lynn's posts with tag: anne rice
 | Category: | Books | | Genre: | Horror | | Author: | Anne Rice |
Anne Rice Philippines held The Body Thief Gathering months ago, and only now did I find the time to write a review on the book that made my heart skip a beat. Unforgivable.
Warning: SPOILERS!!!
Disclaimer: This review does not necessarily represent ARP's opinions.
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Imagine Lestat having nightmares upon nightmares. He's burdened by so many things, including his guilt over his "daughter" Claudia's death, killing "innocent" victims, David's refusal to keep him company for eternity and endangering the life of his dear friend, David Talbot. Lestat attempted to end his life in the Gobi Dessert, but failing to do so. Of course he knew he wouldn't die. And I think it's only Lestat's way of finding out how strong he really was as a vampire. What a brat.
He's also being stalked by this madman, the notorious body thief of the story. James Raglan's the name, stealing's his game. He stole every damn thing he had, including the healthy body of a mental institution patient he now possessed. Once a member of Talamasca, this clumsy thief seems to learn nothing from his misadventures.
Pretty much like our Lestat, isn't he? Adventurous, devil-may-care - we don't call him The Brat Prince for nothing. He purposely disregarded the advice and warning of all those who love him. He switched bodies with Raglan and foolishly thought the trickster would give him back his beautiful vampiric body. (Conviniently, Lestat's skin was burned when he went into the sun, giving his body a tan that would pass for human)
David was the only friend Lestat had. The vampires abandoned him. The winter of Washington D.C. almost killed him. Being a vampire for 200 years, he already forgot how it is to become a mortal being again, someone who could actually die if he walks around with just a shirt on his back. He's forgotten how to eat, how to have sex, how to defecate.
He then falls in love with a wonderfully lustful nun who's just [playing] "curious." And so they made love. But hen Lestat had to leave and search for his body.
With David's help, and thanks to Raglan's carelessness (David tagged him as a "glorified purse snatcher"), Lestat was able to retrieve his old body back. At the crack of dawn, Lestat had to flee, leaving David and Raglan in a nasty bout.
David finds Lestat. Despite his previous refusal of the Dark Gift, David seems to be aggressive this time, and asked to be turned. As Lestat was drinking David's blood, the images that accompany the blood while it traveled from the victim's veins into his mouth were not David's. They were Raglan's! When I was reading this part the first time I was screaming out of excitement. What a twist! Back to the story... Lestat kills Raglan, taking with it David's body. But where the hell is David?
David Talbot was forced into a 20-something-year-old body. Imagine a 70-year-old mind in a young man's body. Lestat, being the Brat Prince, worked the Dark Trick on David, making him a vampire, against David's will. David abandons Lestat. Lestat realized that he's the tiger in his dreams attacking David in the jungle.
In the end, Lestat is still the lonely immortal adventurer with deep blue eyes.
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Hmm.. this is really more of summarizing the story than writing a review, isn't it?
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I love this book. There's nothing in the story that I would change. I felt remorse against the vampires who abandoned Lestat. And I hated Lestat for being such a big fool. But then again, without the body switch, we wouldn't have a story, would we? And Lestat - The Brat Prince, The Damnedest Creature - emerged as the victor in the end. I would like to see myself in a parallel situation and like Lestat, get away with it. Lucky bastard.
So tell me, how could I not love him?
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I find it distasteful to review my own review so kindly point out grammatical, typo and spelling errors. But then again maybe I wouldn't care, would I? =) 
| | A Different Bookstore
Serendra, Bonifacio Global City
April 26, 2008
For The Book that started it all for me.
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Memnoch, The Accuser of God. Memnoch The Devil. The Man Himself. The Winged Being.
He's coming for Lestat.
Lestat was afraid for the very first time. And he's got all the reasons why. The Devil is out to get him. But I thought Lestat never believed in The Devil?
See Lestat run. See Lestat hide.
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Who's side are you on?
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Pictures from Lynn, Caz and Marie. Thanks!!! |
| | I let Lemon borrow my 17th century gentleman/Anne Rice costume and painted her face as well. She's growing up to be more and more like me. Should I start worrying now? |
| | Discussed Tale of the Body Thief - one of my most favorite Anne Rice Novels of all time. Related blog entry to follow.
