Belinda
Published: October 1986
Author: Anne Rice – (As) Anne Rampling
Genres: Adult, Erotic, Fiction, Literary, Literature
Check the summary of this book here:
Belinda Summary
The Review:
Anne Rice's Belinda is above four hundred fifty pages long and wonderfully written, as anybody familiar with Anne Rice/Rampling would expect. While some of her work is gloomy or even gory, Belinda was devoid of such elements. The sexiness that appeared was tastefully done and in line with the story's concept. This novel was told in four sections, three of which were longer and the fourth was shorter. The tale was not overly wordy, even if the prose was flowing. Only used to enrich the tale, descriptions were kept to a minimum. I found Belinda to be a short and engaging book that I loved.
The subject was a little startling. So, I put off reading this book because I was uncertain, but I'm sad I waited so long to read such an excellent book!
The plot revolves around a 44-year-old artist and his obsession with a sixteen-year-old girl. Belinda is unlike anybody else he's ever met. She seduces him quickly, and all he wants to do now is be with her and paint.
There is so much more to this book, and while I would like to go through the full plot, I believe it is preferable for the reader to discover things for themselves.
To be honest, this is a fantastic story to read; there are so many twists and turns that the reader will not see coming!
Anne Rice is a genius, and I would not have read this book if it hadn't been written by her. BUT! It's a fantastic book, and I'm pleased I read it.
It was quite difficult for me to put it down. I had to know how it was going to finish! If you've read the Sleeping Beauty series, you'll notice that this isn't as sexually explicit.
This novel appeared to transport me to another universe, where the characters were so well-developed that I felt I was right there with them.
Do not read this book if you are closed-minded. As stated in the synopsis, Belinda is 16 years old and Jeremy Walker is 44 years old. Obviously, if you do not approve of such a relationship, you will not appreciate this novel.
I was so engrossed in this narrative that I'm on the lookout for another one like it. But the difficulty is that not everyone writes like Anne Rice, and I'm not interested in reading about these topics from anybody else.
It was simple to read, held my interest throughout, and included no strange writing styles that took my focus away from the tale. Actually, that says a lot. Even some of my favorite authors struggle with this on occasion. Despite the fact that some of the characters were pure evil, there was enough intrigue in the story to keep me reading.
I definitely suggest "Belinda" to everyone, especially Anne Rice lovers. This book is important to read because it predates "The Witching Hour" and clearly foreshadows Michael Curry's love of old houses and nostalgia in the character of Jeremy Walker, who also lives blocks away from Michael in the Castro, and Mona Mayfair's fierce childhood independence and precociousness in Belinda.
This and other topics beautifully connect these two pieces. This story provides a wealth of information on Anne Rice's development as a character writer/creator. It is evident that without Belinda's fleshing out, there would be fewer Mayfair Witches. I was ecstatic to read and notice these links.
This work also appealed to me because of its fascinating insights into and depictions of San Francisco and New Orleans.
It's also good to see an author who has captured the mentality of an adolescent in a realistic way. Many people overlook the fact that this age group feels and acts like adults in many ways.
And they frequently find themselves in the position of having to be the adult to others who are enslaved by addiction and denial, and they are sometimes chastised and ridiculed for doing so. Here are many revealing truths. The subject is treated with great respect. The topic matter is also rather adventurous.
I didn't find this novel to be too sexy, but it did deal with our culture's social mores and taboos, as well as the guilt and consequences of breaching them. All of these individuals were familiar to me from my own life, and this tale transported me back to my adolescence.
If I were pompous enough to claim that I had read Lolita, which I have not, I would declare that Belinda was a modern-day Lolita (I only had to push myself to see Lolita because I was informed it was a horror film, and I made it almost to the finish before realizing it was a ruse perpetrated by one of my cousins who wanted to watch the movie.)
However, after reading this, I wish I had so that I could make a more informed comparison. What I can say is that Anne Rice begins by describing a 44-year-old man's relationship with a 16-year-old girl from the man's point of view in such a way that it almost gives you the creeps, making you feel guilty and dirty just by reading about it, and then as she fleshes out the characters, particularly Belinda herself, you end up rooting for these two to work it out and be together forever.
That's quite an accomplishment. And, based on what I've read about Lolita, this has a much happier ending. Fans of Anne Rice's Rampling may find this a little dull, but fans of Anne Rice's Rice will recognize the style and appreciate the text's increased sensuality and creativity. Anne Rice fans, like me, will be enthralled by whatever moniker she chooses.
Final Thoughts:
This book, like many of Anne Rice's, was never going to be read by me due to the erotica genre, but I chose to read all of her works, and that is why I read this genre, which I am pleased I did.
My mind was stretched and extended, and I gained a lot of new information that will benefit me in the future, and I began to perceive things with even more open-mindedness than I had previously imagined.
I am really pleased and proud of having read all of Anne Rice's books and being a member of the elite club of people who can claim to have done so.
Anne Rice has been a favorite of mine since I first read the Interview with the Vampire. And I adore her work in general, but Belinda has to be my favorite of hers, second only to Exit to Eden. (I'm not talking about vampire series here; I'm talking about the greatest of this genre.)
It's a fantastic book that had me engrossed from beginning to end. It also raises some important considerations about consent that I don't believe many people are prepared to face. I really like it and will absolutely suggest it, especially because of how nicely it covers the concerns of age, consent, and legality.
Finally, I am a huge fan of Hollywood tales. This is a great story with a lot of intrigue and insight into human nature. It's a must-read for both newcomers and long-time admirers of Anne Rice. It's a symbiotic relationship of difficulties and insights into human wants and needs. It truly gets into our most taboo dreams and wants.
Synopsis:
“Belinda is the ultimate fantasy. A golden-haired object of desire, fresh and uninhibited. But to Jeremy Walker, a handsome and famous 44-year-old illustrator of children's books, Belinda is a forbidden passion. She's sweet 16, and the most seductive woman he's ever known. Bewitching, beguiling....”
Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:
Anne Rice, Beauty Trilogy, Felt Like Vampire Books, Jeremy And Belinda, Jeremy Walker, Love Story, New Orleans, San Francisco, Sixteen Year, Sleeping Beauty, Subject Matter, Vampire Chronicles, Year Old
Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 50/100 Yes.
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Interview with the Vampire (1994) (R)
Queen of the Damned (2002) (R)
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