Product Description
Updated from its original version with an introduction by Ntozake Shange, Wild Women and Books is a celebration of perhaps the move revered and radical women writers of history. Beginning with the first recorded writer of either gender, Enheduanna of Sumeria, and ending with acclaimed authors of today, including Toni Morrison and J.K. Rowling, this is a must-read for those who must read.Brenda Knight brings more than one hundred female authors to life for today's readers. She makes their tumultuous and admirable paths to literary expression easily accessible in chapters such as Literary First Ladies; Ink in Their Veins; Banned, Blacklisted, and Arrested; and Women Whose Books Are Loved Too Much.

From religious transcribers and political dissidents to erotic playwrights and romantic poets, no subject or literary form is left untouched. In honor of those women whose pens persevered, and proved that the female voice is brilliant, we invite you to listen. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the first anthology to gather poetry, essays, drama, and fiction from the height of the lynching era (1889–1935). During this time, the torture and murder of a black person drew thousands of local onlookers and was replayed throughout the nation in lurid newspaper reports. The selections gathered here represent the courageous efforts of American writers to witness the trauma of lynching and to expose the truth about this uniquely American atrocity. Included are well-known authors and activists such as Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. Du Bois, Langston Hughes, Ida B. Wells, and Theodore Dreiser, as well as many others. These writers respond to lynching in many different ways, using literature to protest and educate, to create a space of mourning in which to commemorate and rehumanize the dead, and as a cathartic release for personal and collective trauma. Their words provide today’s reader with a chance to better understand the current state of race relations in America.

An introduction by Anne P. Rice offers a broad historical and thematic framework to ground the selections. ... Read more

Product Description
Anne Rice’s second book in her hugely ambitious and courageous life of Christ begins during his last winter before his baptism in the Jordan and concludes with the miracle at Cana.

It is a novel in which we see Jesus—he is called Yeshua bar Joseph—during a winter of no rain, endless dust, and talk of trouble in Judea.

Legends of a Virgin birth have long surrounded Yeshua, yet for decades he has lived as one among many who come to the synagogue on the Sabbath. All who know and love him find themselves waiting for some sign of the path he will eventually take.

And at last we see him emerge from his baptism to confront his destiny—and the Devil. We see what happens when he takes the water of six great limestone jars, transforms it into cool red wine, is recognized as the anointed one, and urged to call all Israel to take up arms against Rome and follow him as the prophets have foretold.

As with Out of Egypt, the opening novel, The Road to Cana is based on the Gospels and on the most respected New Testament scholarship. The book’s power derives from the profound feeling its author brings to the writing and the way in which she summons up the presence of Jesus.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Another masterpiece by Anne Rice!
This was a very enjoyable book.It puts a very interesting spin on the Lives of the Mayfair Witches which was begun in The Witching Hour and Lasher.This book goes more into detail about the race of people called the Taltos, which was touched upon in Lasher.Ashlar is a Taltos who has been alive for centuries.The story appeals not only to my romantic side, but also to my love of history.The idea of a race of non humans, who can pass as humans and have lived alongside of us is intrguing.These people represtent a type of Utopia to me.They were peaceful and loving.They loved music and dancing, and remembering the past.They knew nothing of war and violence until the humans came and hunted and destroyed them.It surely makes one give pause to legends, as Anne Rice has done using the Picts in this book.Anne Rice has an enchanting style of writing.Her characters are well written and very lovable.There are few writers who can write characters like Anne Ric! e. She pays well attention to detail without any overkill.Though at times there are mild discrepancies in the story, they are hardly worth worrying about, as I personally was taken away by the characters and the story.The pages flew by as I was swept away with these characters and what they went through. This is defiintly the best book in this series!A must read for anyone who has read the other two!Anne Rice has created yet another masterpiece.

thing is
I have never read this book, nor have any concept of what its suppost to be about. I can't tell you why I've bothered writing this summery about a book which I've never read, I'm just browsing along books by anne rice, which I'm in the middle of the vampire lastat, which is a must read, purely awwwsome.. I've also read Pandora, which was an adventure. So now its a must I've got to buy the whole vampire cronicles series that anne wrote !! and futer more I await the arival of her newest book, the vampire armond comming out in October, a must read.. by truely tradigy I'm shiping off to boot camp then on to ait in Oct, by the time it comes.. I go when I return 16weeks later I will probley buy the book, if I had'nt already before I ship and read it. all this meaning less writing goes toward nothing, I'm pretty board as you might can tell so Im thinking I might just now go and finish what I can of lastats greatest tale, how he became what he is, k then seeya in one way form or another ! chow ... Read more

Product Description
The Witching Hour Read by Lindsay Crouse
Lasher Read by Joe Morton
Taltos Read by Tim Curry
8 cassettes/ 10 hours

The Witching Hour
The first of the Mayfair Witch triology. This is the complex history of the mysterious Mayfair family through centuries of their tangled existence with a demonic spirit, a spirit that has brought them power and terrible tragedy. At the center of the novel is Rowan Mayfair, the heir to the Mayfair fortune, who must face her family's mysterious past and her own strange powers.