I love my coven!!! |
| Start: | Aug 6, '07 6:00p | | Location: | Serendra |
5th Gathering and Book Discussion A Different Bookstore Serendra 6 PM Aug 11, Saturday
| | Brought my little munster to the event. She came as Claudia, the eternal child vampire. =) |
New Worlds: Transformed brings you all the costumes, the games, the books, the toys, and all the science fiction and fantasy that was missing from your life, for a whole week! Celebrate being a fan of your favorite show, books or authors at New Worlds: Transformed on July 9 to 15, 2007, at the Power Plant Mall in Rockwell.But wait, there's more! Stay tuned to http://www.newworlds.ph for news about New Worlds 5: the 5th Philippine Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention in October.
 | Category: | Books | | Genre: | Literature & Fiction | | Author: | Anne Rice |
I recently re-read the book to prepare for the 4th Gathering of AnneRicePhilippines. Read at your own risks. Corrections? Kindly point them out. I'm too sleepy to edit this "review."
Disclaimer: I have this one-sided and unconditional love for Ricean Vampires so this "review" may not reflect a sane person's opinions, nor those of the group. In short, it's me, it's not the book. =D
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILER!!!
WARNING: too random x_x
The Mummy, or Ramses the Damned, is a stand-alone historical-horror novel by Anne Rice, first published in 1989. Taking place during the early twentieth century, it follows the collision between a British archeologist's family and a resurrected mummy.
- From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
*long sigh*
I've always loved Anne Rice' works, especially those belonging to the Vampire Chronicles. With this one however, I find my insatiable thirst quite unsatisfied. I felt betrayed at the book's end, felt like I've been let down. It was a fast read. And unlike majority of Anne's works, Ramses was built heavily from the very start.
Well I guess that's one of the story's major faults. It took off with a bang and ended with a loud thud. The unveiling of plot/s failed to sustain the thrill built from the very start.
The story's set during the Edwardian Age when adult women can't go out without a chaperon. It involves a murdered filthy rich-shipping-magnate-turned archaeologist, his beautiful and exceptionally intelligent daughter who's engaged to this dashing but impoverished son of the Earl of Rutherford. *whew*
One thing about this story's it's power packed with beautiful people (bawal yata ang panget noon, siguro baby pa lang pinapatay na), not that I'm complaining. Reminds me of our tele-seryes (or fanta-seryes). Anyhoot...
Central to the tale are immortality, lust (not love, oh no), and beauty. Minor details involve bisexuality, vengeance and insatiable hunger.
Immortality was presented here more of like a curse than a gift. Nothing, as in nothing, can ever ever kill a creature once he/she/it has taken the elixir of life. It's a one-way ticket to eternity. I secretly hoped that there'd be an anti-elixir but there was none. I guess in a way that makes it more difficult for an individual to decide on taking the elixir. Every time I read a book I try to imagine my self in the story, sort of like the Choose Your Own Adventure bit (grabe na yata ang tanda ko). So yeah, in my mind I didn't take the elixir. If I did, even if I'm in bits and pieces (literally), I'd be alive, every little piece of me.
The characters didn't seem to mind. Two major characters where offered the elixir, and both of them took it. I banked my wits that Elliot wouldn't take it, even if from the very start of his adventures he's only interested in getting a vial from Ramses, that the entire experience will make him a better man with better judgment. How awfully disappointed I was when he finally decided to take it. I hope you f*****' choke on it you old pervert!, I thought. I can understand Julie though. She's in love with Ramses, and he's an immortal, with the mightiest libido ever!!! So there, match his eternal horny-ness, girl! hehe... Man I'm sick.
Unlike in this story, Vampiric immortality is less eternal, in a way. Vampires in Anne's stories, depending on his/her strength, die with sunlight, fire and drinking blood from a dead body. They can always end their lives when they tired of it. And oh, sunlight is like a life source for our immortals in Ramses, but it kills our Vampire immortals. Although the sun has a different effect to them, both immortals from Ramses and The Vampire Chronicles go "underground" when they don't feel like socializing anymore.
