Anne Rice:which is her best?

Mrgauth · 11-01-2009, 06:34 AM

I have heard quite a bit about her for years, but never read one. Tell me which is her best. Don't care if it's the third in a series, if it's her best it's her best. The only Rice I am familiar with is Rice-aroni.

Doubt I will read more than one, so, you Rice afficianados out there chime in and tell me which to read please.

Thanks.

Mrgauth · 11-01-2009, 07:32 AM

Oh, and I failed to mention; if she is not worth reading tell me that too.

Dr. Drib · 11-01-2009, 08:24 AM

She's a very narcissistic and ego-centric person, and likes to throw verbal tantrum fits at her dwindling fan base - in my opiniion and in the opinion of quite a number of other people who now choose to ignore the Personality and concentrate on the Author. There is much to admire in her earlier works.

Critically, regarding her writing, I feel her best works are behind her. Her first three vampire novels are excellent, and I would suggest you read them in the order in which they appear, as listed below:

1) Interview with the Vampire
2) The Vampire Lestat
3) Queen of the Damned

So, to conclude: There seems to be this great Divide between the Author (Anne Rice) and the Person (Anne Rice).

The three novels listed above are great fun and important works in the genre of Horror.

Have fun!

ADDED: Her "Best," for me, is The Vampire Lestat.

Don

Ea · 11-01-2009, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

ADDED: Her "Best," for me, is The Vampire Lestat.

Me, too, but I think it's also because Lestat is such fun character to read about. I also liked "Memnoch the Devil" - no. 5 in the vampire series.

There's also a non-vampire standalone; "Servant of the bones" that's quite good. I'd recommend either that, or "Lestat"

BenG · 11-01-2009, 09:28 AM

The first three vampire books are the only ones that are essential for Anne Rice. The rest are of varying quality and I've mostly quit reading her books.
The Witching Hour was good but the story is unresolved at the end and the sequels aren't all that great.

Memnoch was the least favorite of the books I've read.

desertgrandma · 11-01-2009, 09:58 AM

Her first one was great. The next two were really good....after that, like BenG, I read them, but 'meh'.

As for "if she's not worth reading, tell me that too"..........I wish you'd read at least the first one for yourself.......and make your own decision.

Lots and lots of people hated "The Stand", including SK himself.......but I've loved it to death!

You never know what treasures you'll find.......

junkml · 11-01-2009, 10:15 AM

I would go along with everyone else saying the original three vampire novels were good. I've read some of her other works, and a lot of the other vampire novels, and just didn't enjoy them as much.

I enjoyed Interview With The Vampire, but actually enjoyed The Vampire Lestat and Queen Of The Damned more.

Billjr13 · 11-01-2009, 05:47 PM

My wife really liked "Christ the Lord Out Of Egypt". She thought it was a really intersting idea. I liked Interview and Lestat.

JeremyZ · 11-02-2009, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Her first three vampire novels are excellent, and I would suggest you read them in the order in which they appear, as listed below:

1) Interview with the Vampire
2) The Vampire Lestat
3) Queen of the Damned

+1

If you have to pick only one, I liked Queen of the Damned the best. If you think you might like all of them, start with Interview. They're pretty quick reads, so there's not reason not to read them all.

I never thought I'd like this kind of work, but I really did.

Penforhire · 11-02-2009, 04:08 PM

I agree with the good Dr. Those first three made me read all the others. They are inconsistent and her style rubs me the wrong way if read too much at a time.

Amalthia · 11-02-2009, 06:36 PM

I actually really enjoyed her Witching Hour book and the Curse of the Mummy? or Ramsey the Damned..

Ea · 11-02-2009, 06:50 PM

"Ramses the Damned" - or "The Mummy". Good fun IMHO, but the first witching hour book was 'bleh'.

Laz116 · 11-04-2009, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

She's a very narcissistic and ego-centric person, and likes to throw verbal tantrum fits at her dwindling fan base - in my opiniion and in the opinion of quite a number of other people who now choose to ignore the Personality and concentrate on the Author. There is much to admire in her earlier works.

Critically, regarding her writing, I feel her best works are behind her. Her first three vampire novels are excellent, and I would suggest you read them in the order in which they appear, as listed below:

1) Interview with the Vampire
2) The Vampire Lestat
3) Queen of the Damned

So, to conclude: There seems to be this great Divide between the Author (Anne Rice) and the Person (Anne Rice).

The three novels listed above are great fun and important works in the genre of Horror.

Have fun!

ADDED: Her "Best," for me, is The Vampire Lestat.

Don

Wholeheartedly agree. I stopped reading her, after putting down The Witching Hour half way through, because I was starting routing for the bad guy/spirit.

pking36330 · 11-04-2009, 02:31 PM

Having read all her books I think The Witching Hour was her best.

But what you need to decide is, do you like vampire fiction, witching fiction, biblical fiction, or erotica? Depending on which you pick will change the answers you get for 'her best' work.

