Edit: It has come about that this post has been shared by Anne Rice herself, leading to a lot of angry comments (though also some very thought provoking ones). Please note that I am a small scale blogger, with less that 100 followers. Whilst I’m sorry to offend the masses of Anne Rice fans now flooding my page, please keep this in mind. My original intention was to buy a beaten up book second hand to turn into craft once reading it. This happened to be Pandora. I’m sorry for not mentioning this from the word go but I can’t believe that Anne Rice has been so affronted to share this to her Facebook Page knowing how biased her fan base would be when reading my post and the result that this would cause. At this time I choose not to remove this post or the comments, the only difference is that a well-known author has singled out a single post from a tiny blog for her followers to demonize. Thank you for your time.
Last night, I took a craft knife to Anne Rice’s Pandora and I took out every page. I was left with the gutted remains of the cover itself and threw that away. It’s the first time I have ever desecrated a book in such a way and I can’t deny that it wasn’t made all the more enjoyable by how much I really and truly loathed that book.
As you can see…
Pandora is the second Anne Rice novel I have attempted to read and, as with the last time, I really did expect more. Novels such as Interview With a Vampire I’d always heard were excellent. I was a goth in my earlier years and learnt inherently that Anne Rice is an excellent novelist and I’d simply accepted such things without actually reading the novels myself. I’ve never even seen the movie of Interview With A Vampire, vampires simply never interested me when I was younger but I carried around the assumed knowledge that I would enjoy Anne Rice if I ever saw a copy in a charity shop (my main way of coming across the books I read).
So, It Turns Out I Was Wrong About Anne Rice
I don’t want to offend any big fans of Anne Rice but I would be curious to ask… why? I read Pandora, which I’ve heard is certainly one of her weaker novels and that gives me some comfort. The story revolves around the high romanticized reminiscing of an ancient vampire called (funnily enough) Pandora, who was turned during the Roman empire. Of course, it takes a freakin’ long time for this to happen, she isn’t even turned until the latter half of the book. Most of the story seems to be about how freakin’ amazing Pandora is. She’s so cool and we should want to be her because she’s clever and witty and also gorgeous. She has no flaws, I looked, unless you count her later unwavering dedication to the ancient god who helps give her vampirism. And Pandora is followed around (both in her mortal and vampire life) by Marius, who is so transparently going to become her lover that it’s amazing Anne Rice believes herself to be dancing around the subject.
What staggered me the most about this vampire novel was the complete lack of… any vampiric behavior. Not only because Pandora isn’t a vampire for the longest time but she only seems to crave blood when she’s human. The dreams that pursue her thanks to this ancient god are the only time we experience a genuine blood lust that disconcerts her. I suppose this could be natural to her once turned but why would you do that? Blood drinking is quite possibly the MOST NOTABLE ASPECT OF A VAMPIRE! Later on she makes a throwaway comment about drinking from soldiers but that’s essentially it. The only time we really see her as the monster is in our modern day, before her meeting with David, never after. She never seems distressed by her need for blood and the focus isn’t even on her transformation. Why? Because it turns out that Pandora was tempted to this land so that she’d reunite with Marius, giving him a reason to continue his endless, eternal life. This is because they are meant to be, though they seem to do nothing but endlessly bicker once they are both vampires. He mourns her humanity, though Pandora clearly doesn’t care about it. They struggle, talking in ridiculously flowery and contrary language when something straight forward might well end their relationship problems. And really, they’re not presented as vampires, they’re presented as eternal humans who will be able to love from whatever distance for all time.
There’s a word I really want to start throwing around now, Anne Rice fans, and it begins with a T.
Don’t be mad at me, even if Pandora really is one of the worst Anne Rice novels then it’s still better written than Twilight. Just not by as much as you think. Whilst Stephanie Meyer traps us inside a character’s head, dictating to us how this character thinks and that her interactions are good and even normal, Anne Rice traps us in these falsely grand environments that she won’t stop describing in every detail. She forces us to see the world in the way she wants us to, unrelenting in the narrow vision we are seeing. And both Bella and Pandora are too blank and perfect, though Pandora much less so than Bella. Neither one of them is a complete character, she’s a woman who is to be loved/ obsessed with by the leading male and little else. It may have taken a goddess to bring Pandora to Marius’ side but the result is the same: eternal marriage thanks to being vampires. It’s also not interesting. Their relationship is trapped in meaningless bickering and their apparent “devotion” to one another that Anne Rice demands we believe in but we never see any example of. It’s meant to be a great romance but it falls flat for me just as much as Bella and Edward a la Twilight. If all her books are written in such a way then I’d even go so far as to say that Anne Rice was very fortunate that the internet wasn’t widespread when she was this popular.
I also get the feeling that Pandora depends on the other vampire novels that surround it to give it substance. There are endless references in the opening chapter about what’s been happening in the vampire world, which never really seem to matter to Pandora’s own story so they don’t seem relevant. Perhaps Anne Rice felt she didn’t want to go over common themes that she’d visited in previous vampire stories but it certainly makes this one the weaker for it. There’s no substance to the relationship between the characters or the world around them and when the book ended, I didn’t care what would happen to them after.
And that’s why I took a scalpel to my copy of Anne Rice’s Pandora and started making decopatch with it instead!
Articulate & Intricate 
HOW DARE YOU EVEN COMPARE SHITTY ASS STEPHANIE MEYER TO THE QUALITY WORK THAT IS ANNE RICE HOW DARE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU FUCKING HAG, I HOPE YOU GET HERPES
Hi, are you real? Or are you a troll? Thanks for the comment 🙂
I’m an Anne Rice fan and frankly I think the comments are insensitive, rude and uncalled for! There’s just no justification for the downright evilness! Of course the nastiest comments are made by avatars and graphics.
It was necessary to say that you took a scalpel and destroy her work? a book? do you really enjoy destroying books? I wouldn’t destroy a book even the ones i didn’t like
This was a very well written blog. I love your point of view and the way you state it. The Mary Sue had a little article about your blog and the hell hounds that have been unleashed upon you (too Anne Riceish?). I wanted to drop by and read it and see your work. Glad I did, and looking forward to reading more of your work.
You should not destroy books. That’s so not cool, regardless of your opinion of them. You could have made decopatch with a newspaper and it would have looked the same. Destroying books for crafts is totally immature. Seriously, something a child would do.
On one thing and one thing only do I agree with your blog, and that is if you only read Pandora then you short changed yourself. It is a book that comes after a lot of other books in the series and relies on the fact you have read some of the other books. Pandora was never meant as a stand alone book, and that’s how you reviewed it. So I don’t agree with your review, based on the fact that you have no real knowledge of the author, series of books, or as you put it and understanding of vampires. Who picks up a book from the middle of a series, and then reviews it as if that persons has any knowledge about the book, or series. Knowledge is power….Unknowledgeable is disrespectful of the author and her fan base. And you are completely unknowledgeable about Anne and her series. Next time you review a book how about you don’t start in the middle to end of the series, and give people a real review.
I’d go with “troll” if I were you. If she’s not, then she needs a healthy dose of Xanax for that anxiety/bipolar problem… or perhaps some Lithium would suffice? 😛
Thank you! Wow, this chick is a moron!
This writer is entitled to her own opinion on her own blog. If you don’t agree, you could offer your opinion about what was good, btu simply being abusive doesn’t prove your point. Just sayin.’ Can’t we all get along…even IF we don’t agree?
Oh dear, who let in the 12-yr-olds?
Anne Rice fans have far too much free time.
Anne Rice fans have too much free time and aren’t very clever in their insults.
Herpes? Really? At least wish something on this poor woman that goes away after a cycle of antibiotics.
Wow, seriously? How rude! I love Anne Rice as much as the next person, but to insult the blogger for having an opinion? How dare YOU.
That’s a really horrible thing to say, Courtney. Totally uncalled for.
You insolent fool, as if your opinion means anything. Bloggers always have high opinions. How about you become an actual writer, so that we may dissect your work.
Oh yeah, no one who’s never published a book is qualified to review books, that’s why ALL book reviewers have such numerous publications, and why ALL movie critics have directed and starred in so many movies, and why ALL art critics are world-famous artists…oh wait. Actually, it seems like having an opinion gives you a right to have an opinion.
As a former book reviewer myself, I find that most reviewers who trash an author’s work are usually suffering from simple jealousy
Ellen, are you seriously suggesting that the only reason a reviewer would dislike a book is out of pure jealousy, and not because the book itself is badly written?
Heather: you don’t have to be the president to have an opinion about politics. The assertion that you should write a better book before negatively reviewing one you don’t like is absurd and childish.
Ellen: that says more about you than about the original poster.
Miss Articulate: I’d be happy to send you more Anne Rice books for fodder, but I already rid of them via BookMooch. On a related note, I won’t even list her books on BookMooch or other book swap sites because EVERY SINGLE TIME I gave one away, the recipient bitched about how they weren’t in perfect magic condition even if it was noted in the description. Anne Rice and her fans are a world unto themselves. Rock on.
Thanks SO much for starting an internet flame war, you stupid twit. You made the author you love look like a total bitch. Nice job. What’s next, pissing on a hero’s grave? Outing a CIA agent? Invading Iraq?
Actually, the author made herself look bad. She could have put her big girl pants on and accepted the fact that no matter who you are, no matter how good you are at your craft, someone isn’t going to like your work. Instead Anne chose to take her hostility out on a blogger (probably because she wouldn’t dare attack a ‘real’ critic) and sent her demented minions over here to terrorize the blogger. Nice work Anne. You stay classy.
And SAJE, you really need to grow up. Guess what? I don’t like Anne Rice’s writing, I’ve never liked it, and I never will. Not everyone likes the same things. That’s life. Deal.
My apologies. I thought you were referring to the blogger not the initial comment. You are right to call her out on it.
I try to use quotes to try to denote to whom I’m referring but it seems that no matter what methods I use there are just some things that are likely to be misunderstood. My wife is no Anne Rice fan either. Describes her as “too wordy.” (A charge she also levels at Tolkein, as it happens). I like Ann’s turn of phrase and, in general, her politics. In such cases as this, I am allowing myself to think she did not expect this sort of response. She welcomes debate on her page, though she expects civility, and might well have not seen it to its inevitable conclusion.
People need very little excuse to make asses out of themselves.
LOL. You are ridiculous.
Classy. And anonymous. Lovely. Idiot.
Projection much? Get some perspective.
Thanks for making it crystal clear exactly who reads Anne Rice’s crappy work.
You bitch! 😡
Thanks for the comment 🙂
Hey Salvador, Usted tiene pésimo gusto por la literatura y su madre duerme con las cabras.
Really? How ‘original’ can you get?!? I mean, seriously. Would you call your mom a bitch? Would you call your dad an asshole? How about your little brother? Little sister? Cousin? Aunt? I don’t think so, so why are you calling her a bitch?
The pattern of gender-slur insults is really bothering me, as a feminist. Why are people calling Miss Articulate the B word and a hag? These are attacks on her gender. So not cool. Yes I am a fan of Anne Rice.
I love most Anne Rice’s books, especially the Vampire Chronicles and the New Tales of the Vampires (include Pandora here), but I am so upset about her implicitly sending her hordes of fans against this blogger girl. I find it so incredibly infantile of her to do that. I even left her facebook page. I’m not destroying her books lol but I’m not a fan of her as a human being anymore. Greetings Miss Articulate 🙂 Don’t be sad, you’re famous now and above all: most of us know that our favorite writer is a bully when it comes to criticism. When she read a particular review of Blood Canticle she went frantic about the reviewer and viciously attacked them. You’re not alone, honey – you just upset the Queen of the Damned!!! 😉
Sumiko, it’s the nature of the internet. Misogynists are pretty much all over. Not just among Anne Rice’s fans, but I was searching around to find info on her Amazon incident a few years ago, and found a blog calling Ms. Rice the C word. I don’t agree with a lot of things she says and does, but that is absolutely not justified.
True that Angie.
You sure told her, didn’t you! I know being called a bitch always makes me see the other person’s point of view and realize the error of my ways.
Another illiterate Rice fan…
I would agree its not her best work, but the novel is written as a separate series that expects you to know the character(she was introduced in Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned). I can accept your opinion as these novels aren’t for everyone and I certainly agree that Anne Rice is better than Stephanie Meyer(although, I’m a guy and those books are clearly written for women). I actually found this article when Anne Rice herself shared it on her facebook. Hope if you do read the rest you go in order as it makes the world more effective
I just don’t like the idea that I have to read them in order, all books should be able to stand alone. I’ll take that into consideration though and thanks for the comment 🙂
I disagree, these particular books are allowed to be in order because the story line is absolutely beautiful, mean’t to capture and lead you on to the next. Sequels leave you hanging around for more, for example dean Koontz the odd Thomas series, seriously a great series and more books with series are the best kind of books in my opinion, i like a story line to flow. There is amazing books that stand alone as well but, these books are suppose to be like this, can’t please everyone.
I appreciate that but if these books are so dependent on one another then maybe they should be numbered? Like Vampire Chronicles Number X: Pandora? A single title made an almost-virgin reader like me assume that it would work alone and I don’t think I’m unfair for assuming that. Thanks for the comment 🙂
Would you read breaking dawn and not read the first books of the Twilight Series first? And if you read the book would it stand on its own the same way it would if you read the series in order. If you don’t like reading things in order, why would you read a book that is clearly part of a series of books, that requires the reader to read other books in order to fully appreciate the story being told. You are a silly woman for writing a blog like this and not expecting critique.
I am totally on your side re: Ms. Rice and her books. There are a few really good ones and a lot of dreck. Clearly the one tou read is the latter. But this? C’mon. Books sometimes have sequels or are written in a series. This is nothing new in the world of publishing. To say that books shouldn’t be that way, that they should all stand alone, is just silly. You don’t always get it the way you want it.
And if you want a series of books that can stand alone, try the Alex Delaware books by Jonathan Kellerman. Please do try them and let me know how much you love reading the same character introductions in every damn book, being told the same things over and over again. Dull!
I’ve read plenty of sequels and close knit series’ but they all had numbers and references about what came before. The Vampire Chronicles seemed like the world it was set in, like discworld rather than a warning that I needed to start from…. Where? Thanks for the comment though, I’ll try to keep in kind that this is my opinion , not a fact if literature
No problem, I’m a completest(which is why I was one of the few who didn’t read comics as a kid). I do apologize for all the ignorant and ridiculous comments other Anne Rice fans have been posting. You brought the book, so if you wanna tear it up than go ahead. Its you opinion to compare the two novelist and no one has the right to be cruel to you. Anne Rice does like to post positive and negative reviews, but I think she expects to hear her fans POV on her page, not spamming the reviewer. Have fun with whatever book you may read next and if you don’t like it, craft away
It is a series. Many authors have books that follow a series. You should have known this since Anne Rice’s books are well publicized. The author cannot rehash everything that was written in individual books in this series. One that you could read as a stand alone is Tale of the Body Thief even though it is within the series you really don’t have to know about all the characters in detail to understand the storyline. People always have favorites but it is a matter of personal taste and nothing more.
(not in reference to Pandora, which I have not read)
Sadly, series are very, very popular in fantasy and science fiction and quite often the sort where each volume is more an installment in an on-going series rather than a set of closely related stand-alone books.
For example, I don’t recommend reading George RR Martin’s A Feast for Crows if you’ve only read A Game of Thrones back in 1997. Or Jordan’s Knife of Dreams if you’ve never read any of the other books in the series. You may ask “do publishers make a point of keeping all the parts in print so someone getting into the series late can catch up?” No, not unless it is a best seller.
There are some publishers that don’t clearly label when a book is part N of X parts, which is even more annoying.
I hadn’t considered that but I suppose not numbering Pandora does encourage people to read the book rather than being put off because its so far into a series. Thanks for the comment 🙂
I really like vampires, mostly because I started reading Anne Rice when I was 17. I have read A LOT of vampires series and it seems to be the culture to have one book lead to another and often they really don’t stand alone. I tried to read Pandora about 13 years ago and I was not able to finish it. It never grabbed me, and it is one of the few books I have ever started and not finished. One thing you mentioned in your blog which I have often complained about is Anne’s obsession with detail. Sometimes it’s enough to describe a room without also describing the dust on the curtains. BUT what she does is give you such an intense relationship with the room and the characters that you really feel as if you are that character. I am sure this experience has left a bad taste in your mouth but if you are ever curious to try another of her books I would suggest Servant of the Bones. It stands alone, and is incredibly unique. I think to have said anything that would attract the attention of such a famous and accomplished author as Anne Rice must make you kinda proud. There is no such thing as bad publicity for either of you. Congratulations and well done on your craft project.
I can’t speak for other writers, but I know that as I am launching myself into writing a novel (my first), I am fighting with the concept of the numbers game. I worry that by numbering something, or even pushing a “series” concept into the titles (i.e. Chronicles of Riddick; Riddick Wears a Tutu) may put off some readers simply because it doesn’t stand alone – that the series idea is played out for all intents and purposes. I like Anne Rice, but some novels are better than others, I love The Mayfair Witches, and Taltos. Wasn’t a huge fan of Servant of the Bones, but it was a damn side better than Fifty Shades… I’ve not had the opportunity to read Pandora as of yet.
I disagree with you that all books should be able to stand alone. I enjoy a lot of series. At one point in time, I enjoyed the Vampire Chronicles. That said, Pandora was meandering and repetitive. Even read in context with the rest of the series, it just isn’t very good. I had a crush on Lestat when I was in high school, but I coudn’t even get through some of these later ones. I quit somewhere in the midst of the child porn within The Vampire Armand. Perhaps if she allowed editors to touch her work they’d have been readable.
“all books should be able to stand alone.”????? Don’t like reading them in order????? Where did you graduate with your literature degree??? Most novels were published serially until the 20th century. Did you read Great Expectations backward, you rebel? Did you even read Dickens? While much of your criticism of Pandora is understandable, considering it’s widely considered to be one of her weakest, it loses its authority when you reveal that you don’t understand the context in which it was written. To compare Rice with the commercial and juvenile fiction writer of the Twilight series only reveals your shallow approach to literature. That’s like comparing Stephen King and R.L.Stine. I like your approach of only reading what the universe puts in your hands, but the stuff of criticism is a much more scholarly and systematic pursuit. It requires due diligence so that, at least, the critic is stating an informed opinion. So, I’m not criticizing you because I saw your post on Rice’s facebook page and am mindlessly defending her. I’m reviewing your review and it gets an F.
Thanks for your opinion and taking the time to comment 🙂
This really kinda mad me angry as a long time Anne Rice fan
Sorry, you don’t need to care about my opinion though. I’m just a chick with a blog and Anne Rice has tons of fans. This was written as a light silly piece and I truly didn’t mean to offend anyone. The copy I had was torn up mostly because it was breaking anyway, not because of my hatred of it.
I realize that you think you are just a “chick with a blog” but in this age of Google, you are now probably one of the top (and maybe few or only) reviews of this book that would come up if someone googled “reviews on Pandora by Anne Rice” or something similar. (I haven’t looked to see) So when you write these “silly” blogs that are so completely derogatory about a book (that most of us enjoyed just fine) then you may well influence thousands of potential readers into not even attempting to read it or much less buy it.
I have never understood the need that some people have to want to be so nasty about books and things that they don’t enjoy. I do book reviews on Amazon all the time, and the only time I’ve ever really said anything negative is when I pay $7-10 and get a book that only has 20 pages. If you don’t like a book, then why bother to write about it at all? Why would you get so very angry-seeming and vindictive over this one small book in the hundred that she has written. Some are excellent, some are good, some are just ok. But why such venom? That is what I would question more than I would why it would upset Ms. Rice that your poison pen is probably all over the search engines for her book.
To Jan C, not everyone who reads a book has to enjoy just because others do. A blog is for personal opinion, she shouldn’t have to justify why she made this post. She has freewill to do whatever she likes. If you like the book, good for you, if you don’t then also good for you. Get off your high horse and realize just because you have one view on something doesn’t mean that it the only view possible and acceptable.
Personally I think what Rice did with this post on her FB was appalling. “Oh a bad review, well I’m famous and have much more fans, Better get them to attack the poster.”
Dick move Anne, this kind of power play has actually made me rethink my view of her as an author. Was never a huge fan but being an uptight egotistical bully like this is saddening. Does she not have better things to do with her time?
“I really and truly loathed that book.” Yes I can see how this was written “as a light silly piece” Might I suggest a career in politics. You seem to have the back pedal down pat.
Seriously Jan, the way you describe your reviewing makes it sound like the type that annoy me the most. When I look for reviews, I want honest opinions from people with critical minds, not someone whom cannot/won’t separate trash from quality. Why? To score some imaginary karma points, or what? Yet you have no problem coming here and criticizing someone’s blog. Can you be more hypocritical? Who are you to decide what should or shouldn’t be on the internet, I wonder…
“…then you may well influence thousands of potential readers into not even attempting to read it or much less buy it.”
Spot on: in this time and age anybody can write a book review and be heard and that is a big responsibility! And please don’t forget that every book is the work of a sensitive, devoted human being who spent months and sometimes years of their life to write that book.
I do sometimes wonder whether readers and consumers appreciate the generosity of writers (and artists in general) enough… or do they take it for granted that there will always be people happy to entertain them, for nothing if the book was bought secondhand?
So if you buy your books second-hand Miss Articulate, please be extra careful how you influence an author’s on-line ratings and therefor livelihood as a ‘chick with a blog’
Just a thought…
WordPress.com / Gravatar.com credentials can be used.
Not everyone is going to give a book a good review. Writers are aware of this and are generally prepared for any problems that may occur because of it. Writers also cannot grow if every review is positive. If they don’t have any negative feedback then how else are they going to grow and learn as a writer and as a person?
Faith, how does something make you “really” yet “kinda” angry?
Jan C. – Why would she write it? Because this is HER BLOG. Because this is HER OPINION. This is HER RIGHT. Furthermore, Anne Rice bumped this post up into the stratosphere herself, so you can thank your idol for that. She’s clearly a megalomaniac. I’ve never read any of her books, although I’ve been tempted. However, her treatment of a regular person that had an opinion has turned me off to anything she has, or will, produce. She could be the best author on earth, but she’s a terrible person, obviously.
Darla, I mean no offence..but Anne has done nothing wrong, it was a minority of her fans! something which she cannot control.. Anne posts links to reviews of her books , both good and bad..to see if other fans agree with the reviewers..
She thanks people who review her work in professional, and courteous manners, whether the review is good or bad! She also asks that people treat each other with dignity and respect when discussing thiongs on her page..She in NO WAY asked her fans to come here and comment or condoned people doing so!
I am a long time fan of Anne’s Mayfair Witches books and her Vampire Chronicles, as well as the two companion books..and a few of her stand alone books..
Do I like all of her work ? Probably not.. I say that, because I have read the back covers of several of her other books and they didn’t seem like the kind of book that I would enjoy..I have brought them from second hand / thrift stores though when I have seen them for cheap, and will get around to reading them one day..
Also many of the fans of the from here have behaved in just as an unsightly manner as some of the Anne Rice fans have! Shame on you all!
Neither this young woman, nor the other young woman who blogs about book reviews are very old..Some might say they are old enough to know better, they may be adults legally, but that doesn’t mean that they are super mature..people keep on maturing as they age, you dont stop when you hit 18!
Although this blogger is much more mature than the other one who posted some pretty nasty stuff about Anne, and attacked her personally. times are changing as is the way we communicate with one another..Its all too easy to sit behind a monitor and say nasty things, and forget that it could be seen by thousands of people and invoke passsionate feelings and emotions amongst the people reading it…not all of the people who see it will be mature and act adult.. Heck, many “adults’ do not act their age nowadays.. The days of respecting your elders and each other seem to have dissapeared into the annuls of history..:(
To the young lady who owns this blog, I am sorry that you have recieved so much negativity from a small minority of Annes fans…I hope that you realize that it IS a minority that have behaved badly, and that Anne doesn’t condone it..and nor do a good number of her fans either..(The majority don’t)
In regards to the Vampire Chronicles, they are best read in order.. although, there is no order perse! lol Basically read them in teh order they were released in.. They are meant to book that you can pick up and read without having read the others in teh series, although they will make much more sense and be more enjoyable if you do read them in order.. Each book is basically ‘one’ of the vampires own version of events, and /or their lifestory.. I didn;t like Interview with a vampire as much as I should have, basically because I had seen the film..before I read the book.. and found it slower going than the movie (Obviously) I have since re read it though and found I enjoyed it a heck of a lot more second time around..
My fav ones are the 2nd and 3rd books, they are more like two halves of the same book..”The Vampire Lestat”, and “The Queen of The Damned”, they chart the whole of teh history of the vampires and go right back thousands of years.. I love history so found these to be my favorite.. They are all very good imo though..:) Some are wayy better than others though.. .
With all due respect, why should you, as a reader or fan, have any need, or right, to get ‘kinda mad’ over a negative review? Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and thoughts. Taste is, after all, subjective, and there are bound to be things that you don’t like that others love. It’s okay to have different opinions, and it’s okay to state those opinions without anyone feeling the need to get arsey about it.
INSANE. To destroy a book like that is honestly the most disrespectful, idiotic thing anyone could ever do. An opinion is an opinion, but to do that… loved the rich descriptive narrative and historical context and character development (the other reason I read them).
And that’s an extremist comment. It is not more disrespectful than, say, murder for example? It’s a book, there are lots of copies out there. Thanks for the comment 🙂
Yeah, it’s not like MA took an exacto to a mint condition, first edition of David Copperfield or something – quit being so dramatical. There are probably as many Pandora’s in the landfill as there on the bookshelves.
I’m not an Anne Rice fan but I really enjoy reading books. Taking a book and creating something else out of it is not, by far, a ridiculous thing at all. People use books for art projects all the time.
And the fact that you didn’t like the book doesn’t really change this. More power to you for writing an honest review that doesn’t sit with the masses.
I also saw most of your other comments, and again, more power to you for staying calm. When one of my own articles blew up and I started getting shit left and right, it was a difficult time to bear it.
Anyways, hope you at least got some decent followers from this craze!
Not true. There are tons of things that are way more disrespectful and idiotic. Surely you can think of a few.
Carissa, want to know whats really insane and disrespectful?
Cutting down a tree to print an Anne Rice book on it.
oh Snaps!
Hah! I agree with you there! Poor trees.
I bought a second copy of my favourite book to use for an art project, and created something I love with the pages. Not disrespectful at all, a homage to the piece. I’ve also used books I bought but didn’t care a hoot for in art works too.
Lisa, as you say you did that to something you loved, allowing you to enjoy your favorite thing even more. I personally don’t believe in destroying books but I can see your point of view. You are taking something you love and making it even more a part of your life.
The thing here is that’s now what the author has done. They have taken a book they didn’t like and destroyed it. The title of the blog entry “Punishing Pandora” really had me thinking that the destruction was spitefully, but since the backlash they have updated to indicate they always planned the craft project. Of course this doesn’t fit with the tone of the article after all the last line is, “And that’s why I took a scalpel to my copy of Anne Rice’s Pandora and started making decopatch with it instead!”
I think that is a very different thing and obviously so do a lot of other people. Not only is it disrespectful to the ingrained idea that books should be well cared for but its petty, childish and completely out of character for a true critic. I could care less what the author thinks about the book but honestly to give the impression it should be cut up and destroyed because they dislike is really shameful to me. The author gave the audience the impression they destroyed the book out of spite and now they have to man up and take the consequences instead of blaming it on the fans.
Seriously? Ripping the pages out of a mass-market paperback and turning them into another peice of art is the “most disrespectful, idiotic thing anyone could ever do?” It’s just paper.
It’s her book and she can do with it what she wants. I’d say that making an art project out of it is one of the least offensive things you could do with it. Grow up. This isn’t defacing a holy book or vandalizing someone’s home. Anne got her money for it, and really that’s all she’s entitled to.
No. The most disrespectful thing to do, is to harm a human being. Not words on a page that are being recycled. Get ur priorities straight.
“I couldn’t simply write my opinion I had to be a destructive little shit aren’t i awesome?”
Books are not holy, I’m sorry you took offense.
It’s paper, who cares? If you want to be technical she was recycling for an art project, and that makes her awesome.
“I can’t express myself without swearing, I’m so grown up right now.”
Geez, leave the poor girl alone. I’m sure you have an opinion on something that other people would disagree with too.
Disgraceful.
Thank you for the comment, sorry to have offended.
I think wearing sun glasses in doors is disgraceful.
WOW! While I agree that Pandora is one of the weaker of the Vampire Chronicles, perhaps you should start reading a series of books with the FIRST book?! It is a good place to start, and allows you to gain perspective on many things you will not understand in these books if not read in order.
I just feel that books should always be able to stand alone, look at Terry Pratchett for example. Or Red Dwarf. Those are self contained stories that reference those that came before and I feel that that is a better way of story telling than Anne Rice managed in Pandora.
‘fore I start this comment, just want to support what you did and – without having read Anne Rice or Meyer – I do share your distaste for those types of characters.
But I just need to nitpick. The vast majority of Discworld books don’t stand-alone too well. Discworld’s a conglomeration of linked series, basically. You don’t have to read each one to understand the others, certainly, but they’re (mostly) too tightly-linked to be truly standalone. If you read, say, Thud!, it wouldn’t make anywhere near as much sense (and as such not be as good a read) as if you’d read the previous City Watch novels.
In other words, maybe one or two Discworld novels “truly” stand-alone. The rest are so interwoven and linked (directly and arbitrarily) to each other that you can’t really call them stand-alones. You can read them out of order, yes, but they don’t make half as much sense if you do that.
I’ve had a think about this and you may be right, certainly I have to accept I happened to read the first of his prominent arcs (going postal, guards guards’) in the right order. I may need to give the first of THIS series a go before I can really compare. Thanks for the comment 🙂
In this area I disagree. I like to get wrapped up in a series of books and drawn into them. I think it is part of the wonder of a good series to feel like you know the characters, and have walked with them through their lives. Also, take Stephen King for instance. He has many, many books that have absolutely nothing to do with one another, but he may reference a work he created 20 years ago and you will have absolutely no idea what he is talking about if you have not taken the time to read his books in chronological order. I personally prefer a series of books to a stand alone, and I think that is because it doesn’t feel so final when I finish a book. I know there will be more to come and I can find out more about the characters I have become attached to.
Also, while I did not agree with many of your comments, I have to apologize for the crazed portion of Anne’s fans out there. Many were just down-right rude (and that is putting it lightly). People can’t stand when an opinion differs from that of their own! Also, while I would never destroy one of my personal books, I can see creating a useful or pretty craft out of a book that will more than likely end up in a dumpster outside of the thrift store because of its state of decomposition. It is actually a great idea and would make an interesting background. I am now thinking about creating some interesting picture matting for some miniature twilight posters my daughter has! Thanks for the idea!
One final note. Thank you for not stooping to the same level of some of these irate people, and making your replies in a mature and respectful manner, even though some of these people do not deserve it!
Yes! I love Terry Pratchett books. They are very well done. Each book can be read alone since the events in each book involve the same place and same people but there is no real time line in which his books must be read and the plots are completely independent from each other. Piers Anthony’s books are great in the same way. Neither of those authors rehash past books every single time. Robert Aspirin’s MythAdventures series is also very well written; each book stands alone and gives just enough information to make the past understandable but not boring. I read some of Anne Rice’s books as a teenager and found some better than others. I liked the Witch books. All of her books were a bit creepy at times when it came to sexual relationships. I read her Sleeping Beauty series as an adult. It was a bit rapey.
My dear:
Even if you dont like a book i dont get why you have to destroy it, Nazi memories perhaps? What you may dont get it is that a vampire is different from one another and a vampire drink less blood when he or she become more powerfull specially after the fight with Akasha, You even read the entire saga? You say is the second novel so i think no is the answer, anyway an interesting way to ask for atention to you and your blog.
The book was dying anyway, it would have been thrown away if I’d given it to a charity shop and I clearly underestimated the offense people would take. Relating it to Nazi’s is incredibly disrespectful to what people went through during WW2, including my own family so please don’t throw that around. Thanks for the comment.
It’s merely stating that destroying books is one of the things Nazis did, why get so personal? I respected your apology for offence caused, but that is yet another petty, attention-seeking remark. Did anyone refer to the other horrors the Nazis did? No. Therefore your response is irrelevant.
Sorry, I just really don’t like that being a go-to insult on the internet.
It wasn’t an insult, it was a fact. Also I’ve been reading this whole thread with interest, and the only books you’ve referred to as being good are terry Pratchett and red dwarf, while good books, they don’t take much to read, and you don’t really need any intellect to follow them, which you do need for Anne Rice. Maybe the problem, apart from having started at a middle point is a lack of intellect. Pandora was the first Anne Rice book I ever read, and though starting towards the end can be difficult, it still lured me in. If you’re looking for something that matches up to the red dwarf series why not just stick to the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy?
Hitchhikers Guide is another example of a series of books that each book works alone within, thanks for bringing it up 🙂
I feel I must reply to the comments here, both regarding Nazi’s and intellect. Calling someone a Nazi, even through the drawing of an inference, is an insult. It’s a go to response to someone you don’t like based on nothing but spite. It’s especially vile because of the very real tragic effect the Nazi’s had on the world and to people. FYI, they burned entire libraries of books, not just destroyed one copy.
As for needing intellect to ‘get’ Anne Rice, I’m sorry, but no. Just…no. I have read quite a few books by her and whilst I enjoyed the first three vampire novels, I could see they were slowly becoming something trite and without substance. While I think I remember reading Pandora with ease, it was not very memorable. As for the Witches books, please. Intellectual these books are not and again, another thinly veiled insult on another, just because you don’t agree with their opinion. I have read thousands of books of all types. There’s very little that’s intellectual about four page descriptions of flowers.
Ironically, Hitch-hikers is used in an attempt to throw up a ‘lowbrow’ series. Douglas Adams was highly intellectual man and his novels are filled with interesting ideas and riffs on science, philosophy and sociology. I can assume, therefore, that Lillybeth hasn’t read the books and is forming an opinion based on either the film or her own preconceptions. Bravo.
Actually I love hitchhikers 🙂 and also I already apologised to writer of blog for jumping on it like a rabid dog, lmao
Fair enough, I simply wanted to point the discrepancies I read in this particular post. My main issue was with the Nazi comment, as anyone with any knowledge of both history and social interactions should know how potentially inflammatory and offensive it can be.
As for the intellectual side of things, it’s just bringing a discussion low, which frankly, most Anne Rice fans seem happy to do. If you read the blog, there are no personal insults there, just a passionate criticism of the book, and yet she has been accused of something akin to baby murder. Look at the sort of comments she’s receiving from those who accuse her of vitriol. So, she is not entitled to her opinion, yet it’s OK to insult someone personally because of that opinion? Is there no end to the irony?
I understand the compulsion to defend something you love, but people need to not mistake an opposing opinion for a personal insult.
Intellectualism isn’t about flowery language and long drawn out passages about flowers and what people are wearing, it’s discussion of ideas, philosophy, science, politics, social concerns, new information etc. (similar to what we’re doing here, without recourse to personal attacks) and I think both Hitch-hikers and the Discworld do this in spades.
Peace out 🙂
How many Christians have held book burning events for things like Harry Potter? A series that I find to be far more entertaining than just about anything Rice has written. You seriously need to get over it.
Jesus Christ, Jose… you’re a Vampire anthropologist.
and English is SO not your first language.
Dear WINOSANDBAR,
After hearing about the hulabaloo this blog post incited, I decided to distract myself from actual work and read it & its comments. I just wanted to tell you that your contribution has made me actually LOL. Well done!
Godwin’s Law. You lose the argument automatically. Take your umbrage and go back to whatever rock you crawled under.
Yes, it’s just like the Nazi’s, except its not. My dear, much of my family perished in Nazi concentration camps. Comparing using Anne Rice’s book as an art project to the Nazi’s book burning is vile. In fact, your trying to shut this blogger down is a lot more in line with the repressive nature of the Nazi regime than her expressing an opinion. Maybe you should do a little reading of something other than vampire novels before you make comparisons to history that you know nothing about.
Did you seriously just call this blogger a Nazi? And you post with an anonymous account? Go figure – i you can’t stand behind your words, don’t say them in the first place.
False equivalence – turning an already falling apart book into an art project is not an effort to stamp out literature. It’s an Ann Rice book to boot, barely even literature.
You’re comparing here to Nazi’s? Wow. Why to over react.
“Perhaps Anne Rice felt she didn’t want to go over common themes that she’d visited in previous vampire stories”. I’m glad you’ve considered this possibility. I’m not a big fan of Pandora the novel, either, but please don’t give up on the author. The first few chronicles are everything Pandora isn’t- engaging explorations of vampirism, evil, and immortality, with well drawn characters that the reader can not only care about, but love.
Thanks for the advice, I really didn’t realise how far into the chronicle it was until I look after I’d finished. I’ll check out some of her earlier works and thanks for the comment 🙂
I came upon Miss Rice by happy accident and fell in love with her descriptive style as at the time I needed the escape. I enjoyed her writing so much I went to the library for an accurate list of her intire works; to insure the correct order of consumption. ( I tend to be a binge reader.) This was about 18yrs ago and when waiting on her new novels I discovered her early works and was agin enraptured within whr uncanney ability to transport me beyond so completely. Ther is so much information givin and such thorough maticulate detail that without this prior arsonal of information it is understandable you were left wanting after your read. Do not disparage; for as you have seen, though quick to defend our author you may find if you would but read her in depth from Interview With a Vampire forward , that you too would feel protective. Just “my opinion”. Oh’ I nearly forgot; have you ever read McCafferty and her Dragon Riders of Pern series? Agin though it is more binnificial to go in order just like Edger Rice Burroughs Tarzan series which I also would recommend. Even if not to your taste I guess it takes all kinds. You have just gotten more information out of me with your silliness than I have been compelled to share in a very long time in the defense of Anne. Well done. People must understand your actions have nothing to do with them and stop taking it so personally. Read & write on!
Thanks very much, you’ve all made so many book suggestions I’m gonna need to make a list! 😀
This review is badly written, boring, and insists on a singular view of Anne Rice’s Pandora without citing any example from the book itself to support it. I’d really rather read real writers, like Anne Rice, than boring blogs like these.
That’s fair enough, thanks for the comment 🙂
I appreciate this comment. Dislike of a book does not mean that one should rip it to shreds (figuratively or literally) on the internet. This did not feel like a critique, it felt like a witch-hunt.
I think you’re taking this writer’s opinion just a little too personally then. I also really appreciate reviews like the author’s, because it steers me away from things I may not enjoy so I have more time to persue the things I might enjoy. Comparing one vampire series to another vampire series is no blasphemy, it’s good literary cirticism. “I read this, let me compare it to other books in the genre I have read,” is a totally valid and educated approach to reviewing a book.
No one’s stopping you from doing just that, you know.
NOTANANNERICEFAN, if Anne Rice is a real author, who are the “fake” ones? Are they on sale at Walmart?
Anne Rice is a person who doesn’t write literature, she writes “by numbers”.
Yeah reading Pandora before you have read so many of the other books, i can see why you would say all that. The truth is, that if you had read all the books in the order they should be read in, you would see that Pandora is really just fodder for us fans who want more of the universe Anne Rice has created. We as the fan readers already know most of what happens in the story of Marius and Pandora, it’s just a more complete version. Same thing with the book The Vampire Armand. We already know most of everything in it, its just a more complete version of the story of Marius and Armand. I encourage you to start from the beginning and read the books in order. Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat, Queen of the Damned, Tale of the Body Thief, Memnoch the Devil, Blood and Gold. I then suggest you take a detour to her “Witch” series at this point as her vampire and her witch series start to converge. Next read The Witching Hour, Lasher, and Taltos. You should then go back to the vampire series with Merrick, then Blackwood Farm (her best book in my opinion) and finally Blood Canticle. Those are the main books and as you have already experienced Pandora, you could also read The Vampire Armand and Vittorio the Vampire, though it is not necessary. I also highly suggest my other two favorites which are stand alone books, The Wolf Gift and Ramses the Damned. I promise that if you read those books you will find a new and wonderful world that i think will surprise and amaze you…DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!…lol
Lol, thanks for the comment and I’ll certainly look into those recommendations. Maybe I’ll be forced to issue an apology if I fall in love with the series from the start? 😛
I seemed to have missed Blackwood Farm when it was published. I’m reading it right now.
