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Average Customer Rating:

A Modern "Lolita" Tale

Customer Rating:

This is one of the lesser-lesser known works by the authoress Anne Rice, written under her least common pen name. On the surface, Belinda seems to resemble Nabakov's famous work Lolita, but the character dimension has Rice's typical sparkle, the intimate scenes are more vivid and realistic, and the more modern setting makes it more accessible for many. This book is a shade more controversial and patently sexual than most of the Vampire Chronicles, but less so than the Beauty Trilogy, so if you are coming from either series, don't expect the same style.

Really bad...	Customer Rating:
"Lolita a la lousy, December 30, 1999" by "A Customer" says it all. This was the most boring book I have ever read. The only reason I read the whole thing is because a friend insisted...but it took me EIGHT MONTHS to slog through.

Just couldn't get past the creepy factor

Customer Rating:

Now, I am no conservative reader... I love a little spice and action in my books and I was pretty opened minded when I received my copy of Belinda. However, after only a couple of chapters, I really started to hate the leading character. I found him creepy and very disturbing. His fascination with Belinda (a mere child of 16) really was unsettling. He found her the most erotic when she looked the most like a baby! The descriptions of these particular instances made my stomach turn! And he even admits to sleeping with other children on numerous other occassions - SICKENING!! I read a few of the other reviews and one reviewer in particular stated that "if you are a woman, you will probably like it". I have to adamantly object to that line of reasoning... I would suggest if you are a parent, you are probably going to detest this book. Rice does a brilliant job as always of describing the setting and thought process of this book. And yes, she does a wonderful job of provoking readers with a wide arrange of emotion regarding the characters in this book. (Which is why I gave her 2 stars - she's a great writer!) BUT, I just couldn't get past the creepy stuff! If you want to get into the mind of a pedophile or kiddie porn doesn't disturb you, then you would probably find this one an interesting read. As for myself, I plan to stick to Rice's Sleeping Beauty and vampire books.

44 year old with a 16 year old....hmmm	Customer Rating:
I use to be a huge fan of Rice's and enjoyed many of her books, but I actually threw this one away after I read it. The things she has the 44 year old man doing with a 16 year old is just gross. I do not see how this was a love story or romance, it was just nasty.

An erotic story about LOVE not just sex......

Customer Rating:

I first read this book maybe 8 or 9 years ago and it's become one of my favorites. I re-read it at least a couple times a month. (I am a hopeless romantic) Initially I picked up the book because of the same reason allot of other people did. A love story between a 44-year old and a 16-year old... I have to admit it grabbed my attention. Not only because it's a situation that is "different", but also because it is allot like me and my husband (we're 22 years apart and I met him when I was 17 and he was 39) Belinda is one of the most erotic books I've ever read without there being sex scenes every other paragraph. It's not really a story about sex as it is about love (Obsession??) I find it interesting how Jeremy's love (at least to me) borders on obsession and insanity, but is still true and in it's own way (to me) pure. An absolutely beautiful book.