday movie so I taped it. But there's no way it can live up to the book.

DrummerDeanna · #9 10-12-2004, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

I just finished reading Sue Miller's "While I Was Gone" and it was nothing short of fantastic. I highly recommend it if you haven't read it.

I didn't know that they had made a movie out of it but when I picked up the TVGuide Sunday night, it was listed for the CBS Sunday movie so I taped it. But there's no way it can live up to the book.

Holy Crap!! I just randomly picked that book up at a used book store (I like judging books by their cover and often literally just pick books to read at random) so that was one of them - I really liked it!!!

I had no idea a movie was made of it either - was it on this past Sunday???

I like to read books slowly (so they last me longer) but I zipped through that one - I just had to find out what was going on....really enjoyed it....

amber · #10 10-12-2004, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

I don't like either one them, to be honest. I loved The Witching Hour from Rice, but that's it. Her books are too laborious and irritating for my taste.

Only one i liked...that's about Rowan Mayfair, yeah?
And that other book was a movie last sunday, but it was on (here) during desperate housewives, then Boston legal. As if.

DrummerDeanna · #11 10-12-2004, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amber

Only one i liked...that's about Rowan Mayfair, yeah?
And that other book was a movie last sunday, but it was on (here) during desperate housewives, then Boston legal. As if.

Son of *%&*#

I was thinking while reading that book that it would make a good movie....I would have watched it had I known about it - I mean the re-run Desperate Housewives the following Saturday anyway...well now I gotta track this movie down..

DeeGeMe · #12 10-12-2004, 10:59 AM

Right now I'm reading the new Cary Grant Biography and Paul Krugman's "The Great Unraveling: Losing our way in the New Century". How's that for diversity? I also have a weakness for "Chick Lit". I'm a big fan of the Shopaholic books. It's lightweight fluff, but I read a lot of work-related scientific studies and the like so it's good to have a break from all of that sometimes! My favorite serious writer is Pat Conroy, but he puts out a book about once every 10 years (and his last book was non-fiction--the outrage!).

DrummerDeanna · #13 10-12-2004, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeeGeMe

Right now I'm reading the new Cary Grant Biography and Paul Krugman's "The Great Unraveling: Losing our way in the New Century". How's that for diversity? I also have a weakness for "Chick Lit". I'm a big fan of the Shopaholic books. It's lightweight fluff, but I read a lot of work-related scientific studies and the like so it's good to have a break from all of that sometimes! My favorite serious writer is Pat Conroy, but he puts out a book about once every 10 years (and his last book was non-fiction--the outrage!).

Yeah - I can't not be reading something - I feel incomplete or something lol...

I've not read the shopaholic books - they've been recomended - someone also recomended Jane Green but I couldn't get in to Mr. Maybe - I may try again...

My favorite auther is probably Chris Bohjalian - and he's got another one coming out soon - he was on CBS this morning....I love his writing...

amber · #14 10-12-2004, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Yeah - I can't not be reading something - I feel incomplete or something lol...

I've not read the shopaholic books - they've been recomended - someone also recomended Jane Green but I couldn't get in to Mr. Maybe - I may try again...

My favorite auther is probably Chris Bohjalian - and he's got another one coming out soon - he was on CBS this morning....I love his writing...

What kind of books does he write?
And don't forget, if you haven't had, Nick Hornby. Hi-larious.

DrummerDeanna · #15 10-12-2004, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amber

What kind of books does he write?
And don't forget, if you haven't had, Nick Hornby. Hi-larious.

He writes novels....most (if not all) are set in Vermont - where he lives...some titles include - Midwived, Trans-sister Radio and the Law of Similars..he's got a new one out as well...for more specific info you can go to amazon.com and just type in either his name or a book name and get more info on what he writes...

I don''t think I've heard of Nick Hornby - but will check him out on Amazon