As a “big fan” of Anne Rice, I am not at all offended by your comments and perspective. However, I do wonder which other novel of Ms. Rice’s you read or attempted to read – you talked about Interview with the Vampire but you never specified that it was the other novel of hers that you’d read. As for your question regarding why fans of Ms. Rice enjoy her writing and her work, it many ways, it’s for the exact reasons you state – Anne humanizes the vampires and witches in her novels. Instead of focusing on those things that make them less human in their “other” form(s), she writes about those things which connect her vampires to their human form (or what remains of it), both mentally and physically. This makes perfect sense to me – since all vampires were once human (as Ms. Rice interprets the vampire legend), it makes sense to me that many trappings of their humanity remain in tact, both the positive traits and the negative traits. I like and thoroughly enjoy Anne’s very human vampires – which is why I love her work. Also, just a thought – when reading a novel such as Pandora, it really helps to have known much, if not all, that came before. Marius, for example, has a lot of history that’s worth knowing before you read Pandora.
I tried reading Vampire Lestat and got bored. Do you have any other recommendations that I could read?
yes, actually. Anne didn’t just write the Vampire Chronicles. She also wrote the Sleeping Beauty Trilogy, a very erotic trilogy about the famed Princess’ fate after being woken up. Also, there are the Mayfair Witches Chronicles. Those I consumed one after another like lightning!! Anne Rice is more diverse than you’d believe, and after reading through the thread of comments I’m surprised no one would mention these. Good luck, and best wishes… P.S. I loved the decopatch! What did you use the container for?
I’m surprised you didn’t like The Vampire Lestat. If you didn’t then I doubt you will like any of the books in the series. Personally, I loved Queen of the Damned and The Vampire Lestat. After that, I think the series went downhill.
If you didn’t like Vampire Lestat, I would say you probably won’t like any of her other work. No matter how many fans tell you to give her a chance, that doesn’t mean you’re going to like her. I loved the book when I read it 17 years or so ago, but I think my tastes have evolved since then and I’m not so sure it would hold up anymore. Really, I wouldn’t bother. Life is too short to read bad books. 🙂
The “Sleeping Beauty” series is not good erotica. The characters are one-dimensional; the sex scenes are by the numbers and the descriptions read like a ‘60’s sex manual. Its biggest flaw is it is incredibly misogynistic. Maybe, if you are seriously into BDSM you will like it, otherwise, do not bother.
If you don’t like vampire stories (which I see you said is the case) you might try one of her historical dramas, “Cry to Heaven” or “Feast of All Saints”… “Feast of All Saints” was definitely more of a literary fiction and out of the gothic horror genre. I would recommend it.
+1 on the “Cry to Heaven” rec. Having read nearly 8 books by Rice, “Cry” is by far my favorite; “Interview” is a close second.
I may get burned for saying this, but Rice climbed into the “insufferable egotist” category for me when she declared that she no longer needed an editor for her books in her response to the less-than-glowing Amazon reviews of “Blood Canticle.” Her post has disappeared from Amazon, but a web search of “From the Author to the Some of the Negative Voices Here, September 6, 2004” brings up many references to her reply, and several bloggers have copied and pasted her post verbatim to their blogs.
I tried reading an Anne Rice book once. I was in college and had this huge crush on this gothic girl down the hall in my dorm. I got to page 45 before I realized the girl couldn’t be awesome enough to warrant me reading such drivel.
I also despised “Pandora”, and I am definitely not fond of Anne Rice’s books, but you could have given that book away or donated it to a library. Someone else would have enjoyed reading it. Destroying a book is disrespectful, uncalled for, extreme and quite distasteful for someone who is an English Literature graduate. As much as I hate her books I am aware that she is an excellent writer. She wouldn’t have such a large fan base if she was a horrible. I enjoy reading your posts on your blog, but this shows your lack of respect for books and the craft, and shows your immaturity.
The book was falling apart and I was being overly flippant with my writing. I really didn’t expect people to get so upset as there are so many copies out there and I used to work in a charity book shop so I knew this wasn’t likely to sell. I love book craft and I will happily chop up books I enjoy to make art of them providing I know I can get another copy 🙂 I just like seeing text on things, which is why I made that pot. Thanks for the comment
Anne Rice posted your blog post on her Facebook page, that’s why you’re getting so many comments on it, FYI.
35% of mass market paperbacks end up in landfills in the US. I really don’t see whats so bad about using one for “found” art….
Anne Rice fans are wound up far too tight.
I am going through this thread and getting weary of the “cutting up/desecrating books = immaturity” argument. Not all bibliophiles worship the physical object of a book. You can get a large number of Anne Rice books in digital format nowadays, actually, and read from a large library wherever you go. There is no social code that requires a respect for books as a physical object, there is no norm to be violated, and honestly, the fact that she read the book before using it for the purpose she bought it for shows an amount of respect for the author that frankly, the author has not returned in her response to this review. Crafting is not immature, cutting up objects that you value is not immature, recycling is not immature. Commenting on someone’s blog attacking them personally for crafting, well, an argument could be made that that is very immature.
Speaking as a librarian, most library donations end up at the book sale. Those that aren’t sold are often pulped. Since I suspect there’s no shortage of used copies of Pandora for sale, the latter fate was the most likely one.
Interesting. I personally have always been fond of “Pandora” and wasn’t aware of this criticism you’ve heard about it – but, I was familiar with her and Marius from other stories before I read it, so I was already aware that her relationship with Marius did not last. They were constantly bickering and their relationship was doomed – rather than eternal marriage, they had a 200 year marriage followed by eternal divorce. It is true that Marius is obsessed but he also has a bad temper. Pandora left him, fyi.
Ah, that actually makes me feel relieved! I’ve not encountered them anywhere else I was wondering how their relationship played out in the other books. I guess the ending was a little dependent of that prior knowledge because I finished it assuming that were bound together for all eternity and kinda feeling bad for both of them! Thanks very much for the comment 🙂
You’re welcome. If you read the books in chronological order (of when they came out) first you meet Marius – he isn’t with Pandora and she isn’t even mentioned. He’s Armand’s maker and I think he’s introduced as such in the first book (Interview). Pandora doesn’t show up until later, I believe in Queen of the Damned. When she shows up, Marius is her ex, he seems like he’s totally into her, but she’s basically kind of ignoring him. So – the first books take place long after they already broke up, and all the bickering in “Pandora” shows why they broke up. Also if you read QOTD, you get the impression that Marius was pretty much always a lot more into Pandora than she was into him. “Pandora” was a stand out because Anne Rice rarely wrote any of the Vampire Chronicles from a female protagonist’s POV. They are almost all from male vampires’ viewpoints. I read some of these books 20 years ago so my memory is a little rusty.
Yes, it was one of the bad novels. I am a fan of her books and have some of them in my own library. Rice has a tendency to think that every word is going to be gold, which is what happens to all celebrities at some point but that’s normal. The problem is finding a real passion for the characters like she did in “Interview”. This book didn’t have it and it was pretty terrible. There are other bad pieces in her repertoire. She is a “good” writer, but certainly not a great one. In a hundred years, she will still be around but won’t be nearly as visible. She has a bad habit of falling off right around the climax of her stories with long descriptions that leave the reader having to reread to figure out what happened (Memnoch the Devil for example). She often uses very light characters as the protagonists and stars of novels like this one that leave us really bummed out that we wasted our time. She had taken a lot more care early on with “Interview” and “Queen of the Damned”. Then she started on the Mayfair series the first of which in itself is often a muddle and kind of icky. She’s complletely abandoned the best three characters she has ever had (Lestat, Louie, and Armand). We won’t ever get a really solid series with a satsifying conclusion. The people who can’t divorce themselves from their fandom are left with “fan fiction” which is just bastardized and is of no use to true readers who need the words from the actual author. It’s like “Gone With The Wind”‘s sequel “Scarlett” which was a total failure in so many areas, that it should have killed off fan fiction devotees forever. But Star Trek kept it going and so it goes…
Overall she has some very entertaining reads. It’s unfortunate that the movies are so bad. “Interview” doesn’t hold up as well with Tom Cruise as the lead mainly because over time people can’t see him as a character and only as Tom dressed up in costume. So his Lestat becomes weak and laughable when compared to the description in the book. It’s lacking in development and one can see how it needed less of the Hollywood blockbuster touch and more gritty realism.
There are gems of writing. Obviously she wouldn’t have been given all the money for her books had the publishers not thought they wouldn’t be able to cash in on them. But as a study over time, she is inconsistent. Entertaining for a light read but inconsistent nonetheless.
This review is garbage. If you get this emotional then you are not reviewing a book, you are having a mental breakdown. I am left wondering not what is not right about the novel by Anne Rice, but what is mentally wrong with the
Jesus Christ, Steven. If you are going to troll some poor woman’s blog at least have the god damn courtesy to speak in complete sentences (yes I see your dumb ass posted another comment finishing your aforementioned comment, just wanted to be the first one to point at you and laugh is all)
LOLZ!
Person who wrote this tripe of a review.
Oh, that’s not what is wrong with me at all…. But thank you for the comment 🙂
Steven, Steven, poor Steven… you do realize tripe is a noun, right?
You comments are insulting to professional trolls everywhere.
You do know that nouns can also be used as adjectives or modifiers, right?
Like:
…this flower of a girl
…he was a bear of a man
Your comments are insulting to grammar Nazis everywhere.
To judge Anne Rice as an author without reading her earlier works is, pointless. Anne Rice Fans are that because of her early works. The first three Vampire books and the Witching Hour books are what people got hooked on, and the promise of getting even little glimpses of that level of writing in other books, keeps fans coming back. I can’t even imagine reading one of her later books and looking for the genius that wrangles people into becoming devoted fans – it’s just not there.
But then why write the books unless she’s happy for them to stand alone? I just can’t get my head around this. Books need to be able to work in their own right, they can’t just lean on everything that came before. I read a lot of series’ in my time and almost all can work alone or at least intrigue me enough to read those that came before, not with Pandora and I consider that a failing. Thanks for the comment.
I understand that this book was not of your liking, and that is okay given that it is one of Anne Rice’s weaker novels, but when you claim that it is necessary for books of series to be able to stand on their own, you also seem to be implying in that it is necessary to hold all authors of book series to this particular standard. From this review, it appears that you have judged the entire collection of literary works of Anne Rice as poorly written and transparent based on your feelings about “Pandora”. This is not the best way to tackle the review of any author who has created a series that seems to hold a large following. Take for example Tolkien, who has been celebrated as one of the greatest writers of all time. There are reviews on the internet of his books “The Children of Hurin” and “The Silmarillion” that condemn the author as a poor user of prose and as an awkward writer. Reviews like these are limited and biased due to minimal knowledge of the author’s other works and the fact that one of the purposes of these specific books (like “Pandora”) is to reward those who are fans of the series and answer specific questions about details or characters of the major books.
In response to your overall opinion of Rice’s vampires all I can really say is that you need to read her novels. That might clear up a few things, but from what you have mentioned in the review, you also appear to have preconceived notion of what all vampire genre is supposed to include. Generalization of what vampire literature is unfortunate when writing reviews of it because you are not considering the development of vampire literature from Dracula to now and the elements and authors that influence its transformation. In Anne’s case, the vampires are not simple blood-drinkers, they are used to represent complex themes such as love and guilt, religion, redefinition of sensuality, and much more.
Also, I understand that you did not predict that the reaction or readership of your blog to be very large and thus felt that it would be acceptable to post an amateur review, however since you have gained so much publicity because of this post it might be advisable to compose your next book review with better writing and structure.
Your review would also be less of a target to Rice followers if you stopped playing the victim card with the edit-statement at the top of the page.
I think I’m going to stand by my ‘books standing alone’ opinion but accept that it’s a subjective opinion rather than a truth of literature. You’re very right about this blog post not intended for a huge audience, I’m blushing at how badly it’s structured, thanks for the comment though and the advice 🙂
So JLWELL, what you’re saying here and please correct me if I am wrong is all I have to do is write three good books and then I can write poo-poo of the keyboard for my adoring fans?
Oh thank god, this is a huge relief! I thought I was going to have to produce a whole CAREER worth of quality literature to support this naughty little writing habit!
Wow talk about tearing a book apart (literally and figuratively)
You mention that the story overviews previous books, personally that would make me want to read the previous books. I have read many (unfortunately not all) of Anne Rice’s books and what you have done is jumped into the middle of a series without knowing the beginning. To write a review like that without reading the previous books is like walking into the middle of a movie and trashin
LOL I hit the wrong button on my phone before I was finished. What I was trying to say is – it’s like walking into the middle of a movie Ans trashing it because you don’t know the whole story. I never respond to things like this, but the person who wrote that and showed off her “arts and crafts” made from the book needs to hear how disrespectful they are.
That’s fair enough, I do see how my tearing it apart could be viewed as disrespectful but I did just get my copy for 20p in a charity shop and there are plenty of other copies 🙂 I do know that Anne Rice’s vampire world is huge and complex but I didn’t feel that there were enough hooks to make me want to read the other books, just dense parts of referencing previous books that were hard to understand, let alone pique my interest. Thanks for the comment 🙂
Um, you’re an Idiot. She didn’t read ten pages and go all apeshit tearing apart Anne Rice. She read the book and she shared her opinion and your buddy Anne Rice started acting like a little kid with a skinned knee on her Facebook page.
Either Anne Rice has self esteem issues or she needs to learn how to have thicker skin.
When you create something, writing, painting, music, what have you… and share it with the public you have to understand in advance that not everyone is going to love it. I mean, even Babe Ruth Struck out.
When you create something, writing, painting, music, what have you… and share it with the public you have to understand in advance that not everyone is going to love it. I mean, even Babe Ruth Struck out.
As the author of this review should also understand.
I truly appreciate your desire to express your opinion but you realize that you have now removed a book from the world. Some person down the road will not be able to find this at a used book store or thrift shop, you have cost future readers the pleasure of having their own opinion.
I would also like to suggest that since you are not a vampire fan you try one of the other character types that Anne Rice writes about before you make any judgement about her writing. If you do not appreciate the subject matter it is hard to appreciate the interpretation. Do yourself a favor the next time you wish to review a book don’t start in the middle of the series and wonder why you have no passion for the subject, these characters are more developed that most ever become before the first page of the novel you selected. Would you read Pride and Prejudice from the middle?
Might I suggest the Sleeping Beauty series if you can handle erotica. My personal favorites are the Mayfair witch series as well as The Mummy.
I’ll have a look into that, though I feel my point still stands. Anne Rice shouldn’t depend on my starting at the beginning of her world, all her books should interest me in it. Red Dwarf certainly did that for me and I started at the end! Thanks for the comment 🙂
If you ask me the world of literature is better off with one less Anne Rice book.
You do realise that, according to the edit, this book was falling apart? No-one wants a book that’s falling apart, unless it’s incredibly rare – which a mass-market paperback isn’t. And anyone who desperately wants to read the book isn’t going to be handicapped by the destruction of this one copy; it’s available for Kindle as well as being available in the dead-tree format.
They can find 99+ copies on Amazon.com reasonably priced at once cent, however.
You really haven’t read enough of her books to make an opinion so harsh. Its not even constructive criticism… from one English Lit’ Grad to another – you clearly did not think this through enough. Anne Rice not only wraps around the environment, which may I add, she knows history, the details of the era are amazing; She has a way of making the reader feel like the character of the story… in depth. So you had a bad experience with a couple of books, not feeling satisfied – understandable! keep in mind it was ‘two’ books you read…there are more out there which are breathtaking, right from the beginning; a person can’t put the book down. To mention a few, ” Vittorio” & “The Vampire Armand” & “Merrick” absolutely deep and beautifully written. I mention the three books in particular because, they were the first 3 I read and was sucked in. I felt what the characters were feeling. From there on, I read all of them. Yes, I too was a little disappointed with Pandora; However, your opinion on two books does not speak of all her books. To give constructive criticism is one thing but to write maliciously is another. You did not only attack the book, you attacked the writer, I quote “So, It Turns Out I Was Wrong About Anne Rice.” It’s a poor ethic to have really, as one who likes to write herself. Stick with constructive criticism of a book if you expect any form of respect at all. I am confident with your style, you can do that. ~Cordially
I’m happy to read more, I know I’ve been wrong in the past (my previous blog on Terry Pratchett demonstrates that) so I’ll probably do that. I don’t think Anne Rice knows that much about history, though clearly she has done a level of research. She talks about vomitariums though, which never existed as places to … ahem… empty your stomach to carry on eating. And the Greeks in the story being happy to be slaves? Seems kinda…. rose tinted to say the least. I’m sorry if you felt I was too harsh, I was trying to be lighthearted and I seem to have upset rather a lot of fans! Thanks for the comment
I too am an English Lit graduate and I think there is a marked decline in quality in Rice’s work. You can hardly compare the silly, silly book that was Blood Canticle with Interview With the Vampire, for example. Taking ten pages to describe a room does not a great author make.
People keep saying this, must look into earlier books. Thanks for the comment 🙂
So let me get this straight… before someone can have an opinion on single, stand alone novel… you have to read all the authors others works before forming an opinion of the first novel?
I think Truman Capote just rolled over in his grave.
By the way (woman with an English graduate degree) it is decoupage not decopatch.
.
Sorry, I worked for a craft website and that’s what they called it there 🙂
Decopatch is a brand name for a particular kind of decoupage, that’s all.
Thank you! I just went from the name on the glue pot 🙂
It’s actually “découpage” you ignorant dolt.
I’m just finding it funny that you bring up the Eng Lit degree when moaning about a French-derived word. 😛
I have read the entire vanpire collection, and honestly I don’t even remember pandora. Its been so long that titles are escaping me, but if you do some research I’m sure you can find them : there are a few books that are very interesting, one telks you the story of the beginning of vampires, of how it came about and I loved it, it may have been queen of the damned ( please under no circumstances EVER watch that movie), another tells of Lestat meeting the devil, and him trying to convince Lestat that he is not a bad guy at all, it speaks of his disent from heaven and huminizes him. He is trying to get lestat to take his job, it is actually my favorite and I highly recommend it, I believe it was memnoch the devil b. Please google, ( it’s late and I’m a mother and I’m too tired to think lol) lastly, the vampire armond tells how he became a vampire, and has interesting historical references and uncommon sexual themes that I had never encountered previously without being offend. It really made me more open minded, because in that time period it was exceptable. Granted I was a teenager, so who knows if they would still pull me in like they did then, but I urge you to look those up and keep trying. And honestly interview with the vampire was pretty damn good, its sad. But good. Good luck, I do hope you consider taking my advice and that you
find one you enjoy
Also there was one About veronicas veil that was interesting*
“Anne Rice felt she didn’t want to go over common themes that she’d visited in previous vampire stories”
And because you were too lazy in your ‘goth’ youth to actually dig in to the author that effectively *made* modern vampires, nor start at the beginning at an older age, you desecrate a book. Well done.
Since it’s still better than Twilight in your opinion though, I’m curious if you desecrated those books as well (which I could care less about actually). If so, then by all means, I’m glad that at least the paper isn’t completely wasted on you.
I never owned Twilight, I was bet £29 to read them. And paper is never wasted when I’m around. Thanks for the comment!
Anne Rice did no such thing! She made her vampires which are not very different from the movie ones. (And when did Goth start having anything to do with vampires? I’m showing my age here, aren’t I?) And if you’ve read her erotica and her porn, you really can see what she’s getting at in the vampire books and it’s not about vampirism as done by anyone else. So if you like BDSM vampires, go for it! Anne Rice is your woman! But I think you may want to start with Interview, as far as I can tell that’s the one non-fans say is actually interesting.
And in order to desecrate something it has to be sacred. Books are not sacred. Some of us are terribly fond of them and have trouble watching them taken apart, but sacred? No. Also mass market paperbacks have been ‘returned’ to the publisher by stripping them, forever. It’s less done now, I believe, but that’s how it used to be done. Stripping is stripping off the cover, sending the cover back and throwing away the cover-less book. That’s why you get notices to not buy a book without a cover.
Anne’s novels are amazing. She goes to great creative lengths to tell the stories of each of her characters lives. For one, you can’t start reading the Vampire Chronicles with a book in the middle. To understand the story in its entirety you must begin with book one…. Each book is a continuation of the last. The series is the story as a whole. So you bashing her after reading one book, that you couldn’t have understood due to not reading any of the ones that came before it makes your opinion obsolete. Don’t judge an amazing author if you do not have the proof to back it up. As for the defacing of the book, that just shows your immaturity…. You could have donated it to a shelter or even a correctional facility…next time you feel the need to insult a world renowned author….make sure you have read enough of their work to have the right to judge.
Jesus, haven’t the homeless suffered enough? Aren’t prisoners supposed to be protected from cruel and unusual punishment?
Shame on you, have you no heart?
And these “prisoners” choose you to speak for all of them? Because you hold the expert opinion on what prisoners and homeless people would and would not read?
Shame on them.
The “right to judge” is not earned by reading someone’s entire collective work. For example, you are very comfortable with your “right to judge” the author of this blog, but I would bet you haven’t so much as read one other post on this blog in order to earn that right. You don’t like this blog entry, chances are you won’t read any of the other entries on this blog. The author didn’t like a book by Anne Rice, she reserves the right to not seek out any more Anne Rice books. That is the nature of putting art out into the universe. Clearly, the owner of this blog can handle the consequences while Rice has cry into her stacks of money and sick her fanbase on someone over a withering opinion on one book.
Not liking a book and writing your opinion on it? That’s all good and well. Trashing the author? Not even remotely okay. Keep the criticism of the book objective and pertinent to it. No need to bring in the writer in a personal manner.
I cannot help but wonder why you read this one if you knew it was part of a larger, encompassing story arc. Yet you seem upset that she made “unexplained” references to things mentioned in other books of the Vampire Chronicles; that is what the other books are for. Most people when embarking on reading a series generally start at the beginning. If you want to know what Anne Rice is referring to, read the other books first! It would be like if someone started reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and was confused by references to Harry’s dead parents and being “The Boy Who Lived.” That is common sense to most people, but what can we expect from someone who ritualistically destroys a book because they lack a not-fully formed opinion of the author and her other works? Methinks that you are merely trying to be contrary to popular opinion, and in Anne Rice’s case she deserves her popularity. The woman is a gifted and successful writer, one who has sold many copies of her work.
Read a few more of her books to get a fully-matured opinion, then review it.
P.S. Put away the scalpel knife. I know you did not like the book but that sort of desecration is akin to someone pissing in a baptismal font.
Once again, books is series’ don’t get a pass. I have started many book series in the wrong place and still loved them. This was an example where it didn’t and I feel that is a lacking on the author.
No, tearing up a book to decorate stuff is not akin to pissing in a font in my opinion, unless the book is unique for some reason. Books get tired, that book was falling apart so I made something from it. If I’d given it to charity shop it would have been thrown away, I know because I used to volunteer at one.
Thanks for the comment 🙂
Okay so I’m pretty sure someone will think I’m nuts for part, it not all of what I’m going to say….
You’re right, This is one of the weaker ones in her series and doesn’t work well as a stand-alone…HOWEVER, I will say, if you decide to give her earlier work a go, you will find that because they are stronger, it is not necessary to read them in series – I didn’t. I’m from a country where you came across her books few and far between. Therefore I read them as I got them and though I am an avid fan of Ms Rice, I will not lie and say that all of her books are amazing, the latter books in the new chronicles didn’t have the same spark….maybe it’s a refection of things in her life at that time, I dunno….it just wasn’t the same….but how can we expect every book to be a gem to everyone???
Also, while I hold books most sacred, I think the fact that you gave it a ‘new life’ is pretty cool. You bought a second-hand book that someone else didn’t want, read it…tired to love it…didn’t, but turned it into something you would at the very least like. kudos to you for doing that. What would they are preferred you do? Chuck it? Burn it? You up-cycled it. I bet if you hadn’t blogged about not liking the book and posted the stuff you made out of the pages on etsy folks would be all “OMG so cool!!” “Shut up! Take my money!”
All this hate is literally spawned from the fact that you are expressing your own fucking opinion.
I must say this though – comparing Rice to Meyer….NO! ….just…NO! Vampires don’t sparkle…that was the worst attempt at reinventing the vampire….EVER.
Ahhhhh there is nothing like the irony of the blogger aka wannabe writer criticizing the work of a successful published author… you say that you think that Anne Rice was very fortunate that the internet was not widespread when she was popular? I say that you are very fortunate that the internet exists at all as where else would you get the opportunity to post your thoughts and flawed opinions? Certainly no one would ever pay a cent to read your writings 🙂
I’m sure Anne Rice doesn’t mind about my comments, thanks for yours 🙂
Anne rice posted them on facebook.
Pretty sad to sic your fans on some blogger because you can’t take the heat.
Anne Rice has a track record of being hypersensitive about criticism of her work – arguing with reviewers etc. For an example of what I mean Google the words “interrogating this text from the wrong perspective”.
Unleashing the ravening fans on you is unprofessional but, sadly, entirely in character.
I loved “Interview”, liked the first half of TVL, then dragged myself to the end of QotD before giving up hope that it would improve again. Much the same problem that you identified: it turned into hagiography about Lestat. But if you want something about actual vampires who drink blood and kill people, and you haven’t been completely turned off AR by this incident, I recommend reading “Interview” and telling yourself there were no sequels.
Lol, thanks for the comment, I’ve learned a lesson today
So where did you get published, Steve? Oh wait… on a blog. Airing your own flawed opinion on someone else’s flawed opinion. Logic bomb in Aisle Five!
You cant really judge an author by just one book or two. Different books are written in different ways. You cant say she isn’t good at writing just because of one simple book. That would be like saying J.K.Rowling is the best author because of Harry Potter series, that would be judging an author without reading their other works.
But the issue is that I didn’t really WANT to read the other books. Even if it’s towards the end of a series then the author still needs to make it able to stand up alone. Look at The Babysitter Club books, I used to hate how every character is introduced in EVERY BOOK but that made it very accessible. I know that it would be dull and tedious to read a lot about the actions and feelings of being a vampire in every book but by leaving that out I kinda feel like it made the story less dynamic and interesting. Red Dwarf is a great example of a series of books where any of them make you want to read more, and I started at the end. Thanks for the comment 🙂
To reply in regard to Anne Rice sending her fans here: Yes she posted the blog article location, but she in no way asked anyone to make a comment here whatsoever. I don’t know if she initially found the blog. Many things she posts are originally sent to her by others. All she asked was for people to state how they felt, not here but in FB. At no time did she say make comments one way or another to you directly. Some of us chose to do so. Personally I like the Witching Hour books the best. I didn’t like the way you did your review. No one needs to make a personal attack directed at the author when doing a review. You didn’t like it fine. I am sure she is aware that there will be people who will not like this book. For me it was the way you went about it. I’m sure if I did that in regard to any well known author I would get reactions as well.
While I am not happy with your review of Anne Rice’s Pandora, I cannot completely disagree with your point that a book needs to stand alone.
Being an Anne Rice fan since the age of nine (almost 20 years ago – oh how time flies by!), I have since then fallen in love with her evocative, and at most times, erotic form of writing, whether it was her vampire/witch series, her orphan books, or her Sleeping Beauty series.
I first read The Vampire Lestat, and it was the story and evolution of Lestat that lured me into the vampire-verse. I liked Interview just as much, and Queen of the Damned and The Vampire Armand just a little bit less.
I have just read Pandora about a year ago, and I don’t know if it was just the time that passed since my last Rice book or the scarcity of time I have left since taking on a full time job that has led me to finish just less than half of the book. I honestly had to drag myself through the first five chapters by telling myself “This is part of the story, therefore I must like this book.” But I just couldn’t. Don’t get me wrong, it still had all the aspects of the other books that I liked: the style of writing, the pacing, the deeply written characters, but to me there was something missing. A spark that I used to have with her other books.
I can honestly say that if I had been introduced to Pandora before TVL, I might have had second thoughts about the whole series, only because I find Lestat to be a more engaging (and deliciously seductive) character. But my personal taste would have still allowed me to find time to read her other works.
On a different note, her standalone novel, Belinda, is also good. Nothing to do at all with any of her other books. Violin is another that I really liked.
In response to people calling Anne Rice “hypersensitive”, it must be known that most of the time, reviews, whether good or bad, are sent to her by other readers. She posts them all and asks for her followers’ opinions. As an author managing a Facebook page, it is important to always keep things interactive to not lose interest (but the discussion of Facebook’s questionable advertising methods should be discussed in a different thread). As most tech-savvy people know, as simple comment or question on the internet can be interpreted into so many things. It just so happened that Ms. Rice has a lot of rabidly loyal readers that take negatives to the extreme. If she had only posted raving reviews on her page, I bet she would be labelled “overly Narcissistic” by now. This goes for any other author on the planet.
I don’t know if you are a fan of fantasy Miss Articulate, but I would like to point out “The Belgariad” by David and Leigh Eddings (a five book series) as a personal choice for a series that does not exactly have standalone books, but reading them out of order still made me want to read more. Also, I would say The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. While I did not rave over every book, most of them still made me want to finish each and start another if just for closure of certain points.
This publicity for MA should die down in a week or two. But at least you’ve opened up a whole new number of possible readers (beyond this topic) because of this post. 🙂
Different strokes for different folks.
Agreed, thanks for the comment! 🙂
I have this book and the whole point of the book is to tell Pandora’s story, the means suprisely all aspects of her life. The boring everyday things. Instead of cutting it up like you did, why didn’t you just give back to the charity store as a donation? Instead of cutting it up like a child who was upset.
I wasn’t upset, or rather, that wasn’t the reason I chopped it up. I intend to do this with a lot of books, including ones I enjoy (providing they’re not out of print). Books get tired out and that copy already had pages falling out.
Interview with the Vampire is the first novel in the series. It’s themes and characters have been replicated in countless movies, TV shows, and novels since its publication in 1976, including the Twilight Saga. Pandora is one of the later novels and even fans say it isn’t one of her best. That being said, Anne Rice at her worst is nowhere near as bad as Stephanie Meyer at her best. The Twilight novels are badly written, even for teen fiction. Meyer’s lack of basic detail and overuse of certain metaphors and similes ruins any attempt for the reader to relate to the setting or characters. Not that any one would want to, her characters are flat, lifeless, and unbelievable. Anne Rice, on the other hand, is renowned for her ability to create rich and historically accurate settings for her characters. Rice’s characters are so well developed that you almost believe you could run into one of them if the circumstances were right. I could go on but, I’m sure legions of Rice’s Facebook followers have already had this conversation with you. And, even though I disliked Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and LOATHED Breaking Dawn, I would never destroy the books. It seems like such a waste, when you could have just given it back to a charity bookstore, donated it to local library, or sold it at a yard sale. You paid for it, so you have the right to do with it as you please, but why would you create a work of art you’ll look at every day with words you loathed reading?
I’m really surprised at the level of annoyance I’ve created with my craft side to this review. This is not a rare book and I love words in general, so I simply don’t see the harm. I’ve really enjoyed making my new tub and I’d happily use books I really love if I know I can get another copy quickly.
With regards to Anne Rice vs Stephanie Meyer, Anne Rice is a better writer but I just felt that the two were very similar in the lead characters interactions. In neither case does one really “get to know” the other and the annoying problems with frustrating conversations was just something I really remembered in the interactions between Bella and Edward. The two just seemed very similar to me.
Thanks for the comment!
I’m late to this party, but I have a suggestion for you. You might consider doing a post on altered books or book sculpture with links to appropriate pages. I recall some time ago seeing stories on the web about exquisite book sculptures left anonymously at the Boston Public Library and other locations. I’ve also seen posts on Facebook and on library blogs about creative ways to give life to old books.
I am a library worker and a book lover, but I have to say that donations to libraries, like charity shops, prisons, hospitals, etc. are the sops people give their consciences when they need to clean the shelves and can’t make the hard decisions themselves. I hate weeding, but it has to be done and if an art school teacher takes the weeds and uses them to nurture her student’s creativity, more power to her. Anyway, that’s my long-winded way of saying that repurposing a mass market paperback is not desecration. So, snip away.
BTW, I’m not a Rice fan, though I did read Interview & Lestat, and I have to say that your review seems completely legitimate to me. I doubt that reading the early work would improve your opinion of Pandora if the main character reminded you of Bella in any way at all. Nor did I think you attacked the author personally in your review. So please stop apologizing. Just send Ms. Rice a thank you note and get on with your life.
I can’t stop apologising! Curse my British genes! 😛 Thanks for the comment, I’m giving further papercraft posts a good long think
Its themes…
I recommend reading The Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned (and the ones that follow if you like). I did not like Interview either and I heard it is perfectly alright to skip ahead and come back to it later if you want. As for Pandora, I think you were right when you said that some things had been left out, probably because Anne didn’t want to go into it again. One thing mentioned in other books is that women for whatever reason seem to be incomprehensible to the male vampires after they are turned. They just don’t get us. lol. There was also a slight lack of depth in Pandora, the book, that, I think, is in the other books, but the way Anne describes a room stays throughout the series. I know you’ve given it two goes, but I recommend a third as those two books are the two that are the least fun in my opinion. 🙂
Thanks and I will try to find more to read by her. Maybe Anne Rice’s females aren’t as good to follow, I’ll look into Queen of The Damned next. Thanks for the comment 🙂
But why would you start with Pandora?
You yourself admit that you’ve heard it’s one of the weaker novels. Why start with that and then judge everything from what you read in that book?
How about this. You mail me your adress and I will mail you my copy of interview with the vampire? : ) Then you won’t have to wait for it to show up in a charity shop and when you are done with it you can chop it up and turn it into a hat!
And no, I’m not trolling.
That’s so sweet! I only found out that Pandora was considered the weakest after I read it when I was trying to gauge if it was a fair look at Anne Rice’s work. Apparently it’s not 🙂 I’m looking out for my own copy of Interview with a Vampire to get a fairer idea. But my point about series’ still stands, I’ve read final books of series’ that I’ve loved so much I’ve had to go back and read more on more than one occasion. I simply assumed I’d find that with Anne Rice.
Sadly on the vampire chronicles in general I have to agree with your blog. I have been a Rice fan since discovering the Mayfair Witches many years ago. I really enjoyed them with the exception of Taltos which I felt didn’t quite have the same flow as the other 2 books. I was excited to find the Vampire Chronicles thinking they would be as good as the Mayfair Witches series. But alas it was not to be. I did enjoy Interview with a Vampire, but found the Vampire Lestat tedious and after many months am still struggling through it. It is the sort of book you read a few sentences then get bored and put it down! I have been put off reading the remaining Vampire Chronicles books. I love that you have up-cycled this book into something useful. I am a great lover of books and value my books highly, but I think your re-use of the damaged book was clever! It is certainly not akin to burning a bible or what ever other ridiculous suggestions have been made above! Not all books can be saved as not all people hold them with the same air of respect as others. You have saved this book from becoming just another item in the landfill we are filling our world with. I will not be pursuing the Vampire Chronicles but there are a great many other Anne Rice books out there (I don’t think I will waste my money buying them until I have read them first though!). I will say with regards to the author’s reaction I am most disappointed. There are a great many critics out there and to take such offense to a small blogger is a bit silly – and to sic hordes of fans onto said blogger is disgraceful and embarrassing. I have unliked Anne Rice’s facebook page as I do not wish to be seen as a part of the attacking horde, nor do I wish to be seen to support such childish carry on.
Best of luck with your future reviews and up-cycling projects! Oh and for the entertainment value provided by the ridiculous little rants and childish “I hope a dragon eats your scissors” HAHAHA!!
Okay I respect your views on the book, but you’ve just made yourself look like a 2 year old having a temper tantrum. I wouldn’t even call this a review, id call it a mix of spite, attention-seeking and PMT. Why cut a book up and post pictures otherwise? Judging by this and the language used, you’ll never be a decent reviewer or writer.
I actually cringed for you reading this.
Wasn’t my intention, sorry to offend. I was looking for a book to tear up and experiment with and that was the book I enjoyed least that was currently in my home 🙂
Well id suggest next time you just print off your reviews and use them 🙂
I am going through this thread and getting weary of the “cutting up/desecrating books = immaturity” argument. Not all bibliophiles worship the physical object of a book. You can get a large number of Anne Rice books in digital format nowadays, actually, and read from a large library wherever you go. There is no social code that requires a respect for books as a physical object, there is no norm to be violated, and honestly, the fact that she read the book before using it for the purpose she bought it for shows an amount of respect for the author that frankly, the author has not returned in her response to this review. Crafting is not immature, cutting up objects that you value is not immature, recycling is not immature. Commenting on someone’s blog attacking them personally for crafting, well, an argument could be made that that is very immature.
I think the main problem you’ve encountered is that you’ve built up such hype for an author in your head, without actually reading any of her work, that by the time you’ve picked up one of her books it couldn’t possibly live up to your idealised version of her vampire literature. I do wonder what you were expecting though, to be so disappointed as to resort to vandalism.
The other problem is that you’ve essentially jumped into the middle of a series with a novella – it’s not a full novel – that is meant as an accompaniment to the Vampire Chronicles. Pandora gives you the back story of one of the lesser known vampires, it is not an account of her vampire years, it’s meant to give us some understanding of her love/hate relationship with Marius. Pandora never had a full novel, I wish she had, but this is just a little bit of background to add to the rest of the Vampire Chronicles.
If you’ve read any book series, you’ll know that to jump in the middle and randomly pick up a book can greatly diminish the story of that book as there will be assumed knowledge, not to mention giving you spoilers for earlier books. It’s quite common for authors of long series to give us novellas to fill in the gaps that aren’t covered in the main novels. These novellas follow the sequence of the main story and, as such, should also be read in order. Would you do the same with a TV show, watch it out of order and then complain that it didn’t make sense or didn’t explain things enough for you?
And Twilight? Really? Again, it’s a novella and it’s nothing like Twilight. You’re getting a particular view of the world because it’s Pandora’s story in Pandora’s words, ie a first person account. The destruction of a book like that is deplorable. I briefly thought of destroying Dan Brown’s ‘The Da Vinci Code’ but stopped because I couldn’t bring myself to destroy a book in such a way. It’s a book I hated but destroying a book is a symbolic action that I don’t think I could bring myself to do.
It is not “vandalism” when it is her property. She is free to do with it as she pleases.
In a legal sense, yes. But to a writer, their words are their art. This was a public display of someone saying “this is what I think your art is worth”. Just because someone is free to do something that’s perfectly legal doesn’t mean they should. After all, the people aiming insult after insult at the reviewer are free do do this legally, but do you think they should, or should they consider their actions more carefullly?
If she’d been honest and said the book was falling apart so she decided to be creative with it, I really don’t think the reactions would have been as strong. What people are reacting to (and this does not excuse the bullying in any way) is the reviewer making a post entitled “Punishing Pandora” and starting with this:
“Last night, I took a craft knife to Anne Rice’s Pandora and I took out every page. I was left with the gutted remains of the cover itself and threw that away. It’s the first time I have ever desecrated a book in such a way and I can’t deny that it wasn’t made all the more enjoyable by how much I really and truly loathed that book.”