I like The Witching Hour because unlike the vampire tales where I'm reasonably familiar with what a vampire is capable of, in The Witching Hour I was never able to assume what the menace in the novel was capable of doing until I read what she wrote. In the biblical fiction series (now on book 2 of 3) you knid of know how it comes out before you even start the story (still a good read in my opinion). And in The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty series, well, you'll either enjoy that stuff or you won't.

astra · 11-09-2009, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

1) Interview with the Vampire
2) The Vampire Lestat
3) Queen of the Damned

+1
Really really loved the books.

Body Thief is OK

Armand, Vittorio the Vampire, Pandora....are ....meh.
Didn't read anything else after I read Armand.

ah and Memnoch the Devil is an abomination.

11-01-2009, 06:34 AM	#1
Mrgauth Addict Posts: 206 Karma: 310 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tulsa OK Device: K3	Anne Rice:which is her best? I have heard quite a bit about her for years, but never read one. Tell me which is her best. Don't care if it's the third in a series, if it's her best it's her best. The only Rice I am familiar with is Rice-aroni. Doubt I will read more than one, so, you Rice afficianados out there chime in and tell me which to read please. Thanks.

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11-01-2009, 07:32 AM	#2
Mrgauth Addict Posts: 206 Karma: 310 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tulsa OK Device: K3	Oh, and I failed to mention; if she is not worth reading tell me that too.

11-01-2009, 08:24 AM	#3
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,748 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	She's a very narcissistic and ego-centric person, and likes to throw verbal tantrum fits at her dwindling fan base - in my opiniion and in the opinion of quite a number of other people who now choose to ignore the Personality and concentrate on the Author. There is much to admire in her earlier works. Critically, regarding her writing, I feel her best works are behind her. Her first three vampire novels are excellent, and I would suggest you read them in the order in which they appear, as listed below: 1) Interview with the Vampire 2) The Vampire Lestat 3) Queen of the Damned So, to conclude: There seems to be this great Divide between the Author (Anne Rice) and the Person (Anne Rice). The three novels listed above are great fun and important works in the genre of Horror. Have fun! ADDED: Her "Best," for me, is The Vampire Lestat. Don

11-01-2009, 09:28 AM	#5
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,729 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	The first three vampire books are the only ones that are essential for Anne Rice. The rest are of varying quality and I've mostly quit reading her books. The Witching Hour was good but the story is unresolved at the end and the sequels aren't all that great. Memnoch was the least favorite of the books I've read.

11-01-2009, 09:58 AM	#6
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462841 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Her first one was great. The next two were really good....after that, like BenG, I read them, but 'meh'. As for "if she's not worth reading, tell me that too"..........I wish you'd read at least the first one for yourself.......and make your own decision. Lots and lots of people hated "The Stand", including SK himself.......but I've loved it to death! You never know what treasures you'll find.......

11-01-2009, 10:15 AM	#7
junkml Addict Posts: 277 Karma: 1004969 Join Date: Mar 2007 Device: Sony Reader	I would go along with everyone else saying the original three vampire novels were good. I've read some of her other works, and a lot of the other vampire novels, and just didn't enjoy them as much. I enjoyed Interview With The Vampire, but actually enjoyed The Vampire Lestat and Queen Of The Damned more.

11-01-2009, 05:47 PM	#8
Billjr13 Addict Posts: 357 Karma: 550002 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Colorado Device: Sony PRS 700 & 650	My wife really liked "Christ the Lord Out Of Egypt". She thought it was a really intersting idea. I liked Interview and Lestat.

11-02-2009, 04:08 PM	#10
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	I agree with the good Dr. Those first three made me read all the others. They are inconsistent and her style rubs me the wrong way if read too much at a time.

11-02-2009, 06:36 PM	#11
Amalthia Wizard Posts: 1,158 Karma: 32196 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Anchorage, AK Device: Sony Reader PRS-505, PRS-650, PRS-T3, Pocketbook HD2	I actually really enjoyed her Witching Hour book and the Curse of the Mummy? or Ramsey the Damned..

11-02-2009, 06:50 PM	#12
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	"Ramses the Damned" - or "The Mummy". Good fun IMHO, but the first witching hour book was 'bleh'.

11-04-2009, 02:31 PM	#14
pking36330 FT Parent PT Reader Posts: 322 Karma: 187838 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: South Alabama Device: Shocked by how much I've read on an iPod Touch received as a gift!	Having read all her books I think *The Witching Hour* was her best. But what you need to decide is, do you like vampire fiction, witching fiction, biblical fiction, or erotica? Depending on which you pick will change the answers you get for 'her best' work. I like The Witching Hour because unlike the vampire tales where I'm reasonably familiar with what a vampire is capable of, in The Witching Hour I was never able to assume what the menace in the novel was capable of doing until I read what she wrote. In the biblical fiction series (now on book 2 of 3) you knid of know how it comes out before you even start the story (still a good read in my opinion). And in The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty series, well, you'll either enjoy that stuff or you won't.

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