Lasher
The sequel to the Witching Hour. It's the story of Rowan Mayfair, the queen of the Mayfairs, who is held spellbound by the demon Lasher, the same demon who has lured the Mayfair women for centuries, and her escape from his demonic spell with their child. Through her escape and the cast of characters, demon and angel, mortal and immortal, the novel journeys across the globe and across the centuries.

Taltos
The last novel in the Mayfair Witch triology. This mesmerizing novel is a journey back through the centuries to a civilization half-human species living among humankind and whose sole survivor is seeking answers about his origin and his peoples' tangled history with the mysterious and powerful Mayfair family. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Not thrilled with abridgements
This collection is advertised as unabridged, and that is just false.I haven't been too happy with the abridgements, nor with the readers, especially the reader for Lasher.I remember loving these books when reading them, but the audio version is just so-so with the abridgements.If I were you, I would buy the books if it is at all possible.

Wonderful books, but lousy version
This abridged audio version is good in some select parts, but laughable in many places.The way they've cut things is just pathetic.Read the books or find an unabridged version, please!These tapes are good if you've read the books and just want to listen to something familiar on a long drive or something, but not if you want to understand the characters.The tapes skip most of the family's history and the beautiful historic descriptions of locations, especially the house (which is SO important), and also skips most of the sex scenes (which I actually didn't mind too much, but I thought it was hysterical).Please, please, please, PLEASE find a better version than these tapes.

Easily..
Easily these books are my favorite of Anne Rice. With the exception of a few others. The way they are written takes you where they are... its takes you inside their minds and you can understand exactly what they feel. The witching hour is the best i think because its more of the the history of the witches.. the rest are more about the taltos.. but they are still excellent. I've grown to love the characters and I want to read more. lol. cant wait for more witch books. :)

Mayfair Witches
I have truely enjoyed the witch series, and do look forward to the next book to come out in this series. Both the witch series, and the vampire series are so spell binding that you feel like you are actually there, and living life or unlife with them. You are caught up in the spells, romance, and love of they're lives as they are. I want to thank Anne Rice for each of these series, they are as masterly written from the first word, as they are to the last one, and from book to book. Again I Thank you, and do look forward to the next books to come out in either of your series.Respectfully A Devoted FanMarianne Alderson ... Read more

Product Description
In this sequel to Film, Horror, and the Body Fantastic, Badley examines horror fiction as a fantastic genre in which images of the body and the self are articulated and modified. Badley places horror fiction in its cultural context, drawing important connections to theories of gender and sexuality. As our culture places increasing importance on body image, horror fiction has provided a language for imagining the self in new ways--often as ungendered, transformed, or re-generated. Focusing on the works of Stephen King, Clive Barker, and Anne Rice, Badley approaches horror as a discourse that articulates the anxieties of our culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not for the casual fan
While Badley raises a few interesting points, she takes the literature far too seriously and will lose many readers because of her writing style, which is too heavy with academia.She also seems to have a feminist axe to grind, as she spends a great deal of space writing about feminist elements in the authors' work.

I would recommend looking for this at the library if you feel you must read it.There's not enough here to merit the cover price. ... Read more

Product Description
Three books in the Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by Anne Rice. ... Read more

Product Description
Set in New Orleans before the American Civil War, this is the story of the "Free People of Color", descended from slaves, and their French and Spanish owners. Among their number is Marcel, an artist in the making, also his gentle sister Marie and Anna Bella, a beautiful young courtesan. ... Read more

Product Description
A novel which explores the forbidden ... Read more

Customer Reviews (85)

Still a good read...
I bought a copy of this book about 15 years ago and read it many times. Unfortunately, I loaned it to a friend and never got it back, but also never forgot it.

A few weeks ago, I was on a message board and this book was mentioned. I decided I had to read it again.

It was a treat to read again after all these years. Ms. Rice does a brilliant job of relating Lisa and Elliott's feelings to the reader. My heart was breaking for Lisa as she came to terms with her feelings and realized all the problems they would bring about. Elliott is so charming, sexy, and intelligent that you can't help but fall for him!And New Orleans is described in such detail that I felt like I was there.