That isn’t someone throwing away an unwanted book, it’s vandalism. Perhaps not in a strict legal sense, but then I don’t judge everything form a ‘legal/not legal; point of view.
Ann, the book was hers to do with as she pleased. She didn’t shred it and discard the shreds. She turned it into a work of art she could feel good about. While the comparison to twilight is a bit harsh for an Anne Rice fan to read, she is entitled to her own opinion. If they seem similar to her, then she can certainly share that observation.
In your reply to BIGBOBBIEK, you quote the sensational opening statements the blogger used in the original post. Although she didn’t expect this large of a response, she certainly wanted to catch the interest of those who might view the post. If you don’t catch the audience’s attention in the first few lines of text, you won’t hold their interest through an entire article. This is especially true of a blog post. A sensational opening statement is actually a good writing strategy. It clearly got your interest. And when it comes right down to it, good reviews/replies or bad, the fact that someone actually read what you wrote is a step in the right direction.
I will probably be back to see what else Miss Articulate has to say. I never would have known about the blog if it were not for Anne Rice’s facebook page, but anyone who can stir up this much controversy with a single book review is worth reading.
Mama Rice saw what you did to her book and sent all us minions out to defend her honor. Mean mean old blogger. 😡 You should be ashamed acting like a priest destroying the books he doesn’t like shame!
Mama Rice needs to get a life. As do you, all of you.
This thread has left me with a mental image of Anne Rice obsessively googling her own name twice a day in case anybody out there has failed to appreciate her GENIUS. “o noes! a blogger has disrespected my shiny shiny words! DISPATCH THE MINIONS AT ONCE!”
I recommend Neil Gaiman as an example of how authors should deal with criticism without looking painfully insecure.
Nicely put! What an ego!
BAHAHA dispatch the minions came the shrill cry!
She only asked us to read the blog and then start a discussion about how we felt in Facebook and not here. People chose to post as I did, a long time reader of Anne Rice books who knew that you cannot judge an author by one book. Critiquing the book is fine but critiquing the writing ability of the author was only opinion but done in a nasty way. Read Queen of the Damned. I was very impressed by that book and the movie did not do it justice but all the same I knew that before I watched it because of the detail of the book. I liked both.
“Mama Rice saw what you did to her book and sent all us minions out to defend her honor.” Really?! You don’t think ‘mama Rice’ can defend her own honor? LOL
I love all of the Anne Rice novels, however, I know a lot of people that don’t enjoy her Vampire Chronicles because they are too different from what they love about OTHER vampire novels. If you truly want to try to read more from her, I would suggest The Witching Hour…. It’s quite long, and very detailed, but it’s the first of The Mayfair series so you don’t need to read anything else for it to come together. I also enjoyed Cry to Heaven and Servant of the Bones a great deal, and those both stand alone as they are not part of a series. I’m sorry that so many people have felt compelled to attack you for your opinion, I love Anne Rice and have a hard time understanding it when people don’t enjoy her novels, but everyone has their own idea about what makes a good book. As for cutting up the book, just remember, most of the nay sayers probably wouldn’t have cared if you had cut up Mein Kampf….
I just wanted to say that I admire your courage to keep this blog up after all the hateful comments. I did get here from Anne Rices fan page and I just wanted you to know not all of us are crazy rabid fans who can’t appreciate someone else’s point of view, even if we don’t totally agree with it. I would like to defend Anne herself though. Not being one of her fans you may not realize that she shares quite a few bad reviews of her book, I could be wrong but I believe she does this not because she wants to have her followers to attack you(although I see they have) but to show that even someone as popular as her has critics and maybe room to grow and change. Thant seems to me to be the way she talks about critics to me anyway. Also I can’t fault you review of Pandora too much except to say I believe if you had read some of the other books you may have enjoyed it a little more. If you do give Anne another chance please don’t read Interview as I believe you will have the same problems with that book. I would suggest The Vampire Lestat It’s a good one and does have quite a bit of the vampire feel that I think you were expecting. Thank you for being honest in your review, that’s the whole point, and the world would be very boring if we all agreed.
I’m honestly a bit surprised by how cruel some of these comments have been. Everyone has their own opinion, and this just happens to be yours. I’m personally kind of an on-again off-again fan of Anne Rice, and haven’t read this book, or a good chunk of her others. What I have read, I enjoyed, though it could be wordy and over-done at times.
No matter though, as it’s just an opinion! I honestly came to say, don’t think she singled you out, I’ve seen many reviews of her works, both good and bad, that she’s shared. I’ve always thought she did it to get people to take another look, with someone else’s opinion in mind? And to try getting conversations going about what different people think, rather than to cause to poster to feel singled out. Unfortunately, these things happen with such a large fan base. Just keep doing what you’re doing though, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and it’s incredibly thoughtless and rude that others are being so forgetful of that.
My goodness, Anne Rice fans! Lighten up. She’s just expressing an opinion and has added a funny twist to the post. The book was FALLING APART! She can do whatever she wants with it. Anne Rice does not need this kind of defence. She’s a talented and successful author and this one blogger doesn’t have the power to take her down.
Oh… How you underestimate me…, (I’m joking Anne Rice fans! I’m joking!!!)
I just wanted to let you know (not that you care at all) that I think you may have missed the draw of simplicity and beauty in this book. Try another of hers just so you can say you’ve been fair before you form your final opion.
BUT as a follower of Anne’s (that IS how I found your page).. Rock on! Everyone has their own opinon, you most certainly are entitled to yours! Good for you for keep up your evaluation despite the ignorant, tawdry and down right rude posts that are coming to you. Don’t stop!
PS… good for you for recycling 🙂
I will never stop, I’m a true addict 🙂 thanks for the comment
Really, sorry people are flooding you page with extremist comments.
I’ve read almost all Anne Rice’s books, including Pandora, and I have to say Pandora, even in context, was absolutely horrible.
I hated it.
And it was exactly because of what you said, because of how unreal it seemed in the fantasy world. How Pandora as a character didn’t transmit a thing to me.
Finally, having said that, I did enjoy a lot almost every other novel I read of her. You should give a chance to novels such as Interview With a Vampire, and if you’re not so interested in vampires then novels such as Violin or the witches saga (The WItching Hour is the first).
Regarding the discussion of wether the book should be able to stand alone or not, I believe it quite an issue. I had read many books of the other series before coming across it and still I didn’t understand many of the references. Anyway I cannot say that books written in “saga” format should not rely on the information given on previous books so as not to repeat themselves.
I apologize if I made any mistakes, English is not my mother tongue :).
Thanks for the comment, I’m glad you liked the points I made and the recommendations are great 🙂
For English not being your mother tongue, you are the most articulate and sensible person on here so far with what you write. I agree with this 100%. Interview was great. Lestat was good. Queen of the Damned was ok. Beyond that it just gave me a very ‘meh’ feeling.
You are indeed a “small scale blogger” and for that I will forgive you. Not for you under-informed and inaccurate review. You are entitled to your opinion and the expression of that opinion. However, no true writer would ever physically destroy someone else’s work and then add insult to injury by publicizing they did such a thing. You do not have to like everything you read. In fact, you would be a poor reviewer if you did; but respect the pen! And yes that goes for Mein Kampf too…
But the alternative would have been it most likely thrown in a bin. That makes me sad, no matter what the book is. I have kept and tried to save so many books, beautiful vintage books that smell of heaven and contain information that is no longer published. Not comparable to a flimsy paperback from a popular author. Thank you for the comment, though it does come across as a bit condescending, but I’ll forgive you 🙂
Do you know how many unsold, unsellable, and ridiculously out-of-date books get chucked by bookstores, secondhand shops, and even charity organizations? I know I’ve personally dumped hundreds of thousands of books into bulk recycling, and I was one employee in one store where pretty much *everyone* was an avid reader to one extent or another. Sometimes books just reach a dead end and it’s better that they get recycled in one way or another than end up in a landfill.
Would I chuck Mein Kampf just because it was Mein Kampf? No; as abhorrent as the ideas it contains are it’s a key part of understanding that period of history, and learning from it can help prevent other atrocities. Would I chuck Mein Kampf because that copy was missing fifty pages out of the middle/the binding was falling apart/it was covered in mold/it reeked of cat piss/ AND oh look, there are literally a dozen more copies in stock just in this one store alone, with several million copies in worldwide circulation? Of course, and since it it’s fucking HITLER, why not relish it a little as I rip it up to go into recycling?
I am going through this thread and getting weary of the “cutting up/desecrating books = immaturity” argument. Not all bibliophiles worship the physical object of a book. You can get a large number of Anne Rice books in digital format nowadays, actually, and read from a large library wherever you go. There is no social code that requires a respect for books as a physical object, there is no norm to be violated, and honestly, the fact that she read the book before using it for the purpose she bought it for shows an amount of respect for the author that frankly, the author has not returned in her response to this review. Crafting is not immature, cutting up objects that you value is not immature, recycling is not immature. Commenting on someone’s blog attacking them personally for crafting, well, an argument could be made that that is very immature.
“No true writer…” Is that like “No true Scotsman”? So you don’t have to confront the terrible, awful fact that not everyone worships the physical form of the book – instead, you can just dismiss what they’ve got to say? I’m getting close here, aren’t I?
I’m a writer and I’ve destroyed books. Oh, the horror. Whatever shall I do.
I like Anne Rice. That being said, I also like having the freedom to express myself! Way to go.
P.S.your craft is cute
Thanks! I wanna make more!
Ok, so I am an Anne Rice fan, but as I also was not a big fan of Pandora, do not argue your review. I do think these comments say something sad about fans that everyone is acting like a gang.
As I also like to craft, I have to compliment you on the lovely decopatch. I have been known to desecrate books in the past, in the name of crafts of course.
Keep up the good work and don’t let the harsher points of the internet get you down!
I was also directed here by Anne Rice’s FB page. However, she did NOT say “go here and harass this woman”. Anne often posts negative reviews of her books and often asks her fans to give feedback – even negative – on her books. It has always been my impression from what she has said that she welcomes the criticism as well as the compliments. She is the kind of person who thinks about every subject from all sides. I think she would be sad to see some of the vitriol directed at you by her fans. I, admittedly, didn’t read all of the comments here. But I read enough to get the gist and I see many people are under the impression that Pandora is part of the vampire series which it is not. It WAS meant as a companion novella to the series to give a little more back story on a lesser character within the series. I am a long time fan of Anne’s. In fact, I have been a fan so long that I remember going into bookstores looking for her next book and the people in there not knowing who she was. So I guess I’ve been a fan since before it was cool to be so. I’ve been fortunate to meet her many times and have read everything she has written. Honestly, I don’t love all of her books. There are some that are much better than others and a few that are great. I’ve always said that she is the kind of writer that you either love or you hate but can rarely be ambivalent about. It might have drawn less ire if you had mentioned at the beginning that you intended all along to use the pages of the book for an art project but I imagine your initial urge to not do so was that you were employing a bit of dramatic license. I certainly don’t fault you for that. Even if you had though, there are those that would still be up in arms about cutting up a book; any book. These are the same people that show disdain for those of us who use Kindles for reading rather than “real” books. Nevermind that if I owned every book I have read there would be no room for furniture in my house. I’m not imploring you to read more Anne Rice so that you come to the “right” opinion of her. I’m not suggesting that you have no literary taste because she’s not your thing. You have every right to your opinion and Anne would fight for you to have the right to exercise that opinion. That, in essence, is why I am commenting. While I won’t profess to be her best friend or even someone who’s name she would even remember; I have met Anne quite a few times and had some very good conversations with her. She is strident and passionate about those things she believes in but I truly don’t believe she “sicked” her fans on you. When someone in comments on her FB page said they weren’t aware Pandora was a “weak” novel Anne replied, “I didn’t know it was a weak novel either, but the author is some times not the best judge.”. She certainly has a sharp tongue when she wants to and she certainly could have employed it in this circumstance. But as you see, she did not.
I concur. Anne did not direct anyone here with the intention of bashing the reviewer. And I do also find it interesting that the people who are very loudly commenting that everyone is entitled to their opinion, are essentially bashing those giving opinion on an opinion. The curse that is the internet.
Anne Rice did all but flat-out direct her fans to come here. She posted to Facebook and Tweeted about it, When she posted on Facebook, the first person who disagreed with Rice and said the blogger bought the book, so “she can do whatever the hell she wants with it” received a personal response from Rice, who quoted Miss Articulate’s About page, directly encouraging her fans to personally insult Miss Articulate. A few minutes later, Anne Rice thanked everyone for a “spirited discussion” — i.e. mostly negative, personal attacks on Miss Articulate — then said ” I hope Miss Articulate is pleased with the numbers who have discovered her blog.”
She could hardly have been more obvious about her intent. She has left comments up on her Facebook account calling Miss Articulate a stalker, a Nazi, mentally ill, and there are even a few threats in there. Many fans claim Miss Articulate just wanted the attention, which, as you know, Anne Rice herself suggested very early on.
Rice also suggested Miss Articulate was sexist, saying “This is not the first time I’ve seen a reader offended by Pandora’s strength and confidence” but her male characters are “received” differently.
I do not in the least believe Rice would be sad to see this vitriol. I am firmly convinced this is exactly the reaction she wanted. It’s not as though this is the first time she has flown off the handle about a poor review.
Thanks for the comment, I did see her post my bio on her FB which was odd and unnecessary. I want unaware she herself had gotten involved, don’t particularly get how I’m a stalker 😛 thanks for the comment
Thanks for the comment and I have to agree
Stacia~
Wrong, wrong and wrong. You don’t have a clue what you are talking about. Anne has posted more than 100 reviews and links to reviews over the last few months. Good and bad and she always asks people to be decent. She can’t help that so many of her fan are like you – ignorant! Pull your head out and don’t pretend you know what Anne’s intentions are. I have been on her page since day one and know you are DEAD WRONG!
I’m really disappointed in my fellow Anne Rice fans. You have just as much right not to enjoy the book as any one of us has to dislike any other book out there. What upsets me is how immature those who have commented have been. I had assumed we were a little more civilized than some other fan presences on the internet, but I guess I’m wrong. I’m almost disgusted to the point of not wanting to be associated with such a group. I was so inspired by The Vampire Chronicles as a teen and I thought if there was ever a group of people I could always relate to, it was my fellow fans of these books. I’m so sad to realize that isn’t true. This is a damn book review and that’s fine that you didn’t like it, and I’m impressed that instead of throwing the whole book away, you used the pages for crafts. That really is impressive to me, to use words you disagreed with as a tool in a creative outlet of your own. I’m glad I always borrowed these books from my mother. Because now I don’t have to go through the heartbreak of giving them away.
I’m so sorry that Anne’s fans have descended on your blog like a pack of hungry wolves. I’ve read most of the comments on Anne’s Facebook page and they are terrible. I’ve always been a huge fan of hers, but after this stunt, I will not be purchasing any more of her books. I don’t like how Anne has handled this at all and her fans are showing very little class. There are more productive ways of venting about a negative book review. They didn’t need to make this so personal.
Anne always posts these reviews and then acts surprised when the blogger is attacked. It’s a vile, nasty trick of hers to manipulate some pretty dim people into being her attack dogs. TIme and time again, decent fans have asked her to stop doing this or at least tell her fans not to come at the reviewers with ad-hominem attacks; she never does.
I also unfortunately read the first few pages of comments on the FB post, distressing stuff to be sure. But I don’t mind, it’s just the Internet and I’m getting lots of helpful recommendations and critique from it 🙂
This is the reason people posted here. You are blaming Anne Rice for the opinions of others. She had nothing to do with anything anyone chose to write here. The blog article was very personal. That is why others made their comments personal. Why have a comment section if people cannot say what they really think. This person surely did so. I see a double standard. Name calling was not mature but if you read articles in the news some of a certain age do that sort of thing. If you are going to have a blog on the net that is very critical expect that to happen but don’t blame Anne Rice for something she couldn’t control. The discussion was for FB but people got mad. I don’t think they would have if it was merely an ordinary critique but it was very hateful. Sorry but that is how I saw it and I think others as well.
She didn’t have to come here. She didn’t have to link this blog on her Facebook page. She could have discussed the contents of this blog without actually naming it. Anne WANTED people to come here and tell this blogger off. She certainly didn’t ask them not to. This is THIS blogger’s blog. Not yours. Not Anne’s. She can do whatever she wants here and frankly, it’s not Anne’s business to “out” people who do not like her books. This isn’t the first time Anne has pulled this kind of stunt on reviewers. She needs to learn to grow a thicker skin. Over 739,000 fans of Anne’s against one reviewer. It’s pathetic. It’s fine not to agree with the reviewer, but some people on here and MANY people on Anne’s page have taken this way too far.
I don’t agree, thank you for the comment 🙂
I agree with Dawn’s post above. (I did not bother to read all posts, skimmed the majority which appeard negative.) The Mayfair Witches were my favorite of Anne’s novels and would also suggest you give them a try. I also found this article from Anne’s post on FB and I’m quite disappointed in her fans being so negative in their remarks to you. Regardless of what your personal opinion (& we are all entitled to our opinions!) was of this or any of her novels, did no one see the beautiful craft you made from her words? People, Please! We should be asking for you to post how you made this beautiful thing full of her words and our favorite character names!! For those of you so enamored with Anne’s work, wouldn’t you like a heart shaped pendant with perhaps Anne’s name & Lestat’s that you could wear near your bleeding heart? Or how about a pen cup on your desk emblazoned with the titles of all of your favorite Anne Rice novels? As a crafter and lover of books, I would spare a title page from my paper backs to create a work of art to keep on my desk to remind me of all things I love (& sometimes hate) about Anne’s work. I thank you for your post, your opinion and your craftiness. Please do not assume that all of Anne’s fan are such hateful people. Keep up the good work and never be afraid to share your opinion and your work.
I’m an Anne Rice fan and I even like Pandora. To see all these people getting so worked up about one persons opinion literally made me LOL. Seriously. Comparing not liking a book and using it for a craft to being a nazi is just insane in my mind. This is the Internet. People can have their own opinions. Even if they’re comparing Twilight to an Anne Rice novel. That also made me LOL
Let me start this by saying I am a die hard Anne Rice fan. I’m also a former Pagan and current “born again Christian”. I’m not sure what you know of the author personally, but here works and the story of her life have closely mirrored my own experiences and I feel a close bond to her work and the feeling and soul she has laid bare in them. Having said that, I also understand that her work is not for everyone. When I first started reading her work I couldn’t finish a novel. Her detailed descriptions and immense character development including her “humanization” of monstrous supernatural creatures was a bit over bearing for me at first. What kept me
Sorry, I got cut off. What kept me going back was her love of her caracters and her ability to bear her soul through them. I don’t blame you at all for disliking her work. She’s not an easy read. It took me years to really appreciate and love her, but once that connection is made, it’s a lifelong love. As far as destroying the book after reading it goes, what’s wrong with some art made from art? You say you bought the book with tho intention to red it then craft with it. Wether that’s true or a cover up, you did indeed make art with it before posting this blog. I say good for you. Any time art is created through inspiration, wether positive or negative inspiration, it’s an act of self expression. All art is wonderful!!!! Regardless of wether we share the same opinion, you, Anne Rice and myself all have a right to voice it without threat of being accused of equivelancy with murderers and Nazis. You didn’t piss on the torn pages and burn it, you made art with it after all. If there’s any chance some of it may still be around I’d actually be very interested in buying some. Thanks for your time reading my comments. 🙂
It’s nice hearing from people why they enjoy Anne Rice, regardless of my opinions. Thanks for the comment
Look, you might like one Anne Rice book better than another or not at all. I don’t like Stephen King’s writing much but I do not make the assumption he is not a good writer. Stephanie Meyer has been hyped by those who think vampires and what they are should be always written by Victorian Eastern European standards but that simply is not true. Vampires as far as those most think of, are fictional. The author can make the vampires be any way they so choose and if it is not to your liking then don’t read the book or watch the movie. I’m wondering why people who have blogs continuously put down the Twilight Saga? For some reason, people have it in their heads that only teenagers liked the books and movies which is entirely untrue. It was widely popular yet many love Dracula that barely sold when it came out and was so unpopular that it was never copyrighted in the United States. People should not hold vampire stories up to that standard or any other writer’s version of a vampire.
I have all the Hunger Games books but haven’t read them all because I don’t like the authors writing style. That is what this is actually all about. Just because some people don’t like a book or even an author does not mean the book is bad or the writer is not a good author. Anne Rice is a very detailed writer. I like her writing and I write that way too. Some cannot read through a book where the author actually has something to say in depth. So you make the choice to not like a particular book for whatever reasons but to generally bash the book is not in good taste because for everyone that doesn’t like something there are many who do. I like many authors and Anne Rice is a good one among the many including Stephanie Meyer. I am not a kid but a senior and I don’t take kindly to people on blogs who grandstand. Most of the time someone else posts on Ms. Rice’s page and she reposts it when she sees it. She doesn’t go around the net looking for trash like this. I see no need for anyone posting such a scathing article unless you are wanting attention. I’m sorry and even though I like Anne Rice and her books I wouldn’t put me on the top of the list of crazy fans. It’s your right to post what you wish but this article is classless and immature in my opinion.
I’m sorry you feel that way. I was trying to be flippant and silly and seem to have accidentally slipped over into offensive. I did intend for this post to be about just Pandora but many seem to feel I wrote about the Vampire Chronicles as a whole. Thank you for the comment regardless 🙂
I saw a link on Anne Rice’s Facebook posting and followed it to this blog. I read the original blog post and ALL the replies that followed….
I like Anne Rice’s work. I started with the vampires, moved on to the witches, then read the mummy. Loved most (though not all) of the Anne Rice books I read. Despite that, I feel that you are entitled to your opinion. I am sorry so many Anne Rice fans were so mean to you about this. Not everyone likes the same things. I do agree that you might like some of Anne’s other works, but it is up to you if you want to try another Anne Rice book. She is not the only author you can choose from.
As for the craft work using the cut up book, I think it is very clever. If you had planned to cut it up for crafting when you bought it, you probably should have made that very clear. You are right that there are other copies. You are right that a book which is falling apart probably would have been tossed in the trash. You found a clever way to recycle the paper. I think some of those who posted replies here blew that whole thing out of proportion.
I do think you might want to be less personal in your criticism in the future (never know who might read it, lol) , but don’t stop sharing your unique viewpoint. Your opinion is as valuable as anyone else’s.
If id had any idea how many people were to read this, I’d have rephrased everything! 😛 I admit I’m far to flippant and make sweeping statements, ill certainly write with a wide audience in mind in the future. Thanks for the comment 🙂
Sometimes flippant is a good thing. Sometimes flippant is fun! Just remember that you never know who might stumble on your humble blog page.
Are u people listening to her?? The book was falling apart!!!!! I am a HUGE fan of Anne Rice. I love her work. But Miss Articulate is creating crafts. If the book was no longer useful to anyone let it be recycled. Also, she has a right to her own opinion, if you don’t like it, agree to disagree. Different opinions are what make us human beings. Be kind to one another.
It’s not so much what she did with the book. It was a paperback and if she wants to slice and dice it, that’s her prerogative. It was about the overall way she critiqued everything. It was very ill mannered and not needed. She has the right to dislike the book but having read little of Anne Rice’s books to make the assumption she is a poor writer is not in good taste. It is an uninformed statement that was made in a very caustic manner. I could care less about using the book in a craft. Others might say differently but that would be childish. People throw away books all the time especially paperbacks that get older. I think it was the idea that it was inferred it was worthless due to the lack of writing skill of the author. You write a blog like this and an article in this manner, you take the chance that many people of a popular author will scream foul.
Not my intention to be offensive, this is how I review and I’m afraid I won’t be stopping 🙂 Thank you for the comment
Thank you for your review. This is what being an American (I assume you are) is about. It is your blog. While I don’t agree with the review, you do have some salient points. I too am sorry some of Anne’s fans have attacked you. Please trust the majority of them are respectful, and the few that are not are the ones you are dealing with. IN MY OPINION, Anne is open and encouraging of reviews on her works, and that is why she shared the blog. She likes open dialogue, as do I.
I’m actually British but I see your point, i like sharing my opinion and truly didn’t mean to upset people with it. I enjoy debates and discussions as well, so thanks for the comment
Anne Rice posts both good and bad reviews on her Facebook page, she didn’t do it knowing you’d get trashed by her fans. In fact if she knew what they were saying to you she’d tell off everyone.
Well, you’re wrong. EVERY SINGLE TIME she posts negative reviews, the thickos go and attack the reviewer. And every single time, people beg her to call off the attack dogs. She never does! She said last time that the reviewer deserved it. Utterly hateful way to behave.
Oh please. Anybody with the slightest experience with fandom would have known this would happen. AR has been in the game for decades. If she claims she didn’t expect this reaction she’s being willfully obtuse, IMHO.
Oh, believe me. She knows exactly what she’s doing here. I’m honestly amazed at all the people insisting she’s a “good person” who asked her fans to “keep it civil.” If people really believe that, well, I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn for sale.
Christ, I’m surprised she didn’t sic her lawyers on this poor reviewer the way she’s done to her own fans.
She hasn’t this time. She’s been a passive-aggressive manipulator. She hoped that Miss Articulate enjoyed the extra traffic to her blog – because she knew her rabid fans would spam up the comments section. Has she apologised for her fans making comments like “I hope you get herpes”? Has she hell.
Dear Miss Articulate,
As a fellow reader, and as a follower of Anne Rice, I would personally like to thank you for the thoughtful review you made of this book. If all reviews were positive, then the review system would have no meaning.
I do not in any way speak for Ms. Rice, but I have noted that she regularly posts both positive and negative reviews, and at no time sends the hounds after negative reviewers. She appears to be trying to present a balanced view.
Also, your use of the books as part of a craft project hardly seems comparable to a political burning in the streets. Books are destroyed all the time, by libraries, schools, book companies, when they are excess, not sold or reach the end of their useful life. As the owner of the book it is your choice of how to use a book when you’re done with it. Turning a book into another thing of beauty? Not to be reviled.
You have been extremely gracious of this intrusion on your blog, and in particular some of the comments that could be described as vicious.
Good luck to you, and in your efforts here.
Thanks very much! I’m learning to be more thoughtful when it comes to book craft and bibliophiles, I can’t expect everyone to feel the same way as me 🙂 especially thanks for complimenting my writing style 🙂
Ok, so I wrote a comment above saying I didn’t agree with your review as a) it was a novella to flesh out a characters back story, not a novel, b) it’s right in the middle of the series and c) I don’t think we should destroy books, even when written by Dan Brown. I subscribed to see if I got any responses and now my inbox is overflowing with contempt aimed right at you. Wow, this is just awful.
I can understand how it must be incredibly hurtful for an author to read such a review, to see someone both figuratively and literally tear apart their work. But for fans of that author (of which I am one) to then descend on the person who wrote that review and aim insult after insult at you is just disgusting. Obviously, not all fans who’ve commented have done so just to hurl insults, some of us just wanted to explain why it didn’t meet your expectations. I’m really sorry you’ve had to contend with such a deluge of comments today, especially when so many of them are pointless negatiivity.
hi, i’ve read what you just wrote about anne rice sharing this on facebook. you must know that she posts many reviews of her books, good reviews and bad reviews, asking for comments. she didn’t do it because she was offended, and she certainly didn’t ask for her fans to offend you. if some of them did that, it’s not her fault at all. also, you need to understand how it feels to an author to know that someone just tore one of her books into pieces: it’s perfectly natural to share things like that on facebook and ask other readers for comments; hearing our fans opinion is how we gain perpective on our work.
She always posts reviews that offend her, and refuses to get her crazier fans to stop when they resort to name-calling.
she doesn’t refuse to stop them. I’ve been following her page for a long time, and I always see her acting as a moderator every time that a dicussion gets out of control. not only on reviwes, but also on news she posts about religion, gay marriage, political questions and others. look the comments on posts like that and you will find many comments where she asks people to be polite, and to express their opinions with good arguments instead of offenses. but this discussions normally take place on facebook, and not on the reviewer’s blog, so she probably didn’t realize that some of her fans are being rude and offensive here.
That’s a flat-out lie. People messaged her last time, asking her to stop the fans, and she replied that the fan had put himself out there by reviewing her book, so should roll with the punches. She also deleted — several times — comments from people asking her to stop the fans. She never, ever, EVER calls them off, so don’t try that crap: I have screenshots of it!
That is interesting, in every discussion I participated in her page she never had that attitude you mentioned. I would like to see those screenshots.
For me personally, her posting my home town and my bio for her fans to rip apart on her fb page was genuinely distressing. I know it’s just the Internet but that upset me the most out of all of this.
well, I don’t think she did with that intention. it’s not like she had said “hey, this is where she lives. go get her!” she was just saying who the reviwer was; she did that with many other too, because one of the most frequent questions the fans ask on a negative review is “who is this person? what does she knows to say things like that, what are her credentials?” also, it’s not like she had posted anything different then what you posted yourself here, right?
Mario, I cannot think of any good intention behind Ms Rice posting the bio and hometown of a critical reviewer on her own fan page. It’s a threatening move specifically designed to intimidate.
I agree with ROS. There is no valid reason to post the bio of a reviewer who gave a negative review. To post that information on a public facebook page for fans (some of whom you know will take offense at the negative review) to see it is irresponsible at best.
*sneaks in*
Love the book art, I wish I could make something like that.
*bit scared of the fans though*
Oh and saw this in twitter 😉
Geez. Some people are touchy. First, those who resort to profanity and name-calling really need to grow up.
Second, everyone is entitled to an opinion. When they post it for the public, they can expect the ensuing response although I’m a bit shocked at how vitriolic some of these comments are.
Third, once someone buys a product, they get to do what they want with it. It’s not “disrespectful” to use a print book for art. It’s more respectful than what publishers do. Ever hear of “pulp fiction”? Where do you think that comes from?
Anyway. Having been in the one percent of our population that actually served in uniform, I have literally defended your right to free speech. I thought your review was all right. Not sure what the uproar is. I’ve had worse on my own books.
Need a ‘like’ button here for this comment. bravo.
LOL Oh wow these trolls are silly, don’t let them get you down. It was your book and your right to do with it as you choose.
1)while I don’t totally agree with your review, I’ve also read almost all the other vampire books and will agree that Pandora and the Blood And Gold were huge disappointments to this die-hard anne rice fan.Also, while there aren’t actual series numbers in her vampire books, to get the full scope of the world, they were written to be read in a certain order. And because of that there’s an unwritten understanding that many of the details were gone over in other books.
2) As an author I find the idea of Anne getting so upset and acting like a troll on a forum to be harmful to her image, and plain unprofessional. One of the big reasons I got rid of my Anne Rice books were because of her grand trainwrecks on the internet and getting her panties in a bunch. I’m sorry you have had to put up with this. As an author, she should have a thicker skin. Rule 1) never ever ever engage negative reviewers. It’s just bad for business and you tend to make an ass of yourself. err the author doing the engaging. 😛
3) On the art thingy, how did you do that? what steps were taken? It looks cool to me! I now may have figured out what to do with those Warprize books I wallbanged a while ago 😀
This is a well written, thoughtful review with valid criticisms. I can tell it took you quite a while to compose the post. Too bad so many of your commenters took just a mere five seconds to curse. I appreciated your opinion, which may vary from other people’s, but you posted it respectfully and came across sounding like a thoughtful, intelligent, educated person, unlike many of the above commenters who rabidly called you names. .
I will not be as RUDE as the others. Firstly Anne did not single you out…she ALWAYS puts up reviews from others on her page, especially the scathing ones…she likes the critiques, as it actually does have influence on her writings….The reason WHY Pandora was interesting for many of us WAS the transition from , perhaps, a mentally unstable human into her Vampiric Life. Each book was to be the Tale of each Soul …the Being. I feel you have perhaps , and maybe some of your friends as well…an incorrect assumption of her motivations and actions. I wouldn’t never compare the two Authors you have chosen, but it is your Free Will to do as you please…BB
Yes, and what do her fans do immediately? Sorry just maybe you should look at that. Thanks for the comment, I really didn’t realise that the vampire chronicles worked that way
I did look at that, hence why would I say I would not be as Rude…Nor did I say anything that was a critique of you. Perhaps you’ve read too many of these comments, because this response seemed a bit terse.and confrontational…Whereas I was simply making an explanatory point..
Really now, you must have expected that Anne Rice fans might actually be fanatic, and that they might be offended by the implication that her book is so terrible it deserves to be chopped into pieces.
But don’t take it too much to heart; you’re not the first person to use an old book for art. There’s a very talented man that makes old books into beautiful sculptures. And what else is there to do with a ratty book that isn’t very good anyway?
I agree that Anne Rice’s books should be read in order to be properly appreciated, but some of her books are still hit-and-miss for me. You must have picked a miss. If you were a fan, you probably would have excused it.
I’m hoping to improve with my book crafting stuff. Thanks for the comment 🙂
If these Anne Rice fans had any idea how many Anne Rice books are destroyed by book stores every day (quite literally), maybe they would be singing a different tune. As is, it appears her personal fanaticism is reflected in many of her fans and should, as such, be dismissed as much as possible, which you seem to have accomplished quite handily. (Rather than being destroyed, I’d say you gave a poorly written book a new lease on life. This is a good thing.)
Thank you very much, I’m making origami earrings from it next 🙂
Keep making whatever kind of craft/art you want. You don’t need to justify it to anyone, especially not to a criticism-phobic bully like Anne Rice or to her rabid fans.
Gotta be honest, I just kinda want to make more Anne Rice deco patch now…. Thanks for the comment 🙂
Ugh, I really want to apologise to you on behalf of the sane Anne Rice fans – those like myself, who have even a modicum of grace and sensitivity. I’m sorry for the flood of negative comments you’ve received. I’ve been a Rice fan for years, and even loved Pandora, but what you choose to do with a book is your own business and I’m also a huge fan of cool recycled crafts!
I have been following Anne Rice’s facebook page for over a year now and it amazes me how she singles out negative fan reviews like this. Each time they are met with a hoard of angry fans who somehow feel they have the author’s blessing to argue with, insult and berate the reviewer. I don’t believe she can possibly be ignorant of this effect and I don’t understand it at all from an author who is otherwise reasonable and relatively graceful. It’s baffling behaviour from someone who should be well above this kind of petty backlash.
Sorry it has been directed at you!
Thank you very much for the thoughtful comment, I’m very thick skinned and don’t mind 🙂
Wow. Well, I think you made a completely reasonable, light-hearted and very readable account of the book. Decoupage sounds the best use for it. 🙂
Thank you very much, I hope I’ll get better at the deco patch though because the lid sticks 🙂
Hi. I’m just a casual reader who got here via Twitter. Don’t let these people take you down. You gave an honest and thoughtful review of a book (that you read to completion) and these people are treating you as if you spit on the grave of their mothers.
It is patently ridiculous that an author would unleash a horde of rabid fans on a small-time blogger like yourself and it makes me think she has a an all-encompassing ego that cannot stand even the *thought* of critique on her masterpiece.
Never censor yourself. If an opinion doesn’t anger *someone* it mustn’t have been very thought-provoking.
I don’t think that’s why Anne did it at all. I follow her page and she’s constantly posting reviews both good and bad and opening it up for discussion. I don’t think she ever meant for people to be as rude as they’re being, and honestly I’m very surprised. Most of Anne’s readers are adults, or older teens and I don’t usually see people in the fandom responding by calling someone a bitch and freaking out because it was compared to Twilight. I can’t see Anne meaning for this to happen, and I can’t see why she’d be offended by it. The author of this blog has been very open to reading more of Anne’s work before drawing an opinion of the Anne’s work as a whole, and she didn’t outright insult anyone. She just said she didn’t like something.
I was so disappointed when Stephen Fry linked his fans to a negative review, as if he had no clue about exactly what they’d do next. I’m sorry but that gets extended to Ms Rice and I got off easy compared to the example above. Thanks for the comment though 🙂
Thanks very much for the thoughtful comment, only about 100 more comments to read and comment on 🙂
So I’ve followed this all day and have some points to make.
1. I’m really sorry, though I don’t agree with your views I respect you for standing with them, even with all the backlash.
2. I looked through Anne Rove’s fb posts and sure enough it is common for her.
*Rice’s, sorry silly auto-correct
I’m utterly amazed at the amount of people who think they can dictate how others use their private property. Y’all need to pull on your adult pants. If you need to resort to ad hominem attacks, Godwin’s Law and all sorts of other fuckery that demonstrates a lack of debating skills: congratuwelldone.
Keep up the good work, blogger person, I love the decopatch.
Thanks commenting person! I like keeping my adult pants on, but I’m British so that means I’m referring to knickers 😀
I am truly amazed at how long this debate is going I’m getting bored. I have read one of anne rices Mayfair witches books and it was enjoyable, containing many of the concepts I enjoy reading , set in New Orleans, supernatural but I found it was more catered towards young adults the erotic scenes seemed to be censored big build up with no climax. She is so descriptive sometimes too much but when it came to the intimate sexual scenes it was as though it was edited out. I just found it very frustrating that there was so much I liked about her book but it just left me unfulfilled. I found the read to be a bit immature. So I can totally relate to your opinion of pandora as being a bad read. You get angry that you were sucked in and wasted so much time reading a story which sucks you in with so much potential but just doesn’t hit the mark leaving you dissatisfied. I wanted to know from all these anne rice fans or blogger, could they recommend another author who writes on similar themes as the witches in New Orleans, not the vampires, that they would recommend and consider a better writer or at least a more mature read, for someone who is no longer a teen and needs a good summer read.
Honestly I feel kind of bad, this is not how someone should start their way into the Anne Rice universe. I’m a huge fan of The Vampire Chronicles and Anne herself, but this isn’t a strong novel in comparison to Interview with a Vampire. You’re totally right in some aspects, and I think it’s terrible that people would be so rude to you for just stating your opinion. It’s not like you said all of her books were crap or that people who like them are morons. Waiting for Pandora to turn into a vampire was torturous for me. I’d seen her in the other novels and was always curious about her, I thought the fact was was so introverted made her mysterious, but when I found out what she was like I wasn’t so excited. You’re also right about how she shares some traits with Bella on the ‘too perfect’ side. But I do have to contented your argument about blood. Whether or not vampires are obsessed with blood is entirely up to the author so much so that some authors make them ruthless killers unable to see a human without slaughtering them, yet others are more like Twilight. They don’t’ HAVE to be one way or another. Anne falls somewhere in the middle, sort of. For one you’ll never see any character besides Louis (who only struggles for a while) to resist human blood, many of Anne’s books revolve around the philosophy of evil and how taking human life fits in with this. Unfortunately, if you’re in it for the gore there isn’t as much as you’d think. Books like Interview with a Vampire, and Tale of the Body Thief are some of the more blood drenched novels. I’ll stop rambling now, I promise. I highly suggest reading the actually Vampire Chronicles, which Pandora is not truly a part of. Lestat tends to be on the narcissistic side, so his flaws aren’t always said outright, but he is very well rounded, as with most of Anne’s characters. Honestly, Idk what happened with Pandora…..
Sounds like there were other ventures into blood lust that I’ve missed 🙂 thanks for you comment
I respect that you have your own voice as a woman, writer, and a human being. With that being said, I have to wonder if you purposely added the destroying/decoupaging element to the blog with the intention of garnering more views? You don’t insult the mother of the modern vampire genre without getting a little heat from the fans. I’m not nearly as upset about your critique of the book or your using it to make pottery as I am the fact that on one of your other pages linked to the blog it clearly stated “Anne R
Oh, shut up. She’s entitled to her opinion and Rice needs to grow a thicker skin instead of posting negative reviews and then sitting back while her stupider fans go and attack someone. Anne Rice is a horrid bully, and when the reviewer here goes to her personal page and posts that she’s an idiot, a twit, a bitch, and threatens violence the way some of the fans have, then you can take the moral high ground.
