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Liked It ““Merrick” is my first choice for the R.I.P. IV Challenge just because it’s been quite some time since I’ve read anything from my all-time favorite gothic author, Anne Rice. As a side story created from her famous vampire and Mayfair witch series, it merges Rice’s vampire world with those of...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It2 of 3 members found this review helpful “Unspeakable dreck.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“so far so good, I'll probably do a review on this when I get done. ”
Lisa U wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“7/10”
Darling-Diva wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Good, important to understanding the series.”
Imahappynanna wrote this review Sunday, October 11 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No““Merrick” is my first choice for the R.I.P. IV Challenge just because it’s been quite some time since I’ve read anything from my all-time favorite gothic author, Anne Rice. As a side story created from her famous vampire and Mayfair witch series, it merges Rice’s vampire world with those of her witches’.
Johanna wrote this review Thursday, September 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
What It’s All About :
Readers of Rice’s vampire series will be familiar with David Talbot, the secretive Talamasca society’s former Director-General turned bloodsucker by the indomitable Vampire Lestat. As a favor to his preternatural friend Louis, he approaches the love of his former life, Merrick, a powerful mortal descended from a long line of witches of the Mayfair clan. He asks her to call the spirit of a dead vampire child, Claudia, whom Louis had so loved and protected. From Louis’ desire to know about the witch who agreed to grant his utmost desire, the story of Merrick is told by David who recounts her life, from the little girl she was when she first came to the Talamasca’s attention to the beautiful, sensual, powerful witch she has become–dangerous enough even to a vampire.
It would be a Rice vampire fan’s interest to know that the famous Lestat makes a minor comeback here.
The tale revolves mostly on the new character, Merrick, although there are some jolting surprises by our beloved vampires toward the end.
My Review :
Anne Rice is in her usual passionately sublime style with “Merrick“. The feel is deliciously dark although there is always a lofty atmosphere, which is a classic Anne Rice stamp on her gothic novels. Her characters always seem to yearn toward something much more and if anything, her novels always have a sense of hope and salvation.
She imbues her unholy characters with strong human passions, and in these are her characters’ saving graces which grip the reader’s affinity and empathy. When Louis or David feel, they feel deep pathos, exultation at beauty, stunned awe, infinite hatred, and all-consuming love. There seems to be no in-between for Rice’s characters.
This is particularly true with her vampire personalities which thrive on beauty. She has been consistent of their traits from the first book in the vampire series, “Interview With A Vampire” ’til this book. To illustrate, David’s thoughts on looking at Louis:
“He looked rather splendid in his sorrow. Again he made me think of the paintings of Andrea del Sarto. There was something lush in his beauty, for all the sharp and clear well-drawn lines of his eyes and mouth.” — p. 81
Moreover, her characters are always strongly sensual and oftentimes have no sexual boundaries. This leaves the author a lot of leeway in exploring sexual issues. In this particular novel, age factors and homosexuality.
As in most of her other novels, expect some philosophical meanderings in this one. As Rice’s vampires are deep feelers and thinkers, she keeps a consistency in their traits all throughout her chronicles. This novel is no exception:
Louis : “You speak of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as magical, and I understand you, because if the Bread and Wine are transformed into the Holy Sacrifice of the Crucifixion, it is magical, but why does it involve blood?…
What I’m saying is, we might compare rituals the worlds over in all religions and all religions and all systems of magic, forever, but they always involve blood. Why? Of course I know human beings cannot live without blood; I know that ‘the blood is the life’, saith Dracula; I know that humankind speaks in cries and whispers of blood-drenched altars, of bloodshed and blood kin, and blood will have blood, and those of the finest blood. But why? What is the quintessential connection that binds all such wisdom or superstition? And above all, why does God want blood?”– p. 83
You never leave a book from her vampire series without some food for thought.
To Read Or Not To Read:
Although Anne Rice does go back to give a bit of background on her characters, it would be better for new readers to read the first two or three novels in her “Interview With the Vampire” series so that they would know the characters in context. Not having a background on the Mayfair witches is alright because Merrick is a new character; but the Louis, Lestat, Claudia, and David Talbot are vital characters upon whose histories the reader’s appreciation depends.
If you had read the first six novels in the Rice’s vampire collection, ”Merrick” is a must-read. It may not stand out as the others but in this, Louis goes through a major turning point which should not be missed.
In A Nutshell:
Those who have not read Anne Rice should know that she has written a wonderful series on vampire and another independent series on witches. Those worlds had not touched each other until this book; so that Rice’s fans of both series had been thrilled to know that the author breathed new life especially to her vampire chronicles by merging them in “Merrick“.
The resulting novel is quite good; however, it is not that close to Rice’s best ones. Nevertheless, it is a good addition to her vampire chronicles for her famous pair, Lestat and Louis, are back and are setting the stage for more adventures with a looming war with the Talamasca. And Rice is still in top form with her lush detailing and profound prose.
My Mark : Very Good”
“1st Anne Rice book I read. Want to read more.”
Girl J wrote this review Tuesday, September 1 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Loved, loved, loved it! Merrick is the ultimate eccentric witchy woman.”
Janine C wrote this review Sunday, August 30 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Not a very exciting ending. Left me a bi disappointed.”
jodie wrote this review Saturday, August 1 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“I couldn't put this one down. Perfect blend of magic and vampires. Beautifully written, epic story telling, and realistic characters. ”
Clint J wrote this review Monday, July 20 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This was okay.”
Anagarika wrote this review Sunday, June 14 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
