the blog Something Positive reports that Anne Rice wasn’t too pleased by the reader reviews of BLOOD CANTICLE on Amazon… so she fired back with spirited defense of her own work. I had to check this out for myself. And it’s true… (I’m assuming, perhaps stupidly, that Amazon has confirmed its actually Rice)…
Here’s some of what she wrote…
Seldom do I really answer those who criticize my work. In fact, the entire development of my career has been fueled by my ability to ignore denigrating and trivializing criticism as I realize my dreams and my goals. However there is something compelling about Amazon’s willingness to publish just about anything, and the sheer outrageous stupidity of many things you’ve said here that actually touches my proletarian and Democratic soul. Also I use and enjoy Amazon and I do read the reviews of other people’s books in many fields. In sum, I believe in what happens here. And so, I speak.
She also is anything but modest when it comes to her own work…
Every word is in perfect place. The short chapter in which Lestat describes his love for Rowan Mayfair was for me a totally realized poem…
I leave it to readers to discover how this complex and intricate novel establishes itself within a unique, if not unrivalled series of books…
And she doesn’t take kindly to people who differ with her high regard for her own work.
Now, if it doesn’t appeal to you, fine. You don’t enjoy it? Read somebody else. But your stupid arrogant assumptions about me and what I am doing are slander. And you have used this site as if it were a public urinal to publish falsehood and lies. I’ll never challenge your democratic freedom to do so, and yes, I’m answering you, but for what it’s worth, be assured of the utter contempt I feel for you, especially those of you.
If you don’t think every word is in perfect place, or that her writing is great art, she’s willing to offer you a refund.
If any of you want to say anything about all this by all means Email me at Anneobrienrice@mac.com. And if you want your money back for the book, send it to 1239 First Street, New Orleans, La, 70130. I’m not a coward about my real name or where I live.
While I think it’s gutsy to offer a personal refund to any unsatisfied reader, I don’t think she did herself any favors by responding to her critics. If anything, she paints a rather unflattering picture of herself that’s more damaging than any negative review.
Why not save a step and just not buy the book in the first place? Then you don’t have to deal with Rice’s ego.
From what I know of her, this does sound like her. Either way, Amazon should delete it since they don’t allow author reviews of their own books. (Surprise, surprise.) And I think e-mail and addresses in the reviews is also illegal, but I don’t remember for sure.
You know, responding to bad reviews is really bad form. It’s sort of like throwing a temper tantrum in the middle of a busy supermarket. It’s embarassing and puts you on the same level as the people you…ah, what did she say again…oh, yes, “feel utter contempt for”.
Anna Rice is obviously a Satanist and a lesbian and a child-eating pedophilic rapist con artist neo-Nazi hate-mongering TERRORIST!
It’s all there on her website, in her bio.