And then there's Cleopatra. I've always loved her. I think she kicks major @ss. Unfortunately in this story, she's a ravaging horny-ness girl with an appetite for murder. Loves breaking necks. She had $ex with boys and after much enjoyment, snap! She kills for fun.
And it's just peachy that ex-lovers Ramses and Cleopatra, Julie and Alex switched partners. One-two-three-pass! Pwede bang makisali? Julie, why can't you just love Alex kasi? I'm telling you, that guy's worth more than the shipping company you inherited from your father. Hay...
And in the end... well there's really no end here. Major cliffhanger. Again it was like Choose-Your-Own-Adventure, only the consequence of your final decision was never revealed. "The adventures of Ramses... will/shall continue..." but I guess it never will. As far as I know, Anne had stopped writing about this kind of stuff already.
So I guess it's up to me, and you, to finish this story, set in the dark swamps of our minds.
| | Discussed the third book of the vampire chronicles, The Queen of the Damned. Quenched my thirst for blood and intellectual bliss.
More pix at cazseeker's site. =) |
And just when some thought it would not happen again, lo and behold, we had our second meeting yesterday at Powerbooks Megamall. Admittedly, its been a long time coming, but as the old adage says, better late than never.
First off, I would like to thank those who went. I know how important most of our Saturday nights are to each and every one of us, but you still came and I’m so glad and thankful that you all were there. Those who were in attendance were Pinky, my Rowan Mayfair for life; Boots, who missed out the last time but whose enthusiasm for what we do is infectious as always; Lynn, our Talamascan representative who came in black and whose accessories stole the rest of the evening (ehem!); Ruby Mae, who had to come after her curiosity was aroused after much persuasion. She is also my colleague from “Echoes of the Heart”, the radio talk show I do every Saturday afternoon with our one and only Ms. World, Ms. Evangeline Pascual; Eman, Boots’ friend and manager of Kenny Rogers Megamall; and a new recruit named Letty, who along with her 11 year old son, Lester simply sat in our area and didn’t think that a discussion was going on prior to when we started.
Sadly those who were not in attendance were missed namely Toby, Powerbooks Megamall Book Club leader and facilitator, Babette and Marie, both dear friends and fellow Powerbooks Book Club members. 3 members of CharmedPinoy, Penny, Deks and Jo were also missed as they had their own meeting to be at as well. Jonatz, a fellow Terry Brooks fan and finally Beng, the sister of Boots responsible for our logo and hard at work with our website too.
And so we started as everyone was coming in and kicked off with the usual introductions and updates. Ruby Mae, starting it by revealing that she had to come and see for herself what transpires in Book Club discussions like these. No doubt that after tonight, she would be attending more and has become Anne-curious. Boots who was also a former colleague from DWIZ, came with Eman and was so happy to be finally attending.
She added that although her sister Beng, was absent from our gathering, she is nonetheless hard at work at our groups website. I just can’t wait. In fact, she is also responsible for our “logo”. Before moving on to Pinky who sat beside me, the turn fell to our new “recruit”, Letty.
She was merely seated at our area to have a little reading time of her own when our Vampire books laid for everyone to see on the low-rise center table caught her attention; not to mention that we, beautiful Children of the Millenia simply could not be anything but noticeable. Pardon my indulgencies. If we don’t do that, then who better than ourselves lest we wait for the promise of a compliment from others who cannot give it. Ha, ha. Lestat speaking. Ah, Le Attention. Oui.
Little did she know that she would be in for a treat and this automatically warrants her invitation and eventual inclusion into our coven; the mother of 1 and an entrepreneur at that. This just reminds me of the other parent who initially joined us the last time we met. I would be hard pressed not to think that meeting other people who just happen to discover us is merely an accident. And at the risk of waxing a little bit of fatalism here, nothing is of course is an accident. And after Pinky introduced herself as well, who happens to be a former colleague of mine from the now defunct, SVI, we were well on our way.
To say that what they discovered about the Lestat in this second helping of the Chronicle as being different and not the abrasive, impetuous vamp everyone got a taste of in Interview is an understatement. Lestat in his own tell-all book, redeems himself to a point and sheds a little more light into his own life before becoming a vampire as well as a take on the mythology of vampires in Anne’s universe.
