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burialshroud's review against another edition
5.0
Can't believe I haven't added this before! It's one of my childhood favourites (weirdly enough) and I absolutely loved it. I loved all the insane characters and globe-trotting and rich famousness. I was dying to read Crimson Mardi Gras (the book Jeremy ghost-writes for his mother) and watch Belinda's mother's night time soap and the inscrutable foreign film Belinda makes with the cowboy-hat lesbian.
If you're thinking of reading it and expecting a 1980's Lolita, stop. This is pure soapy trash. When I first read it I was about 13 and didn't really think anything was up with a sophisticated 16-year-old like from Sweet Valley High getting it together with a much older man. Now I'm almost 30 and 16-year-olds look about 10 so that ramps up the ick-factor and I'm almost afraid to re-read it in case my memories of it are ruined, so I'm just going to remember it through the haze of ages.
If you're thinking of reading it and expecting a 1980's Lolita, stop. This is pure soapy trash. When I first read it I was about 13 and didn't really think anything was up with a sophisticated 16-year-old like from Sweet Valley High getting it together with a much older man. Now I'm almost 30 and 16-year-olds look about 10 so that ramps up the ick-factor and I'm almost afraid to re-read it in case my memories of it are ruined, so I'm just going to remember it through the haze of ages.
slackermodenation's review against another edition
4.0
While I enjoyed the book overall, I had to give it one less star based on pacing. The book sort of lagged in the middle and I almost put it away to take a crack at it another day. However I don't like to not finish a book so I read on and i'm glad I did it. This book tackles a relationship between a 44 year old children's book writer/artist and a 16 year old girl who is the daughter of a movie star. At first I didn't know how to feel about it but then as I read it appeared that out of everyone Jeremy was the only person willing to do what was right for Belinda. It's a strange relationship between a man trying to figure out what he really wants to do with his life and a girl who has dark secrets and is wise beyond her years. If you are an Anne Rice fan I fully recommend this book. However if the age difference between the two main characters is too much for you to accept than I don't recommend you reading this. It's one of those books that you have to go into with an open mind.
joannacorvus's review against another edition
4.0
Upon finishing this book, I was left with a feeling of bewilderment. I dare say that like which Dorothy experienced after the tornado and finding herself in a strange world she had never even dared to dream of before.
While I am no prude, I admit that I found it strange to be reading Belinda, to be reading a story of a middle aged man that falls in love with a sophisticated, mature, and beguiling 16 year old. And to be clear, she falls in love with him as well. While most people claim that age is just a number, when a person under the age of 18 is involved it suddenly becomes taboo, even a perversion. Which is strange when one considers that many of the parents of children in the 50s were often young women of 13-17 when they got married to men of 21 and older. That it became taboo in a single generation is mind boggling. And though I myself believe that most 16 year old kids are not mature enough to step into a stable and healthy marriage, upon reading Belinda I find that I can believe her quite capable.
Here is Anne Rice writing in her majestic way that draws you in and allows to to really “feel” the areas she has her characters in. From the moody and dark brilliance of New Orleans, to the foggy and open and clean San Francisco, to the smog filled lush beauty of Tinseltown, you really can imagine yourself there. Warmed by the sun, hair blowing in the breeze, listening to the wind tossing the trees in the storm outside, every nuance is covered and transmitted in words to form a clear image in your head that transports you right into it.
Add to this that she gives each character such unique poise. Every person is separate, each their own way of talking and body language. You’re never questioning who she’s talking about because each character is painted vividly in your imagination. You fall in love with the loyal gentleman actor Alex, with G.G.’s boyish charm and quick wits and his innocence, Blaire’s flamboyant and loud exuberance, and Susan’s easy southern charm and ready smile. Even the smallest characters pull at your mind like each has their own story to tell if you’d just come on in for a cup of tea.
All in all, a boundary pushing book. While not my favorite of Anne Rice’s work, and a bit hard to really get into for the first half (simply because I was weighing morality of a 45 year old and a 16 year old and wasn’t identifying with them at first, but that did come later), it’s well worth pushing through to the whirlwind ending if you're able to come to terms with the age gap.
While I am no prude, I admit that I found it strange to be reading Belinda, to be reading a story of a middle aged man that falls in love with a sophisticated, mature, and beguiling 16 year old. And to be clear, she falls in love with him as well. While most people claim that age is just a number, when a person under the age of 18 is involved it suddenly becomes taboo, even a perversion. Which is strange when one considers that many of the parents of children in the 50s were often young women of 13-17 when they got married to men of 21 and older. That it became taboo in a single generation is mind boggling. And though I myself believe that most 16 year old kids are not mature enough to step into a stable and healthy marriage, upon reading Belinda I find that I can believe her quite capable.
Here is Anne Rice writing in her majestic way that draws you in and allows to to really “feel” the areas she has her characters in. From the moody and dark brilliance of New Orleans, to the foggy and open and clean San Francisco, to the smog filled lush beauty of Tinseltown, you really can imagine yourself there. Warmed by the sun, hair blowing in the breeze, listening to the wind tossing the trees in the storm outside, every nuance is covered and transmitted in words to form a clear image in your head that transports you right into it.
Add to this that she gives each character such unique poise. Every person is separate, each their own way of talking and body language. You’re never questioning who she’s talking about because each character is painted vividly in your imagination. You fall in love with the loyal gentleman actor Alex, with G.G.’s boyish charm and quick wits and his innocence, Blaire’s flamboyant and loud exuberance, and Susan’s easy southern charm and ready smile. Even the smallest characters pull at your mind like each has their own story to tell if you’d just come on in for a cup of tea.
All in all, a boundary pushing book. While not my favorite of Anne Rice’s work, and a bit hard to really get into for the first half (simply because I was weighing morality of a 45 year old and a 16 year old and wasn’t identifying with them at first, but that did come later), it’s well worth pushing through to the whirlwind ending if you're able to come to terms with the age gap.
thewvayle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
windupsouvenir's review against another edition
Just when I thought the writing couldn't get any more mind-numbing with Jeremy forever mentioning that Belinda has "baby lips", plus the weird dress-buying obsession, I came across this passage:
“What?” She missed the point. “How do I look?” She was brushing her hair in front of the hall mirror.
“Rapeable.”
"Thanks."
Did not finish. Would not recommend.
“What?” She missed the point. “How do I look?” She was brushing her hair in front of the hall mirror.
“Rapeable.”
"Thanks."
Did not finish. Would not recommend.
biblichor23's review against another edition
4.0
I read all the criticism of this book, and I have to say that I personally enjoyed it a great deal. However, I have a problem with it being marketed as erotic fiction, because it certainly was not that. But as a book, I liked it a lot, once I got past the creepiness of the main character. He was a little creepy but also, ultimately, very likeable.
whimsicalmeerkat's review against another edition
2.0
Lacks the characterization that I enjoyed in the Vampire books and the eroticism of the Beauty ones. It's also very clearly her trying to push a certain world view, which was a bit annoying.