Inflammatory speech only serves to contradict anything meaningful you intended with your reply, but thanks for trying to pull me in with your amateurishly crafted vitriol. Denied.
“Mother of the modern vampire genre?”
Hahahaha! That’s the funniest comment ever. I think there are some authors and creators that probably want a word with you.
More like mother of the angst-y whiny emo privileged special snowflake vampires that I despise in all Media. These need to die already!
Signed – Someone who read Interview of a Vampire, which is pure dreck and overrated. If there was ever a novel I wanted to throw against the wall out of pure hate, that was the one.
My vampire life is SO hard, I need to keep whining about it! I need to keep non-stop whining about my PRIVILEGE as a white male vampire that was a former Southern slave owner! Poor, poor me!
Actually, I thought Chelsea Quinn Yarbro was the mother of the modern vampire genre.
“Anne Rice can go to hell.” Dude, bad form. Very disrespectful and unnecessary.
LOL at you and LOL at your silly reply up there. Go away. 🙂
She’s a crazy wealthy author, I didn’t think she’d care, truly. Thanks for the comment
I’m a librarian, and I’m highly amused by the number of people who go OMG YOU RUINED A BOOK! If only they knew how many books end up in the trash for whatever reason. I’m always in favour of good book arts as an alternative!
I used to work in a charity shop, saving books from the bin every week. I forgot other people don’t know about that 🙂 thanks for the comment
I agree with your review 100%, especially about the over-describing aspect, and this is coming from someone who has read all the Lestat books and a few others (I kept thinking they might get better…). I donated the series to a library ’cause I knew I’d never read them again ;D
Thanks for the review 🙂
There are several debatable points here, however most of them seem to stem from this novel not living up to your expectations of Anne Rice as a novelist, based on Hear Say about her other novels. Chronologically this was one of the last vampire books in the series – although technically it’s a part of a small two book series aside from the Vampire chronicles; the other being the Vampire Vittorio.
So it may be the case that reading it as a standalone doesn’t have the same impact as when you know the relevant fictional history, however there are two main points I would contest, the first being that Marius and Pandora’s future together was “transparent” – which it may well have been; but with good reason. Anyone who’s read the Vampire Chronicles would already have seen this relationship a few times from several points of view. Trying to create dramatic tension where their can’t possibly be any (dancing around the will they won’t they question, when everyone already knows they did/have) would be just – irritating.
The second point that I would (far more strongly) disagree with is how you seem to think that because Pandora isn’t a vampirey enough vampire for you and doesn’t include any of the generic ingredients for vampire books, it is somehow damaging to the novel.
If you’ve read any of the prior novels or have seen any of the movies or even know much about Anne Rice as a vampire novelist, it would be common knowledge that the reason Anne was so hailed within the field is because she managed to make vampires interesting and charismatic beyond their definition as undead blood sucking fiends. This means not throwing in gratuitous blood and gore for the sake of it (although if that’s what you’re wanting there are several instances of abjection provoking horror peppered throughout the larger series).
These aren’t just horror books, they’re macabre psychological thrillers and a thousand other genres that you’ll rarely find labelled on a book shelf. There’s none of the Buffy “losing the soul” rubbish (and I say this as a huge Buffy fan, but that explanation is… well, a boring plot device) to explain their evil deeds. It leans far more heavily on the characters psychology; in the first book, Louis personifies the struggle between humanity, ‘the soul’, and his new savage nature – it was done. Then we moved on past that (now) very basic concept (that has since been replicated countless times – see Angelus from Buffy) and into other characters psychologies that were far more interesting and in depth.
It’s a shame you didn’t like this book as while it wasn’t one of my absolute favorites I certainly enjoyed it when I read it, although perhaps because Pandora (until this book) had been an aloof matriarchal character that was still shrouded in mystery – and who doesn’t love an origin story?!
One thing that I particularly liked about this novel though (and I’m fuzzy on the details as I last read it a decade ago), was that somewhere, hidden away in a somewhat throwaway explanation, was reference of another supernatural being (possibly a mummy of some form) that had been rumored to exist, but was never explicitly shown or confirmed.
This brings me to what I believe the strongest point of Anne Rice’s literature as a whole is; it’s not explicit with explanations and the best you’ll ever get is a characters opinions or theories; there are no absolutes. Vampires aren’t “soulless”, they are the person that they were when they died, until such time where significant trauma has warped that character into a twisted monster or a suicidal maniac. In Queen of the Damned (possibly my favorite book for the following reason), we are given the origin of vampires in this world, and despite eye witness accounts of what happened, even the smartest of the characters still cannot say for sure how or why it happened.
Much like life, Anne Rice’s novels deal with consequences more than explanation.
Thanks for the informative comment. I accept your first point but I’m still thinking about your second. Dracula had no gore and plenty of horror, perhaps I just prefer vampires as actual monsters? I guess Anne Rice isn’t for me in that regard? Thanks for the comment though 🙂
Interestingly, Dracula was pretty descriptive and also took quite some time to get to the more exciting parts. However, I found in more entertaining as well. My least favorite book in the Harry Potter series is book 5 because of all of the annoying teenage angst though, so perhaps I’m just not an angst kind of person.
I am sickened and appalled…
By these comments.
I’m using a smartphone to read, so I didn’t scroll down all the way to read every comment. But c the comparison to Nazis is laughable. Because clearly, the Nazis destroyed books so they could make decopatch.
And anyone claiming that Anne Rice’s later vampire novels are more intellectual than Terry Pratchett either have never read Terry Pratchett, or if they did, they didn’t understand it.
I used to be a huge Anne Rice fan, but she started to suck right about the same time that she decided that she was too awesome to require an editor.
I personally don’t see why you’d use her “work” as decopatch, unless you plan your paint over it, because it’d be embarrassing for someone to recognise it from reading the visible print.
This blog post is all over Twitter now, so I’ll subscribe to the comments and wait for a flood in my inbox, hopefully from people who aren’t 15-year-olds who blindly follow an author because she’s supposedly so damn gothy, and instead see more people with usable brains leaving intelligent comments.
I’m going to make popcorn, want some?
The idea of Natzis deco patching is just…. Excellent. Bravo for that comment! 😀
Never read Anne Rice, don’t actually want to, so no opinion on that, but I AM laughing myself sick over some of these comments. People are funny. Certain literature may be immortal, but the tangible books themselves are not. I love books, but I also loved book crafts, and I have a old yellowed copy of The Hobbit awaiting a rebirth into Christmas ornaments made from its pages. Nothing wrong with that, folks. And I don’t think Tolkien would take a personal affront to it either.
That sounds like a great idea! I may need to steal it and make my own 😀 thanks for the comment
Oh that looks amazing. And don’t worry about the idiots. Anne Rice basically is a thin-skinned Stephanie Meyers anyway so you nailed that comparison!
Thanks for the comment, I’ve learned a lesson!
Your right is wasn’t the best book, but it’s good reading. I enjoy the details, the history, the dramatic pained characters. To each and their own. Do you have a vampire novelist that you do like? And if so who and and why?
You know, other than the original Dracula everything else I enjoy from vampires is from Japan. Hell sing, Lament of the Lamb and a novel which name escapes me. The latter two focus on the victim being drained or the emotional trauma of a vampire. I also play a LARP vampire game and love the different clans and powers 🙂
i’m just a little sad that you didn’t just pass the book on to another used book store, even if it was already falling apart
I don’t have any friends that read Anne Rice and I’ve worked in charity book shops, the copy I had would have gone in the bin. Thanks for the comment 🙂
It’s really upsetting that so many of Anne Rice’s fans are denouncing your perfectly well reasoned and well written thoughts, Miss Articulate. I think I read a few of her novels back in the day (and I liked them), but I’m personally appalled by the behavior of some of her fans here as well as the author herself. It’s not making me inclined to spend any of my hard earned money on anything else she writes. Thank you for writing this, and don’t let any of the harsh words get you down. You have every right to your opinion, and it made for a great read.
All I read there is that you enjoyed reading my blog and that means everything. Thank you so much for the thoughtful comment.
Hi, just wanted to say that although I may not agree with you regarding Rices books, I do respect you for speaking your mind, Rice is actually complementing you in singling you out since there are many others who have not liked her books either and I have never seen her do this before. Sometimes the highest complement one can ever recieve is to be singled out in this way. Continue to speak your mind, just don’t cut up any more books ok? You can buy paper much more cheaply for that purpose.
Actually, the book was much cheaper at £0.20p than getting any kind of paper. I’m buying Mills & Boon romance novels to tear up next 🙂 thanks for the comment
Read them first! Some are brilliant. And some are hilarious. And some are brilliantly hilarious. A few even have vampires in them.
I respect your opinion Miss Articulate, well it’s freedom of speech but sometimes you need to be sensitive to other people’s feelings. Insulting Anne Rice and taking a photo of her torn-out book is just extreme.
It honestly never occurred to me that she would care, being able to take solace in her wealth and popularity. Thanks for the comment 🙂
You know, I did ask her, if she was using her fanbase to squash someone who didn’t like her novel. I hope she responds to that.
I am going through this thread and getting weary of the “cutting up/desecrating books = immaturity” argument. Not all bibliophiles worship the physical object of a book. You can get a large number of Anne Rice books in digital format nowadays, actually, and read from a large library wherever you go. There is no social code that requires a respect for books as a physical object, there is no norm to be violated, and honestly, the fact that she read the book before using it for the purpose she bought it for shows an amount of respect for the author that frankly, the author has not returned in her response to this review. Crafting is not immature, cutting up objects that you value is not immature, recycling is not immature. Commenting on someone’s blog attacking them personally for crafting, well, an argument could be made that that is very immature.
Holy hell, I am on team you all the way. Sorry you got deluged by a bunch of jerkasses. Also, you bought the book, it is yours to do with as you will. I mean, I am a book loving bibliophile of the highest order, but re-purposing a shitty paperback (not talking about the quality of the prose as I have not read it, but come on if you think a paperback is going to last forever) for artistic endeavors is hardly equal to making a kitten stew and eating it in front of starving orphans while dancing on their parents’ graves.
And that latter choice is always more fun! Thanks for the comment 🙂
I just wanted to speak up and say I’m sorry for all the trolls and mindless fanzombies that are spamming your comments with hate just because you have a negative opinion of this one book. I personally am a fan but I totally get what you’ve said and think you shouldn’t be harassed for saying so. I love that you pick up books at charity shops. While I don’t like the idea of destroying books (donate!), it’s not like you have taken a delicate vintage find and burned it. You used a paperback (one of thousands) and made a craft with it. Hardly the crime people are making it out to be!
Thanks for the comment and I’m sorry to say that more paperbacks will probably be slaughtered for my crafty ways! 😀
Hmmm… you got what you wanted, right? Post something outrageous online and get a lot of people to go to your blog. Well, your opinion is your opinion and I won’t make any comments. But, your marketing strategy may come back and bite you, poor child.
Actually she didn’t ask for this attention. She didn’t expect Anne Rice to post it on her own facebook page. She said that in the addendum at the beginning of this post. It wasn’t her marketing strategy. Perhaps it was Anne Rice’s.
Thanks for the comment 🙂
Excuse me sir/mam but I’m 25 and dislike marketing ploys. I certainly didn’t write my abrasive post about the Walking Dead last month to get them to hopefully repost and I didn’t do it here. Thanks for the comment though 🙂
Are you serious with your faux ‘so above it all’ tone? Post something outrageous? It’s a friggin book review and pictures of a bit of crafty art that came from it.
I can’t take anyone seriously that wears a top hat.
Thanks for the comment 😀
I love the Top Hat!
Thanks! I now have a bowler hat instead 🙂
Someone linked this on twitter as an example of people dog piling at the behest of someone much more powerful than the person who is being attacked.
I’d just like to say you handled this in such a polite, awesome way. No one writes a tiny blog post and expects an author to direct her rabid fans to attack.
You’re amazing in the way you handled this and haven’t deserved the (missing the point/rude) comments you’ve received.
PS I think your craft looks pretty cool too:)
Thanks very much, it’s just the Internet and my Ms Articulate persona sweats class 😛
You have a million comments, so I’ll be brief: you did nothing wrong, and I am particularly impressed–seriously, earnestly impressed–at how well you are handling yourself under the deluge of dickery.
Thanks so much for the comment, means a lot 🙂
Hey, hang in there! Anne Rice is a generally shitty person, and the fans who are dogpiling you and treating you horrifically are also shitty people. There is nothing wrong with not liking a book, and there is nothing wrong with making art from a MASS-PRODUCED PAPERBACK. This was not some priceless novel. It was a paperback. There are a million more out there. Anne Rice and her flying monkeys need to calm down. You, darling, should stay wonderful.
This comment really made me smile, thanks for it 🙂
I liked this blog entry. I have a lot of “stuff” in my home that just sits there. Maybe I can take a page from your book, hehe, and make something out of it. I love creative people, and especially love how you’ve handled this whole situation. I think the best way to handle the negative is just to thank them for their time like you are doing. Just know that you have one more person to add to the list of people who think you did nothing wrong. Good luck to you. (:
I got the deco patch glue a few weeks back and it’s great fun experimenting with what to use. It’s basically grown up paper mâché! Thanks for the comment 🙂
Oh my gosh, it’s terrible to say, but I’m laughing so hard at the outrage. It’s just a book, and rather a poor one at that, it seems- so why not turn it into something more useful? If the book isn’t good literature than it’s not really serving its purpose and might as go somewhere where it could do something good. Like crafts 🙂
Also, Anne Rice is a jackass and a bully for doing this in my book. She has to be aware of how unfair it is to pull something like this on a smalltime blogger…
Thanks a ton for you support and I really appreciate the follow! 🙂
Anne Rice & her fans are out of control, but honestly, that’s old news. I’m just commenting to let you know that some of us also thought Pandora was a shitty book, and even if it hadn’t been, it’s a paperback. You didn’t burn it, you recycled it. Seems legit to me.
Haters gonna hate, go on with your bad self.
Merci for the comment 🙂
You know, it’s entirely your right not to like a book. Any book. And it’s your right to tell people you don’t like it and to repurpose the book -otherwise known as your property once it passes over the counter at the bookstore – into whatever you choose. It’s mass-market glue and paper, not a holy vessel. The comments zeroing in on “YOU DESTROYED A BOOK!” are basically people who know they have a weak argument throwing elbows to justify the unjustifiable: attacking someone for a harmless opinion.
It would have been a classier move on Anne Rice’s part to ask you to make her a keepsake from the remaining pages.
The decoupage is cute, btw. 🙂
Thanks for the comment, I wholeheartedly agree. I used to work a Facebook page for a company and I certainly would never have done what she has.
Would it surprise you to know that there are some indie authors now considering sending you our books in hopes that you WILL make stuff out of ’em? 🙂
Oh god, is that to be my thing now? 😀 if I can read them first then I’d be overjoyed!
“Oh god, is that to be my thing now?”
If it does, that would be unique and awesome. 🙂
Anne Rice fiction is generally an over-written, under-edited snorefest. And if you bought a book, you can do any damn thing you please with it.
Also, Rice should be ashamed of herself for her behavior. Truly ashamed. For someone who’s been through what she’s been through, her immaturity is shocking.
Thanks for the comment and support 🙂
I neither agree nor disagree with your review because I have not read this author. But the ONLY point I want to make is WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU OR ANYONE EXPRESSION THEIR OPINION??? yes, many do not agree with you, SO WHAT??? I went through the list of comments above & OMG!!! people are throwing slurs at you, cussing, blaming you. not to mention, the author HERSELF maligned you on her FB page & let her FANS loose on you like wolves to shred you apart……THIS IS NUTS!!!!
why is such an established, well, known author taking out her grudge of diminishing sales or personal life frustrations on a BLOGGER????
I say stick to your guns…do not transgress but do NOT remove this post either. its your right to free speech & you should be able to exercise it in a safe, legal & non-retributive way!!!! good luck
Thanks, I’m kinda stunned and amused that she cared enough to share. 🙂
Amazon.com’s policy of allowing readers to post reviews of books might be a helpful feature for consumers, but for bestselling vampire author Anne Rice, it’s been a pain in the neck. Rice was so outraged over the vitriolic response to her latest book, Blood Canticle—apparently the final installment in her bestselling Vampire Chronicle series—that she posted a 1200-word response that requested that unsatisfied readers mail her back the book for a refund. Baring her own fangs, Rice blasted the readers, saying “your stupid arrogant assumptions about me and what I am doing are slander…you have used this site as if it were a public urinal to publish falsehoods and lies.” While admitting she reads Amazon.com’s reviews for other author’s works, she criticized the site’s “willingness to publish just about anything.” Some posters found the book so unlike its predecessors they doubted Rice wrote it, while others carped about her needing an editor. The author countered saying she wrote “every word of it” and has “no intention of allowing any editor ever to distort, cut, or otherwise mutilate” her sentences. “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,” she said, adding “every word is in perfect place.” Rice further asserts that the Chronicles, which began in 1976 with Interview with the Vampire, is an “unrivalled series of books.” She, however, praised the positive reviews.ust found this, thought it was quite relevant..
“
Uhm…. Wow. Best thing about three years at uni having my work torn to shreds? I know the value of critique. Thanks for that, very informative 🙂
I am impressed with your calm attitude as you deal with these douche canoes. You are entitled to your own opinion and you bought the book, you can do whatever you want with it. Please ignore the asshats and keep doing what you want to do with YOUR blog.
Thanks for the comment, I’m a classy lady and this is my baby 😀
Your review was informative and full of your own personality which is what I look for in book reviews – emotion and feelings of the reviewer, not an objective polite critique. Also, I feel that you are allowed to do whatever you want with a book once you own it. Cut it up, wear it as a hat, store it away so no one ever sees it again, sell it, donate it, whatever. It’s your book, and your craft project is inspiring. I have been wanting to do a craft project using Harry Potter books and I think you have helped me decide to do it!
You’ve got a new follower 🙂
Thanks so much and so many are suggesting ‘hat’ for paper craft that I may need to give that a go!
Brava, Miss Articulate. Your demonstration of grace under fire here is inspiring – unlike the behaviour of your fanatical critics.
Someone needs to teach them that the recycling of an old, worn out and unwanted mass produced paperback is not remotely the same of wanton destruction of books for ideological reasons. They also need to look into just how many books are deliberately pulped every year by the ‘Nazi’ book industry because of overprinting and lack of sales.
Thanks very much, it’s taking me forever to read and reply to them all though! I may regret this yet 🙂
The Witching Hour is probably her thickest book and it is the start of her Mayfair Witch Chronices(which is later combined with her Vampire Chronicles). That book was ok and it took me the longest to read. If it were made into a TV Movie, either a lot would be cut out or it be an 8 hour film(with commercials)
Hello,
I am a big Anne Rice fan, but I agree this novel is not very good. If you ever get a hankering to try another book by her, I recommend “Cry to Heaven”, or the “Witching Hour”. My best, and keep your chin up.
Lots of people have recommended those titles, ill look into them. Thanks for the comment!
I love that everybody here who’s told you which AR books you’d like seems to have picked a different book. Myself included. Good luck deciding which of us to believe!
Ill make a list and go from there, I’ve still got my 100 book challenge to complete 🙂
I am impressed that you’re even going to try any more of her books, given her behaviour towards you. I think I would have found it enough to put me off of her work for good!
My respect for her has certainly taken a hit but I like recommendations regardless and you can be sure the reviews will be posted here, whether or not Anne decides me to share me again. Thanks for the comment 🙂
You are well badass, my friend. I am so impressed by how cool and even-keeled you’ve stayed under pressure. Also, are people really that unfamiliar with book crafts? When people are losing control of their bodily functions in ABJECT HORROR that you might take a book at the end of its life and repurpose it into art, have they seriously never seen literary decoupage or book flowers (like these: http://www.100layercake.com/blog/2011/07/22/diy-storybook-paper-roses/ ) or any other kind of upcycling? You’re like the opposite of a book-burner. You give these books beauty and purpose way past their expected lifespan.
Also: I happen to agree with you vis-a-vis the whole Anne Rice thing, but it’s fine. We can all like different stuff. Be chill, everyone.
I love those paper flowers, will look into more book art I can get into 🙂
This was a pretty interesting read. Usually people would state how the book just ‘sucked’ yet you took the time to back up what you believed. I like Anne Rice books, yet I still liked reading your blog about this book. It was the only one of her books that didn’t do it for me. I’ve tried reading the whole book numerous times, yet I can’t keep myself interested in it. Nice job on the crafty portion as well 🙂
Don’t feel too bad, there were quite a few Anne Rice books that I didn’t like either. And if you are, in fact, using the dissected book for a craft project, I think that’s totally cool. I have a copy of McCarthy’s ‘The Road’ that is so beaten that I had to keep it together with twine and rubber bands. Let’s face it, with mass market publishing, there are tons of copies of ‘Pandora’ left to read. I think people are going a little overboard with the hate. It’s not like you set fire to it.
Thanks for the comment and support 🙂
Please keep it up. While I am not surprised at the fans comnig at you, the fact that Ann Rice herself stooped to send them your way is a bit much. I teach literature for a living and come across books I don’t like. I tried Interview with a Vampire years ago and dropped it half way through (Steven King, too. Bleh, boring). I know people who love Ann Rice but you (and I) get to disagree without being awful, evil, uneducated bastards. Criticism should be welcomed by any writer; it makes your next effort stronger. Oh and regarding your project-you’d think in this age of moral recycling re-using some paper would get you some kudos from the hippies. I worked in a bookstore years ago. Mass paperbacks are too cheap to return. We’d strip the covers and send them to the publisher to get return credit. The rest of the books went in the trash. Every one on Miss Rice’s books published in paperback form has suffered this fate by the thousands or tens of thousands. It’s not the books that are sacred it’s the ideas. Oh and regarding the Nazi reference: Hitler ad absurdum. That just means they lose the argument.
Thank you for the comment, I wonder if I get some kind of award now that my blog has been subject to Godwin’s Law. 🙂
love that book ♥
I’m glad, I don’t like the idea that I was intentionally mocking its fans. Thanks for the comment 🙂
Book art is some of the best ever. Thank you for braving the crazy fans and sharing! ❤ /sincerity
I do love book art, thanks for the comment 🙂
IMPORTANT INFO: I am in no way going to call you names, insult you, recommend Anne books to you seeing as I have never read one myself. In no way way do I plan on being a butthead to you. I honestly just wanted to tell you that I am sorry that you have had to deal with this crap because of your own opinion. I think it is crap the way you have been treated, and I couldn’t leave your page without telling you that I am sorry. I liked your review. I do not in any way think you lack intelligence or that you are a Nazi wannabe. And I wanted to also give you some serious praise for being able to keep your cool with all of the people who have treated you so badly, and telling them thank you for commenting you. I commend you. And I do not in any way see a problem with taking an old, beaten up, worn out, falling apart book and using it in a new and creative way. Even books that you love. It is just another honor for the greatness that a book! So, you have a new follower in me, and again, you have my respect!
Thank you very much for that comment and the praise 🙂
I’m glad to see that you made something useful out of it.
Thanks! It’s actually made from pots that my terrapin feed come in. I get through a lot so like to recycle them 🙂
I just had to post because I am so outraged over the comments you initially received on this review. I can’t believe that these people could be so blindly, ignorantly hateful. And I see from one of your comments that the author posted your hometown and bio on her Facebook page?? That is NOT OKAY. She has GOT to know what her rabid fans would do. She’s been at this far too long to be unaware of the backlash she creates.
Also? Having never read Anne Rice and having no particular opinion about her, I thought your review was funny and honest. It was your opinion on the book and your reasons for disliking it seemed perfectly justified to me. Also, since there is no Objective Measure of the Quality of Books, you are not obligated to believe that this or any Anne Rice book is a good piece of writing. I will strongly defend your right to think whatever you darn well please about it, and to write your opinions however you like.
Also-also, those people who are like “OMG YOU DESTROYED A BOOOOOOOK!” are nuts. What would it matter even if you went to the bookstore and bought a new, pricey, hardcover edition of some very excellent and well-respected piece of writing and then went home and cut it up for crafts? Without *gasp* reading it even? The only book-crafting I might get upset about is if it was a rare edition or hard to find out of print or something. But a mass-market paperback? Pssht. You keep doing what you want to do.
Apparently people are allowed to have opinions, just not about Rice. It’s pathetic that she attempted to bully you with her minions, you must have had a nice laugh over that. 🙂
The first one certainly is a gem, thanks for the comment 🙂
I can only compliment you to your crafty way to deal with Anne Rice writings. I just flung it into the garbage bin. At least you created something of value out of them 😛
(I have read Interview With The Vampire. It’s the first book ever where the movie adaption was better. And it had Tom Cruise in it.)
I have tried to read Anne Rice’s books (in order) and both I and my sister haven’t been able to get past page 10. I’ve also been given her erotic Sleeping Beauty series which was a stinker too.
Anne Rice’s ego has obviously overcome her common sense to start this witch hunt.
Thank you, Kayleigh, for speaking the truth about Anne Rice. Obviously you’re smarter than me because I plugged through five vampire novels, stupidly hoping that one of them might actually have a story instead of endless pages of description or whining. When I read The Witching Hour and determined it was a 1038-page prologue to the next book, I swore I’d never read any of her shit again. And I haven’t.
I do, however, point to Anne Rice as what NOT to do when writing when I teach my Creative Writing class. I’ve been using Rice as an example of horrid writing for 13 years.
So, hey, don’t worry about the blind Rice morons who vilify you. Look at this way: your blog went viral. Good for you.
I was sent here from a link at “Dear Author.” They’re a classy bunch and it looks like you are too. Keep up the great reviews!
Also, I have to add my voice to that of the other librarians (yes, I *do* think it makes me more qualified to comment on your decoupage project ;-). Thank you for saving this book. As you and others have commented, it was headed for the trash/recycling anyway, so why not do something constructive with it?
Am now going to scroll back up through the massive number of comments to check and see if the Mills and Boon project has been posted yet. Scoured the sales bin for these when I was studying abroad. Really loved a quarter of the ones I read, hated another quarter, and was flat-out bemused by the other half.
I have a Mills and Boon review but haven’t started the book craft project with them yet, watch this space! 🙂
Well, I won’t judge you for your opinions and I won’t try to explain the book, people have already done that.. It is just weird that you did that to a book you loathed.. I hated Sookie Stackhouse series too but I just gave them away, there is no need to do such a disrespectful thing..
Still, thank you for sharing your opinions, it’s a very courageous thing to do, even though I don’t agree with you ^^
Thank you for not judging 🙂
I am a followed of Anne Rice’s FB page, and although I understand your initial reaction to this…viral bombardment…I think you have misjudged Ms. Rice’s intentions in sharing your blog entry. She regularly shares critiques on her books, whether they are positive or negative. She also shares articles on other random, historical, controversial etc topics, and initiates thought-provoking, self-searching and intelligent conservation with her readers. Albeit, there are a number of people who may not be able to see her usually unbiased motives, and they may express themselves in a manner unbecoming to Ms. Rice. I hope you take that into consideration. 🙂 I am sure she meant no offense to you, and surely didn’t anticipate these people condemning you in her name. She has been on the receiving end of such things.
I’m sorry but I don’t believe that, I’ve read the FB page. Thank you for the comment though 🙂
The funny part about all this is that if you had turned this book in to a used bookstore, it probably would have been trashed. I worked at a used bookstore while I was in college and if we ran into an Anne Rice book with a cracked spine (like your copy) it would have its jacket stripped and be thrown in the bin. We did this with all authors who had an overflow (James Patterson, V.C. Andrews, Danielle Steel, Tom Clancy, etc.). Anything less than pristine was tossed. And yes, there were moments when I was tearing books up (I won’t tell you which author/authors inspired this) that I thought “ha! good riddance!”
Before I worked at a bookstore, I never would have dreamed of shredding a book but it makes sense. Mass Market Paperbacks are not designed to last forever. The cheap pulpy paper would make that difficult anyhow.
I know that people treasure their books, I certainly do. However, getting this emotional about one battered mass market paperback that was repurposed by an unhappy reader strikes me as overkill.
(Oh, and I guess I should confess I made a collage about objectification and gender using romance novel covers and slices of the inner pages. Shhh, don’t tell anyone!)
That collage sounds wicked, thanks for the comment and support 🙂
People need to calm down. Do you respond like this every time someone criticizes a book or author you like? If you do, you need to realize one of the most important truths you can ever learn in life: Not everyone likes the same things you do.
What’s more, we are all entitled to review whatever work of art we so choose in essentially any manner we so choose. That’s everything from paintings to sculptures, and yes, to books. Go look at Goodreads, it’s a whole site dedicated to reviewing books and sharing those reviews. It’s an essential part of reading for pleasure: discussing strengths and weaknesses, sharing your opinions, and discussing those opinions with others like intelligent human beings.
If this is how you respond to one blogger’s opinion, What do you do to every other person who writes an unfavorable review of a book you like? Or a piece of art you like?. By all means, express your disagreement with the blogger about her review, maybe point out why you disagree with her, maybe suggest further reading that could improve her opinion of the work in question. But to insult, demonize, and threaten? This is uncalled for in every situation.
Finally, I have had an interest in Ann Rice for some time now. I have seen several movie adaptations of her works, and read one of her books, and have always intended to get deeper into it. However, seeing Rice act in this manner: to pick out a single, small time blogger and demonize her among Rice’s fan base has completely turned me off to her and all of her work. It is a petty, vindictive, cruel, and highly insecure move for a world renown author to deliberately pick on a single person whose opinion would otherwise have been read by very few people. ANY author who is incapable of taking criticism from their readers without turning it into a personal attack on the reader is not worth reading in my opinion. It tells me that such an author finds themselves above critique, which is not the case for ANY author. From Tolkien, Adams, Twain, Everest, to Hemmingway and more, no author is above critique. To act like you are is extremely arrogant and making everything about yourself as opposed to being about the reader or the story itself. You allow yourself no room for growth, and that’s just not an author I’m willing to read.
Thanks for the comment and I agree with your points about criticisms. No author is above critique, so perfect that they don’t need help and editing. Not to suggest I was good enough to offer that, I’m just amazed about what I’ve learned about this author since writing this blog
You forgot to address the main fact that has us all upset. Its not the review, it is the ripping that has us upset! Duh!
Jennifer, are you simple? I work in a bookstore. Do you know that Anne Rice’s later books didn’t sell anywhere near as well as the older ones? Do you have any idea whatsoever of how many covers I ~personally ripped off those crappy books to send back to the publisher? Do you? Will you picket all the bookstores now because they’re desecrating your bible?
Jennifer, why are you, or why is anyone for that matter, upset over what she does with her own property? Are we talking about a priceless, rare book? Was it a Gutenberg Bible she callously destroyed for an arts and crafts project? Was it the Voynich Manuscript? The original writings of Nostradamus? A Dead Sea Scroll? No? Well, is there some secret to life that could have been divined from it? Were the contents of the book of such great sociological value that the destruction of this specific book is a great loss to all humankind? No?
Would you be upset at me if I took apart an old chair to make something new out of the materials? Or If I used an old computer to make something else out of it? It’s her property, she paid for it, she’s free to do whatever she wishes with it.
It’s not like she destroyed this book in order to suppress the knowledge contained therein, in order to keep the masses stupid and uneducated and aware of nothing but her own agenda and her version of events. There was no malicious intent in what she did. She took something of no particular value that was old, damaged, and belonged to her and used it to make something else. This, honestly, is none of your business. I do not remember reading anywhere that “All books regardless of nature and content are sacrosanct”. If you’re upset about books of no particular value being destroyed, go protest at your local library or second hand book store. It happens all the time.
I’m an English Literature graduate who loves reading, writing, blogging and finding interesting things to share with others. A nerdfighter and giant geek, I think long and hard about my opinions and love to share them with others. I also like to write fiction and working on business blogs.
I am assuming you forgot the long and hard thinking before you ripped her book to shreds…
Thanks for the comment 🙂
She can do whatever the Hell she pleases….it’s just a book..and it’s hers. She payed for it…if she wants to rip it apart..she can. Also…she can have an opinion.
… how can you get through an English Lit degree and still have the opinion that every single copy of every single book is sacred?? This was a cheap mass-market paperback, already falling apart. What possible harm to the universe could have come from her using it for her craft project?
I am also a nerdfighter. I really think what she did was completely okay.
Jennifer, many times books are destroyed or thrown away. Did you ever read that little blurb in many paperbacks that says “if you bought this without the cover, it’s a stolen book”? When a book doesn’t sell, a bookstore often rips of the cover to send back to the publisher to get credit back for the book. The book is then thrown away. If that book is “resold” it’s considered stolen because the bookstore already received credit for it and that means they attempted to sell it twice. Also, libraries discard old, worn copies of books all the time. Sometimes they can be recycled; many times they cannot. At the library where I work, I personally have dealt with many books that were too damaged or soiled from all kinds of material (water/liquid damage, urine, feces, roaches, dog-eaten, mold) that have to be tossed in the trash (and those responsible for the damage are charged for the cost to replace the book). Also many times, people buy used books from library book sales or thrift stores for the sole purpose of craft projects, anything from decoupage to altered books to using the pages to make paper flowers (as a friend did for her wedding bouquet). I have done craft projects with books that were otherwise going to be recycled or trashed. I also have a love and respect for literature and have way more books in my home for reading pleasure than for crafting purposes.
I enjoyed your review and am sorry you’re getting grief from insane people in the Internets. Craft on!
Miss Articulate, I have to say first that your decopatch looks lovely and I think that it is a wonderful way to salvage a beaten and torn book. Nicely done!
Second, I too am one of those “long-time Anne Rice fans” that has been flooding your page. Unlike many of them, I’m not here to curse you (or to curse at you) and find it fascinating how defensive some of my fellow fans get when reading a simple, well written critique. Anne has always welcomed criticism and when she finds reviews that are unique or thought-provoking she posts them for others to see, whether good or bad.
My opinion of her writing is clearly different from yours but I understand and respect your observations. Lengthy detail and description is Anne’s bread and butter and for myself the joy of reading one of her books is often much more about the world she depicts than the story itself. Character development happens slowly in this series, with hints of Pandora’s mythology scattered over several books before this one arrived to pull the pieces into a more cohesive story. For anyone who has led you to believe this book is uncharacteristic of the Vampire Chronicles series, I would strongly disagree. It is shorter than others, and meant to be more removed from the overall story line, but the differences end there. This is Anne’s style and Pandora takes the same basic format as most of the other novels in the Vampire Chronicles series: a brief explanation of previous events, long and winding origin story of a particular character, then late in the story comes the turning into a vampire and an integration into the overarching storylines.
It sounds like this isn’t what you want from a vampire series… in my opinion, the Vampire Chronicles is very little about vampires at all and much more about history and morality. It is also very much a series, demanding its readers to read the story in order to understand the progression. Not an easy commitment to ask of a reader, but it’s one that has paid off for those of us who really appreciate the style. Perhaps that’s where the fierce loyalty comes from, the amount of time and energy spent getting to know and understand these characters and the worlds they inhabit.
I’m glad you gave this book a chance, even if it didn’t speak to you. I’m glad you have the courage to face the assault that has come your way after speaking out and having your voice so unexpectedly heard. Anne has definitely faced her share of harsh criticsm over the years, often from her own overzealous fans (ever heard of her Christ the Lord series?) and I truly believe that standing firm in the face of opposition while being open to the discussion will strengthen your voice and expand your reach.
All the best to you,
Matt
I may get stoned for this, but…I don’t like Anne Rice. I’ve never liked Anne Rice. I’ve read the first three Vampire Chronicles, I read the Sleeping Beauty porn, I read something else I can’t bring to mind…and I’ve never liked any of it except for Sleeping Beauty when I was about twelve. I think what you did is a brilliant use of a bad (and damaged and falling apart) book, and I’m really sorry you’re getting so much grief over it. Hang in there.
I’m not sure my first comment went through , so trying again:
I may get stoned for this…but I don’t like Anne Rice. I’ve never liked Anne Rice. I’ve read a lot of her books, always hoping I’d like *this* one…and they all pretty much suck, IMO. I think what you did with Pandora was an excellent use of a badly written, falling-apart anyway paperback, and I’m really, really sorry you’re getting so much crap from crazy people over it. I think the author is badly in need of a good editor (or was; I haven’t read her books in years so I can’t speak to current works) so why shouldn’t the book itself get edited? 😛
Hang in there. I really admire your grace under fire. And yes, I’m with you in that books should stand alone, somewhat. I think that books in a series should grow from the one before it, so those who read the series all along should be able to follow and see character and plot development, but if I were to, say, pick up book 5 in a series i’d also expect to see a bit of retelling of books 1-4, just little bits here and there so I wouldn’t be completely lost upon reading book 5, and enough to interest me in finding books 1-4 and reading them. Am I making sense? The best example I have is possibly Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden files – each book stands alone, but you have a much greater appreciation for Harry and his world if you read the whole series. *And* the books are numbered so you know where you are and where to start. (They’re also fun books, IMO.)
I haven’t liked anything recent from Anne Rice. I was a really big fan at one time. The vampire series just seemed to blend into each other after awhile. I *think* I read this one, but since I can’t remember any of it I guess I wasn’t impressed with it.
I’m a serious reader, a book blogger, a book lover, and I too have crafted things from books. I’ve made Christmas ornaments and garlands. I’m dying to make a wreath that I’ve pinned on Pinterest. I have the perfect book, I just need the time. Paperbacks are made to fall apart anyway. If it’s not a rare book, I don’t see any harm in it. I like what you did. Keep crafting!
Sorry about the drama but at least you’re getting lots of traffic!
Anne post reviews ALL of the time on her facebook, good and bad and then asks people for comments and their thoughts and opinions. Obviously throttles leads to you getting attacked by some of her more eccentric fans…. I think you’ve taken all of the criticism, advice and down right rudeness vary well. I love Anne Rice, but I was r eading those books as an early teen. Starting them as an adult, and towards the end of the series would be confusing at best. While books should be able to stand on their own, generally speaking when it comes to series, you miss a lot of character development and background that is essential to understanding this character, and the changes they are going through and gone through. If you get glimpses of this woman in earlier books, you crave to learn more about her and that’s what series do. If you start in the middle, you don’t love or even hate the character the way you are meant to.
Hi. First, you’re awesome. You have the right to post your opinion on your own blog. Shame on Ms. Rice for sending her fanatics to bother you. Tsk, tsk, Ms. Anne.
Anyway, I *am* an Anne Rice fan. I say ‘fan’ vs ‘fanatic’. I find that fanatics will continue liking something just for the sake of liking/obsessing over it and they can respond like extremists at times. Fans, in my opinion, truly like something, but still have the ability to weigh it’s good and bad points instead of just giving it blind devotion.
Anne’s earlier novels are definitely her best. Her works have taken a dip in quality over the years ,especially when she decided she no longer needed an editor (if *anyone* ever needed an editor, it’s Anne Rice). Her descriptions can sometimes get too heavy handed, and yet I love the history she injects into a story. The Queen of the Damned, The Mummy, Servant of the Bones, those novels I have a fondness for because of the history, both true and created, that’s in them.
Her novels are far from perfect though, especially the later vampire novels, which became extremely formulaic (there’s someone telling someone else their entire history, then flash back to present times, a little bit of action, someone dies omg, the end). It’s kind of a shame that you started with Pandora, I think, perhaps, if you’d started with one of her earlier works you might have a bit of a different opinion on that.
Or perhaps not, to each their own. 🙂
Also, it saddens me to see any book destroyed, but I understand they do fall apart after a while, so what better way to recycle it? Otherwise it probably would have just ended up in the bin.
Anywho, don’t let the crazies get to you. Happy blogging~!