This book is the perfect mix of eroticism and romance. I'm sorry that Ms. Rice didn't write more in this genre.

An S&M romance? Not so much...
This book was marketed as an S&M romance... but instead it is the fear and process of returning to normalcy. Romantic-- yes, erotic-- no. I was very disappointed!

Interesting Book
I had never read any romance or erotica books before this one, so it was shocking and intriguing.I have read it again through the years, and I find, for myself anyways, that this is a 1-time read only, but that's ok.It was fantastic the first time I read it.It has very interesting characters. Forbidden love, erotica and bondage, a fantastic plot, and strong characters.

Exit to pleasure.
I guess you know by now that Anne Rice doesn't just write vampire stories. Well, Exit to Eden is anything but that and it is a delight to read. I liked the characters and it just flowed well for me. The bdsm wasn't too overdone and the sex was red hot. I am a fan of the authors and have been for some time, though I've mostly read her paranormal stuff. So glad I took the chance. I am looking forward to reading more of her erotic work, among them Beauty's Release: The Conclusion of the Classic Erotic Trilogy of Sleeping Beauty.

Only if you liked the Movie
If you have watch the film based on this novel more then once, then you'll find this book an interesting read. As usual film is very different from the novel, but this only makes it a good read if you are into S & M.

Spoiler warning.




Many of you probably want to read the chapter when Lisa was having sex Elliot. This is very different from the movie. In the novel Lisa is "doing him". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

My new Favorite Book!
I love this book!I love to think of Jesus as a little boy and what He must have been like.The telling of this tale through the eyes of Jesus at seven years old is so wonderful!The culture, the country, the lives of those in that time were brought to life in a fascinating blend of fiction and history.It's my new favorite book! ... Read more

Product Description
A collection of the most fascinating essays, articles, and interpretations of bestselling author Anne Rice's complete works, by a variety of journalists and scholars. It includes a history of vampire literature, a professional dominatrix's examination of Rice's erotica, and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film version of Interview with the Vampire. From the adventures of the Vampire Lestat to those of the Mayfair Witches, from the evocative historical epic Cry to Heaven to the uninhibited erotica of Exit to Eden and the Sleeping Beauty trilogy, The Anne Rice Reader presents a captivating range of perspectives on the imagination of a writer who has enthralled her generation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An Anne Rice fan must read book
I think that this is an excellent book - I enjoyed it tremendously.Anemployee at the Garden District Book Shop in New Orleans recommendedreading this book before I read Violin, and she was correct - I understoodViolin much better. I think that this is a must read for any and all AnneRice fans.And if you are not a fan, there is a good chance you will beafter you have read this book.Wonderful!

Read a little until you want to buy it
This book is good and bad. The reason is these writers write an essay based on Anne's books. It might be interesting to the reader or not. But the main problem is that in some essays, the essays is not really talking about the books but a particular subject. If you are want to read a book that has an in-depth look at the books, this book is not it. I did buy it for the history of Making of Interview with the Vampire. And two short stories Anne wrote. So try it out a little. Read a little and if it sparks your interest then buy it otherwise wait for it to come to the library ... Read more

Product Description
"The meaning of The Vampire Chronicles is still unfolding for me, and is as much connected to God as to the Devil, as much connected to pleasure as to pain. That the books are entertainment seems a given, and for that I'm grateful. That they can be seen as a religious journey is also clear. I am immersed in the questions, and praying for the answers. Lestat, c'est moi. I want you to love all of my characters. I am, in the writing of these and other novels, as ambitious as Dickens. I want everybody to cry when Claudia dies, just like they did for Little Nell."

-- Anne Rice

February 8, 1995

Interview with the Vampire. The Vampire Lestat. The Queen of the Damned. The Talc of the Body Thief Memnoch the Devil. With her bestselling, epic saga, Anne Rice has reinvented the legend and literature of one of fiction's most popular and captivating archetypes. Now, Katherine Ramsland, Anne Rice's biographer, has completely revised and updated the ultimate reference guide to the world, history, and adventures of these haunting characters, from the unforgettable Lestat to Rice's newest chilling creation, Memnoch the Devil.