You see, Lestat was the son of a marquis in the French province of Auvergne. His title doesn’t exclude him from certain accordance of respectability and affluence but he certainly doesn’t feel that way. Reclusive and always searching for the meaning of his own life, he displayed a restlessness that was unchanneled and shelved. From his father’s blatant disregard and prohibition of a proper education, to his mother’s indifference and ironic display of voracious reading, Lestat only had his dreams and the quest to find meaning in his dismal existence to contend with.
This clearly marks the foundation of a certain degree of bitterness that we see in Interview. His quest to find meaning finds him single handedly going out into the woods and killing a pack of wolves that have been terrorizing the village. His brave act earned him the nick, Wolfkiller and the attention of Magnus, the degenerate Vampire who turned him and Nicholas de Lenfrent; another marquis son and who would later be his lover and friend and at the same time an antithesis to Lestat’s own positive quest.
Lestat’s quest has extracted consequences as he had to make decision after decision. From both turning his mother and best friend Nicholas into vampires after escaping to Paris to become an actor and be turned into a vampire by Magnus; to meeting Armand, the auburn-haired vampire who lives below the Paris catacombs, Les Innocents; to abandoning them both in search of new mentor, an older Vampire named Marius who both sired Armand and keeper of the 1st vampires, the Mother and Father. The book has successfully reworked the vampire mythos and its subsequent stereotypes and simultaneously give us an origin that is both supernatural and scientific; not to mention, original.
Most of us in the group also agreed that Gabrielle, Lestat’s mother was not a sympathetic character, as she would in her own way tease Lestat with her books and yet lift not a finger to openly challenge his Father’s ban for him to get a proper education. Ironically in the book she would be seen reading to herself in her room or if not, foster his "street smart” capabilities, and urging her own indulgencies through him or in support of his very own.
What mother would deny her own child the one thing that would make him happy and give resonance of a meaning in his life? What parent would do that? Of course, this brought rise to the prohibitions that our own parents imposed on us as we were growing up; from urging us to take a different course at school, to the restriction of certain types of people to be with and befriend as well as to the imposing of certain living conditions as we stay with them under the same roof.
Anne’s take on Gabrielle was certainly a far cry from her own mother who actually allowed her to have her own way as she grew up; from changing her name to Anne from a previous masculine name of Howard, to just writing and scribbling words and phrases on the wall with the use of crayons as she ran around the house with her other siblings. Clearly, Gabrielle would not have tolerated that.
But more than tolerate his own mother did Lestat do. Rescuing her from certain death as she was suffering from consumption, a fatal disease, he turned her into an Immortal to be his longtime companion, after he himself was made into one. She was ideally the perfect mate for him; however she became mad and went on to travel the world, mingling with tribes and living in the forests, and learning from nature what it can about beauty and peace, in search of her own aesthetics.
Lestat’s action of turning her mother can certainly be viewed as selfish in the modern world and with our current and ever changing sense of norm and values would still frown upon an affront display of self preservation and blinded love and affection.
And because Lestat was not given a choice by Magnus, his absentee maker when he turned him into a vampire, our hero makes it a point to give his victims a choice that he was never given; to either be an immortal or simply be fodder for their folly, in short a victim to their never ending hunger.
And certainly ‘twas the hunger for company, knowledge, and good conversation that has brought this group together as we feasted on ensaymada and empanada as our discussion, albeit short, flourished and detoured from issues of Machiavellian and Nihilistic concepts that Anne has woven into her works to outrage over the movie version of the Chronicles.
We knew then as we know now that we are all still in for a further treat as we plan for our next gathering next month where, the 3rd book of the chronicle, Queen of the Damned will be the book in focus.
Till then my fellow Immortals. Let’s keep the fire burning and alive by properly taking stock of our own light. And may it shine for ourselves to remind us who we are and who we can be but also a beacon for others to take the same lead and affect others as positively as we know how; the very same way how Anne was able to do that and more.
Till next month’s Gathering.
Blood & Blessings,
CAZ
3-27-06
| | We first met in September of 2005. The chemistry is just there, I guess. Now we've met again to discuss the 2nd book of the Chronicles, The Vampire Lestat.
I know. And I am. I'm a geek. And I'm luvin' it! |
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