This book is excellent. It isn't overly-analytical as is Rice's Vampire Chronicles. It delves into the human psyche, and how we weak humans deal with forbidden love. The book isn't too steamy, which I liked, and it combines some mystery as well. For example, 'Where did Belinda Come from?," "Is that her real name?," "What's her connection to all those film magazines?"

However, the problem I had with this book was that, at times, I found the plot a little slow. There is some unnecessary jibberish in a fight over film and scandals between Jeremy Walker, and his once gay lover, the 62-year old, Alex.

But the plot is involving enough to where one doesn't fall into boredom too quickly. It's another great work by a great author of supernatural thriller and contemporary erotic and historic fiction.

I have to admit it, I am a teenage boy, and started reading this book because of what I thought it would be about, an older man and a young girl being intimate. Well on one hand it was, but much more than that it was a love story, pure and simple. One thing I really didn't expect to happen, was that by the end of the book I really cared about these people. I even found myself on the verge of tears when I got near the end. I had read many of Anne Rice's other books, mainly the Vampire Chronicles, so I knew how she could make me feel about her characters, but making me feel that way in an erotic novel? Well she suprised me again.
This book, along with Memnoch the Devil, one of Rice's Vampire books, are easily some of the best books I have ever read. Don't be fooled by what you think this book is about, it is truly just a fantastic work of art.

I don't know if people just live to be negative and read books just to bash them (*coughszellycoughs*) but really i enjoyed this book. i always read the review of the customers before i go out and buy a book, and so i came across zelly's eventful bashing of the book and decided against it. the book was given to me as a given because i love anne rice, and so i gathered my courage and read the book.

boy was i suprised. i was skeptical about it, i at first thought it was disgusting, a 44 year old and a 16 year old?? but really i got caught up in the hype right away. of course it's unbelievable! it's fiction! it's meant to take you away into a different world where things happen that can't happen in the real world. think of it as fantasy if you want to. i was totally lost in the book. i felt like i was part of it. i for one did not read it for the sex, in fact sex wasn't even part of it. i roll my eyes at the thought, really. i think anne did a good job of story telling it, and for a few moments i actually thought jeremy and belinda were actually in love love love. but then i realized it was just abook. i forget at times that their age gap is so big, i don't even think of it until they mention it in the book. and the remark zelly made about how it mentions everyone is beautiful every other line, well really it's how anne rice writes! i guess it's because i'm an artist and writer myself, but some people just see the human form and think it's beautiful. one can see beauty almost anymore. i can look at an old woman and her wrinkles and wisdom and say that's beautiful. a woman is beautiful, so is a man, it's all on how you see it. and if this were to be made into a movie, perhaps the characters wouldn't be all god glorifying beautiful but some would see it so. i thought the book was beautifully written, the plot was engrossing, and it actually gave closure. it was long and perfect for a lazy day's reading, not like those cheap novels you buy at the super market under 300 pages long. it was one of anne rice's better books, i believe. so take my advice, if a review does not at least say one good thing about the book don't believe it. chances are it's just one of those critic wanna bes who want to say only negative things about everything. make your own opinion after you read it, and if you don't wanna slap down the money go to a library!