Written with the full cooperation of Anne Rice -- and now with more than 1,200 entries -- The Vampire Companion offers an insightful exploration, appreciation, and interpretation of all the characters and events, names and places, symbols and themes in the five volumes of The Vampire Chronicles, including more than one hundred pages of new entries on Rice's latest vampire novel, Memnoch the Devil. Everything that readers might want to explore further is annotated and analyzed in this entertaining and enlightening work: the unforgettable characters of Louis, Lestat, Claudia, Akasha, Armand, and Memnoch; the important points of interest on Lestat's fascinating tour through Heaven and Hell; ancient lore; Rice's unique contributions to the mythos of vampires; the literary inspirations that echo through the novels; Rice's own reflections and revelations about her work and about the movie Interview with the Vampire; and much more.

Richly illustrated with new photos, drawings, maps, and a complete time line of events in The Chronicles, The Vampire Companion is as captivating as the phenomenal saga it explores. It is a guidebook that no visitor to the world of Anne Rice should be without.Amazon.com Review
This is the completely revised and updated, ultimate referenceguide to the world, history and adventures of the characters fromRice's VampireChronicles.Everything the reader might want to explore further is annotated and analyzed in this entertaining work:theunforgettable characters of Louis, Lestat, Claudia, Akasha, Armand,and Memnoch; the important points of interest on Lestat's fascinatingtour through Heaven and Hell; ancient lore; Rice's uniquecontributions to the mythos of vampires; the literary inspirationsthat echo through the novels; Rice's own reflections and revelationsabout her work and the movie Interview with a Vampire; andmore. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Vampires
This book is filled information on the historical background for the Vampire Chronicles. It's an absolute "must read"! It also contains the original short story by Anne Rice of Interview With The Vampire.

Useful to a point
The Vampire Chronicles is a large enough series that keeping things straight is near impossible.I would recommend this for roleplayers, and for fans who enjoy discussion of the series.

While the Companion is large and full of detail, there are points where I wish that it had more; in addition, it is only updated for Memnoch the Devil, and I would have preferred something which included all of the series.

Great tool for Anne Rice's books
If you are an avid reader of Anne Rice this is a a must have. It is a book about the locations, people that are in her books, and the odd facts about the vampire novels. I feel that it is intresting, it answers questions I had about several of the locations in books. Also, it gives a great amount of detail, so if you wish to plan a trip to any of the locations you. A great research tool.

Great Research and Travel Guide
This is a must have if you are an avid Rice fan, like myself.It has everything from the Vampire series, people, places, events, whatever.Plus, it is actually entertaining to read! Also if you will be going to New Orleans, it is an excellent travel guide to find actual locations from the series.Highly recommended!

the guide to darkness
i am very pleased with this tome. at first, i bought it with the intent of looking up a few words and thinking i was going to return it in a week. after all, why the hell do i need a freaking 'dictionary' after all? but then i realized what a gem and jewel i have in my hands. this is the perfect tome for the Vampire Chronicles world. the only downside of it is that it's up to 'Memnoch the Devil' but then again, what am i expecting? for Ramsland to re-release a new edition everytime Anne Rice adds a new testament to her collection? aside from that, this is a very fulfilling book. it doesn't stray into pop-culture vampirism too much, there is the occasional mention of films for influence and inspiration purposes, but it doesn't try to list every single film for no significant reason respectively to the Chronicles world. this book is simply that, it's for those who live in The Vampire Chronicles to have something to call a 'god-book', to know everything and nothing of the world Anne Rice creates. it's the A-Z of Armand to Lestat to Marius to Mael. a beautiful reference to the world we thrive in. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent Book
Being an avid Anne Rice fan I delved into this collection with both feet in. Truth-be-told....I enjoyed this more than the Vampire Chronicles (which I adore & treasure).Anne Rice hits home for me in this collection. It's seductive, haunting, it's a collection that stays with you. Michael has quickly become one of my favorite characters, as is Aaron Lightner. A must read. Not for the faint of heart.Definitely not for adolescents!! ... Read more

Product Description
This inside look at the bizarre social phenomenon surrounding Anne Rice novels is as fascinating as her breathtaking stories. Includes photographs and interviews from the 1995 and 1996 "Gatherings, " hosted by Anne Rice each Halloween. 100+ photos, 16 in color.Amazon.com Review
This is an intriguing concept for a book of photointerviews. But then, award-winning documentary photographer JanaMarcus has always been drawn to the fringe; And one of her earliercollections was entitled Midnight in Manhattan: A Decade ofSubcultures and the Alternative Scene. In the Shadow of theVampire, her first book, assembles portraits of and interviewswith the devotees and disciples of the Queen of Vampirism herself,Anne Rice. And who are these people? Office administrators,translators, shop owners, students, and the more flamboyant (blooddrinkers, S&M'ers, role-playing gamers).

