Blackwood Farm

The Vampire Chronicles

By: Anne Rice

Narrated by: David Pittu

Length: 20 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's Summary

Welcome to Blackwood Farm: soaring white columns, spacious drawing rooms, sun-drenched gardens, and a dark strip of the dense Sugar Devil Swamp. This is the world of Quinn Blackwood, a brilliant young man haunted since birth by a mysterious doppelganger, a spirit known as Goblin, a spirit from a dream world that Quinn can't escape. When Quinn is made a vampire, his doppelganger becomes even more vampiric and terrifying than Quinn himself.

As the novel moves backward and forward in time, from Quinn's boyhood on Blackwood Farm to present-day New Orleans, from ancient Athens to 19th-century Naples, Quinn seeks out the legendary Vampire Lestat in the hope of freeing himself from the specter that draws him inexorably back to Sugar Devil Swamp and the explosive secrets it holds.

A story of youth and promise, of loss and the search for love, of secrets and destiny, Blackwood Farm is Anne Rice at her mesmerizing best.

©2002 Anne O'Brien Rice (P)2002 Random House Inc., Random House Audio, a Division of Random House Inc.

Critic Reviews

"A completely fresh story, a gripping gothic yarn that revives the series." (Booklist)
"Using lush, voluptuous prose, Rice tells a complex and mesmerizing story." (Library Journal)

Blackwood Farm: A Strange and Lovely World

If you're a fan of Anne Rice's usual antics, this novel will not disappoint. The story is quite interesting and unique, for all its ghosts and vampires and great families, a bit of a star crossed lovers tale with the flavor of New Orleans. If you haven't read Rice before, don't be scared off by the other reviews of reservations of sexual situations. The prose in this story is rich and descriptive and the characters complex and beautiful as Bellini angels. Her love of fine antiques and lush tropical flora particularly shine in this tale.Pittu's narration is also very entertaining and well done, quite a treat! His voice encompasses an impressive range of characters, from the french accent of the vampire Lestat to Quinn Blackwood's educated southern drawl. Blackwood Farm is an excellent creation by Rice.

VERY VERY GOOD

The book starts out a little slow, but once it gets going its hard to put down. It has lots of interesting characters to keep up with but none of them gets lost from the story. The book has lots of twists and turns to keep you on your toes, and no way you can figure out the ending. One of the best I've heard. Only one word of caution. The language is a little strong in parts, but does not take away from the story. GET THIS ONE!!!

Intriguing

I disagree with most of the other reviews. The fact that Lestat makes only a nominal appearance here is not important. If all Anne Rice ever did was to write stories about Lestat, I would be bored. However, Ms Rice has a wonderful ability to create characters and her portrayal of Quinn is no exception. Blackwood Farm not only allows the reader to explore a new life but brings together the 2 great stories that she is famous for, the Mayfair Witches and the Vampire Chronicles, with a touch of the eroticism of her less well known works. I was intrigued throughout and couldn't wait to get into my car for the next chapter as I made my daily commute.

Brilliant, enthralling and satisfying.

It has been years since I've enjoyed a story and it's telling so much. Although once an ardent fan, I parted ways with Ann Rice's work after Memnoch, the Devil. This book has brought me back into the fold. The story is brilliant, however the narration is what could not allow me to put it down. David Pittu is spellbinding, on par with the talent of Davina Porter. I cant wAit to begin Blood Canticle, the book that continues elements of this story.

Blackwood Farm

This is the first time I've heard David Pittu narrate, and I'm hugely impressed! I love listenening to his narration. Ann Rice is a genius - of course I love her writing, but I can't say enough about David's presentation of that writing. I will look for other books that he narrates.

She is back!

I am a Rice fan from her earliest works to the present and I disagree with many of the reviews above. I found this book to be most enjoyable and was entranced from the start. Rice is a master of prose, weaving a dark tale of adventurous, personal torment interspersed with hope, light and laughter. I believe this book to be among her best works and look forward to the next in the series with her two new characters, Quinn and Mona.

Fan of Anne Rice

What did you love best about Blackwood Farm?

I love the story line the brooding Vampire, also the period and location.

What other book might you compare Blackwood Farm to and why?

All of Anne Rice's books that I have read have links to each other , any of her books about witches and vampires will be equally as good.

Which character – as performed by David Pittu – was your favorite?

Tarquin

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, it will keep your interest.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed reading the book.

fantastic!

This is probably one of my very favorite books. I loved the story and all the characters in it. This book is definitely for the open minded who are not afraid of same sex love scenes (not graphic or vulgar) that are quite common in the vampire genre.

Ugh

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

a better story with multi-dimentional characters

What do you think your next listen will be?

I don't know yet, but it will not be by this author.

Would you be willing to try another one of David Pittu’s performances?

Yes. I LOVED his narration of The Goldfinch.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Blackwood Farm?

All of them.

Any additional comments?

I used to enjoy Anne Rice's novels very much. Have I been away too long? I kept wondering what the point of this story was. Everyone...EveryTHING was just "too". TOO beautiful, TOO wealthy, TOO kind, TOO perfect, TOO forgiving, TOO fashionable, TOO loving, TOO easy! TOO (who cares?), TOO PRECIOUS!!! I was LITERALLY rolling my eyes during the narration. I couldn't even finish the story. I was definitely more irritated than intrigued or entertained (is it obvious?), and I expected so much more.

excellent, excellent story

I love to listen to this book over and over. The story of a boy growing up on a remote farm in sultry Louisiana where ghosts are treated as family members, is extremely intriguing. The characters are so engaging and charismatic that you can't help but love them. The atmosphere is luxurius, deep and mysterious with interesting twists that only Anne Rice can make believable. The latter part of the book that discusses the vampires is expertly woven into this already rich story.

Anne Rice at her best

Anne Rice at her best it is as simple as that. The 1st of Annes books I have listened to from audible and I am so impressed that I am now going to dedicate my credits to her back catalogue.

Anne Rice et her best

I love Anne Rice but felt that some of her recent novels were getting "samey". This one and Blood Canticle revive the spitrit and includes Vampires, witches and Taltos. Highly recommended if you are an Anne Rice fan and haven't come across these yet. You'll love them!

Anne Rice

Absolutely fantastic!!!