Hello! Well, it must be quite an experience reading all of these comments. She really didn’t post a call to come and bother you, it was just letting everyone know that there was a critique written. I am a new freelance writer. While it would absolutely terrify me if this happened to me, at least you got a lot more visitors to your blog. I read through and like your other posts… So, even though I am an Anne Rice fan (I love heavy description) I’m going to visit you again, and I never would have found you without her sharing this post. 🙂 I hope all those meanies choke on their cheerios.
Holy CATS. What a bunch of ridiculous butt hurt. I’d like to say I’ve never seen such a wad of over-reaction, but I certainly can say it ranks in the top ten. Some of these people need to take a breath and get their panties out of a wad. I thought the art project was pretty cool, and considering the fact that used mass-market paperbacks usually end up in landfills, you’ve actually done something better with it than what would have happened. And really, comparing it to Nazis? Seriously? How absurd.
And I have no doubt that the author knew EXACTLY what her little fan poodles were going to do when she posted up this link. On the bright side, those of us rolling our eyes at the whole thing have found a really cool new blog to follow.
Ms. Rice (and I use that respectful term loosely) knew exactly what she was doing. Being passive aggressive isn’t anything new or hard to spot. The ridiculousness unleashed here is because a grown woman who is also a famous author thought it appropriate to “sick” her fans on someone for disliking a book. At this point, I can say with all sincerity that I will follow Miss Articulate’s blog and will never buy another Anne Rice novel.
I especially love her reply later in the thread where she takes credit for sending so many people this way and hopes that the blog owner is happy – she knows very well that the “publicity” received here isn’t what any blog owner would look forward to.
Wow, holy attack of the trolls, Batman. Anyway, your little box is awesome. Any chance of a tutorial? I’ve saved some discard copies of a few favorites that would be perfect for such a project.
This is a delightful art project. You’ve inspired me to give it a try sometime.
Wow, thanks for this review. I enjoyed it. And I’m really sorry the hoi polloi are now ripping you down because of it. I don’t have an axe in this race… I’m happy to avoid vampire novels forever and ever. I’m actually writing to say hurray, it’s your blog and you wan write what you want. Oh, and… Please post your decoupage (or however one spells it where you are) when you’re finished with it. I’ll be watching your RSS feed to make sure you do. 😉
What if you had posted pictures of your decoupage, and said that you had made it out of a unsalvageable copy of one of your favorite paperback novels Pandora. And what if you had said that you had made sure that pages containing your favorite passages were the most visible in your pieces as a tribute. I wonder how many of these people currently giving you grief would be posting in favor of your project.
First off, let me start by saying that I’m a big Anne Rice Fan but I agree that this is not her best work and may even fall under the category of EPIC FAIL. However, I find it odd and ridiculous that she (the blogger on this page) keeps insisting that books on a series should be numbered, any person who can read and comprehend would probably be able to figure out which comes first. To me, that completely takes away the credibility of this review, simply because she didn’t have any appreciation of the characters, previous plots, their history etc. I think it was big of Anne to post this on her page, considering the fact that the author who claims to be a small blogger who doesn’t crave attention (why blog in the first place?) thinks that reading 23 books maker her adequate and “articulate” enough to make a review of a book in a series without reading the first 5.
And that part about all books should stand alone, is just… pardon me for the language: STUPID.
I commend you for having the high self-esteem it takes to post your own opinions, despite the book being from a big name such as Anne Rice. While I also share your opinion (Pandora was a bit lacking in many ways) I must say that I could not in my wildest dreams keep my composure and reply to every disrespectful comment or “flame” to that opinion as you have.
High praises to you, for thanking those individuals who insult and degrade you for your opinion. They are only bringing your review much more publicity than it would normally recieve.
Pick up Anne’s “The Witching Hour”.. it was my personal favorite of all her books. Sorry people treated you poorly.
You mentioned that you had no interest I. Vampires from the beginning. In my opinion, you had already judged any of Anne Rice’s work without actually delving into it. Also, if by chance you had started from the beginning of the trilogy, you might have been more enlightened. I, like you, did not read the novels in order, but I DID have some interest involved. I have read many novels that were praised by others that I did not care for myself. I did NOT rip it to shreds as you did. I kept an open mind and realized that maybe others got something out of it that I did not. You however, seem unable to comprehend that. In that case I believe that you have a right to your opinion, but that is just it. Your opinion is your opinion, however misguided or uninformed it might be.
I used to like Anne Rice, but after seeing all this passive aggressive crap she’s been doing I don’t think I’ll be buying another of her books. I hope if I’m ever a published author I’ll be able to accept criticism with a bit more grace than she’s shown.
I just commented, but I also wanted to add: DFTBA!
Hello! I am an Anne Rice fan…while I love her books I respect that other people don’t and would NEVER go to someone’s blog and bash them just for not liking a book I didn’t like or not liking an author I like. I’m a book blogger myself (really small book blog) and I feel awful that so many people left you hate comments on here!! It’s YOUR blog, that’s so crazy!!
Wow! Some of the commenters have been awful! Well, I’ve been a long time fan of Anne’s work but I’m quite capable of allowing others to dislike it without wishing horrible diseases on them, calling them filthy names, or comparing them to a political party that committed wide spread genocide. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with repurposing an old book. Way to recycle! 🙂
What the heck? I have been a fan of Anne Rice on facebook and a lot of people I know love her novels. I have been disgusted by her behavior over there in the past several weeks. First, I found she was extremely closed minded and rude to even her own fans when it came to a topic she was choosing to post about…circumcision. Now, she is directing people to leave “comments” on a blog that negatively reviews her book. What did she think would happen? I don’t get it. Maybe this woman is senile? Obviously, she is lacking some common sense as are many of her fans. Sorry you are being cyber bullied for your opinions! Geesh. While I am here, I will take a look around though. 🙂
I came back here to apologize because I do enjoy reading your posts and I do enjoy your blog. I was so shocked that someone would do that to a book because personally I just find it difficult to rip apart a book even if I didn’t like it. On the plus side though, you were able to use the pages into something useful and artsy! So it’s not like you threw the book out.
What I wasn’t expecting is how heinous some of the comments are, and I wish you wouldn’t get so much backlash from it! I was unaware until one of my friends “shared” Anne’s link to your page on facebook and was appalled by Anne’s passive aggressive behavior, AND MOST DEFINITELY HER FANS. They need to grow up, and Anne needs to get a reality check. Not everyone is going to enjoy reading her books, but to in a way to sic her fans at you is uncalled for.
True, I admit she writes well, but… this is not classy behavior. Really disappointed in her.
And I am sorry. 😦 I wasn’t expecting to get so butt hurt over torn books. Haha.
I read through all this mostly because I am a fan of us fickle humans. Your replies to peoples comments–like the glitch about being stand alone book–I kept wanting to do a reboot bop like the V-8 commercials. If you do an thorough deconstruction of most writers body of work–they are going to have hails and fobs. The author wrote the books how she saw fit and people purchased, or not, her books as they saw fit.
I think the premise to pluck one book out of the air–especially one that is potentially considered one of her ‘fobs’ and then deconstruct it is trying to have an intelligent conversation w/misinformation, or incomplete information.
I hate liver and I can guarantee I am never going to write a recipe book about liver. Like my mentor used to say, “Don’t you be the map for the territory.”
If you had done any of the usual wikipedia, google, read amazon reviews (lol), as a minimal jumping off point, then maybe you could have learned, offered something novel, insightful, or beneficial?
Sometimes you buy authors books because they are like dessert, or that bag of microwave popcorn at night when you are in your jammies, all snug in, and just want to go for a ride. Again–I don’t like liver, so I can not going to snuggle up w/liver.
To the clueless, classless jerks without any respect–sorry about that. I call us beautifully fickle human beings ‘free entertainment’. Most of the time you don’t have to do anything but sit back and watch.
Good lord, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, you don’t have to bash someone because their opinion differs from yours. Grow up, people. If you liked the book, go write your own blog about why you liked it.
-It’s cool you don’t like the book. It’s not one of my favorites either. When did we stop respecting each other’s opinions?
-Your paper boxes came out really neat! I have plenty of books I’d like to turn into adorable boxes.
-Clearly Anne Rice knows the reaction her linkage will get, but on the flipside because she posts absolutely every single mention of her name on the entire internet, I don’t see this action as exactly passive aggressive.
P.S. Can you post a link or a craft book so I can make some too?
I read through all this mostly because I am a fan of us fickle humans. Your replies to peoples comments–like the glitch about being stand alone book–I kept wanting to do a reboot bop like the V-8 commercials. If you do an thorough deconstruction of most writers body of work–they are going to have hails and fobs. The author wrote the books how she saw fit and people purchased, or not, her books as they saw fit.
I think the premise to pluck one book out of the air–especially one that is potentially considered one of her ‘fobs’ and then deconstruct it is trying to have an intelligent conversation w/misinformation, or incomplete information.
I hate liver and I can guarantee I am never going to write a recipe book about liver. Like my mentor used to say, “Don’t you be the map for the territory.”
If you had done any of the usual wikipedia, google, read amazon reviews (lol), as a minimal jumping off point, then maybe you could have learned, offered something novel, insightful, or beneficial?
Sometimes you buy authors books because they are like dessert, or that bag of microwave popcorn at night when you are in your jammies, all snug in, and just want to go for a ride. Again–I don’t like liver, so I can not going to snuggle up w/liver.
To the clueless, classless jerks without any respect–sorry about that. I call us beautifully fickle human beings ‘free entertainment’. Most of the time you don’t have to do anything but sit back and watch.
Hi there,
After reading some of the comments on Facebook the other day and just now reading
Another bloggers opinion on Anne linking such reviews I have read yours and it has helped me put into words how I see her books.
They are not about drinking blood as you have pointed out, they are about the human side of the characters. Cursed with immortality and a need to kill in order to survive we are witness to their struggle to hold onto their humanity whilst living with the knowledge that they have become quite simply a killing machine.
That’s my take on it at least.
Svlad.
It seems that the Anne Rice people are saying “Don’t judge a book by its contents.” Ha!
Pingback: I love the smell of author insanity in the morning! | I'm Also a Novelist
I loved reading (and in some cases re-reading) Anne Rice’s novels – granted, some are definitely better than others…however, I’m also an artist and can understand why you changed a “found object” into something else of use, interest & beauty (although, I would have kept the cover – out of all the novels, I think Pandora’s cover has one of the most beautiful images!)
I think using used books to create art is an interesting medium, and if the book was falling apart anyway, what does it matter…it’s better that it gets used as something new rather than become landfill!
Good on you, and well done for putting up with a lot of harsh criticism on the way – you must have very tough skin!
I have to say your review was pretty fair. I might not have come against it as strongly, but then perhaps the other books she’s written which I’ve actually liked might have led me to sugarcoat a review on this one. I’m terribly sorry, both that Ms. Rice has decided to use her Facebook page as a bully pulpit and that some of her fans are so blindly adoring that they cannot stand a word said against any of her work. Keep doing what you’re doing.
While I disagree with you about Pandora, I appreciate your right to your opinion. I’m sorry you’re being attacked.
I am absolutely sickened that Anne Rice posted your review knowing that her fans would jump over here and attack. she knew exactly what she was doing. how disrespectful, and unprofessional. bravo on your review, I am a new follower on your blog 🙂 I love that you have been positive in every response to negative comments, that takes a very big person. don’t let Anne’s obsessed stalkers get to you!
It is ok to recycle a book. Good for you!!! People… what is the big deal? It is a book! It’s not like she murdered Anne Rice. So she didn’t like it. As Americans we are entitled to our opinions… remember? Sheesh!
I have followed Anne Rice for years, have enjoyed many of her books, others-not as much, but have still looked forward to each new book. Your reading of Pandora without reading many of the others that are interwoven with it is akin to reading part three of a 5 book series. Inasmuch as you have your right to your opinion, so do others. As a writer, you should know that it is personal…to not care for it is one thing, to say that ” I took a scalpel to my copy of Anne Rice’s Pandora and started making decopatch with it instead!” is an attack, not an opinion, not a thoughtful critique. Your original intention in your edit is too little too late. I believe that the personal attacks to you were uncalled for, unnecessary and distasteful-to say the least. That said, I also believe that you knew what you were getting into when you chose Anne Rice (with the large fan base that you yourself admitted to) to debase, so I’m sorry, but no sympathy there.
Kayleigh, you have responded to this dogpile of crazy with grace and good manners. I survived one a couple of years ago–maybe without quite so much class.
I’m going to be blogging about this and “Gangs of New Media” and their “twitchforks” next Sunday.
Lovely decoupage work, by the way. I know writers who have had their books mailed to them after being put in the shredder, and one who was mailed a photograph of the reviewer’s dog eating his book. You made art out of a falling-apart book. If you ever want to make something out of one of mine, let me know. 🙂
I just wanted to say to the author of the blog, I’m sorry I misjudged you at the beginning of the article. I’m not a huge Anne rice fan but I was led here by the other blogger posting a letter on your behalf to never say anything nice about her ( Anne) again. I read your review and quite frankly at first glance you did seem like you were trolling for an adverse reaction from fans. Text doesn’t really carry sarcasm unless you truly are as good as Adams or Pratchett . Not to insult your writing. But after reading your calm comebacks to horrid people and getting a better feel for your sly tongue in cheek commentary . I realize your initial blog was just a playfull romp, as you combined your entertainment with books with your lack of being entertained by this one. After getting to know your style a little better I actually kinda liked the review. Kinda like reading a series. I hope you don’t have to deal with much more. P.S. no one should be compared to the twilight books or nazis
It is not “vandalism” when it is her property. She is free to do with as she pleases it.
Man I’m sorry for all the hate. Alright- yes I’m an anne rice fan. But we all have opinions. I agree sometimes things can take a turn for the worst in her novels…haven’t read Pandora- mainly because I never liked the character to begin with. 😛 Any way- i appreciate your opinion and I”m sorry for all the hate from other fans its really silly to get so upset about this.
Only thing i can be mad at is tearing up a book…i wish you’d not of done THAT part but thats only because i have an unhealthy respect for books and think they should be cherished and honored;especially with all the kindle and ipooed or what-the-hell-ever e-craps people use now.
Hi!! I admit, I came here because of the post on Anne Rice’s Facebook page BUT I have to say I really enjoyed reading your review of the book. Pandora is not one of my favourite books written by Anne and in all seriousness I really don’t like the character Marius. I tend to find any book that revolves around him is a bit tedious. You expressed your opinion eloquently and I found it easy to relate to! If you are interested in the vampire chronicles at all, I would suggest the second book. Thanks for the entertainment! Also I like your Decopatching skills 😛
As an Anne Rice fan I’m sorry about these idiots commenting filth to you.
After reading through 95% of the comments, I applaud your badassery and ability to stay cool despite the enormous flames engulfing the page. I’ll be looking forward to seeing more recycled book crafts (and maybe get some inspiration for my more… uh… well-loved paperbacks that I should probably replace).
From one English grad to another, rock on! Consider me your newest fan.
I’m in awe that you took the time to respond to some of these overly not polite commentors, most of who probably don’t understand the point of a bookblog. I am an Anne Rice fan, I do enjoy these books, but we are all intitled to our own opinions. Personally, everytime I try reading Jane Austen, I fall asleep. She bores me to tears.
From one book blogger to another, good job.
You know, you say that you bought a book intending to make a craft project out of it all along but you choose to specifically name this post “Punishing Pandora”. That title sort of insinuates that you destroyed the book because you disliked it and I’m sorry but I will never think that’s okay. If you didn’t want to leave people with that impression you could have picked a less aggressive title. You are certainly allowed to dislike the book. As much as I disagree with the act, you are even allowed to destroy books, however I doubt you will have a future in book reviews after this. Most of the book readers I know are people who appreciate books and who believe they should be respected and well cared for. The backlash to this post isn’t all about Anne Rice and your opinions about her work, its about your disgraceful disrespect for all books.
I just want to comment on what everyone starts getting upset about in the beginning of the comments — the fact that Pandora should either be a “stand alone” book or that it’s okay to assume you know the characters and the surrounding story. Some make the argument that it’s silly to expect us to read the same character introductions over and over again. Everyone is comparing it to Twilight which is in and of itself a failed argument.
So I propose to you this: read the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. Each book is CLEARLY part of a series and yes, in order to fully understand every nuance of it you should read them in order. However, reading them as individual books still gives you a delightful story without incredibly long, dreary introductions. While you do receive some of the same information in each book, it is succinct and to the point, where a virgin to the series can understand it and veterans won’t be bogged down and feel the need to skip over it. Old information is also peppered throughout the book so we aren’t inundated with facts. We just get to enjoy the story as it goes along.
I think what Miss Articulate may have been saying is not that she expects every book in a series to have dramatic introductions and to develop the entire world, but rather that they would consider a reader who is new to the series that may be jumping in at this particular point. Especially since these books are not labeled, are not numbered and some of us Anne Rice “fans” aren’t even sure what books to read in order, then it is reasonable that a new reader would have no clue this is not a “starting point”.
So before attacking her about these silly things and getting upset that she doesn’t like the book, try to view it from a newcomer’s standpoint. We were all noobs once.
Because they are NOT ordered perse! That is why! There is no number 1,2,3,4 5, etc.. There is no specific order in which they have to read! Although, it does of course help if you do read them in the order they were released – although Anne has stated before that isn’t really the order in which they’re to be read..so to speak.. They are individual books written by several Vampires.. Lestat wrote some, Marius wrote one(maybe 2 I cannot remember now). David Talbot Wrote several, as he was a member of teh Talamasca before being turned.. so it was his job to chronicle the supernatural, which includes the Mayfair witches and the various Vampires.. Each book is written from the perspective of one of the Vampires, his experiences and sometimes telling stories that they were told by other vampires.. I think there may even be a couple that are combined efforts of more than one vampire.. I do not recall exactly..
Merrick and Pandora were not part of the Chronicles proper.. they were companion books..
I sorry that you find negative feelings for Anne. She is a wonderful woman. Freedom of speech allows all of us to say anything. Your writing shows me you are a strong person. Personally and an excellent writer . i am thrilled Anne
is my Facebook friend that’s pretty incredible she takes the time every day to write to us and inner acts with everyone. You expressed how you feel. I hope it has enlightened you. It is sad. That you felt you needed to attempt to hang a veil over a beloved author. I wish you well,
LMFAO @ “freedom of speech.” You’re delusional. If good ol’ Mater really welcomed discourse and fans interacting with one another, perhaps she wouldn’t have begun suing said fans over fanfiction and roleplay websites – harmless endeavors, never once meant for profit – 15 years ago?
She is NOT a “wonderful woman.” She’s petty and hateful and feeds on attention like a lamprey. She must be thrilled to death that so many of her Facebook “friends” stirred up the pot in her name because it means she’s relevant for an extra ten minutes.
Wonderful people actively encourage harassment of others, eh?
Interesting definition of “wonderful”.
Your decoupage looks awesome, though! I often find torn books / outdated reference books and recycle them into craft. Text and books are beautiful and should totally be turned into pretty things if they’re not going to be read again. 🙂
I wasn’t able to bring myself to decoupage with a damaged bible, because I was worried someone might be deeply offended, but I NEVER would considered that with a modern fiction paperback. Book deconstruction is not equal to book burning. You’re not damaging it to make a political statement or prevent other people from reading the work [unless they were really dead-set on reading your particular copy, I guess?].
Uh, anyway, glad I found your blog. [and now I want to go decoupage an empty ice cream pint container, brb.]
I actually quite liked Pandora, though I had read all the preceding books first and it definitely does assume you already know the characters. I think mostly I just liked the setting. I’m sorry you got so many rabid fans flipping out on your blog, though!
Having read all of Anne Rice’s works, and being one of her biggest fans, I must admit I agree that this novel was quite hard for me to get through. It is by far, one of my least favorite of her novels. I would donate it if I did not own the entire series, but having an incomplete set would kill me.I do feel that if you had started with the “original” vampire chronicles, you may have enjoyed Pandora just a little bit more, maybe. The Vampire Armand has been, and will always be, my absolute favorite. It is a true work of art.
That being said, I do think it was rather distasteful to take someone’s hard work, cut it up, use it for an origami project, and display it. Whether it be Anne Rice, or any other author/book. That person spent months/years pouring themselves into their art just to entertain others. It is one thing to give it a bad review ” which I did for this book on amazon”, but another to deface someone’s work. If you disliked the book to that extent, why not donate it to goodwill, or some other thrift shop or used book store? You may not have enjoyed it, but someone else might have.
I do also want to apologize for all the ignorance and abuse that has been brought about by this. Although I disagree with your method, I do not feel you deserve some of the response that you have gotten.
You may do what you wish with your property, of course. I turn old books into craft all the time, and not always because I hate them.
What concerns me about your review and your update is that you criticize and then get quite offended when you receive criticism. It’s easy to write whatever you want on a tiny corner of the internet. You can tear apart someone’s work (literally and figuratively) without them ever knowing. The difference here is that the author found out.
There’s nothing wrong with what you did, and you do not deserve the ridiculous threats and harsh words. Where you went wrong, imo, is suggesting that Anne Rice did something wrong by linking to your blog post on her Facebook page. You chose to put your opinion out into the big wide world of the internet. This does not excuse rude and unreasonable people, but it does mean that you are responsible for what you posted. You made Anne Rice the subject of your post, and I don’t see where she did anything unreasonable in linking to what you already put out into the public sphere. You do not deserve abuse for this, but it is ridiculous to blame the author for it. Blame the idiots who can’t disagree in a civil manner.
Considering Anne Rice’s…er…passive aggressive behavior in the past, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was her exact intention to cause controversy and harassment. She hasn’t been kind to people who’ve disliked her books in the past.
I happen to enjoy Anne Rice’s novels, in fact she is one of my favorite writers but she may not be for everyone. That is the beauty of being human….we are all different. If we all thought the same we would be awfully bored! Keep your head up and don’t let people who act like they are two get to you! After all this is YOUR blog and they don’t have to read it and hey wait….this is America….right?! You are allowed to have your OWN thoughts.
Here via a post on the “fandom_wank” community, and… Wow… so glad I didn’t use an Anne Rice novel when I découpaged a trash can for an art class (though it sounds like it’d have been as appropriate for the task as the hilariously horrible Feng Shui book I used instead)…
Keep on rockin’ the art!
If you want to ever give Anne Rice another go I suggest you read The Vampire Lestat. I found it to be the best one of all the series. I think it’s sad that people would go to such lengths to online bully a fellow human being for having a rather (imo: just) way of saying how she sees things. I think it’s a shame that you read Pandora, instead of earlier mentioned book.
I’ve come to ignore most posts by Anne Rice on FB, since they are mostly (from observation) based in religion or opinions on her characters. I liked her books, but that is it. I hope that people will cool off and leave you to your very interesting decoupage project(s) 🙂
OBS: Pandora, like The Vampire Armand, is sort of side stories about characters from the main book series so you can dive into more knowledge about those characters. Pandora first showed up as one of the elder Vampires in “Queen of the Damned”, which again wasn’t as good as the 2nd in the series. 😉
Whew!! that was a trip and a half all the way to the bottom of the page. Well what can I say that has not been said before, yes, no, maybe?
I used to drive night shift taxis in Sydney Australia and the number of people who would get into my taxi stinking of alcohol and make all kind of threats and hurl all kinds of abuse would make a biker cry.
I’ve read the vampire chronicles and found them OK. Nothing to write home about, but my wife loved them, so we have them all on the shelf. We also have over a thousand other books on those shelves as well, not all of them are fiction and one or two are worth quite a bit of money. As far as other vampire stories are concerned, where is a vampire slayer named Buffy when you need her?
Yes the TV series’ Buffy and Angel are in our DVD library beside the Twilight series and I have been writing my own story that I’ve shockingly found contains Vampires. Wasn’t expecting it and it has suddenly changed how I look at my characters. they’re not as nice as I thought they were.
And isn’t it this what all these stories we read and the ones we tell ourselves are all about?
Either reading a story or watching a film, changes how we view that genre as the “what if” hits in and suddenly a character in our mind story drops effortlessly onto a page. We look at them and wonder where they came from, how they became the person who they are now and what those events have to do with how they will deal with the events that are about to be put in front of them. A very good reason to try and read a story from beginning to end.
I won’t bore you with going on forever about this subject as that is something I can do all too well. Come to think of it, I can go on and on about just about any subject really. Just ask me. I’ll wake you when I’m done.
Wow, this is an insane thread… I read about 100 comments before I gave up!
Let me just say upfront that I have not read a single book of Anne Rice. I saw Interview With a Vampire, that’s pretty much it.
What I really came here to do is maybe balance out this useless Anne Rice meanness with my support for you. For both what you did with your book and for your stand on standalone v/s series books.
Once you have paid money for something, it is yours and yours alone. Even Anne Rice has no rights over that book which you have purchased. So I am flabbergasted at this outpouring of meanness. People, she bought the goddam thing with her money! It’s as if random strangers came into your house and started yelling at you for the sofa or the curtains you bought. So so very weird.
The other thing I wanted to say is that if a book is a part of an ongoing series then it HAS be numbered, no two ways about it. I read so many authors who write series (it’s my fav kind to read) and every series writer I’ve read makes their absolute best effort to make each book a standalone. Sometimes they succeed, sometimes they don’t. The underlying reason being how else can an author hook a new reader. However, these very same authors also ensure that their books clearly mention what series and what number the book is a part of, if not on the cover then on the inside. It’s just plain logical.
I personally don’t like this book art business (I’m a book hoarder, I guess). However I absolutely 100% support your right to do what you want with books that you’ve bought. Don’t let these high school mean kids get you down, Ms. Articulate. Keep doing what you’re doing. Cuz haters will hate… (God, I loathe that phrase) 😉
Anyway, I’ve said my piece. Sorry didn’t mean to write an essay. Cheers!!!
Look, I don’t agree with either this review (it’s misinformed) or the cyber bullying by fans of the series but I really do have to respond to your comment. Like the initial review, it’s the misinformation that bothers me.
1. No author “HAS” to number their books just because they’re in a series. In fact, most authors don’t do this. The numbers usually get attached informally as fans of a series come to know them as “Book 7”, etc. If you look at the books themselves, there is usually little or no indication that they’re part of a series, unless you know the author or read the blurb.
2. Pandora is a novella, not a novel. Whilst being more indepth than a short story, it’s meant purely as a companion to the Vampire Chronicles, giving background information on a minor character in the series. As a stand alone book it just doesn’t work well as you’re presumed to have some previous knowledge of this character and her relationship to others.
This third point is just my opinion and I’m sure many would disagree with me: I’m not entirely comfortable with the whole “if I buy it , I can do what I want with it” concept. Yes, legally speaking you are indeed correct. And yes, many books are destroyed by libraries and book stores. But I think the point some people are making is that this was a very public display of “this is what I think your art is worth”, kind of like buying a painting and then trashing that painting on the internet because you didn’t like it. I know the analogy doesn’t quite stand up, but to a writer their words are their art. I honestly think if the reviewer had just been honest and said that the book was falling apart so she decided to do something creative with it there wouldn’t have been such a strong reaction. So yeah, in a legal sense any paper book you buy is yours but, to me, sometimes the consideration of others is a little more valuable and important that making a statement. Not that any of this excuses the bullying, of course. That’s just a plain nasty part of human nature.
Perhaps you’re right that authors don’t “have” to number their series, but take a random look around you, most successful authors DO number their series. Or list the reading order of a series which is tantamount to numbering anyway. Certainly ALL the authors I read do this – Nora Roberts, Nalini Singh, Jeaniene Frost, Jim Dresden, Kresley Cole, Robert Jordan to name a few off the top of my head. If not the author, then certainly the team that works with them does. Perhaps it offends the idea of “artististic” sensibilities, but realistically, if you want to sell books, then you have to list them.
These same authors provide the same courtesy to novellas as well. Their novellas are treated with as much importance as their full-length novels. And I am always told at what point in the series arc does any particular novella belong. Or if it belongs to the series world but not in any specific arc. Maybe the point here is that with the kind of reach Ms. Rice already has, she does not think she needs to bother with such courtesies. It’s her prerogative of course, but then she runs the risk of a negative review such as this one.
As to your final point of “consideration of others is a little more valuable and important that making a statement”, how about this? You can please some of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time. And if you read my comment again, you’ll see that I don’t agree with what she has done with the book either. However what I support is her RIGHT to do what she wishes with her personal property.
People who don’t read books (I’ve been told such creatures do exist 😉 ), or worse can’t read, would not care about who does what with books. For them, this controversy would be like a storm in a teacup. For few other people, what Ms. Articulate has created is art and they would never have gotten this art in their lives if she had just quietly thrown the book away. You gotta be true to yourself, and THAT is what I’m supporting here.
Thanks for you point of view, cheers!
Look y’all, yeah I’m from the south. What has gotten you so mad. Not everyone likes Ann Rice and that includes me. Y’all sound like a bunch of monkeys going at it. Leave it be and do something else.
I completely agree with your opinion on Pandora. I started reading Anne at the tender age of 12, wondering the shelves of Walmart no less looking for any Anne Rice book I could find. I’m now 30. I gobbled up the first four vampire novels, ventured into Sleepy Beauty series (not at Walmart), and each time some thing new came out I bought each book, knowing I would love it like the last. I read Pandora and thought, “We’ll it was alright.” Marius was such a fav of mine, I didn’t mind how boring the storyline was. I guess it was a different road we had to travel to read Anne’s story. I like Armand’s story better, and I thought his relationship with Marius was much more intimate.
With that being said, I’ve only had the urge to year up one series of book. 50 Shades of Grey. I could think of 100 ways to shred that POS that people have the nerve to call literature. That’s another conversation, but that’s my comparison. So even though I don’t agree Pandora makes me even close to the the I feel for the latter, I understand your pain!
“I’m sorry for not mentioning this from the word go but I can’t believe that Anne Rice has been so affronted to share this to her Facebook Page knowing how biased her fan base would be when reading my post and the result that this would cause. ”
This is a two-part assumption –that Anne Rice was “affronted” and that she knew her fan base would react this way. Many people tend to passively assume that the folks “around them” are like them or at least similar. It’s a psychological mechanism that gives us comfort in a chaotic world. Anne would not likely leave vitriol on anyone’s blog, so it likely didn’t occur to her that “her” fans would either. I doubt she intended to sick her dogs on you. Rather than assuming the worst of her as a person (which doesn’t help anyone or your case) and just generates more negative energy– address the action she took and let her know why it was wrong.
If the negative attention is too much, ask her to remove her link to your blog. Or, be creative and parlay it to your benefit. You now have the attention of hundreds of people who never knew you existed before.
Have you seen Anne Rice’s antics in the past? This is the woman who has attempted to sue people for writing fanfiction, verbally abused a reviewer who gave her a negative review on Amazon, harassed a cafe owner for opening his “gaudy” cafe on her favorite street, and wrote a two-page spread in her local newspaper decrying why Tom Cruise would make an awful Lestat. She’s as passive aggressive and nasty as they come. I’m just surprised more fans don’t see it. People knew about her bizarre behavior waaay back in the 90s.
I’d almost believe you if Rice hadn’t done this exact thing before, and more than once.
First: It’s decoupage, not decopatch.
Second: I’m an altered book artist. I regularly cut up books to turn them into art objects. I take this practice VERY seriously. Never in my life have I cut up a book as some sort of childish revenge against an author whose work I don’t appreciate. I find what you’ve done here offensive—not because you used a book to create some little crafty items, but because you cut up a book to show your disrespect to the author. Shame on you.
Third: You’ve posted this article publicly. That means the public can read it, and because you’ve allowed commenting, comment upon it. To hide behind “I am a small scale blogger” doesn’t fly—because regardless of whether you have one follower or one million, you’ve opted to post this for the entire Internet to view. When you post something online, you are accountable for what you write. Not just to a few regular readers, but to everyone. Let this be a lesson to you: you never know when what you write might get picked up by someone who has a massive following who disagree with you.
If you read her edit to the original entry (the bold text at the top), she mentions that she bought the book with the purpose of using it for a craft, but read it first. She was joking when she said she did it as “revenge” – she did hate the book, but was planning to rip it up and decoupage it no matter what she thought of it.
Also, even if she had a habit of buying books and only slicing up ones she hated, even if she posted blog posts about how she enjoyed destroying books that she thought were bad writing EVERY DAY, I don’t think there is SHAME in that. If she made a themed blog of “these are books I hate watch me rip them up” I think it would be a bit childish and in bad taste, but they are HER PROPERTY to do with as she likes.
In actuality, any disrespect she had towards Anne Rice was explained quite clearly (I thought) in her review, and she stated her reasons for it like a reasonable adult. I also thought she made it quite clear that her opinions of the book and her crafting of it were two different things. Sure, she commented that the cutting up was “made all the more enjoyable by how much I really and truly loathed that book,” but notice how that sentence means that she was going to cut it up regardless.
Her attempt to backpedal and say the book was intended as a craft all along is a transparent lie. She states the book was in bad shape. But look at the picture there is nothing wrong with the book. And she states this after she is called a book mutilator and told that to destroy a book because she did not personally like it is small minded. Frankly I could care less if she wears the book as an asshat. And I think she has every right to post anything she damn well pleases. But I do think she is a little embarrassed. And I do not think Anne Rice is responsible for what her minions do or say on the Internet. I can see this for what it is. The author of this blog wanted a creative stunt to make her opinion more than what it supposed to be, and that is just a negative review of a book. Had she stuck to simply reviewing the book without the added drama she would have succeeded better than she has. Yet, she would not have attracted all this free publicity and added so many new followers either. I think she wrote a poor review about a poorly written book. And suddenly everyone’s panties are in a twist. Yawn. In the meantime 75 children died of starvation, thirst and neglect in the time it took me to write this paragraph. There are real issues still waging in this world. I think I will turn my attention to something more worthy. I wish others would as well.
I can’t believe that there are people who think it’s ok to attack you like this. Some people have no home training. It would be one thing if those commenting in a negative way had done so on Anne’s FB page, or if they had remained civil. It’s an entirely different thing when they “come into your home” and spout these terrible things. I didn’t like Pandora either, and I love most of Anne’s work. But like any author, she has published what some would consider “dreck” I for one would like to thank you for being honest about how you felt. It’s quite refreshing to read someone who actually say’s aloud what so many are thinking!
You have every right to your opinion, full stop. Anne Rice should be ashamed of herself and her fans for such petty behavior.
Stay opinionated!
Good lord, this is the silliest thing I have ever seen. Not your blog, of course but these crazy ass comments.
I wonder if they realize that they’re acting exactly like the Twilight fans when someone takes a prod at Stephanie Meyer. If you bought the book and didn’t like it, more power to you to turn it into something you can enjoy. I’m sure there are thousands of Anne rice books that were torn up and trashed when walmart got tired of looking at them on their shelves. Anne Rice is acting like a child. Grow up, all of you.
(Y)
I’ve never been a fan of Anne Rice’s writing style but really, this response reflects so badly on her and much of her fan base. There’s a certain level of maturity and dignity that ANYONE who has published work needs to maintain in the face of negative reviews. Stand by your work, but understand that not everyone is going to like it (this review, for example) and maybe even have enough self-awareness to think about the more constructive points.
To some of her fan base: Really, guys? Anne Rice isn’t your friend to white-knight, she’s a grown woman who should be able to handle herself with more dignity than this. I’m sure the author of the review would welcome differing opinions and polite discussion on your point of view, though.
All that said, I also go to used bookstores and have used a few for crafts. Sorry. I’ve even used – wait for it – hardbacks to make purse clutches. Just think of it as an extended form of respect – instead of letting them get thrown out and take up space in a landfill, they’re being repurposed into something beautiful and usable.
Wow you won the blogging lottery. A scandalous post generating tons of traffic. You better put some google ads or something on here. Anyway… props for not taking it down. I think Anne Rice has completely embarrassed herself on this one.
Yep. U’re right.
I haven’t read Anne Rice since high school and I’m not about to start back now. But I’m happy to read you. Putting your blog in my feed.
More author recommendations, if you’re up for it. 😉
Neil Gaiman’s novels are good, but I adore his short stories. Horror and fantasy and stuff that makes you think. And all are stand alone. ;P
Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden books are good for a light read – I’ve noticed on a second reading some issues with the the character’s “Nice Guy Who Gets Girls” status, but they’re fun to rip through and while they’re a series, you get enough introduction in each book to know what’s going on.
Dan Simmons has some great stuff for literature-types – fantasy/sci-fi melded with the classics. They’re hard to describe but very good to read.
Tad Williams’ “War of the Flowers” is another fun fantasy, about an unsuccessful rock musician getting sucked into Fairyland and a civil war.
And all are available in second hand bookshops, many in suitably dilapidated condition to warrant conversion into art when you’re done if you don’t want to read them again. 🙂
Kudos for you for posting your opinion on a book you disliked and sticking to your guns. I agree with you that a book in a series should stand alone and, at the very least, make you curious about the previous book(s) in the series. I’m saddened that instead of engaging you in a serious debate about the merits of the book, my fellow bibliophiles are attacking you personally. Negative reviews are just as important as positive reviews. Everyone’s literary tastes are not the same.
And as for cutting up an old, worn out book for crafts? What a wonderful way to pay homage to the written word! I frequently save my son’s worn story books or buy books that are falling apart for craft purposes. There is something beautiful about seeing the words preserved long after the book itself has persished.
I liked your blog post. Sorry for the crazy fans and the nutso author sending hate traffic your way. I don’t think I’d be able to descrate even this terrible a book but your crafts look fun.
Some people seem to forget that it’s ok that not everybody likes the same thing. Differences are what make the world exciting, but for some reason this seems to send some of the people here into a red misty frothing rage. Of course you are perfectly entitled to say you didn’t enjoy a book, and why, regardless of how large or small your blog following is. And of course you can cut the book up if you paid for it.
I suppose people are entitled to respond as they like too, although I can’t see how some of the commenters have the energy to get through the day if they’re so enraged they’re wishing herpes on you and calling you a bitch because you don’t like the same books they do. What do they do when they’re in a restaurant and somebody doesn’t like the same food? Leap over the tables and stab them in the hand with a fork? And if they go outside, there must be whole streets full of people with different clothing styles that need vitriolic insults thrown at them. It’s got to be exhausting.
I hope you have a wonderful, inspired time crafting, and are not put off expressing your considered opinion in the future by some of the ridiculous things said in the comments.
[insert comment wishing harm on a real, actual person in defense of an inanimate paperback book, followed by paragraph long refuting of your opinion, followed by shaming of you for picking on a poor, struggling writer like Anne Rice] Just kidding. Do what you want. It’s not like you staged a book burning or shredded a library copy. People need to get themselves under some kind of control.
I came to your blog through an article on The Mary Sue about Anne Rice linking your article to all of her fans. But, I read it, and I have to say I’ll be back to check out more. You hit the nail on the head for me. Every time I’ve tried to read Anne Rice I find myself confounded that she’s so hailed. I am always left bored and barely caring about the characters. Also, kudoos on how you’ve handled the comments.
I’m in awe of how much class you’ve had while handling this situation!
Also, thank you for discussing using books in art. I’ve always been the type to cringe when they’re cut up and re-purposed, but I never considered that they would be thrown away after being donated. Now that I know that, I’m ready to try my hand at some crafting!
Keep being awesome!
It’s sad how childish some people can be, isn’t it. I, for one, think your review was spot on. I’ve read a few of Rice’s books, and I assure you they are all as badly written as this one. How she managed to amass the following she did is beyond me, and this behavior only shows that she does not, in fact, deserve it. The Internet can be both a great and terrible place, but I’m sure you will now have more followers and readers of your blog who will enjoy what you have to say.