"Her books allowpeople to think about their place in society and identify theirfeelings through her characters' exploration of unconventionallifestyles," she opines. "It is extraordinary how manypeople I've spoken to who had never read a book before they read anAnne Rice novel." Ever think of Anne Rice as an inadvertentchampion of literacy?As may be expected, the reflections are amixture of the banal and the more thought-provoking. The phenomenon ofAnne Rice's celebrity is after all--well, phenomenal. The enormity ofher appeal has given birth to the annual Gathering of The Coven Ballin New Orleans, movies, an Anne Rice tour company, a perfume line, aLestat wine, and T-shirts emblazoned with an MRI of Rice's brain. Andif all that leaves you colder than sleeping alone in a casket, thenyou might want to pick up a copy for great tips on wardrobe andmake-up. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

first hand
i am in this book as well and would like to say that the demographic that it covers is indeed accurate and diverse. i attended anne's booksigning for "violin" just minutes after i attended my own at britton trice's store. anne herself asked if our intentions were pure by participating in this conglomeration, and i assured her that we were sincere indeed. she read and embraced the book, and that's all the proof i need. it was a pleasure being involved with jana and the others back in '96 and '97; truly an experience that i will forever cherish.

I was there.
This book features stories and photography of people and events around the 1995 Memnoch Ball that Anne hosted at a home she used to own called St. Elizabeth's, a former orphange and one of the settings of Memnoch the Devil. I was an ARVLFC fan club member and volunteer worker at that party and I must say that this book is a good representation of the people you would have run across there but more importantly it is a window to a place in time that burned brightly and served its purpose in creating good memories. This book and its photographs take me back to those magical moments like any good photo album should. Perhaps you just had to be there to appreciate all the stories this book has to offer but it is definitely worth the read. The fan club and the big parties officially ended in 2000 but we have been having a more intimate Ball in New Orleans every Halloween weekend since 2002 known as Les Temps des Vampires and the Vampire Lestat Ball. Through this event we keep a little of the spirit seen in this wonderful book alive.

A fascinating read!
This book gives an interesting glance into the world of Anne Rice fans; however, it may either affirm or disprove the notion that her fans are "weirdos." The book features college students, accountants, writers, exotic dancers, make-up artists, etc. While it features intriguing people from all walks of life, I don't believe it's an entirely accurate view of her fans, and I feel that the book still tries to perpetuate a certain fan stereotype, as though reading Anne Rice makes you estranged from the rest of society.

As a previous reviewer noted, Anne Rice is mainstream. Admitting you are a fan is not a taboo like declaring you are a dominatrix. There are fans who never made it to the ARVLFC balls when they were still going on; there are fans who have no interest in exploring New Orleans outside of the books; and there are fans who detest "Goth" culture but still devour every single book Rice releases. It would have been a far more representative book had it featured a larger diversity of fans. I have met prudes who are uneasy watching kissing scenes on television, yet they read the books over and over again without flinching. Now, if that isn't a testament of Rice's enormous talent and gift, I don't know what is.

However, the book is still wonderfully constructed. The photographs are nothing short of superb, the fan accounts a delight to read, and one really does walk away feeling that maybe those stereotypes are wrong.

Excellent portrayal of a cross section of Anne Rice Fans
Jana Marcus did Anne Rice fans a favor by putting this book together.She showed us that we are "normal" (even if the rest of society/literary world doesn't appreciate Anne Rice and her writings.)When the average reader thinks of Anne Rice fans, s/he has the image that the fans pagans, eccentrics and just plain weird.(Usually these are folks that only know the author by her reputation only.)In the Shadow of the Vampire dispells this myth is dispelled.In one book, Jana Marcus has been able to show there is a large cross section of society that calls itself "Anne Rice fans."These fans DO NOT fit neatly into a mold as others would prefer, rather they make their OWN mold.I know, I'm in the book.

Only the Wierdos...
I am a die hard Anne Rice fan, and an insurance executive.To pick up a book that purports to be written about her fans, and see only the bloodsuckers, goths and sub/doms was not a real picture of who her fans are.

Anne Rice's fans are moms and dads, teenagers, and goths. Her fans probably represent every single type of person in the world. She receives fan mail from Catholic priests, as well as those who want to become immortal. Doctors, lawyers and waitresses read Sleeping Beauty. Anne Rice has become mainstream - her work is not on the fringe of anything and neither are most of her fans.

So, my opinion was that the fans that were interviewed and published in the book attempted to put limits on a woman's work whose appeal is absolutely limitless. ... Read more