Violin

I did not love it, which disappointed me a little. I knew it was about a violin...a magical violin, that could almost play itself; that played through the person playing it.When I was a young girl in elementary school, the school district made an agreement with the symphony, and two or three times a year, they would take the public school children by bus to the symphony. I loved the string instruments best, and have vivid memories of lying back in my seat, closing my eyes, and letting the music go into me, swirl around inside my body and my soul, and then flow back out and around me. I loved the feeling of the music so much, and so looked forward to these symphony school trips.Music was always felt as well as heard, ever since I could remember, so when I heard of this book of Anne Rice's, an author whose stories I had read and loved many times in the past, I ordered it on my kindle and looked forward to feeling that same emotion while reading this story of a magic violin and the people who played it/loved it.....a Stradivarius...a famous violin known for its beauty of form and sound.Many areas of this story were tedious with excessive detail, and other areas were confusing. There were also segments about great beauty: in art, architecture, music, and the senses....these areas were my favorite parts. When there was confusion and unnecessary wordiness, the tedious parts, I just kept on reading. The beautiful parts made up for the tedium/confusion.Could it have been better? Sure, but still a worthwhile, although a somewhat disappointing read. I guess I was expecting more "magic". The main character made me angry, because she intentionally " stole" from someone, something that was his very reason for existing, for selfish reasons, really, and did not seem to care at all about what she had done, or even feel it was wrong at all. I didn't like that. I did not like her for doing it. Then, later on, she simply gives it back. I understand why, but she still had no conscience whatsoever about taking it in the first place, even though the person she took it from was completely devastated. She just did not care at all about hurting him deeply; hurting him to his soul. I thought it very wrong and a horrible thing to do to someone. She was not all that likeable of a person, in my opinion, which isn't so good when she is one of your two main characters!It was the violin I loved the most! For that, and the beauty of parts of the story, it was worth reading.

Anne Rice is known for her novels about vampires and witches, (and I love them very much), but my favorite of her novels is VIOLIN. It's so poetic; so full of depth; so sophisticated; so melodic.... I just finished experiencing it again.... but this time, mostly on Audible.It is definitely a must read, (or listen) for anyone who loves to get caught up and taken away by words or music... especially Anne Rice fans.

It might be one of my least favorite Anne Rice novels... but it's still a good novel. I recommend reading it once.

Item exactly as described, very happy, would buy from again

I wish I could say it was great. It wasnt it was good. It obviously was a catharsis for anne rice to deal with the death of her daughter. It was a thinly veiled reference to the above mentioned child and her death again and again and again. This book was also written at the height of her Catholicism and we heard about the rosary again and again and again ad nauseam. Everything in this book is ad nauseum

Anne Rice definitely delivers the goods with VIOLIN. It's all here, waiting for you - murder, suspense, supernatural characters.Don't let the lacklustre reviews discourage you from reading this book, as I did for so many years. The beginning of the book spends the necessary time developing the characters in order for the novel's story line do deliver its full impact to the reader. It's called reading, folks.This book is a fantastic read. If you enjoy Anne Rice, you'll love this book!

I suppose all things are in the eye of the beholder because I loved this read. Saw a lot of not so nice reviews of this book and was a little apprehensive going in, but I am so glad I took the risk and believed in Ms Rice's skills.

It was advertised as a new book. It looks more like it's been sitting on someone's bookshelf. Not in New condition.

“If only we would wake from (these) states of oblivion with some certain sense that there was no mystery to life at all, that cruelty was purely impersonal, but we don't.”No No No, mediocre at the best of times. The first half of the book follows Triana as she wallows in self-pity following the death of her second husband. Once the ghost, Stefan, comes in they engage in a self-pity off, the millionaire middle-aged white lady who has everyone taking care of her (while she does nothing but feel sorry for herself) vs. the spoiled princeling. The violin seems to be the trophy in this contest, bringing the winner fame and money.While each of them truly had some hardships in there lives, I didn't find either character to be sympathetic at all. Anne Rice writes well for the most part, and does create a good tone and atmosphere, but someone needed to reign her way in. At least in her vampire books, someone occasionally pulls Lestat out of his wallowing (poor sad immortal vampire), but in this book the main characters simply challenge each other to wallow harder.

Agreed, this feels like Anne Rice sat down to daydream and wrote it down. Her life and an imagined second husband and a ghost. But I adore daydreaming and I was so compelled by this her struggle, not a handsome gay blonde bombshell man, but her, plump,white and ordinary, like so many middle aged women, I was so compelled that I resented having to go into work. I wanted to struggle with Stefan . I did not know how their tussle through their merging ourgatories would resolve. Maybe leave off the happy ending but all in all this dense, claustrophobic struggle swept me along. Not Lestat, not the Mayfair Witches. Something sluggish, heavy , hardworking, deeply satisfying. But then, I like dark chocolate. I will re-read.

Rare version

It's Anne Rice. You know what you're getting. It's not Blood Canticle, but it's not exactly the Vampire Lestat either.

Excellent read Miff