I just found this via The Mary Sue. I’m an English Lit grad, librarian, and book lover. Books do get damaged, thrown away, recycled, made into art projects. Big deal. I know several people, book lovers at that, that do use books for craft projects. I once went to book-themed wedding in a bookstore where the bouquet was made out of book page roses and the flower petals tossed by the flower girl were made from book pages as well. Not one person at the wedding was offended by the fact that books had to be destroyed to create those elements of the wedding. There is a HUGE difference between using a mass-produced book in this manner and the erradication of all literature in the form of book burnings. You are not a destroyer of literature. You didn’t defile a sacred, holy text. You didn’t flip the publishing industry the figurate middle finger. So, yes, once the book is yours and you paid for it, so what if you use it for a craft? Better to do something with it than let it sit gathering dust on a shelf or in a box in the attic.
I’ve never been much into vampire lit so I haven’t read much of Anne Rice’s work. Generally, I’d label her higher than Stephanie Meyer, but then again Stephanie Meyer is pretty much bottom-of-the-barrel writing, so that’s not saying much. In the past Anne Rice has had several instances of not being able to handle criticism and bad reviews so I am skeptical of any to-do she makes over anything. Did she handle this situation appropriately? No. She’s well-enough aquainted with social media and should understand mob mentality enough to know better than set her followers and fans on one person who has no major affliations to anything that could hurt Ms. Rice’s career in the slightest. What prompted her to post it on her Facebook in the first place–the bad review or the destruction of her book? If it was the book destruction, then she should have emphasized that and created a discussion around that aspect. But she included the fact you gave it a bad review, thus it encited her followers to “defend” her work, and “defend” her. That, and her past history with reviewers, does suggest she either knew exactly what she was doing or that she doesn’t learn from her mistakes.
Duchess,
Anne Rice did with this review what she has with hundreds before – good, bad or indifferent she holds them up to the light. One of her Facebook followers found the blog and called it to Anne’s attention. Anne posted the link, invited debate and asked her fans to be civil. She use this word several times a week. If you were a member of her Facebook page you would know your post is dead wrong and you are weighing in when your opinion is anything but informed. She asked no one to defend her work. I know Anne and several other authors and don’t know many who enjoy getting a bad review. That’s called being human. It’s certainly not Anne’s fault that this particular reviewer should probably return her literature degree. Even though multiple people have explained that Pandora is a Novella meant to be a companion to the Vampire Chronicles she insist that this story should stand on its own. I have news for the blogger. She didn’t write Pandora for you. She wrote it for us! How would one of her teachers have reacted if she reviewed Professor Tolkien’s Return of the King without having read The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings or The Two Towers? I would think she would be told to go back to the drawing board. I would politely suggest you do the same.
I have long been a follower of Anne’s on Facebook and it’s presumptuous of you to I’m “anything but informed”. Anne does have accountability towards the blogger and no where did I see her even remotely offer any other than offhandedly saying the blogger should be grateful for the number of hits her blog has received without even acknowledging any of the negativity, vitriol or hardship the blogger has faced since the review was linked. Perhaps she has reached out the blogger privately to express an ounce of sympathy or understanding since Anne has face the same type of vitriolic response before? I’ve seen no indication of that. But publicly, her lack of response to address the attacks speaks volumes. I never said “she” asked them to defend her; I said the post and what was contained in it (identifying it as a negative review, the “loathing it so much she cut it up”) upset the people enough to respond as intense fans sometimes do, with the “You’re WRONG because you don’t like something that I LOVE with a passion” mentality. They reacted like they were PERSONALLY offended by a stranger’s opinion. Anne didn’t ask them to comment on the blog; but it’s a reasonable assumption they would. Why do you think the blogger should return her degree? What she expressed were preferences about what she likes/doesn’t like about books in a series. I guess I missed the day in my lit class that said we couldn’t have preferences and that we must all conform to one line of thought. I have worked in libraries for over 15 years so I’m well acquainted with many genres of literature . Many people come in having NO CLUE that Anne Rice’s books are even part of a series or set in the same “world” and involve the same characters. Many people have to have assistance in figuring that out; part of my job is to provide that assistance. Finding a random paperback in a thrift store offers none of that clarity or assistance when it isn’t labeled as anything other than a stand-alone book. Yes, reading a book in mid-series without knowledge of the other books can cause reader confusion; but it’s no cause to renounce any type of advanced degree nor is it a reason to degrade the blogger’s ability to critique the book. As for the “drawing board”, there is no reason for me to go back to it, although I wonder why exactly you thought I needed to go there in the first place. The “she wrote it for us” included who? The readers, old and new. It’s not some exclusive club with you as the bouncer. Also, comparing Anne Rice’s work to Tolkien? When making comparisons, it’s best to stick with contemporaries.
I’m glad you have the courage to express your opinion. Just because the rest of the world likes something it doesn’t mean we have to like it. Although I believe Pandora is not one of Anne Rice’s best works, I think it’s not entirely bad. However I would definitely throw away Memnoch the Devil … If I had bought it. I could not even finish reading it. I I think… after the tale of the body thief Anne’s books lost some originality and boldness… I don’t know. Whatever.
Your article was interesting, but you really blew me away with your calm and kind responses to the comments. I just had to subscribe. As an artist and an avid reader I think it’s perfectly acceptable to use other works as materials. Keep up the good work!
I am sending you some support and some love to handle this unnecessary attack on your blog.
Its funny how something that has become so big with bloggers blogging about a blog that talks about this blog. I actually didn’t find it that offensive. I don’t think it took courage to write this in the first place but I do think that you have had courage to keep it up.
The little addition at the top is interesting considering you closing line which is like a flourish to your review. Though I do understand your desire to temper the responses.
I haven’t read the book personally. I have read many other Anne Rice novels and I love looking at the world through her eyes, I love her description and her depth and how the stories tend to roll out in front of you rather than punch you in the face but taste is subjective. The idea that people think you are a terrible human being for expressing an opinion are not really people, no one can be that angry. I am sure that they feel that they are fighting Anne’s battles and proving their loyalty in some strange way, I am also sure that the safety of the computer makes these things easy to write.
I am really sorry that you have had so much abuse. However you made the drama of this the destruction of the book, there is a line ‘when people burn books they will ultimately burn people’ the destruction of literature is a controversial topic. You knew that surely when you wrote this. I am all for people saying what they believe I really am but dismissing Anne’s inclusion of your comments on her page as almost petulance seems a little unfair to me. You did something for a reaction and you got one. Whilst I may not agree with what people have said to you but I do think you need to own your opinions. I think that you have by keeping this post up, but I also think your caveat is not something that you need. It belies the talent of your writing that comes so clearly in your review (genuinely I may not agree but I do think you are exceptionally eloquent)
One positive is that people may stick around, and surely the reason for starting a blog is with the hope that people will read it?
I can only say how amazing you’ve been through this, and well you handled yourself under the barrage of insane abuse. Keep being your awesome, classy self and don’t let anyone make you feel as though you aren’t allowed to have your own opinions.
I do enjoy Anne Rice’s books, primarily those that circle around the vampire Lestat, but I agree with your assessment. I’m not a fan of “Pandora” and never have been. It was hard for me to read though I did read it all of the way in the hopes of it getting better. Anyway, I do agree with your review and I do like how you presented it.
What I got out of your post was mainly in your sidebar… Holy cow! You have a goal of 150 books this year??? And you’ve already read 23?! I set mine at 25 and now feel inferior. Haha! =)
People are entitled to their own opinions. If you didn’t like the book and wanted to write a review, there is nothing wrong with doing that. I’m not sure why people are being so critical of your review. We don’t have to like the same things. Good for you for speaking your mind. It’s a shame that in this day and age people have to be so nasty. People need to learn how to calm down.
You certainly are a better person than some of these people commenting. They should be ashamed. They are … I’m not even sure what they are as comparing them to anything would be an insult to the compared object.
Hello there ! I am too a big fan of Anne Rice books (well…some of them…well actually three of them) and I can’t understant why fans are so upset. C’mon people, it’s just paper ! No one will go in your rooms to tear YOUR copies appart, and no one stops you from loving Anne Rice’s books ! I think it is great to create things with books you won’t read anymore, it’s very creative and better than just throw them away ! Personally, I will always be greatful to Anne Rice to introduce me to vampire litterature and I often re-read The Vampire Lestat and the Queen of the Damned. To me, these are great books and I read them at a time where they really helped me going through a lot of nasty things, but people are allowed to have an opinion and dislike them, I won’t be mad at all. I think that it is important to separate the work of an author to the author him/herself. You can enjoy a book without enjoying the personality of the author at all, and I just wanted to say that even if Anne Rice had clearly over-reacted, her books are still very enjoyable to read and I still encourage people to read them.
Miss Articulate : I think you’re being very brave to endure all of this and still taking the time to answer to angry nerds. And it allowed me to discover your blog, which is great !
You rule ! (and sorry for the dreadful english)
I’m an Anne Rice fan; however, I have nothing against your views of this novel or how you turned her novel into an art project! Some novels of Anne’s I liked, whilst others–not so much. Nobody’s perfect. Some novels are better than others. Not all Anne Rice fans are hateful and disrespectful of differing opinions 🙂 .
Woah. Some the replies are beyond awful. On her Facebook page Anne Rice didn’t tell her fans to attack you like this and i’m sorry they have. Yes i am a fan of some of her work but can understand the points you made about the book as you did explain the reasoning. The review did make me laugh as sounds like me when i’m going on about things and my sense of humor. I liked this post and will defiantly be reading your other bits 🙂 Ps love the artwork you did with the book 😀
You have every right to your opinion. No one can ever take that away from you. You should not back down from your point of view because of what other people think. Nothing or no one can change that. Not saying you shouldn’t try to see things from another perspective.
With that being said, you originally came off as being overly negative. You made it seem that the reason you cut up the book was because you hated it so much. I understand it was for a project from the added edit, but the review itself says otherwise. This is also on the internet. You can’t play victim when you put out an opinion to the public and they don’t give the response you were hoping for.
A very nice, insightful, informative review. Thank you.
Dear Miss Articulate,
Kudos on your review and sympathies on the attacks you’ve had to endure. You read a book that’s towards the end of a long series on its own, and reported what you saw. That’s 100% fine. That’s what your blog is for, you saying what you think and feel.
Anne Rice has some incredibly well-written books, but she also has some real stinkers. And not everyone agree on which are which. “Pandora” isn’t her worse, in my opinion.
She writes with an older-fashioned style, but this is neither good nor bad. You caught onto this more prosaic style and objected to it. That’s OK. Personally, as much as I worship J.R.R. Tolkein as the father of modern fantasy, I can’t read his stuff because of the language/style. Believe you me, this isn’t popular in many circles. LOL
I’m just here to say howdy and to encourage you do continue being you. Don’t let the trolls get you down.
Hello!
First off, I want to start off by saying that I think it is very rude and disrespectful that people are harassing you over your opinion on a book.Everyone has their own opinions and whether or not you disagree, you should respect the person’s opinion and kindly move on.
I have been an Anne Rice fan since high school, (I also use to be goth and I knew Anne was the go to novelist) and I read Pandora after reading Blood and Gold by Anne Rice. As a more mature reader, I understand your complaints about Pandora as a story. In the entirety of the Vampire Chronicles, Pandora seems to be a stagnant character and I guess by writing her into her own story, Anne was trying to round her out but fell a little short. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a strong female lead but I also feel that there was a lack of vulnerability. And I also share the same complaint about Anne’s vivid descriptions of places and things (and yet at the same time I envy her for being able to do so). Still, when I read the book way back when, I did enjoy it but I’m not sure how I would feel about it now.
Anyway, sorry that other Anne Rice fans couldn’t engage with you in a civil manner. Best of luck to you, and you have gained a new follower!
Having been a rabid fan of Anne Rice’s books and having read most if not all of her books several times I’m going to have to say I generally have to agree with what you have to say about Pandora. I ‘d say Rice’s later masterbatory tomes like Pandora and getting a glimpse of her fanbase were what drove me away from her work. I’d say that it was decidedly Twighlight like fandom and it almost makes me ashamed toto have liked her work in the first place. Awesome comments from people who like Anne Rice and were respectful and pleasantly communicative. That’s the Rice Fandom I grew up with and was shattered by when I found the greater fandom inclduing Anne Rice herself seems shallow silly and unbearable.
It’s too bad most of the ill adviced comments came from people who can’t read themselves or they would have realised you intended to make art out of the book to begin with. Being as that was the case, good on you for reading the book and taking a chance on it. It could have been a great new literary love for you. I hope the storm of nitwits blows over quickly and I look forward to checking out more of your blog.
Bad press is still good press right?
I have been an Anne Rice fan for years, but I haven’t read this book. Thanks for posting your true opinion and getting to make a nice creation out of the book when you were done. I appreciate people who take the time to blog/write/talk about their opinion of a book after they have finished it. After I finish a book I “rate it” and move on to the next one. Also I have cut up TONS of books (without even reading them first!) in the name of arts and crafts, so good for you on that one too.
Going to follow your blog in case you post any other “crazy” reviews. 🙂
–Jillian CA, USA
HappyScrappyHeart.blogspot.com
I really don’t think Anne Rice sincerely meant to just sic all her fans on you. She shares links to reviews and articles all the time and she almost always says, “Comments Welcome” before posting the links, so I think this is just probably a situation that got a little bit out of control. From what I can gather as being one of her fans (and I’m constantly on her page), she just enjoys a good discussion.
Writers love to hear what people think about their work. Reviews help us to learn how to grow in our craft and how to improve ourselves. That’s why reviews are important to us. I think, if anything, she just wanted to know what you thought and wanted to see if her other fans felt the same way about the book. I sincerely hope that the rude comments here from others will not hinder you from sharing your reviews in the future for other books (by Anne Rice and other authors as well).
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Also, it takes a lot of guts to share your views of things with the world. Sometimes people do not like what you have to say. Believe me, I’ve stepped on some toes before, too.
I also want to add that a negative review is not going to stop me from continuing to read Anne Rice novels and I doubt very seriously it will stop many others from reading other Anne Rice novels. For those of you bashing this lady for her opinions, SHAME ON YOU! If you don’t like her opinion, just say that you do not agree and be done with it. Pick up your dinosaurs and move to another sandbox. No need for nastiness.
A couple of things to say: I’m a fan of Anne Rice’s book and still… I couldn’t agree more with you. The real thing is that the only really good books in the Chronicles are the first three. There are some good things in the others, but none is great. They are, of course, better than others (like Twilight), but not perfect.
Pandora is not a great story. I don’t even think it’s a good one. It’s just a story she owed her fans. Anyway, if you think this one was bad, try reading Vittorio the vampire… That was a boring thing!!
I guess that was all I wanted to say. Interesting blog!
And, oh! I loved how that decopatch thing looks!! If I happen to find some dreadfull book i don’t want to see or read anymore I’ll do it myself!
Oh yeah man Vittorio, it took me forever to get through that one. I kept having to just stop and read something else for a while
I will say that I have been a fan of Anne Rice for many years, but that only started after I read the entirety of the chronicles. I can see where you come from on this if you have only read one or two of the books. They really do play out much better when all combined. That being said I believe in the end it is your property to do with as you wish and your opinion that you have very right to post. Some of how you worded your review seems slightly angry that it didn’t live up to the hype in your mind to me.While that can be understandable it makes it seem a little bit more like a personal attack then an honest review. Now onto your main purpose of the post which was the reuse of old materials to make new art, it looks good. If people could separate the two things and realize that the destruction of the book was not based on how you enjoyed it primarily, then maybe they could look at the art and say “Wow that isn’t too bad at all”. Lastly, hey your somewhat famous now, it may suck to an extent but soak it in and enjoy it for what it is. Have a good day
I just came over here to see photos of what you do with the books after you tear them up. I was quite interested in the result. I’m an Anne Rice fan, but I think everyone deserves their opinion. Chin up!
I hate to tell all you people this, but literature, like music, is a matter of personal taste. She has every right to dislike the book. I’ve never read Pandora myself, having grown bored of the series somewhere after Memnoch. But I can understand some of the issues this blogger seems to had. And this despite the fact that I find Anne’s prose simply sublime. But she’s one of my literary influences (don’t worry, my vampires are too damn busy doing other things to sit around and talk incessantly about drinking blood as this person seems to expect) and your behavior has made Anne look AWFUL. Do you speak to each other like this on HER page? No. She wouldn’t put up with that. But you can go out and “defend” her and make her look bad. Now people are attacking HER because of YOUR actions. It’s ignorant and stupid.
Way to go, fans. Hope you’re happy. I got into a fight with one of MY friends over this. Thanks loads. Really.
Hi. I am amazed how much you disliked the book. Either you emphasized it to much or you really detest it. But that`s highly individual matter anyway. I admire your will to read and write about it, but I am amazed this post is a work of literature student. It has no objectivity, comparison is lacking in facts. But, OK, this is an individual blog and this is just one post and maybe your focus is not on literature criticism. I am sorry to state the obvious but this is a malicious post, however you look on it.
And I would like to add something I read the other day, that actually is very fitting to the subject and the people involved. This is from the individual A_Competent_Fool, on reddit.com
“I think the problem (as far as book bashing goes) is that people think that their taste is improved by not liking something that is either popular or generally viewed to be bad. Honestly, I think that a person’s taste in books comes from the books that they enjoy and is in no way enhanced or retarded by the books they don’t like. If a person doesn’t like Twilight, it doesn’t mean that they have super deep tastes in literature, just like if a person doesn’t like The Great Gatsby they are not automatically a knuckle-dragging philistine whose presence is not appreciated among us learned elite *adjusts monocle while kicking a poor person. What I want to see from this community is a place that ignores taste altogether (unless that person is asking for book recommendations, and even then that person’s taste ought to be respected). If a person wants to be critical of a book let them, but they should be either respectful or informed, preferably both.“
Hope you are not offended and you will continue reading, writing, improving your skills in literature criticism and doing this creative stuff you do with paper.
I completely disagree with this analysis of this review. This review is written in a style very common to modern reviews, which understands that the reader is automatically biased and that there is no true objectivity in literature. It’s also a fairly good example of new-critical approaches in the way that it expects each book written by this author to stand on its own rather than believe she needs to read the author’s entire work or know the author personally to understand the book itself.
Your claim of maliciousness in this post makes me feel that the only person who is lacking the neccesary objectivity is you. The author of this post puts up a very common approach to analyzing a peice of art, which is to compare it to another peice of art they are familiar with within the same genre. She has entirely suceeded in doing that, and if you were looking for direct and attributed citations from the text, well, to be blunt, you probably shouldn’t have wandered away from JSTOR. She is not disagreeing with the crowd to disagree, she even says she fully expected to enjoy this book, and was dissapointed when she didn’t. She was even respectful enough to articulate the various reasons why she might not have enjoyed this book, and cast doubt on her own opinion by explaining her lack of perspective on the series.
I do agree with part of that quote you post about taste in books coming from what you enjoy and not what you detest. But in my experience, it’s not really what they like or don’t like that matters; it’s the why that matters. What makes something appealing or not? What makes you turn the page or makes you quit reading before the end? The blogger shared her why. She was respectful, mentioned something that she later received clarity on (the fact it was in a series, the fact the series isn’t numbered and possible reasons for and against numbering books in a series). But critiquing her critiquing style on a personal blog and only-slightly-indirectly questioning her education? That makes you sound pompous.
BWAHAHHAHAAH KUDOS to the first comment — that was hilarious! i didnt read the review nor the book but in general i would say — you wanted attention, now you have it, ENJOY 🙂
I just wanted to drop in to let you know that your professionalism through this and the grace with which you are dealing with the overwhelming response to this review has inspired me to start reviewing books again. I forgot what a completely radical act it can be to give a dissenting opinion, and I really admire your backbone!
Very nice! It is a very sticky spot to be in,not liking an authors work but yet wanting to be constructive in explaining the WHY. I completely agree with you on how she has been handling this.
Carolyn Seiver
Miss Articulate,
Oh hun,you have had the hornets nest dumped on you,havent you? *smiles* I am a long time devoted fan of Anne’s work and Im also a book reviewer/manuscript editor. You left a very open and honest review of Anne’s book and kudos to you for that. You didnt slice Anne up personally,you simply didnt like the book. So be it. Dont worry about the people that dump on you.If you have had any contact with Anne,and Im sure she would love it if you left her a message on her FB page,you will know that she leaves posts of reviews on her page all the time. Good and bad,fan based or professionally written.She invites comments from everyone.Please do not think that she ‘sicced’ her fans on you.You seem a good sort of person,thanking people for their comments and suggestions.Not every author is for every reader.And while,as one person here commented,you can be a great fan of someone’s work and not be able to read,or even like,everything they write. Dont let this stop you from leaving reviews please.Reviews are a great help for others in their decision to buy,or not buy,a book.Happy reading!
Carolyn Seiver
Bell,Book & Candle Reviews
YA Book Addict reviewer
Hot Tree Editing
Bravo, Miss Articulate!
Considering Ms. Rice hasn’t written a relevant book since last century (circa 1993), I highly commend you for taking scissors to paper and making craft out of crap. “Memnoch the Devil” put a wooden stake through the heart of Rice’s vampire series, just as “Taltos” conjured a curse upon the Mayfair witches. That she continues belaboring the pulp fiction world with vampiric potboilers borders on narcissistic obsession. But not knowing when to quit is a hallmark of Ms. Rice’s pedantic affectations. Ms. Rice will bury a promising story beneath confounding layers of muddled plotting faster and deeper than a continuous-flight hollow stem auger can dig a well.
What’s even more amusing is Ms. Rice has an apparently hyper-fragile ego. But all it takes is one word of command from the Queen of the Damned to her mongrel minions, and she lets slip the dogs of war upon an unwary victim merely voicing an opinion contrary to Rice’s perceived value of her lit-rah-chah.
Keep up the good work, Kayleigh, and look at the bright side: toying with Ms. Rice’s shaky self-esteem and her utterly tasteless incitement of reprisals against you has sent your site into the heady reaches of the blogosphere!
I would like to take this time to apologize for the horrible treatment you have received on your page. It is inexcusable. Some people obviously have no understanding of civil debate, and resort to personal degradation when they become passionate about something. This is unfair to you.
I am an Anne Rice fan. I would like to like to try and convey their message a little better. Pandora is one of only several books in a series of a magical world that Anne created, and I invite you to become familiar with this world. This world contains very human situations, love, anger, sacrifice, uncertainty. Theses vampires are given very human aspects; this is why we cling to them. Lestat’s snobbish and spoiled nature, Louie’s loss of his wife and child as a human and his unwillingness to lose his humanity. Claudia’s child body, but her thirst of ten vampires, her vicious betrayal and her fierce love. The heartbreak of Louis when she is destroyed. Lestat’s selfish fame putting the entire vampire world in danger. The waking of the Mother of all vampires, asleep for centuries in a tomb listening to the destruction men have caused to the world, and yes Pandora’s high opinion of herself. The eternal love and bond each vampire experiences for their makers. The eternal bond, even though they may despise, all the vampires have for each other. It’s a world not so different from our own. Anne’s detailed descriptions of places and traditions of the time help us see places we never will. I have never been to New Orleans, but every time I see a picture of a place Anne has described, it looks exactly how I imagined it. I feel I could walk the streets there and be familiar and never get lost. Her description of ancient traditions are very accurate, you can tell she researched very well. It is a world all of her fans crave.
As for a book standing on its own, you cannot expect that of a series as extensive as this one. You could not read Return of the King and understand what was going on and why. You couldn’t read the Half Blood Prince and know who professor Mcgonagall is or how important she is to the story line. Series such as these are for the people that fall in love with a world. It is our escape from the craziness of our real life. Sometimes after the series has come to an end the author does us a favor by doing individual books and back stories on specific characters, assuming we have already read the information that is out there. I can see where you would be confused and disinterested in a half of a story. Had I not read the first in the series, Interview with a Vampire, I would be lost and disinterested as well..I hope I have given you a little insight to this amazing world and do hope you give it another chance from the beginning. Once again, I apologize for your horrid treatment here.
Carol Kellison
One more thing..Please never wach the movie Queen of the Damned, It is a horrid misrepresentation of that book..
That movie does not exist! Ugh~
Having read about your review in an article about Anne Rice deciding to encourage her fans to ‘attack’ you, I thought it would be a good idea to come and read the review in full. It is an excellently written review, I have often tried to write book reviews and I just can’t seem to do it so I admire your ability to do this. Frankly I am disgusted with Anne Rice and some of her fans, everyone has the right to have and express a personal opinion on pretty much everything. Nobody has the right to attack them for doing so, and Ms Rice should be more accepting of readers opinions. I class myself as an Anne Rice fan, I am also a fan of many other authors, do I think every book they’ve written is super wonderful? Hell no, some are fantastic, some are good, some are kind of ok and others are bad (in my opinion). As for cutting up the book, personally it is something I wouldn’t do to a book, but the writer of the blog paid for the book therefore it was hers to do with whatever she wished.
For the hundreth time. No one on the Anne Rice Facebook page was directed to attack the blogger. Anne Rice did with this review what she has with hundreds before – good, bad or indifferent she holds them up to the light. She posted the link, invited debate and asked her fans to be civil. She use this word several times a week. If you were a member of her Facebook page you would know your post is dead wrong and you are weighing in when your opinion is anything but informed.
Bullshit. The woman knew exactly what she was doing when she posted the link to her Facebook page. She knows what her rabid fanbase is like and how far they’ll go to defend her, while she comes off smelling like a rose because she didn’t ACTIVELY encourage them.
And lest you accuse me of being a hater, I was part of the Vampire Chronicles for the better part of ten years and experienced good old Mater’s hateful, petty, nonsensical bullshit firsthand.
Congratulations on becoming a well-deserved internet sensation! I also wanted to commend you on the way you’ve handled yourself through this, and while I’m sorry you had to deal with the worst side of fandom, I’m thrilled that more people will have discovered your page. And that aside from the initial vitriol, the more level-headed readers have prevailed to back you up. I’m always searching for new book reviewing sites, and I have bookmarked yours to come back! I have only read a handful of Anne Rice’s fiction, and haven’t actually read Pandora so I can’t comment on it directly, but I thoroughly enjoyed your review nonetheless. 🙂
Hi MA
I read and enjoyed Interview with a Vampire but I couldn’t make it past the first couple of chapters in the next book (I think that was The Vampire Lestat). I haven’t read a Rice book since then. I really don’t understand the fragile ego of an author who, unless she has lived in a hole for the last ten years certainly understood what would occur with her publication of your blog, would purposefully set loose this attack on a blogger who doesn’t like her book. That makes me feel kind of sad for Rice because it makes her seem pathetic even with her wealth and fame. You, however, have shown yourself to be quite a trooper in dealing with the deluge of comments.
Just between us, I often bend down the top of a page to keep my place. Not as heinous as full scale paperback murder but I am sure it might be frowned upon by some here(:
Take care.
S
Once again you are completely wrong about how the blogger got the attention of Anne’s fans. Anne Rice did with this review what she has with hundreds before – good, bad or indifferent she holds them up to the light. She posted the link, invited debate and asked her fans to be civil. She use this word several times a week. If you were a member of her Facebook page you would know your post is dead wrong and you are weighing in when your opinion is anything but informed.
PEOPLE, I AM GOING TO KEEP POSTING THE TRUTH UNTIL YOU GET IT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULLS.
Tim, you are demonstrating a lack of familiarity with just how females engage in bullying. Males may like to go directly to blows, but female bullies routinely use words and proxies. “That girl’s being mean to me. What do you think about that, friends? Be civil, now…” is plausible deniability, but unquestionable directive. The wink/nudge are not actually needed; they are understood. As someone who experienced it from my childhood peers, I find your willful blindness severely grating. Further, Anne Rice has a history of vicious, over-the-top personal attacks against anyone she feels has wronged her, no matter how slight the offense. She is a bully with the emotional maturity of a six-year-old, and I would certainly go tell her that, except that she also has a history of deleting comments that she dislikes.
http://www.angelfire.com/rant/croatoan/
http://www.journalfen.net/community/fandom_wank/tag/person:+anne+rice
and just for the amusement value:
https://encyclopediadramatica.se/Rice_out
and to Miss Articulate: I salute you for your patience and grace in this. Long may you blog.
“Once again you are completely wrong about how the blogger got the attention of Anne’s fans.”
Let’s see:
1. Miss Articulate, a blogger, bought an already falling apart copy of “Pandora” to use in a craft project. Said blogger read the book, didn’t like it, and posted her opinion on it before cutting it for her project.
2. Anne Rice, somehow, got a sniff of this and posted a link to Miss Articulate’s blog on her own FB–melodramatically stating that Miss Articulate had “loathed the book so much she cut it to pieces.”
3. Soon enough, some of Rice’s rabid fans came here to spit abuse at Miss Articulate–who had her personal information displayed on Rice’s FB by Rice herself. I suppose that was necessary to keep the bashing you have called “discussion” classy.
4. You believe that Rice’s stalkerish behaviour is somehow justified. Therefore you, the Bearer of the Truth, have come here, several times, to explain how everyone is “completely wrong.”
“PEOPLE, I AM GOING TO KEEP POSTING THE TRUTH UNTIL YOU GET IT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULLS.”
Please, don’t. Most of us are quite capable of adding 2 + 2, thank you very much. Besides, you and your pals have spammed this blog for days. Have you nothing better to do? Get a life, for God’s sake!
Marianella (from Brazil)
Woo and wow. I would think you would be jumping for joy. You can’t buy this kind of publicity. You suddenly have a worldwide audience numbering tens of thousands eyeing your page. You are running with the big dogs. Expect the occasional bite to the ass. You remained calm and polite. You deleted nothing. You was fair and respectful in the face of total idiots. You have way more in common with Anne Rice than you know. If you follow her page on FB you will find she faces down what you have been subjected to here each and every day. And always she comes out on top
I tried to read this same series myself and couldn’t get past the first few books. Anne Rice can be very boring in her writing at times, which makes the books drag. So I can see what you are saying about “Pandora”. I also think it was despicable of Anne Rice to post your blog where her psycho fans could see it and not say anything when they went crazy on you.
On a lighter note, glad that I now know about your blog! I’ve really enjoyed what I have been reading 🙂 Also, would love to hear what you have to say about the “Fifty Shades” series 😉 JK
Toodles!
Why didn’t you use Stephanie Meyer’s book instead of Anne Rice’s Pandora? Meyer is an idiot who knows NOTHING about vampires.
STEPHANIE MEYERS HAS HOW MANY MOVIES AND BEST SELLING TITLES! SUCCESS AS A NOVELEST MEANS WHAT TO YOU LUCIE WILDE?
Stephanie Meyers is a multimillionaire. Who in the Seven Kingdoms are you? (It’s a literary reference. Trust me you won’t get it).
Indeed, this “amazing” quote of yours doesn’t ring a bell. Let me see if I can guess your source, based on your literary preferences and mature behavior. Anne Rice, Stephenie Meyer… you believe that only multimilionaries have the right to voice an opinion… Oh, I know! You got it from the cover of a “Monster High” DVD!
I really hate to do this to a staunch defender of Miss Articulate like you, MARIANELLA, but I’m going to have to call for an unfair attack upon…
Monster High DVD’s.
As a father of the mysterious, nigh incomprehensible creature known as “daughter”, I have had quite the learning experience, no longer pulling my hat over my eyes and waiting for it to empty, but now proudly marching into the Doll aisle shouting, “Out of my way, please, my daughter needs dolls!” In the process I have come to appreciate every ounce of corporate cleverness that has eased my passage, and one of these has been the remarkable cleverness on display in the Monster High videos, by far the cleverest toy commercials I have ever seen, thanks to parodying, self-parodying, and a for the most part gentle message about not letting our differences unnecessarily divide us.
I reviewed the two commercially released DVD’s here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RW5J7XPHLTFY8 and here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R28CGCO3KTYNIQ . I encourage you to give them (and the free webisodes available online) a try if you haven’t before, and from your comment it sounds like you haven’t.
Soulless corporate drones the creators might be, but if so, they are darn clever soulless corporate drones, and this harried father appreciates the effort.
Sorry folks are being so nasty about their object of worship, but Monty Python does teach that sacred cows make the best burger. Of course one might need to beware prions. But book art is still nifty. Terry Windling posted some amazing links on it recently.
Dear miss articulate. I have read absolutely nothing that you have ever written, including this piece on your blog, while I own and have read EVERY BOOK THAT ANNE RICE HAS EVER WRITTEN, most in first edition. Just Sayin’
That says nothing negative about Miss Articulate at all. It says a lot about you and none of it is positive. It says that you don’t even make an attempt to become informed before making comment. That’s a negative thing, Chris. Also, “just sayin'” is the new “whatever” and it adds nothing of value to your writing. Chris, you really need to work on your insults.
I honestly think that taking a books pages and making them into things is extremly creative and kind of gives the book more purpose to you after you’ve read it (of course I would buy an extra copy), kind of like a celebration of said book. But why use a book that you obviously don’t like? I would want to use a copy of one of my favorite books. In a way you are imortalizing it. In regards to Anne Rice I am a fan and love her books. You are entitled to your own opinion. As you know this is the internet. I find it weird that you are surprised people wouldn’t find your post and immediately defend it or that Mrs. Rice wouldn’t take it personally.
“People” didn’t find this post. Anne Rice did. And I find it weird that none of the Anne Rice fans find it weird that Ms. Rice continually combs the Internet for all mentions of her books (including ones decades in print), and reposts them to Facebook for comment, as you say, “immediately.”
What is the typical outcome?
I love the internet for all of these reasons. Note, I have not read all of the comments because, well, I don’t have the time, and it’s, you know, the internet. But still, it seems clear that 2 things are the case:
1: Anne Rice gets butthurt way too easily for a public figure and reacted badly
2: It’s the best thing that’s happened to your blog.
All hail Al Gore.
1) I really like the papered box! It’s cute, and I love things covered in print. (I read things almost compulsively.)
2) I am amazed at how gracefully you’re responding to some of the comments here. 🙂 I hope things quiet down a bit for you soon.
Pingback: When Authors Pull an Anne Rice | Making 'Baby Grand,' the Novel
This is a perfectly fine review. Congratulations on the surprisingly amount of attention it’s gotten – attention that reflects poorly on Anne Rice fanatics. I’m disappointed that Anne actively draws any attention to negative reviews (even if she asks them to be civil, she has met the Internet and surely knows how these things really work), but I’m happy to discover your work.
As an author myself, who notably does not have a fan base like Anne Rice does, I’ve been reading these blog posts, this review, and comments about Rice’s Pandora with a mixture of horror and amusement. The truth is that bad reviews can be hurtful (I’ve been there myself) but where is the respect for freedom of speech (for both the author and the reviewer)? For every bad review of Rice’s work, there are hundreds of positive ones. One bad review isn’t going to affect her sales. I thought the review was well-written and that turning the battered book into an art project was pithy. I love the idea of using copies of books for art instead of trash.
Honestly, I think you’re well in your right to voice your opinion of her novels. They can be very boring and unnecessary at times. You are absolutely right.
I was a great admirer of her work through movie releases for the longest time, though I had never read a novel at that point. When I finally got my hands on them (and I still own them), I found the literary work incredibly disappointing. It took me far too long to read through most of them because I kept getting bored by how intensely descriptive Anne was. While it’s absolutely refreshing that an author wants to actually describe their scenes in great detail, it’s such a put off to read several pages and realize she’s still talking about the same thing. And, I feel, that the other disappointing facet is how swiftly she gets through the climax of a novel in comparison to how descriptive she is in normal scenes. Where it took several pages to get through Armand’s poison-induced hallucination in The Vampire Armand, it took one to get through Akasha’s death in Queen of the Damned.
It’s really just best to avoid Anne Rice’s novels, if you can possibly manage it. Also, those cups are adorable! Do you have a tutorial on how to make them? If not, you really should.
I think the constant comparing of anything to do with vampires and Twilight has become cliche and not note worthy for someone to do that. Most of the time it is writing styles people don’t like and the quality of said book is not the issue. I have written personal opinions of books and movies on the internet but none as scathing as this one was originally. Write something like this about another famous authors book and the same thing will happen. So what if most are fans of Anne Rice? This is a blog with a comment section and quite frankly some got very uncivil but why write something like this unless one is looking for some sort of notoriety. Well it happened and no author should be sliced, diced and have her works dissected in this way. Books are from the imagination of the individual and may or may not fit the personality of the person trying to read them. That doesn’t make them bad and Ms. Rice knew her characters better than anyone else and had her own vision of how Pandora would act. This is the type of character she wrote about and Pandora fit the vision of the character that was created. Some may not get that and quite frankly may not like the character at all and that is fine but a blog is a written work too and if it gets criticized by others one has to suck it up and move on. Why denigrate ALL of Anne Rice’s book because some people took exception to this article? Anne didn’t have to post anything, it would have come out somewhere else, trust me. I am surprised this hasn’t gotten into the media yet but maybe that was the purpose. Sorry but that is how it looks. I don’t know this person but maybe she will tread lightly now concerning individuals written works. Constructive criticism is one thing but anything else isn’t helpful to those who love the books or the author. I’m a writer too so I personally thought this article was very unfair as it read originally.
Wow. Aren’t you a very special snowflake?
“Constructive criticism is one thing but anything else isn’t helpful to those who love the books or the author”.
Yes, the nerve! How could Miss Articulate dare to express her opinion on a book and on her own blog! You know, you could follow your own advice: “if it gets criticized by others one has to suck it up and move on”. Not hard, uh?
“I am surprised this hasn’t gotten into the media yet”
Wait, what? Do you want the media having another laugh at Rice’s expense?
Miss Articulate, I’m sorry you have to deal with this crap-o-rama on your blog. Post away your opinions, as it is your right. Also, I loved your découpage.
Marianella (from Brazil)
Wow. Anne Rice fans are kinda nuts. Did they even read what you wrote? You have my sympathies, and I’m glad that you have dealt with this so gracefully. Much more grace than Anne Rice or her fans can lay claim to.
Márienna!
This is a very well written review and I am shocked not only at the behaviour of Rice’s fans, but Ms. Rice herself. No, she didn’t tell her fans to attack this blog in so many words, but knowing her own fans as she does, what other reason to whinge about the review on Facebook and provide a link? The fans are young, easy to manipulate, and very rabid in their devotion. Ms. Rice is far older, an established author and should know better. If anything, this simply re-enforces Rice’s reputation of being thin-skinned and rather unstable when it comes to criticism from anyone on the internet. Of course, her current flame-fanning, and playing both the queen bee and the victim, on Facebook over this brouhaha is more than sad.
That said, cheers on the project! This is very nice use of an old book that would have gone to the bin.
Hi! I found you through TheMarySue!
It’s silly that people should see an opinion as an attack. I’m sure they’ve disliked or loathed books and shared that opinion, but probably don’t see themselves as “attacking” anything. Personally I enjoyed the early Vampire Chronicles, and even liked Pandora, but cannot imagine everyone should share my opinion. Man, what a boring world it would be if we all agreed on everything. Zzzzz.
PS: “Should not destroy books”? Pffft. Digital Archives now preserve everything. And what a person does with their own inanimate property is no business of anyone else. I’ve been known to recycle books I hated instead of donate them (I imagine myself saving some unsuspecting soul). *shrug*
I find nothing offensive in your review and your opinions are obviously valid. I hope you have not been too upset by the angry mob of immature weirdos. Keep decoupaging!
Awesome project, awesome blog, stay happy and ignore the raging sheep.
Thanks, this was fun to read, keep up the good work.
I used to love AR’s books.
Funny, Pandora was the first one that I could never get through, it was just so bad.
After seeing Anne’s own comments on her FB, I am tempted to make my own art project with the ones I own (and yes, some are first editions! SHOCK).
Great job on not letting the haters get to you.
