Helpful Score: 4
This book is proof that great writing is definitely in your genes. Christopher Rice, son of Anne Rice, has delivered a powerful debut novel. "A Density of Souls" is the story of four friends who are separated when they enter high school; two are jocks, one is gay, and the fourth is the girl who links them all.
The book is very straightforward. It stares with an unflinching eye at the bigotry and violence against homosexuals. There are also several graphic sex scenes. However, this should not deter you from reading this interesting, somewhat sad novel.
The book is very straightforward. It stares with an unflinching eye at the bigotry and violence against homosexuals. There are also several graphic sex scenes. However, this should not deter you from reading this interesting, somewhat sad novel.
Helpful Score: 3
Written by author Anne Rice's son-- very well written. This is a somewhat sad tale, a story of 4 friends who live in New Orleans. Their lives torn apart by greed, envy,chaos, violence--and murder. Four friends that keep secrets. It is also a sexy story with some graphic sex scenes that you should be forwarned about. This was a good story line and worth the price of the book.
Helpful Score: 2
The plot is a little convoluted, but the characters are believable and the story line very interesting. Very impressive for a debut novel.
Helpful Score: 2
A great story about four friends, the different paths they take in high school, and the dangerous results.
Helpful Score: 2
The characters are very easy to relate to and the plot kept me on the edge of my seat. A great novel!
Helpful Score: 1
I wanted to like this book more than I did. I think the book would have been more believable if the author had pared down the drama.
I really enjoyed this book. It was the first written by Chris Rice
This was a good read. My first book I read of Rice's. Some graphic parts... some drawn out parts but all in all good:)
Meredith, Brandon, Stephen and Greg were practically inseparable as children; playing hide and seek and constantly riding their bikes together through the New Orleans woods. The four friends shared an unbreakable bond and an undeniable connection with each other that they all believed would last forever. Such strong friendship should last forever; but teenagers can be fickle.
By the time Meredith, Brandon, Stephen and Greg enter high school, something has changed within the dynamic of their friendship. Suddenly, the four young friends are living drastically different lives; and deep feelings of envy, rage, and secret passions have succeeded in tearing their friendship apart. Soon, two violent deaths irrevocably disrupt the core of what these friends once shared, and they all go their separate ways - certain that they will never see each other ever again.
Five years later, the friends are reunited with each other. And, when one of the mysterious deaths that initially drove them apart is discovered to have actually been murder, secrets once thought to be deeply buried begin to unravel. And the casual cruelties inflicted by thoughtless high school students from the past, suddenly have the potential to develop into acts of brutal violence that threaten to engulf an entire city in the present.
First of all, let me say that I initially thought that this mystery was really quite good. I wanted so much to like this book. I thought the premise was intriguing and I found myself really feeling for the characters and what they were going through. However, by about halfway through the book, I noticed that the story was starting to slide slightly off track for me.
I wasn't quite sure why I felt this way at first, but was finally able to put my finger on the specific reason for these feelings. In my opinion, as a debut novel, this began off as an intriguing mystery and initially had such promise. However, I must say that I found Mr. Rice's writing style to be incredibly detailed and somewhat overwritten at times - some of the overly descriptive passages were hard for me to follow. Overall, I was disappointed to discover that this book was ultimately just not my cup of tea - I had to give it a C!
By the time Meredith, Brandon, Stephen and Greg enter high school, something has changed within the dynamic of their friendship. Suddenly, the four young friends are living drastically different lives; and deep feelings of envy, rage, and secret passions have succeeded in tearing their friendship apart. Soon, two violent deaths irrevocably disrupt the core of what these friends once shared, and they all go their separate ways - certain that they will never see each other ever again.
Five years later, the friends are reunited with each other. And, when one of the mysterious deaths that initially drove them apart is discovered to have actually been murder, secrets once thought to be deeply buried begin to unravel. And the casual cruelties inflicted by thoughtless high school students from the past, suddenly have the potential to develop into acts of brutal violence that threaten to engulf an entire city in the present.
First of all, let me say that I initially thought that this mystery was really quite good. I wanted so much to like this book. I thought the premise was intriguing and I found myself really feeling for the characters and what they were going through. However, by about halfway through the book, I noticed that the story was starting to slide slightly off track for me.
I wasn't quite sure why I felt this way at first, but was finally able to put my finger on the specific reason for these feelings. In my opinion, as a debut novel, this began off as an intriguing mystery and initially had such promise. However, I must say that I found Mr. Rice's writing style to be incredibly detailed and somewhat overwritten at times - some of the overly descriptive passages were hard for me to follow. Overall, I was disappointed to discover that this book was ultimately just not my cup of tea - I had to give it a C!
He's learned from his mother. Good story.
amazing.