Anne Rice is a bully. Always has been. Look at how she used to treat fanficcers. I have nothing but sympathy for you here. I’ve been there, when I offended some romance authors on amazon, and got cyberstalked all over the internet. I eventually had to change my usernames and lock down EVERYTHING. I hope you aren’t forced to do that.
So as an author, reader, and general lover of all things crafty, I saw the nastiness you’ve suffered and felt compelled to voice my own opinion.
You’re well within your rights to not like any book. Don’t let the rabid masses tell you otherwise, because chances are they’re blindly attacking without thinking about how ridiculous they’re going to look in the long run. As an author I fully expect people to not like my work, and overall I think the problem is that humans in general forget that brains are for thinking and should be used long before mouths and fingers start moving.
As a fellow crafter, I love what you’ve done with it. (The bibliophile in me cried in agony at the senseless book violence, but that’s my personal weirdness getting in the way.) I love to see anything done with text, and I can’t wait to see what you do with the romances next. 🙂
Just want to mention a few things. I like Anne Rice, but I think her posting about your review was a bit childish and catty. All the angry AR fans need to think logically about things, rather than just act upon their rabid emotions and feelings. You are entitled to your opinion, hence the blog. If they have an issue, they can blog about it on their own blog and get their panties out of a bunch.
But, honestly I think Anne Rice did you a backwards favor by accident, now you have lots of views and many more fans, who will follow your blog! Yaay for happy *unwanted* accidents. I am sorry this did happen though and think it is stupid. Your lil craft is pretty cool and you should be able to do whatever you want with your own purchased book.
I just wanted to be one of the voices of “I’m sorry this happened to you”. Anne Rice has a habit of harassing and bullying people who don’t like her work. She created (in my mind, you don’t need to agree because I’m not insane and realise not everyone has to like the same things!) some great characters (Pandora is not one of them. Interview to Tale of the Body Thief is my limit; vampires drinking period blood isn’t for me as I’d heard in later books) but her actions are appalling.
Gosh in your shoes I’d want to buy for a penny each one and decoupage the crap out of each one and sell it on Etsy! But likely I’m guessing you want to forget the vile woman exists.
I’ve read the first three of the series that starts with Interview with a Vampire – never read Twilight – couldn’t get past the first page. I’ve also read Dracula and several other vampire romances and non romances. They weren’t all that. I’d put them in the lower third of vampire novels I’ve read. I personally don’t like Anne Rice’s writing. BUT, what really turns me off her books more is her childishness about any minor slight. I’m also terribly sorry that you are the focal point of one of her tantrums.
As an artist – don’t worry about the “how dare you” comments. You made a decision to create art out of the book. I don’t agree with destroying books for any reason – but understand that sometimes Art should be considered under a different microscope. So nope no offense taken here
I think setting her rabid fans on you was a ridiculously childish reaction, so just to spite Anne Rice, I’m going to follow you. Also because your review was articulate, interesting, and very much in line with my own thoughts on Anne Rice. I hope you get a bunch of new followers out of this!
Wow, there are so many double standards and hypocrisy in some of these comments, it’s kind of difficult to address anything. I don’t understand how a legitimate criticism of a subjective piece of art can generate so many, ‘you are interrogating the text from the wrong perspective’ replies. And then there’s the replies that are just flat out hateful, methinks those are the ones interrogating (your) text from the wrong perspective.
Setting her fans on you was wrong, and to say otherwise is a denial of responsibility. Either she is aware of her fanbase or she isn’t, she can’t have it both ways, and neither can her fans, she knew what reaction linking to your post would generate; unless her intelligence is in question, but I doubt that is the point anyone saying she did not ask for your blog to be flooded is trying to make.
I’m so sorry you’ve had to deal with some of this, but you’ve done it without resorting to personal insults, and I respect the attitude you have maintained throughout all of your replies.
Also, if I’m getting this right what you did with the book is called upcycling (my sister is all about things like that) so it’s a thing, from wiki: Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value.
I’ll be looking for your next review, please keep doing what you are doing.
I am 100% with you in respect for this blogger. Through all of this insane stupid shit storm they have been polite and even thanked people for their input even when that input was insulting.
I also don’t see where all these people are acting like she burned a bible. It is a book and books get recycled.
Reblogged this on God Attacks! and commented:
Now this was interesting. Negative reviews and an angry fan base make for high drama.
Pingback: When authors clearly don’t have enough to do…. | clairewriteswords
I’m totally shocked that people would so vilify you over a simply blog post. Surely, you should be entitled to your opinion when writing on your own blog. As for Anne Rice and her fans, those folks need to take a serious self-assessment of themselves and their un-called for actions.
I was a fan of Anne Rice until about the time that Cry to Heaven came out. I would really love to see more about what you are making with the pages from Pandora. I will admit I am a terrible fan because I didn’t even know that book was out, oops. But art from other art interests me and so I will be reading your blog now to see what other fun things happen. So sorry that others have to spoil the fun and be d-bags about things. Go you and your Art!
Honestly, I have to agree with what you said about Anne Rice. I read the Twilight books first, followed by the first four books of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles. I do see similarities between the two authors, despite that Ms. Rice’s books are by far the better writing. The incessant whining of the main character, at least in Interview, almost made me stop reading the whole series altogether. The only thing that kept me going was my own bull-headed stubbornness. In my view, the only book in the series that’s worth any time spent reading was The Vampire Lestat. There’s just something in her writing, something intangible, that makes my brain itch. I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels that way.
Wow! There are some pretty rabid folks out there who are frothing at the mouth because one blogger didn’t like a book. Really, people? You need to resort to name-calling? Does it really matter one whit whether this blogger liked or didn’t like the book? She’s got 100 followers, for goodness sake. I get more eyes on a review for my simple Amazon reviews, yet no one has taken me to task for giving one-star reviews to two best-sellers.
As far as people crying because she used a book to make craft items, so what? It is just a book? I have never cut up a book in my life as I love them and collect them, but it is her book and she can do with it what she wants. I can hardly call cutting up a commercial book “desecration.” This reminds me of when I was in Iraq and people rioted with hundreds of people dying because of a case of unintentional desecration of the Quran at Gitmo. It’s just wood pulp and ink, folks.
I have been a vampire fanatic ever since I have read Stokers Dracula, and lead me to read the stories/short novels that lead him to write Dracula. I have also read Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles and read the Twilight Series. I know my opinion matters very little but Stephanie Meyers has nothing on those authors.
I know it’s definitely been said before, but all the crap you took for this was really uncalled for. I admire the fact you didn’t take down this post. I already knew Anne Rice was a little… overprotective of her stories. She absolutely forbids fanworks, even. Just imagine what this post did to her. Even so, I find it a little uncouth for someone with such a large following to sick her entire fanbase on one, humble person. It’s grossly childish and I’m glad you used it against her.
I think your review was well constructed and I enjoyed reading it and I think the craft project is awesomely cool, I am totally going to bookmark this blog with the intention of coming back later to see if there’s a how to guide for the craft project.
Actually, I enjoyed reading this review.
As for tearing the book into pieces. What a performance! lol
HOW DARE YOU HAVE AN OPINION. LET ALONE THAT THE OPINION IS HOW YOU DON’T LIKE A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR. AS A LITERARY GRAD STUDENT/PROFESSOR/GODDESS, I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO TELL YOU THAT YOUR OPINION IS GARBAGE. FURTHERMORE, I HOPE THAT YOU CONTRACT SOME HORRIFIC ILLNESS OR PHYSICAL DEFORMITY JUST BECAUSE OF THIS ONE REVIEW YOU WROTE. I AM IN NO WAY OVER-REACTING. ALSO, YOU ARE NOT FREE TO DO WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE WITH THE OBJECT THAT YOU PRESUMABLY PAID GOOD MONEY FOR AND THAT THEREFORE BELONGS TO YOU. YOU MUST USE IT IN CERTAIN WAYS, OR ELSE PEOPLE LIKE ME WILL BECOME VERY ANGRY INDEED.
(this comments thread was hilarious, is what I’m trying to say)
Miss Articulate, is it true you suck on dicks all day long because your brain works on cum?
At least she has a brain that works, which is more than what can be said about yours. And aren’t you a misogynist cupcake? All hot and bothered and wanking on the Internet because a blogger dared to post an opinion about a book on her own blog, no less. Tsk.
Stay classy, Anne Rice fans!
Marianella (from Brazil)
Good Review! I thought it was fun, funny, and gave good points on what the book was. It was definitely opinionated but its a review so whaddya expect XD. I must confess that the drama brought me here but I’m glad it did and hope your blog is getting mega-hits (you should prob add in some ads just for the heck of it). Anyways this article was not even scathing so the hate is way overblown. Everybody here is a winner because now I want to read the book to see if it’s as bad as you say and your blog is getting all dem hits lmao! Anyways keep your head up and keep on truckin’!
I must say that if you deface someones hard work, then have the gall to make a public blog and post that defacement complete with pictures and a scathing review that contains biased, unsubstantiated,non-peer reviewed, and downright rude information about a internationally best selling Author your knowingly expecting what comes your way. Like I mentioned on Anne Rice’s Facebook page the problem with the internet is it is worldwide and people forget that when they write things and post them publicly in the great WWW that that action has an equal and opposite reaction. The fact you had to bother writing in an edit that states “your feeling demonized” by the facts being given here and the fan-base just further attests to you being one of those quick to Critique yet when you get “critiqued” in return you “Psychologically Deflect” that negativity back on to those who are in fact just doing what you yourself did when you “demonized Anne Rice” a beloved International Best Selling Author. What did you really expect to happen? Did you expect a cherry? a lollipop perhaps to suit your spoiled demeanor? No, you got what you deserved and just as quickly as you dished it out. This is the real world honey, not some closeted high dollar “college” where you and other academia are able to post nonsense that people in your “circle” will support just because they like you. You would do well to learn from this a lesson that when you open your mouth on the great World Wide Web aka Internet, that you will reap whatever you sow. In this particular case your screwed by your own unprofessional conduct, not by Anne Rice, nor her fan-base, nor by anything other then your own big mouth. Personally I will choose to be respectful enough to just leave it at that and forgo using all those lovely expletives I know and love to use in cases such as this. If you are going to leave a review and do it professionally then maybe you should learn that collegiate Third Party stance that works wonders and ensures an unbiased review. You made it personal and being human Anne Rice, Her Fans, and everyone else including myself are merely responding to your mistakes 😉
Buenos Noches, Buenos Suerte,y Dios la bendiga, Senorita.
sinceremente, Joseph I. Mckinstry Jr.
PS- Por Favor chica, Calmate eh? Sientate. Pensar de que tu hablar y escribir con otra personas mucho mejor con respeto, no simplemente escribir antes tu mente y corazon mira que tu escribir aqui. Tu accepta la consequencias de su acciones eh? No tratar estar mal a Anne Rice o algo, cuando su recibir critique respeto la verdad que este critique es tu culpa por todo tu habla a otras mala.
Jose.
Dude, your bank called, it seems your reality check….
…it just bounced.
“just further attests to you being one of those quick to Critique yet when you get ‘critiqued’ in return you ‘Psychologically Deflect’ that negativity back.”
This is priceless coming from an Anne Rice fan! LOL
And, José… writing nonsense in Spanish is so bad as writing nonsense in English. No one “treated Anne Rice badly”. The author stated an opinion on a book on her own blog, for God’s sake! You are acting as if she torched the Library of Alexandria with Anne Rice inside. Get a grip, hombre, and a life while you are at it. Also, don’t talk about “God’s blessings” when you’re harrasing someone. It’s the lowest of the low. Just saying.
Marianella (from Brazil)
Joseph, non-peer-reviewed and biased? Yes, it is. Why? Because it’s her PERSONAL BLOG. She has the right to her opinion as a reader. So what if she doesn’t like an author you clearly do? You talk about the “real word” vs. “academia”, yet you don’t seem to get that in the “real world” people will express their opinions on anything and everything without following some standard of getting peer-reviews. Wow….
Duchess, you have more patience than I do, reading that wall of text. Paragraph breaks, man!
Book reviews are supposed to be peer-reviewed now? Let’s not tell Amazon.
I’m an Anne Rice fan, but I definitely know literature is subjective. I love GameofThrones more than anything in this world but can’t get my friends to share my passion. I’m opinionated too, so if I read something that I really didnt like, I might do the same thing. The way people are slamming what you did, or how you weren’t “thoughtful”, etc…..its mind boggling.
Sorry about the attacks you’ve received. You’ve handled yourself very well. Generated some awesome traffic too (hopefully some good recurring traffic). Judging from Anne’s posts, I don’t think her intentions were malevolent. I would honestly think she was naive/didnt realize what would happen, I don’t think she in any way intentionally meant for people to come over here and go psycho. That being the case, I do hope she issues you an apology. Live and learn!
“Judging from Anne’s posts, I don’t think her intentions were malevolent. I would honestly think she was naive/didnt realize what would happen, I don’t think she in any way intentionally meant for people to come over here and go psycho.”
Naiveté? Take a look at this link, taken from Rice’s own page, and tell me that she didn’t know what she was doing when she put online a journalist’s name, his work telephone number and instructions to let messages on his answering machine:
http://www.annerice.com/ph19961220.htm
Marianella (from Brazil)
Honestly, I think what you did here was brilliant. I’m guilty of going into bookstores and picking up older-than-dirt books and turning them into crafts. It’s a great way to give it new life. It’s just unfortunate that a) you happened to use Pandora, b) Anne Rice found out, and c) she’s stupid enough to post about it with the knowledge that her fanbase will dive on you like a pack of rabid hounds.
I can appreciate Anne Rice’s ability in earlier works, but between her awful behavior towards readers and siccing her Facebook fans on a small blogger (no offense intended), I’ve lost a LOT of respect for her. I apologize for all the fans that have been sending you vile messages. However, your blog look pretty fascinating, so I’ll be following it to see your other stuff. 🙂
Ditto. I look forward to reading more of her reviews. And she appears to be a very nice person. She was respectful even in the face of name-calling and utter immaturity. This speaks quite well of her. I would not have handled this nearly so well.
Pingback: Ongoing Debates: Book Reviews and Digital vs. Print | the dog ate my novel
I’ve been reading how you’ve responded respectfully to so many nasty comments and I want you to know you are the classiest person on the while damn planet.
The woman has an opinion and people can’t handle it. My book got a bad review, but I didn’t put it on my blog and flame the person for it. I responded back and thanked her for reading it and identifying some of the things that were wrong. As a writer, bad reviews are the best learning tools.
It appears to me that, not only are Anne Rice fans passionate about her work, they are hatefully passionate about it. There is no need to be. I think this woman’s blog was witty and insightful. Books are just things, and their destruction is nothing more than a physical or chemical reaction. Destroying one book does not render the entire line of books obsolete or useless. And it was her copy to do with what she liked.
Miss Articulate took the time to read her work, and because she did, she earned the right to speak about it. If she ever reviewed my book and ripped it to shreds, I would be thankful that her bad review would include such detail about what was wrong and what could have been done correctly.
Let’s have some civility, here.
Good work. In my deluded youth (deluded because I thought I had any artistic talent) I did similar things. I don’t see the fuss from the rabid fans – the book was falling apart. What on earth else were you supposed to do with a trashed dying book? Good work. Keep it up and the comments from Ann Rice and her fans honestly just reflect on her…… although this isn’t the first time she’s shown her immaturity. KEEP IT UP!!! 🙂
I like turtles!
Dear Kayleigh, Hello, my name is Cheyanne,. I’d like to take a moment to reply to you about your post of “Pandora”. Let me start off by saying yes, I am an avid fan of Anne’s. And “Pandora” is by far one of my favorite books, one I read over and over. However, I am not replying to you to bash you or criticize you in any way. I saw the mention of some idiot posting to you of the ” I hope you get herpes” and I must say I was appalled that a fan of Anne’s would be so crude. It’s not my place to apologize for someone else’s stupidity, and ignorance. I do however hope, you do not think of all of “us” her fans in such a manner. We are not all so ignorant as to lead our lives or our mouths with such idiocy. And if you found the time I’d like to get your opinion as to why you loath “Pandora” so much,. I personally think it’s one of the most amazing ‘vampire’ stories ever written,. The very fact that it’s not all about the blood, and killing, is astounding. Anne’s technique to describe the way Pandora feels about this or that, is astonishing. For example : When Pandora talks to David about the journals, in chapter one. or the way she describes what if feels like to write with a ball point pen and paper, vs. quill and parchment….It’s irrevocably astounding. Anne is a very talented author… That’s all there is to it. However, like I said, I do truly hope you do not hold it against all, for the ignorance of some. Sincerely, An Anne Rise fan for the ages. CB
Furthermore, you as ” Anne Fans” should be ashamed of yourselves for bashing someone the way some of you have. I do not know what started the whole mess, but I do know that I will remain a “Anne Fan”, though I don’t agree with how this whole mess began! Kayliegh is no more or less a critic. And though I love the book “Pandora” I can also RESPECT her opinion as well. Thus I’ve also found a new Artist in which I like. And will continue to read from. Kayliegh is very talented, and again I like “Pandora” but I also like the way Kayliegh’s use of words in describing it…….
An Anne Rice fan for the ages, and Now a Kayliegh fan as well.
I hope you all realize that Kayliegh, as well as Anne are HUMAN, and we all make mistakes. So don’t be to harsh when judging someone for their actions. . . .
Kayliegh, I hope you continue reviewing books. Don’t forget, there’s always someone out there who won’t like what you have to say…….but we just have to learn to ignore those people. 😉
Sorry, but it’s not the first time and it won’t be the last that Anne Rice has bullied someone—so her appalling behavior shouldn’t be deemed a mere “mistake”. And yes, *mature* writers, as Miss Articulate has proven here, are quite able to deal with criticism.
Anne Rice needs to learn to follow your advice.
Thank you. Thank you for simply sharing and enjoying your views. I am not an avid fan of Anne Rice, though I have enjoyed many of her books. I see no problem with saying that you dislike the story. (Especially when you explain it so articulately. 😉 ) I’ve said as much of authors that I do adore. Not every book is a work of art.
Also, I think the decoupage is cool, and a wonderful way to use an otherwise tattered book. It turned something mediocre into something interesting and artful. 🙂 Good luck, and keep it up!
I am an Anne Rice fan, I guess – but I gotta tell you .. “Pandora” was a boring, limp story and, now that I think of it, the last book of hers I read. (And it will probably remain so.) It felt like a novel that was sloppily pieced together from world-building notes rather than a story that was needing to be told.
It desperately requires a good editing and a few more rewrites to find the story that was hidden in all those words, IMO. But, I assume,t it probably did not get that because the writer was a “star” who did not get the same level of scrutiny (or editing) that any other writer would.
And, sadly, the reader (and writer’s legacy) suffers from this.
I can’t believe the kind of vitriol you’re getting because of an inoffensive blog post. Not only should the fans who railed against you be ashamed, but Anne Rice, as well, for encouraging it.
I enjoyed her earlier work, and was tempted to get back into her writing. After seeing what kind of person she is towards others? Not a chance.
Pingback: Commenting on a Blog When You Have a Dissenting Opinion
I liked Pandora, but you are allowed not to like it. You are also allowed to cut it up and use it for craft if you want you. I’m sorry so many people are giving you a hard time. I don’t understand the whole “YOUR OPINION ON THIS THING IS DIFFERENT TO MINE YOU ARE HORRIBLE I HATE YOU” thing that people seem to have going on right now. Hope you get through it reasonably unscathed.
Well, one good came from this mess, I was curious about reading Anne Rice’s work but seeing how she encouraged these rabid bullies to attack you for having an opinion has made me rethink that. It says a lot about a person when they do something like that and so I can’t help but wonder just how terrible of a writer she must be that she feels the need to encourage her followers to harass anyone that doesn’t dare praise her. And having a fan base does not make a good writer (ex: Stephanie Meyers).
Thank you for leaving these comments up because it shows the true colors of the writer but it also proves the point that rabid fans can ruin the very thing they claim to love.
I like the decopatch. And you’re right about Pandora. It’s weak.
Thank you! I read “Interview with the Vampire” many years ago, never made it through the other two that went with it. The reason was because her writing is so wordy, flowery, annoying, ridiculously overdone. She’ll probably go down in history as another Poe, another Shakespeare simply because she shares their worst trait, the inability to create a sentence without 100 times as many adjectives as the words they describe.
*blinks at seeing Poe’s and, oh my God, Shakespeare’s names quoted along with Anne Rice’s*
*grin*
Ben Jonson, 1630: “I remember the players have often mentioned it as an honor to Shakespeare, that in his writing, whatsoever he penned, he never blotted out a line. My answer hath been, ‘Would he had blotted a thousand’,,… he had an excellent fancy, brave notions, and gentle expressions, wherein he flowed with that facility that sometime it was necessary he should be stopped.”
I loved the IWTV movie, of course, but couldn’t get into the book for the same reasons you stated: too wordy, flowery, and overdone. That’s exactly how I felt. I read the first 5 chapters or so. Good storyline, just writing that’s not “tight” enough.
Pingback: Linkspam, 5/3/13 Edition — Radish Reviews
Pingback: Decoupage, Book Reviews, and Rabid Fans | S.H. Roddey's Haunted Head
God this book was shit. No surprise there, considering her other books. A++ review.
Wow, I didn’t read all the comments but I just wanted to say that perhaps Ms. Rice could take a lesson from how well you handled yourself in the face of all the vitriol her fans unleashed here.
Kudos to you for staying polite and showing her how it’s done. 🙂
Agreed!
Excellent review, and kudos for your courage in withstanding the avalanche of lunatics Ms. Rice unleashed upon you. Like you I have never read Anne Rice and had merely assumed that she was as great as everyone told me she was. For me the eye opening event was her recent decision to quit Christianity because it failed to change to suit HER beliefs. (IMHO for religion to have value it must change US for the better, not change FOR us and our selfish and petty whims.)
WHAT THE? Who knew people would go so crazy over a review? And cutting up a book? It’s not like you were burning them in the trash. I applaud Miss Articulate for handling this so well! I might’ve turned off the comments!
I’m glad that mature people started to comment quite soon after the hateful and spiteful comments started rolling in, especially the ones that are just insults.
I suppose I should comment on the Drama, but what is there to say that hasn’t been said? There is hypocrisy involved in AC saying “I think when we post anything on the Internet, we should take full responsibility for it.” yet not acknowledging the responsibility of her own post linking to this site with a inflammatory description saying it was; “a review by some one who loathed the book so much she cut it to pieces.”
I’m happy to see you are responding to the nice people and ignoring the crazy ones, especially the encouragement to read other books of her work. I will say they will be just as dry, although I remember Interview with a Vampire having a good enough pacing that you could read through it. But then the style of writing I enjoy is the opposite her work.
As to the comments on Pandora, I recall a discussion on how long you can write within a world before it becomes parody, dry, or self-written-fanfiction. This is especially potent in Fantasy, where one of the main reasons to read is the exploration of some unknown magical world and culture. Eventually however, all the horizons will be seen and the magic learnt. If the Author still hasn’t wrapped up the story then a new threat or situation must be added, then another, then another… You have finally read more Pratchett and he does well with his little fantasy world, he does parodies a lot, but eventually his work is carried on by the characters he creates, Vimes and the Nightwatch, Rincewind and the Wizzards, The Witches and even stand alone characters that then become bit parts in other books. All of these characters have lives that move on within and around the books, reacting to the changing culture pressures of the world itself. They are all interesting to various degrees and can be read individually even if their history is better understood as a whole. This helps keep the world alive even though dozens of books have been written about the Discworld.
Pandora on the other hand seems to be written about a main character that the reader should already be invested in, which in my mind makes me think that by this point in the Vampire Chronicles it had descended to self-written-fanfiction levels. It was 1998 when this one was published so the Vampire Chronicles only dragged on as a series for a few more years and most of them were crossovers with a witch series, which I never bothered with. The best ones were the original novels although I never felt the need to re-read them. At least this Pandora book became something else, I still have ‘The Vampire Lestat’ book on my shelf, it was only this review that reminded me I had it. It hasn’t been touched in years, it would certainly be more useful as a piece of artwork then as a never read book gathering dust!
*Gets popcorn, settles in post*
Sorry you’ve had to deal with the level of vitriol you’ve been receiving from Ms. Rice’s fans. As a former fan (well, technically I’m still a fan of her earlier works, but I can mostly do without everything she wrong post-Memnoch the Devil, and even that book is on shaky ground so far as I’m concerned), I’m appalled at her for linking to your post in a passive aggressive attempt to unleash the masses on you. I can’t say I’m surprised, though, given her history of attacking others who dared to have a negative opinion about her work in the past.
Ms. Rice and her questionable behaviour aside, I enjoyed reading your review. Pandora is definitely one of the weaker books within the Vampire Chronicles, and you’re right in that the books are written with ongoing series storylines and readers already familiar with the canon in mind. Coming from someone who used to devour everything Ms. Rice wrote, even I found the effort to tie Pandora back into the ongoing storyline a bit tedious and unnecessary. I actually enjoy a lot of the world building and attention to detail in many of her works, but in some of her books (of which Pandora is one) it got away from her.
Pandora is, in my personal opinion, one of the least interesting or likeable characters in the series, and this book didn’t do her any favours. It’s a tedious, dull story. I enjoyed Interview with the Vampire, but it also suffers from being told from Louis’ point of view, and he can be incredibly whiny and self-absorbed, which comes across loud and clear in the narrative of Interview. I would recommend that you read the Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned if you wanted to get a better idea about what attracts people to the series, but I highly doubt you have any urge to give anything Anne Rice has written a chance again, and I can’t say I’d blame you for it. Besides, even without the wank storm that’s been brought down upon you, going 0 for 2 on someone’s work really doesn’t provide a lot of incentive to try again.
This comment got a bit away from me, but I just felt the need to show my support, since so many people are being unnecessarily nasty to you. Also, your art project looks great! 😉
Anne posts many reviews, both negative and positive. I personally believe you were cyber-ly attacked because you cut up the book.
Its an incredible display of disrespect.
The woman has been around forever. Has deservedly earned the esteem of her followers. She interacts with them. She treats them like equals. She’s approachable- I, having met her, can say she is one of the sweetest ladies….patting my hand and posing for a picture with my daughter. 🙂
That’s not normal interaction from an icon, to a fan. I can think of very few that go out of their way to interact with their fans, the way that she does.
Why you would be surprised at the backlash and people running to her defense, is beyond me.
You were not required to like her books. I’m an Anne Rice fan….and I did not enjoy all of her books…..but to show such disrespect at someones work….well, its rather a babyish tantrum. Like someone took away your lollipop.
I cant stand rap….and yet I am not having a cd bonfire. (I am classically trained to sing opera….the lack of singing annoys me.)
I abhor chain restaurants…..and yet I am not throwing the food at the waitress. (Am an excellent cook and can out cook any chain restaurant, just like my old southern granny, Eula.)
I absolutely detest Tolstoy! I wanted to like him. I gave Anna Karenina so many chances…..but in the end I gave it to a thrift store. (An avid reader of classical literature….and yet the last 200 pages of this book will be forever unread by these eyes. lol)
I DID NOT disrespect a noted author by maliciously cutting up his work and pasting it to a box, just because in MY OPINION, it was crap.
My opinions are based on my experiences. What I can and cant do. What I know and do not know. This is what makes us all so wonderfully unique, and sets us apart from the masses.
My constructive criticism to you would be…..state your opinion, its welcome, but destroying someones work, because you are not a fan…..is not really necessary to make a point.
It would have been more gracious of you in the end, to simply apologize for the insult…instead of blaming this massive outcry on the author herself.
It all boils down to…..Give respect and you will earn respect.
You seem to have missed the edit in which Miss Articulate states: “My original intention was to buy a beaten up book second hand to turn into craft once reading it.” She did not destroy Pandora out of pure dislike – she bought a book that was falling apart for the purposes of a craft project and read it before taking it apart. The fact that she ended up hating the book had no effect on what she did with the copy afterwards. To use one of your analogies, that would be like picking up a CD for a craft project, listening to it beforehand, and happening to not like the music on the disc.
Wow this is a case of the author and her fans behaving not only badly, but like an insane mob. I really enjoyed some of Anne Rice’s work; however, I would totally agree on Pandora. Her book isn’t only weak it is her character in general. I like Marius, but Pandora never made any sense to me. I also couldn’t stand Memnoch the Devil. I think turning an old book into decoupage is actually a great idea. In fact if I were more craft oriented I’d probably do it with a book that I loved if I could find a reasonably priced paperback copy. It isn’t like Pandora is some rare novel out of print… you can buy it for 1¢ on Amazon… ONE WHOLE CENT. Obviously, a sacrilege has been committed . Anne Rice was in poor taste for posting this on facebook and anyone who has attacked this blogger is in even poorer taste. If you cannot handle criticism then you need to unplug your ethernet cord and go outside, begone from the internet. I’m glad the blogger has been really well put together about this whole situation. For shame fandom, for shame.
Free speech works both ways remember…? You slate someones work that is loved by thousands and you can expect some backlash, and imo this blogger knew exactl;y what she was doing…. and Anne didn’t control that,,, She was polite and gracious.
The review was not very well written, it wasn’t proper critique.. It was pretty much a bashing.. That is the difference between people who review for a living and people who ‘try’ and do it for fun, to cause a stir etc..
Why would a reviewer even review a book on a subject they do not like and by their own words, do not get..?? Sure they have every right to, but dont then go and shout about how appauling it was without all the facts and information.. Pandora is NOT one of the Chronicles.. It is a companion book to ‘The Chronicles’.. You are meant to have read the main books first..
Would you read The King Returns, without reading the first two books and claim that it made no sense and was a bad book ..?
No, Pandora wasn’t Annes best work in my opinion, but it also wasn’t anywhere near her worst..(Again, in my opinion).
Lastly, I do not condone the behaviour of the people that came here and said nasty negative things, but they were wwithin their right to do so if they so wished..
And Anne asked for comments to be kept civil and respectfull, and ON HER PAGE! She discusses many reviews, both negative and positive..on her work and others.. all on her page and asks her readers to comment… This is the only one that has caused incident.. I wonder why ? (P.S- I include the ‘Open letter’ blogger in the same incident)
First and foremost I did not say that Anne Rice was forbidden from behaving badly, posting what she wants, or saying what she wants. So don’t try to derail this on a matter of rights. Everyone has a right to be an asshole, whether it is unfortunate or not, but just because you have a right to be an asshole doesn’t mean you /should/ be an asshole. Also just because she has the right to post whatever she wants on Facebook doesn’t mean she shouldn’t exercise some judgement and basic human decency and occasionally let something go. Anne Rice was in poor taste posting this knowing that her rabid fan base would descend. It’s not right, it’s not nice, and it comes off as petty. This blogger would not have had a ‘backlash’ without Anne Rice instigating it. Anne was neither polite nor gracious in calling this to attention. The blogger does have to deal with the possibility that someone will say something negative, but this level of negativity would not have been possible without Anne Rice behaving poorly in the first place.
I would agree that the review is not an in depth review, but it’s not an outright bashing. Bashing is just saying you hate something or it’s stupid and not giving any reasons. The author said what she didn’t like and why she didn’t like for example, ‘Pandora seems to lack any sort of vampiric behavior’, and etc. It is a critique. It examines the novel and offers reasons why she didn’t find it good. You can’t just make something go away by trying to marginalize the material. Anyone has a right to review something they have read or otherwise consumed and say what they want about it. That is the whole reason behind ‘Yelp!’ and other reviewing services. If a consumer consumes something they have the right to say what they want about it. Just because you don’t get paid for it doesn’t make a difference. I’d argue that professional reviews aren’t nearly as valid since they are getting paid to say things about a product, most likely to say good things about the product.
Also don’t talk to me like I don’t know what I’m talking about. I have read Anne Rice. I know what The Chronicles are, and I know what a companion novel is. I know what Pandora is, but even though it is a companion novel that doesn’t mean it should need the rest of the series to hold it up. Yes there are some things you won’t get, but it is a novel it should be able to stand on its own two feet without help from anyone else. For example as much as I enjoy Anne McCaffrey I could not read one of her novels which spent a great deal of time rehashing what had already occurred from another characters POV. That didn’t make it a bad novel, in fact it was good because you didn’t need to have read other books already in order to realize what was going on and why; however, as I knew what was happening I just moved on to other McCaffrey books. The reviewer explicitly stated she wanted to give it another try maybe she read the summary and it sounded good and didn’t pan out. Sometimes you look at something like Twilight and you think it’s stupid and wonder what all the fuss is about and then people are like, “Oh no, but you haven’t READ IT.” So you read it and you still hate it and then you just “DON’T UNDERSTAND.” No we understand perfectly we don’t like it, end of story.
Firstly, it’s “The Return of the King”; secondly, The Lord of the Rings is a specific trilogy meant to be read in order and you can’t compare two unlike things. Pandora was not written in an order with the main chronicles, it’s basically a spin off. You can’t classify it is a companion and then try to lodge it into the main order and compare it to The Return of the King when it is more like the Silmarillion though not even then as it’s technically a prequel. When writing a series, emphasis on series, especially a long running series, technically speaking you should take time to remind the reader of key, important pieces of information though without having to fully explain it. Like a memory jogger when necessary. If someone hasn’t read something else they get an idea of what happened, if you have read the books you think, ‘oh yeah when that happened’; however, since it’s meant to be a standalone novel it shouldn’t have to rely on prior knowledge. If J.K. Rowling went and wrote an episodic stand alone about Dumbledore’s Army and you haven’t read Harry Potter you should have an idea of who Harry Potter and Voldemort are, but you shouldn’t need to have read Harry Potter to make the story important. Otherwise it belongs in an encyclopedia about the series and isn’t worth being its own story.
See you say it wasn’t her best or worst work and that you don’t condone the nasty behavior of the people coming here and yet you are offering your implicit support of them by criticizing me, criticizing the author, and trying to make it sound like the blogger was way more out of line than Anne Rice (which she was not).
The incident is where fans took offense that the blogger turned the book into an art project after the fact. It’s not just a review it’s “destruction”. She basically triggered an incident. It’s her property she can do what she pleases with it including turn it into an art project. Like I said I think it would be an even greater idea with a book you admire, but the issue isn’t the review it’s the fact that the fans descended on the review and took further offense at the decoupaging of an old book that you can buy for one penny on the internet.
So in short you can take your condescending attitude somewhere else. You are trying to legitimize the blogger just to marginalize the blogger’s opinion at the same time, and I don’t appreciate your attempt to speak down to me. The blogger was fully within rights to do as was done and didn’t make a big fuss about it, Anne Rice found it and made it into a huge ordeal via the fan base, and now people like you will try and sweep the incident under the rug as Anne Rice is a saint and this blogger is being melodramatic because it makes you uncomfortable as a fan. Also asking the fans to be respectful means she is aware of the possibilities of what will happen on the internet. If you really want the fans to leave someone alone you can always copy and past what they said and discuss it on Facebook and on Facebook alone. I hope Anne Rice chastises these negative Nancy’s but I don’t think she will. It’s one thing to post a review and discuss it, but if you know the fans are going to disrespect your wishes and bring out a whole lot of nasty then find another review to talk about. I have yet to read the open letter, but the only thing Anne Rice is doing is hurting herself and making it seem like she’s a petty bully. I’m just trying to help out the people who unjustly get shat on by Anne Rice’s fans.
I don’t care what the blogger or anyone for that matter, does to their books.(With the odd exception, i.e- if it was a very rare book of historical importance, the only one in existence and they destroyed it)
I don’t understand the whole covering a pot with paper..book pages, plain,or xmas paper, why not just buy a nice pot..it will look much better (In ‘my’ opinion).. But, I do love arts and craft.. Each to their own..:)
You are correct, just becasue you, or anyone ‘can’ do something, doesn’t mean they ‘should’..I agree 100%.. That is something that many people need to remember, and many more need to learn..
Anne ‘did’ post beside the review that comments were welcome(On her page) and that being civil and polite was of course expected. She has done this ‘many’ times, with ‘many’ reviews both positive and negative.. She asks her readers to comment in order to hear their views on the book/subject in question, the reviews are not always on her books. They are often on books she has read and asks her readers what they thought/think..
It is not Anne making her fans go mad and act badly, that is all their doing. I highly doubt Anne ‘Knew’ that a minority of her fans would then go and be so nasty to the person who wrote the review.. There have been ‘many’ negative reviews of her books that Anne has posted and asked for comments.. Those reviewers never got mobbed..Why should Anne have forseen that this time the reviewer would be mobbed ? You could also argue that the blogger knew what would happen so wrote the review to gain traffic to her blog. Which if you look at her biography you will see: “I have been trained in basic Search Engine Optimisation and have worked a great deal in ecommerce as well as for media. ” she also has a BA in English literature,
Blame Anne as much as you want, it isn’t her fault what a tiny percentage of her fans do.. Is it Islams fault that some small minority commit crimes in the name of Allah when they go about their Jihad ? No,Its the people who preach the hate to the weak and easily swayed..
“I can’t believe that Anne Rice has been so affronted to share this to her Facebook Page knowing how biased her fan base would be when reading my post and the result that this would cause. At this time I choose not to remove this post or the comments, the only difference is that a well-known author has singled out a single post from a tiny blog for her followers to demonize. Thank you for your time.”
Anne didn’t share it because she was affronted, she shared it like many other reviews on her work and other works, again, Both ‘negative’ and ‘positive’
” . . knowing how biased her fan base would be when reading my post and the result that this would cause. . .”
A tiny fraction of her fans were offended…The author of the review makes a huge generilzation here.. .
“. . . well-known author has singled out a single post from a tiny blog for her followers to demonize. . . ”
Anne didn’t single her out, what about all the other negative reviews Anne shared then ?
I never said you hadn’t read Anne Rice.. and you seem to think that I care whether someone else likes the same books as me, I can assure you I do not.
I have read the Twillight novels (Except the last half of the last book) I just couldn’t finish it.. I do not like Stephanie Meyers (sp?) Style..
The overall story is quite entertaining, with many small things that I didn’t like, but I felt like I was waiting for Edward to turn his girlfriend from the first third of the book..and with each book after, I kept thinking “This is the book it happens in!”..Of course, it didn’t..but that is another story..
Would I then go and bash the series for not being strict on European vampire lore, or following other authors ideas of vampires..? Nope, not me.. I find it frefreshing that people have their own take on things…If each book was the same, or from a cookie cutter ‘build’, what a boring world it would be..
There is an old saying, “If you cannot say something nice, don’t say anything at all” .. The reviewers of the days before the internet (and some of the ones around today) would concentrate on the things they liked, and only breifly comment on the negative..mention it in passing..
“You can’t classify it is a companion and then try to lodge it into the main order . . . ”
I didn’t..If you look on Anne’s website, there is a rough order to read them in.( I think order of release is best, my opinion). Pandora was in a seperate series/group, ‘The New Vampire Chronicles’ , the title of which would make most people want to read the first chronicles first..
The character David Talbot asks Pandora to write her story shortly before Armand writes/publishes his… So the natural place to read ‘Pandora’ is after ‘The Vampire Armand’..
I wasn’t criticizing you, I was merely pointing out that free speech works both ways, and I don’t think the blogger was ‘way more out of line than Anne was’ After the response she gave to the comments made by a minority of fans and edits made, yes I do think the blogger was ‘ . . more out of line. . ‘ Again, Anne didn’t do anything wrong in my opinion..
Nor did the blogger at first. Her response after the fact was not good though,one can forgive her though as it must have been daunting to have all these people yelling at her. I read this blog when it first went up, and its been altered(slightly) and if you read all her comments, Kayleigh’s (the blogger) attitude and opinion has changed. (not saying thats bad btw, just pointing it out) She does seem a fairly polite person.. Much more polite than the author of ‘The open letter’..(Who I think caused more problems for Kayleigh than Anne did)
“Anne Rice found it and made it into a huge ordeal via the fan base,”
Wrong, like many other reviews she posted it for discussion.. The ‘very small’ minority of her fans made it into a big deal..
” . . . vampires simply never interested me. . .” (Quote from the blog)
The question I asked, which was never answered was “Why review a book, or a film for that matter, on a subject that you ‘do not like’..?
Yes, I am a fan of Anne Rice, do I like all her books ?, no, do I own them all ? no, I even own about four that I have never read, and never will.. they were presents from family who know that I like her vampire and witch chronicles so assume I will like all her books..
Some friends of mine from an old book club told me of their favorite Anne Rice books, and I cannot get into them.. So, no, I am not a ‘blind’ fan..Just someone trying to show that there is always two sides to a story, and I’m a little miffed at the amount of comments made by people who seem to not have all the facts, either that, or they ignore them and blame Anne. I was also pointing out that the fans of Kayleigh behaved in just as bad a fashion as some of Anne’s did.. worse in some cases..
Kayleigh even admits in her comments that she generalized a lot, and that it caused problems.. She has also taken on advice from polite commenters and reviewed her thoughts..
“…and now people like you will try and sweep the incident under the rug as Anne Rice is a saint…”
I am not trying to sweep it under the rug at all, you clearly haven;t read all the comments.. and Anne a saint ? lol no I do not think anyone is a saint..Even the Catholic saints were most probably not ‘saints’ in the sense of their behavior.
“So in short you can take your condescending attitude somewhere else. You are trying to legitimize the blogger just to marginalize the blogger’s opinion at the same time, and I don’t appreciate your attempt to speak down to me. ”
I wasn’t being condescending, and thank you for telling me what to do and where to go..:) I also wasn’t speaking down to you.You are jumping to many conslusions here and you are wrong on all counts. You have taken everything very personally, and responded personally..when none of it was personal..
You never did answer my question: why would someone review a book on a subject that they do not like? Out of all the Anne Rice books there are, which cover a whole wide array of subects.. Why would someone buy and review one on a subject that simply doesn;t interest them..?
Oh and Anne was moaned at for not putting “Please be civil and polite ..” beside every post she made (regardless of the content)… So she listened to the minority and started using that ‘disclaimer’ and now you are saying she is wrong for doing it, because that means: ‘she knows her fans will over react..’
Just like if she only posted positive reviews, people would moan about it…People have since been saying she shouldn’t post news on her facebook page to do with religion or politics..due to how ‘fans’ might react.. Again, a minority ruin it for the masses that simply want to discuss and debate current affairs..
Just because some people seem to think debates should include personal insults, doesn’t mean that the rest of us shouldn’t be allowed to debate.. they are to bounce ideas around off of one another, to learn..to see things from a different perspective..but alas, many do not realize this (Again, not aimed at you, I am just saying)
One last thing, as I have said. Anne discusses many reviews, both negative and positive..on her work and others.. all on her facebook page and asks her readers to comment, and to saty civil and polite… This is the only one that has caused incident (I include the open letter with this incident as they are related)..
So, please tell me in your opinion, why this is..? I am just curious..
P.S – ” If you cannot handle criticism then you need to unplug your ethernet cord and go outside, begone from the internet”
That is the only comment that you made, that I was commenting on.. which is why I said “Free speech works both ways remember…? ”
Hmm well as there is seemingly no longer a reply to a reply option just in case this reply box starts a new thread, @Bert.
Just for the record you can do more with decoupage than just cover pots with it. I’m not a crafty type, but I think it’s related to paper mache (my roommates mom is super into craft things and that’s the gist I got). Anyway aesthetic tastes aside, indeed to each their own.
It’s fine if Anne wants to invite on discussion on her page, but she should make the point clear and the point about politeness clear. You cannot control every single person’s behaviors, that is a foolish aspiration; however, you can make it clearer you aren’t condoning or for that matter encouraging the behavior. Like I said there are methods around this, using excerpts and etcetera. If an author wants to dissect their reviews and make the fanbase aware of it that is perfectly within everyone’s rights, but there are ways to do this that can minimize the kerfluffle. One option is like I said doing an excerpt method. Anne is, seemingly, already comfortable making long facebook posts so I don’t think this would be an issue.
As for the rest let’s break this down.
I never said she was making anyone do anything, but she’s a smart woman and I don’t think she is unaware of the possible consequences of her actions when she has such a large amount of fans. Anne has had her own way of backlashing to ‘fans’ or ‘detractors’ if you are aware of the ‘Dear Negative Reader’ incident many years ago now. So if she wanted to say something personally I’m sure she doesn’t need other people to do it for her.
As far as reviews I don’t know the ratio of ‘official’ vs. ‘unofficial’ reviews or critiques she posts to her blog; however, if you have something like the NYTimes compared to a small blog like this ‘mobbing’ is a completely different scenario. You have millions of possible people reading the Times flocking to the comments section if they so wish to agree with, laugh at, provoke, refute, and/or troll the ‘mob’ at any various point. This is one person with a small following with their blog literally getting bombarded by a huge number of people and a lot of them with a lot of nasty vitriol to spew. Anne could not have forseen it; however, she could have chosen that in light of the fact that Pandora is at this point an old novel (15 years old approximately), that the blogger chose the book on an apparent whim based on popularity through the grapevine, and that the book wasn’t actually literally destroyed (not burned, not stabbed through with a knife like I’ve seen in pictures of 50 Shades of Grey novels, not literally ripped or shredded as in manically or angrily or with the intent being pure destruction because it was Pandora it was going to be an art project regardless) but rather recycled as an artwork not to post it, not to link to it, and not to mention it at all. I can see bringing up Lestat and the main Vampire Chronicles gang because if anything were to get remade or get a movie deal then it would be those books not something like Pandora. Also if she was feeling sentimental about Pandora then she could have offered many different types of review about Pandora at once. At this point it can’t be taken back, but all actions have consequences and since most people with some level of visibility in popular culture know this most don’t even engage with the fans and when they do most people don’t do it like this.
I can’t imagine that any blogger would predict that this specific situation would happen unless Anne Rice and the fan base are actually notorious for doing this sort of thing. If you want to get five seconds of internet fame why choose something that is, as I already mentioned, 15 years old and for all intents and purposes out of the limelight? You wouldn’t. You’d target Harry Potter (even then with no more books and movies it’s not exactly current) or Twilight or 50 Shades of Grey or The Hunger Games or Super Hero Movies, etc. I blog and occasionally I too let my comments free into this wild see that was the internet. If it had been me reading Pandora with or without the art project addition I would not expect anyone to pay attention because it’s an old book. I might expect some people to be like, ‘Oh yeeeah Pandora I remember that I agree or disagree,’ but before this happened I wouldn’t imagine anyone so much as to blink, because Pandora is literally old news. Just like I wouldn’t imagine most people to take much notice if I reviewed The Darkangel Trilogy (old) or HP (done to death) or The Noble Dead Series (not particularly popular though at least way more current), or Bambi by Felix Salten (old, most people aren’t even aware there was something before the Disney version), and etcetera. Say boo at Twilight though that will probably get a response somewhere from fans because it is current. I made a post about an author behaving badly in regards to fanfiction and the originality of the author’s works and my expected response was ‘no response’ which was usurped in expectation by getting one actual response (once again books from the 1990’s). Obviously not everything will meet your expectations, but unless Anne Rice and fans have an established history of doing things like what happened here there is no way someone could expect this sort of fallout or attention. In the many hundreds of competing voices on the internet taking a crack at Pandora would have been on my list of least likely things for people to get their panties in bunches about. As far as Search Engine Optimization promoting a business who is paying you to be more internet visible is a lot different than doing it for yourself, and that could mean more to do with working on making a search engine better rather than some sort of promotion technique. Even if you did find a way to make it so your result was much more visible once again drawing attention to a fifteen year old book wouldn’t generally be part of the scheme in enhancing that visibility.
I also have a BA in English and I’m working on my Masters in English Literature and as far as I’m aware no Anne Rice revivals going on at present so once again Pandora would not be my choice strategy.
Once again I’m not blaming Anne Rice for her fans, but rather her lack of forethought in posting the link originally. Hindsight has obviously been 20/20 in this case, but once again if she is aware of the possibilities she can take steps to try and minimize the impact which she did not initially do. Also if these rabid fans are the easily swayed then let Anne Rice try and sway them into some decent behavior. If she is going to put out things that can be consumed in an irresponsible manner then she needs to rethink putting it out there for consumption.
Now we’re talking about the blogger. Anne Rice may have been affronted whether she said it or not, and like I said earlier it isn’t about the posting of reviews. It has to do with the fact that the blogger got mobbed by the fans due to the review being shared and that Anne Rice should have chosen not to share it. Once again I don’t know what her usual method of posting is as in ratio of official to unofficial reviews; however, public actions have public consequences and she needs to consider the consequences when it could possibly have such a vitriolic response. See previous section.
I would say that this tiny fraction turned out in a pretty big fraction in this instance. Like I said it isn’t the same when you are posting to a major publication where there are an equal number of people who are not fans to balance things out.
You say that you don’t care if someone likes the same books as you, but yet you are here where the central issue is that someone doesn’t like the same book as a bunch of other people do, basically saying, in your previous post, it’s not a good review and it’s bashing so it doesn’t matter anyway, but yet still trying to defend it by ignoring and marginalizing the author’s opinions thus attempting to eliminate that there was ever worthwhile criticism in the first place.
Also we’re back to the word ‘bashing’ again. This was a critical review though short and not in depth. Bashing while can be defined as just ‘criticism’ generally has the connotation that it is just an unwarranted attack. ‘I hate Twilight because vampires sparkle,’ is bashing because it’s attacking the novel without any context or constructive narrative around it. However, an in depth criticism or exploration of how it does or does not relate to European vampire lore is not bashing but rather a critical analysis. It gives reasons and how’s and why’s and the rest which is what a review is. “Here is this thing, I like it or dislike it, and here is why.” < Review "Twilight sucks, HP sucks, the world blows, vampires are stupid."< Examples of bashing a singular statement supported by no evidence or further inquiry into the text. If you find sparkling vampires refreshing that's fine, but if I review sparkly vampires and say they are boring because the narrative doesn't have a rising line of tension, the stalking and controlling tendencies of Edward Cullen are problematic, and in general they are neither refreshing nor good literature that is my review and I'm entitled to it. I'm polite to the people. Stephanie Meyer doesn't come into the consideration at all she's probably a perfectly nice person and I'm glad that Twilight was a success for her, but as a consumer of her product if I don't like it I am perfectly within in rights to say it and say it in a public space if I so do please.
Sometimes the negative traits just outweigh the positive traits. Sometimes things are just bad. If someone doesn't think it's bad and wants to write about all the things they liked then they should, and if the person didn't like it and wants to post about it then they should too. Critical discussion is actually a boon to the author. The more people are talking about and critically thinking about it the better. Not only is it reaching the audience, but they are engaging and learning from it. Anne isn't required to have an editor, but most authors do have editors and have to abide from criticism from the industry already. The idea is to have an environment where everyone is learning. If you ever stop learning as a writer then you are Icarus flying too close to the sun. There is no perfect way to write something, and that's why it's worth talking about. I've been subjected to the criticism of my peers, and you worry about it at first but then you realize you are becoming better because they told you what might not be working and help you find better ideas.
Except you did. You classified it as a companion novel and compared it to novels that have a specific order. Pandora you can technically read out of order no matter where you are in the series. Obviously a suggested reading order is helpful now that all of the books are published some people like to go roughly by timeline and some like to go through the main series before branching out, but the comparable situation is Anne McCaffrey's Dragonrider's of Pern series. Chronologically the first book would be Dragonsdawn; however, the original trilogy which happens many hundreds of years after the first one chronologically were published long before Dragonsdawn. I read them all over the place initially and that wasn't a problem. Just like I read the main body of the vampire chronicles before I ever branched out to Marius or The Vampire Armand and the rest. Also the blogger wasn't confused by what was happening the point made was about relevancy. Since the bulk of what we don't know about Pandora from The Vampire Chronicles extends way back into Marius' early days bringing up Lestat and the rest would be irrelevant, especially when she wasn't a major player in that drama. The original blog post is correct in saying that you shouldn't have to draw substance from the other novels. If you want to care about Pandora make her story a good story and don't rely on what you have read in Marius or whatever else. The point is to care about the character, and I know I have never particularly or sufficiently cared for Pandora it that sense personally so I can see where she is coming from. If you aren't connecting with the audience then there is a flaw there.
Her response after the fact seems totally fine. No capslock rage, edited the post to clarify that this was originally intended as solely a craft project no matter the book or what was within the book since it was from a used book store. I guess we will have to agree to disagree on Anne because maybe it wasn't necessarily wrong in a moral sense it was wrong in a judgement call sense in my opinion.
Also whether intentionally or unintentionally her posting it was what led to this whole fallout situation. She may have posted it for discussion, but once again I think she has been in the business long enough to know when something isn't worth the flame war and this would be that instance. Once again I think her judgement call on this one just wasn't a good one. I will reiterate a) I'm not saying she sent her fans after anyone b) I'm not saying she could have forseen this but c) it was a bad idea because the possibility existed and it is possible to imagine how people can react and this was not worth the possible reaction in the end. I don't expect you to agree with me at this point, but I just want to be clear. Also once again this is a case where there is one person to hold their own against many reviewers vs. a syndicated publication where there are many people on both sides and no one is particularly required to moderate the situation. At the very, very least I would just say it's poor internet etiquette on Anne Rice's part and like I said just a bad judgement call in general. Once again I think we're going to have to agree to disagree, but just so I am entirely clear.
You ask, "Why read if the subject wasn't of interest?" Well, why not? As the blogger stated she was going on the reputation of the vampire novels and of previously having been into goth stuff. I wasn't really interested in trying Turkish food, but my friends really wanted to go to a Turkish restaurant and I went and I found I liked something new. I read some fairy books by another author who I liked that wrote vampire books. I didn't finish them and they weren't my favorite, and even though fairies weren't particularly of interest I decided to give it a try anyway. No one would ever do anything differently if they didn't try things so dismissing it because she tried it just to see if maybe there was something there after all isn't really a strategy. It's a 50/50 strategy we all employ it doesn't matter how it comes about. She took a chance, it didn't pan out, she wrote about it, and then people massively overreacted.
Maybe sweep it under the rug is a strong phrase, but the point is by basically trying to discredit the blogger and attach no value to the review you are trying to silence the message which is what the other fans want they have just done it in a much more asinine manner. By insinuating that the critique isn't really a critique and trying to say it doesn't really matter because it wasn't a well thought out in depth review is trying to negate its power (whatever "power" this might be is up to the people reading to decide) is just like trying to flame it in submission except in a much subtler and debilitating sort of way. If you actually believed that you wouldn't be here or care what it had to say and so would most other people. If that was really the case there would not be 600+ comments on this blog.
Aha! Which is what everyone else did here, made it personal when it wasn't. See how that works?
I did answer your question already, but I guess I'll answer it again and again.
-The blogger stated that she wasn't interested in vampires, true; the blogger bought the book presumably because of previous hype, recommendations, and seemingly in the spirit of discovery as in, 'maybe there will be something here that I have missed out on so let me read it and find out'. So it's not that that the blogger was disinterested in the book entirely. The blogger was curious and the curiosity was thus sated though said satiation led to a disappointing outcome. You shouldn't be penalized for wanting to try something new and then it turned out you didn't like it. If we never tried anything we'd never find anything new we did like. Simple Answer: Curiosity, simple, simple curiosity.
So now we're talking about perceived minority bias? Also I don't think she is wrong to put a disclaimer. I said she should have a disclaimer. She needs to acknowledge her fans will overreact, and if she wants to keep herself out the negative spotlight then she doubly encourage her fans not to overreact. I know, I know she can't or isn't or doesn't want to control them; whatever. The point is she should try to reign it in. This isn't positive for anyone, especially for someone who is already infamous for 'Dear Negative Reader'.
Minorities rarely ruin anything. The majority just wants us to believe the minorities are ruining things. It's called scapegoating. However, now we're getting on the topic of other things Anne Rice does on her FB page and frankly that's her business. She can talk about religion or whatever else until her fingers fall off and if it's between her and her fans primarily on FB all the better. Let them live in their perfect little FB world together.
I think this caused an incident because most people probably didn't get past their initial anger and flabbergasted feelings at the original intro which was along the lines of, "Gutted the book and I'm glad I did," which progressed to the review which increased the malaise and which ended with the decoupage and that was the nail in the coffin. I don't think it was so much the content of the review as the fact the blogger literally had taken the book apart for the decoupage and people flew off the handle at the idea of a "literal destruction" though it was technically recycling. It was pretty much a snowball effect. It's really an inoffensive review compared to many things I have seen in the bowels of the internet. Like I said I could have easily posted something similar, not thought twice, and definitely wouldn't have expected this reaction; however, it wouldn't have begun and end with the taking apart of the book. I think they had this weird kneejerk response to the book being used for decoupage and it avalanched from there. The open letter and the copious reviews just made the destruction bigger and bigger. Not to mention, unintentionally most likely, Anne Rice primed them with the original link. "Someone hated it so much they destroyed it." People thus went in looking for a fight, and hence the explosion. That's my theory anyway.
P.S. Ah I see, well that was just me sort of rolling my eyes at the internet as it were. The equivalent of 'a lot of the commentators need a chill pill', but unplugging the ethernet cable sounded wittier.
Hey Kylie,
Sadly, this kind of behaviour (Fan behaviour) isn’t just Anne Rice fans, there are fans of many other writers and celebs, that act in the same manner..
Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels, has just been threatened over the content of her latest novel based on sookie..:(
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/may/10/charlaine-harris-sookie-stackhouse-true-blood
All because the ‘fans’ didn’t like the way things panned out for certain characters and whatnot,, Its sick that these people think they can blackmail an author into writing the book they way ‘they’ want it be.. Books, or rather, the content of them, belong to the author.. they have grown the spark of an idea, into a character, or land/place..then they have nurtured it, and grown it into being.. So sad that some so called ‘fans’ seem to think that they ‘own’ the characters and stories made by others… My heart goes out to Charlaine..
Miss Articulate —
When I was a younger man, I *loved* Anne Rice. I was a huge fan of both the Vampire Chronicles as well as the Mayfair Witches Sage. And I always loved that she had minor crossovers between the two stories showcasing that they were in the same Universe. As a huge comic book nerd, the idea of shared continuity really appealed to me.
However, I found myself incredibly unhappy with the ending of the 3rd Witches Book, and then found myself really put off by both “Tales of the Body Thief” and “Memnoch the Devil”. So I gave up. A few years later, I realized Anne had written more Witches books, which involved a huge crossover with the vampire books. So I decided to pick up where I left off, which was “Pandora”.
About 1/4th of the way in, I put it down and never opened up another Anne Rice book. So, as a looooong time fan, “Pandora” was the book that finally made me realize her books no longer appealed to me. I found it to be outrageously boring and trying to read it felt like torture.
While dealing with my feelings on that book–my incredible disappointment–I began to realize that I really felt the same way about the 2 books mentioned above. The stories were boring and Anne is so over-descriptive that I find myself forgetting what’s going on because she spends 10 pages describing something that isn’t even remotely relevant to the story.
So I agree with your assessment 100%. And I think all of the people calling you out should be ashamed of themselves. And I think the person above who said you should … well, I won’t get insulting, but that shit is laughable.
If you ask me, “Pandora” punished you far more than you punished it. You, unfortunately, read the book cover to cover, while the book is now a neat piece of art. I think it won in the grand scheme of things.
Shame to see all of the “You destroyed a book?! HITLER!!!!” style comments. My puppy has destroyed about 15 of our paperbacks since we got her. I think these people would want me to crucify her.
And the fact that Anne posted your Bio on her FB is very telling. Sorry apologists, but there was -ZERO- reason for Anne to do that. That was nothing more than a personal call to action. And it was pathetic … not to mention potentially dangerous for Miss Articulate.
Oh, and you mentioned that you LARPed earlier. V:TM? Huge V:TM fan (though I was always one for table-top over the Mind’s Eye Theater stuff).
Anyway, solid review! Sorry for the stupid long post 😀
Just one in a million but I totally agree about Pandora. Also that’s a great project!
I am following you because of this post and your ability to laugh off all the haters (aka Anne Rice zombies) out there. Honestly, I thought your review was great and if you wanted to make things out of an old, cheap book … then who cares! Sheesh, you’d think people had better things to do than attack a blogger. My first book review was a 1-star and I moped around a little bit when I read it, but I didn’t say anything or show others out there. I just sucked it up and moved on to nicer reviews. And if I were a famous author like Anne Rice, I think I wouldn’t worry about negative reviews.
Just wanted to drop you a line and say good on you for leaving this post up. Rice’s response was incredibly childish imho. No writer / artist / creator can control how other people interpret their work, or what they think of it, once it’s out for public consumption.
And to all those who were incensed by the book desecration… crafting is so much nicer than what I would have done with it. (Paper recycling box, anyone? 😉
lol another person who thinks its childish to post reviews on facebook and then ask for critique and for the readers to express their opinion then ….Go live in China if free speech bothers you that much!
p.s – I’m not a huge anne rice fan at all btw… before anyone says that I am a fan defending her and her work.. I just quite simply do not understand how Anne was childish for doing something (Posting a review (both + & – ) ) that she has done many many times before..(and no one went into a fenzy then.. )
‘Some’ of the fans acted childish, not the author!
I suppose its Charlaine Harris’s fault that she got death threats from her fans, and was told to kill herself, and that fans would kill themselves if she didnt re write the ending of her latest novel ?
see here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/may/10/charlaine-harris-sookie-stackhouse-true-blood
Hmmm..?
That was an adorable little box! Good for you for leaving this up. I hate when authors sic their fans on reviewers! But now I am going to start reading your blog :p
Vittorio and Pandora really are some of her weaker books and while I agree that books are sacred, I have destroyed pretty awful books before. IN THAT LIGHT, you still used it to make something else. In a way, both author and reader profit. Seriously, Anne Rice, after all these years writing novels, you should know that some of your books actually get RECYCLED.
Wow! Anne Rice has a campaign against the readers who didn’t like Dead Ever After (Charlaine Harris). However, she sent her minions to attack this blogger. Shame on you Rice!
You are ill informed, sorry..that is not the case… She has nothing aginst readers who didn’t like it..at all.. She did however share the article on her facebook page which was from a newspaper..The article in question was about Charlaine Harris having recieved death threats, and being told to kill herself, and that if she didn’t re-write the ending they [the fans] woudl commit suicide..
Anne was simply saying how appauling it was that people had behaved so badly to Charlaine.. and asked ‘Why?’ some (A small minority) fans reacted this way, all becuase they didn’t like the fact that a:) it was teh last book, and b:) sookie didn’t end up with the character they wanted her to end up with..
Basically, why do some fans seem to think that authors owe them the ending they want.. She was discussing the phenomena that is shown in Stephen King’s book Misery.. Where Annie wilkes finds her favorite author in the snow and nurses him back to health, but wont let him go until he writes a new book just for her..that ends how she wants it too..
Many ‘fans’ are real life annie wilkes it seems.. but then when are we surprised, when the ‘fan’ comes from ‘fanatic’..
Anne has nothign against people who do not like books for a valid reason..but these people are acting like poiled brats “I want I want I want I want! I want sookie and Eric to marry etc!” and then the most disturbing thing of all “Authors owe us the ending we want, as we have invested time and money into their books, we made them rich and famous ..so they owe us!”
Sorry, but that is ridiculous.. You cannot write a book, by polling your audience and then writing it the way the small, loud and very vocal group of ‘fans’ want ti to be written..
Pingback: Dealing with Negativity: The Myth of Thick Skin
I too tried to read Interview with a Vampire and got bored. I think Ms. Rice appeals to a different generation perhaps. What you described concerning Pandora sounds like the age old classic romance novel formula where potential lovers bicker constantly like enemies until they fall into bed together. I liked your comparison of Bella and Pandora too. I did read Meyers novels and I enjoyed them for what they were, no substance, just guilty, fleeting pleasure. The movies however, were a train wreck.
Lol. Wow, I didn’t realize cutting up books was such sacrilege. I used to do it all the time for my art projects at school, especially if the book had a pretty cover. Not to mention the countless books I’ve thrown in the recycling bin because they’re too old, worn or falling apart to bother re-selling or sending to Goodwill.
p.s. I thought Pandora was a lousy, badly written piece of dreck, tbh.
You’re articulate, creative and classy!
Neat blog entry, thanks for writing.
FOAMY INTERNET RAGE! FROTH AND IMPOTENCE! Nice decoupage.
I really enjoyed Red Grow the Roses by Janine Ashbless if you want to try some non-Rice vampires, assuming you don’t mind smut. And who minds smut?
To the naysayers – Wow! So this is the internet version of the mob mentality!!? That’s VERY scary – all those people scurrying over here because they were told to.
To the blogger – articulate well written post about decoupage.
I’m a writer, Not everyone likes your work, just as not everyone likes you in real life. It’s okay. It’s how it is.
I was really impressed by the response from the blogger who has handled the whole thing with grace and elan. Kudos.
Anne Rice isn’t known for being friendly, respectful, or reasonable. She’s pulled this kind of thing before. More than once. Ignore her.
I can only imagine the things she’s said and done that don’t directly have her fingerprints on them.
…and I am sure you have done things that weren’t perfect too… News flash, no one is perfect..
It just so happens many people do know Anne as respectful, reasoanble and polite.. Some people treat people how they themselves are treated, others treat people badly al the time.. Some people when they are treated, & or spoken to badly, smile, nod and turn the other cheek, or simply walkaway and forget it.. Others take things very personally.. Its all part of the human condition, and we are all human (as far as I know).. we are also fallible, we are far from perfect.. 1 in 4 people are mentally ill in modern society.. Don’t belive everything you read and see on TV, and in teh media.. they hahve a nasty habbit of skewing strories for sensationalism, to sell more copies and make more money.. this seems to have teh knock on effect where people have turned ugly towards one another for little to no reason at all..
There is an old saying, “If you can’t say anything nice, then do not say anything at all..” That was how people were way back when, now people are hostile and abusive quite often.. Look what Charlaine Harris’s fans done and said to and about her,, al becuase she said she wasn’t writing anymore Sookie novels, and they didn;t like the end.. Celebs, famous people etc..theya reall just human beings, they are not perfect, they are just ordinary folk.. Anne likes to debate and discuss certain subjects that get many people all fired up.. Just like many other ‘everyday’ normal people do.. Some people do not like this, and they take it as insults and abuse when it isn’t..
Try not to let the awful comments get to you — I’m not an Anne Rice fan either and even if I were, I would never comment the way some of these people are commenting. Your craft is awesome and you’re entitled to your opinion!
To hell with these people. I find articulate women in top hats wildly attractive.
Ann Rice sucks the last thing we need are more books about gay vampires
I am so sorry about the avalanche of cruelty deposited on you by such a biased group of people. I praise those who are complaining of that behavior, both to Anne Rice and on this page.
Now, let me begin my comment. I am a book-lover. Let me stress this point: I ADORE READING BOOKS. I average 2-3/week and have one with me at all times. I squealed when my favorite author retweeted me about one of his books. I put post-its in my favorite chapters. I quote my favorite lines. I pretend to be my favorite characters.
But I do not idolize the physical book. A book is about the words and memories and feelings, not the pieces of paper and binding!! It’s almost disturbing to me that so many people are placing such high importance on something disposable that you used to create art.
I think what you did was honest and beautiful, and I pray you have the courage to stand strong against this tide of negativity. Good on you for leaving the post up, but I don’t think you should think any less of yourself (for that’s the only opinion that matters) should you decide to take it down.
I just want to say, as a fellow blogger and writer (and modge-podger) I congratulate you on standing up to Ms. Rice. I never cared for her novels (I found them boring) and what she tried to do to your site is unworthy of such a big name author. Kudos for letting this post stand, and for letting the comments stand.
Hello Miss A.
There’s been a delicious storm of critique and counter-critique and meta-levels of critique complex enough to make Benoit Mandlebrot twitterpated, and I have nothing constructive to add there.
You made something clever and creative out of something that would have otherwise been discarded, and though I haven’t browsed through all the aforementioned pomp and circumstance, it appears that you have handled the backlash with poise and class.
Well done, madam. I tip my hat to you.
Have a great day.
Thank you for the thoughtful book review, Miss Articulate. I get so tired of readers and reviewers bowing down to the herd mentality that permeates the genre fiction fanbase. It was nice to read an review informed by analysis of the text rather than popular opinion for once. I will definitely be reading your blog in the future.
Good Review. I initially liked the Interview with a Vampire series. Until I got to the Tale of the Body Thief. Bleh. I haven’t picked up an Ann Rice novel since. Very odd that she went all Kevin Smith on you. I would have thought a well respected novelist above such nonsense.
Uh. That was some vitriol in the comments above.
On the bright side, your decopatch turned out fantastic! I love using book pages–words in general, really–as art pieces.
After reading every single comment on this page, I will never touch Rice’s work. Lost all respect, she stooped to such a low lever, my gods, I cannot believe an author could do this.
All the trolls on this thread are kaka crazy. I can’t believe Anne Rice actually directed them here. Very poor move.
I liked the review, blog lady. (I came here from reddit and have no idea what is happening) The decopatch is really interesting 🙂
Then don’t believe it, because she didn’t..
Bert, is it possible you could stop commenting on every single comment that suggests Anne might have not had the best of intentions when she shared my post? Eveyone has a right to express their views, you and the other people you’ve replied to but it feels like my blog has a stalker and that’s more than a little creepy….
I haven’t commented on ‘all’ of the posts saying Anne didn’t have the best of intentions, only a few(2 – 3)..The other posts were related to other things, and yes I admit I was a little blunt/harsh with the those two or three, for that I appologise, and I am sorry.. I was very tired at the time of the last post, as I have not been sleeping properly due to being, ill with food poisoning or a bug(or possibly both, one after the other).. Once again, I am sorry.
peace..
Your post is interresting, maybe a bit over dramatic, but your review is well argumented. Thank you!
The decopatch is quite nice and I enjoyed your review of the original work. I must admit the insane mad-hatters tea party of actual response from Anne Rice and her apparently overly concerned followers is a bit disconcerting, but a nice craft nevertheless. Stripped of all the hubbub, you bought a junk book, read it, commented on it, and found something useful to do with it, rather than just chuck it or let it fall apart. Well done and thanks for the idea.
Hi – here via another blog which mentioned this incident. After many years online, I am rarely surprised by people’s appalling behaviour any more. Anne Rice has previous for being incapable of accepting any negative criticism, so the fact that she would respond to this is no surprise. Releasing the hounds to spam your blog with abuse is a pretty shitty move, even by her standards, though.
I’m sorry this happened to you. But hey – you probably picked up some new followers in the flurry, so maybe there’s some good to be had.
It’s interesting to me that people are so horrified by the idea of using a book for something other than reading. Attached to that terribly prissy, middle-class idea that we must “respect” books, I suppose. Why? They’re only things. It’s the words we should respect. And the ideas that should be protected. And most paperbacks are massed-produced shit that fall apart after 2 reads anyway. Just sayin’.
Pingback: requires only that you LINK | Requires Only That You Hate
Well, now you have almost 700 comments that can now be printed out and used to make your next decopatch project! Thank Anne for sending over her minions, and maybe a link to the Streisand effect wiki. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
I happen to love some of Rice’s work, but the vampire books are very much hit and miss. The Grateful Dead were kind of like that too – sometimes they never missed a note and other nights, not so much. I think your analysis is spot on! Good luck with the minions!
“Don’t be mad at me, even if Pandora really is one of the worst Anne Rice novels then it’s still better written than Twilight. Just not by as much as you think. Whilst Stephanie Meyer traps us inside a character’s head, dictating to us how this character thinks and that her interactions are good and even normal, Anne Rice traps us in these falsely grand environments that she won’t stop describing in every detail.”
omg I love you, for this comparison
And for the record, the Twilight books were horrible, and the movies are only slightly better in that I watch them when they’re on TV because they’re sort of like crack–you can’t NOT watch them.
Really? This is the post that gets Anne’s knickers in a twist? There are far more savage, less erudite reviews of Anne’s work all over Amazon. She has tons of 1 star reviews, that she hasn’t bitched about on a facebook page…
I enjoyed your review. I read “Queen of the Damned” first and it worked as a stand alone novel (I had no idea it was part of a series). I then managed to get through “Interview with a Vampire”, although it was hard going to wade through it. Since then I have started a few other Ann Rice books but never had the intestinal fortitude to complete them. Same themes, same character tropes, same turgid language, different settings.
I do have some suggestions on your decoupage project. It seems to me that it could benefit from a little color – I would have thought including pieces from the book cover (which is quite splendid, in my opinion) would have added some “pop”. An alternative would be some clear coloured cellophane shapes on top of the printed words – blood red would perhaps be an option. Or perhaps blue, for some of the language used by the ranks of rabid Ann Rice fans.
I have a novel idea. Perhaps we should all send old unread Ann Rice books to Miss Articulate. It will fuel her art and is a great way to recycle trash.
That’d be great, I’ve nearly finished “Pandora” and might be making a hollowed out copy of my other Anne Rice book 🙂
Thanks for the excellent suggestions. I’ve been mixing in red crepe paper for my last few projects but using the cover might be good. I’m pretty sure I still have it 🙂
i like the eyes and lips on the cover – although the red pupil might remind the modern reader of Twilight, I think it predates it and of course the Twilight Vampires have red irises, rather than pupils.
Sorry you went through this. Anne Rice is an ass. And she shouldn’t complain. After all, the boxes are very attractive and you can still read her words, sort of.
Can you imagine if the New Yorker blasted people for turning their covers into wallpaper?
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/look-new-yorker-covers-as-wall-62528
That’s a lovely idea for wallpaper! Feeling inspired now 😀
Don’t know you, but I think these attacks against you are completely uncalled for. It seems that Anne Rice has a shitty personality, can’t take constructive criticism, and worse yet, her fans are the same.
I enjoyed your blog. It was interesting…though I admit I got a bigger laugh out of the comments. Wow, people need a life. I think there are a lot of Rice fans out there currently sticking pins into voodoo dolls meant to look like you.
Someone needs to order these guys out of the gene pool.
So long as the Voodoo doll has a top hat, I’m happy 😀
Pingback: Danger! Righteous Indignation Pants on the Internet! | Articulate and Intricate
My partner and I absolutely love your blog and find nearly all of your post’s to be exactly I’m looking
for. Do you offer guest writers to write content in your case?
I wouldn’t mind writing a post or elaborating on some of the subjects you write in relation to here. Again, awesome website!
That sounds like fun! I’m actually looking for guest posts as my lack of net makes it hard to update. Please email me on kayleigh@articulateandintricate.com 🙂
Please don’t pay any attention to the rabid members of the Anne Rice fan dumb who have posted hate on your opinion (that’s right, people are allowed to have opinions and *gasp!* those opinions might even be different than your own! Who would have thought that was possible?) I tried out Anne Rice’s books in my early high school years because I wanted to know why they were deemed “classics” by some. I first read Interview With the Vampire, and it was a swift read. Although relatively boring in most parts, it was still entertaining, and I enjoyed the emotional narration of the protagonist Louis (now that I’m older I look back on it as melodramatic and corny, and see that little to nothing substantial happened in that sorry excuse for a plot). I picked up The Vampire Lestat, hailed as the best novel of th series, and honestly it was a miracle I even finished it. It was substantially worse than the first book and it was boring! Lestat’s character was entirely deconstructed and unrecognizable. Since I had already purchased Queen of the Damned, I eventually cracked it open so that my money wouldn’t have been a complete waste. I couldn’t even finish it, it was so bad. I had enough and decided not to waste my time anymore, and promptly got rid of all three books. How can people like Anne Rice so much? She doesn’t even stick to her own canon! Lestat goes from being turned into a vampire by an old vampire named Magnus who promptly kills himself, to Marius, an entirely different vampire who is present much later in Queen of the Damned? Louis goes from 25 years old to 20 years old? And judging by one star reviews of her other novels, it gets even worse! And Anne Rice herself is maddening as well, she obviously can’t handle any criticism, judging by her amazon rant and how she handled this situation (don’t tell me she didn’t know what would happen). She also fought against having an editor, ha, big mistake! But whatever makes her happy. I’m sure there’s more, but I don’t know enough about her or care enough to dig up anything else. So not only do I not like her books, but I do not respect her as a person (you’re not the only author who has reacted as badly to criticism as this nor the worst at least, Anne, but I still can’t respect your actions, and I hope would-be writers don’t copy the immaturity and tactlessness you have shown on more than one occasion). What’s even worse, however, is Anne Rice’s immature fan dumb. Well, she can keep them! I wonder if these “fans” even realize how negatively they’re impacting her image? Anyway, kids, if you ever wish to be a writer, don’t react this way:
http://www.the-digital-reader.com/2013/04/29/how-not-to-respond-to-bad-reviews-the-anne-rice-edition/#.Uek90L-9LTo
http://blogcritics.org/oh-anne/
Anne Rice Is like George Lucas, she has a few very memorable hits that will always be a special part of my childhood, or rather, teenagehood, but she’s not a sacred cow who craps out gold everytime.
…and books are valuable because of what’s /in/ it, blind book idolatry makes my eyes roll. Even Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 made the point that the REASON books was burnt was because of the knowledge it contained was considered threatening. Captain Beatty kept an entire library of books he doesn’t read. A handwritten book like the limited edition of Tales of Beetle the Bard that JK did for charity would be rightly considered a work of art, it’s handcrafted and unique. A mass produced book, is only the frame – UNLESS you can’t get that edition anymore (changes have been made), replace copies falling apart with a new one you can actually read.
Pingback: Branding, Contributing and Promoting for Authors | R A N D O M J O R D A N
I just want to comment on how I love tearing up books for craft projects and thoroughly approve of the practice. The thing is, I work at a very large chain of thrift stores and I know that many tens of thousands of books get pulped every year by our organization alone because they are a little too damaged to sell, are mass market paperbacks with no audience any longer, are reader’s digests, or are Bibles (there are simply too many of them).
Whenever I read or hear someone whining about ruining books, I can’t help but think “REALLY?!” — come on, there are millions of books that no one wants. Unless they’re looking for something to tear up for a craft project. Or cut holes into to plant something in. Or mount to their walls as a literal “book shelf.” I adore new ideas on how to make books into something useful, and I often shop the “last chance” books (that will be pulped if they don’t sell) to try them myself.
I love books. Adore them. Have big plans for custom-built bookshelves to store my ever-expanding collection. When I move they take up more boxes than anything else. But they aren’t sacred objects! It is really, truly okay to rip them apart.
I have a project going right now where I cut up a copy of Twilight one or two page(s) at a time, rearrange the words, and tape them in a notebook. In case you’re curious, here’s my latest:
I closed my eyes and inhaled slowly through my nose.
I sighed and opened my eyes.
I looked at his too-perfect face.
I closed my eyes.
My hands started to shake.
I opened my eyes.
His face was very serious. He continued to gaze. His lips twitched, fighting a smile.
My eyes closed; I turned my back to him. It was pathetic. More than pathetic.
“Then what do you want, Edward?” I asked.
“The Krebs Cycle,” Edward answered.
“Sorry, no,” I said.
“Trust me.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” I said, my voice guarded.
“Yeah, you’re right,” he mumbled. “I’m sorry.” He sounded sincere. “It’s better if we’re not friends,” he explained. “I’m being very rude–it’s rude.”
Try it sometime. It’s surprisingly fun. I hope you share your future book-upcycling activities! ❤
Thanks for this awesome comment and the funky idea! I also dream of custom bookshelves and thanks for taking the time to comment!