Product Description

"Who was she?" That was the first thought that came into my mind when I saw her in the bookstore.

Who was she really?

She's Belinda. She's sixteen years old. She's the object of one man's ultimate fantasy. And she's one of the most "uniquely sensual and provocative" heroines to emerge from the "fearless" imagination of New York Times bestselling author Anne Rice.

"Call her the It Girl of contemporary fiction. Whatever the venue, she's never too squeamish to reach out and touch it."-Rolling Stone

"Her voluptuous prose draws readers into an erotic landscape where the sensual delights are dark-edged...and utterly compelling."-Village Voice"A wry and richly textured diary of 'forbidden love.' A compelling blend of mystery and romance."-Kirkus Reviews

"Easily one of the most natural storytellers on the modern scene... Belinda is certainly her most controversial to date."-San Francisco Chronicle

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #252730 in Books
• Published on: 2001-04-01
• Released on: 2000-12-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 464 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780425176658
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Amazon.com Review
An erotic and controversial tale of seduction and obsession from the best-selling author of Exit to Eden. 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, both beguiling and bewitching.

From Publishers Weekly
Under the pseudonym of Rampling, Anne Rice (The Vampire Lestat wrote the erotic confection Exit to Eden ; this novel, too, has a highly sensual aura. Jeremy Walker, a middle-aged children's book author renowned for his beautiful, old-fashioned illustrations, is captivated by a 16-year-old woman-child who tells him nothing of her past when she moves into his San Francisco home. Obsessed by Belinda's smoky sexuality, the paintings in which he celebrates her beauty are an erotic and sometimes violent extension of Jeremy's books. When the artist discovers that his mysterious lover is the missing daughter of a famed film star, a scandalous story of anger and betrayal uncoils, and Belinda abruptly disappears. To bring her back, Jeremy makes his portraits public, unleashing a media circus and police investigation that conspire to separate them forever. The concluding chapters are badly marred by a heavy dose of saccharine, but its rivetingly seductive, gothic overtones lend a fine, eerie flavor to scenes stretching from brash Hollywood deals to the darkness of an enshrined house in New Orleans. Major ad/promo.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
When 44-year-old Jeremy Walker beds luscious 16-year-old runaway Belinda, he risks more than legal charges. For Walker is a children's author of such repute that his booksall about little girlsmake adult bestseller lists and spawn TV series and movies. Belinda, experienced beyond her years, satisfies his occasional yen for young girls and more, as his lover, model, and muse; his paintings of her are the best he's done. But keeping this work, and their relationship, hidden is complicated by Belinda's intimate ties (obvious early on) to top show biz figures. In this novel written under a pseudonym by Anne Rice ( The Vampire Lestat ), Walker's first-person narrative is erotic and strong with bursts of artistic passion, but it's bogged down with detailed background exposition and resolution. And art and truth, as moral issues, take a back seat to eroticism. Michele Leber, Fairfax Cty. P.L., Va.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

A perfect blend of romance and mystery
This book certainly doesn't waste any time. It begins with Jeremy Walker, a famous 44-year-old illustrator of children's books spotting beautiful sixteen-year-old Belinda smiling at him in a San Francisco bookstore at one of his many book signings. Dressed in a short Catholic school uniform he's already mesmerized by her, wondering what it would feel like to reach under her plaid skirt and... against his better judgment he sleeps with her during his press party only to awaken and find her gone. Unable to get her out of his mind he brings her into his home once found again, fascinated by who she is and where she comes from. As they grow closer he starts to photograph and paint her with a passion he's never felt before. Belinda is extremely carefree and uninhibited so most of them are taken nude (or partially so), but always with some kind of theme that many would deem kinky yet they consider to be art...a celebration of the body and the sensuality of their love. He soon discovers she's got many secrets, though, and is determined to learn what they are, despite her threats of leaving if he does...

I have tried and tried in the past to get into Anne Rice's vampire series but never could. I, however, still felt compelled to read "Belinda" as I've always had a weakness when it comes to forbidden love stories and this one did not disappoint! In fact, I haven't enjoyed a book as much as this one in quite a long time. It's an erotic story, yes, but don't expect sex on every page. It's actually very minimal and the details are rather vague. It is more so the factor of age difference and the circumstances they often find themselves in that are subtly erotic. And unlike some readers who found their relationship repulsive and even perverted, it is blatantly clear as the book progresses that they have genuinely deep feelings for one another so I didn't find their intimacy to be at all disturbing. Love is love, after all, and there is no boundaries nor constraints when it comes to the heart. It's also apparent that Belinda is very mature for her tender years, and understandably so given all she's been through in her life.

Anne Rice has admittedly created an intricately far-fetched story here but the character's are very believable. I even started thinking of them as real people a couple of times!

Now THAT is good storytelling... I highly recommend!

Belinda is a must read
Once I read Belinda, I practically forgot the Vampire Chronicles existed. Belinda is the best book I've ever read in my entire life (and I've read a few in my time!)

The narration, settings, and characters shift throughout the book, making it fascinatingly complex. First, you're carried through the lives of Belinda and Jeremy as they begin their life together, then there's the desperate mystery Jeremy tries to solve about Belinda's true identity, then the conclusion which brings the enormous cast of characters together for one last hurrah!

The characters are overwhelmingly original, unbelievable and fantastic. Rice paints each one with vibrant colors and tones that you won't see anywhere else. At some points, it seems as if everyone is suffering from an excess of personality, but as Rice indicates from the Stan Rice poem she chose to open with, excess is the point of the book. Excess is everwhere in Belinda, from the characters to the storyline to the backdrop of San Francisco-New Orleans-Europe. Rice painstakingly describes each detail: the lushness of New Orleans, the bright, cleanliness of San Francisco, the dusty childhood relics that make up Jeremy's life, the bitter heartache of his search for Belinda's identity, the beauty and relief he finds by painting her...

To the casual reader, the book might just seem like a cop-out of Lolita. But it's not. Here, the wiser, knowledgeable person is Belinda; the child is Jeremy. He learns from her what life is supposed to be about; together they overcome the secrets of their pasts and move on to new beginnings. For years, Jeremy was locked into painting images of little girls roaming through dark, eery houses. In reality, Jeremy and Belinda were both wandering through their own shadows, unable to shake the darkness of their past. Belinda brought light into Jeremy's world and he, in return, gave her the voice that was stolen from her by painting her pictures.

If you read this book and think it is lousy, then maybe you should read it again. Take time to enjoy the excess...

Belinda is mesmerizing
I was drawn in by the casual and quiet observations that Jeremy makes when he first sees Belinda in the book store. Anne Rice wrote Jeremy as an unassuming person from a distance but completely complicated and simple at the same time.

This story is about a 40sh child book author who against his better judgment is deeply attracted to Belinda a sixteen year old child by law but woman at heart. He knows nothing of who Belinda is but is consumed by her and a need to know who she really is. This book cleverly unravels secrets old and new while painting you a picture of a life few people can imagine.

The book slowly reveals Jeremy's and Belindas secrets while taking you on a journey through this taboo subject of love, passion, and obsession with a minor.

This book was advertised as erotic but it certainly was not graphic sexually. I suppose the erotic was directed to the taboo subject of sex between a minor and legal adult. I was a little leary of the idea but as you read you question who is the adult in the relationship Jeremy or Belinda. Belinda clearly matured quickly and Jeremy is still struggling with his childhood memories and fears. Also, the subject of pornography versus art is an interesting subject considering most of the paintings Jeremy painted were of Belinda nude.

Whether Anne Rice intended it to be a topic in her book or not I read Belinda and wondered/questioned if the legal age in the USA should be 18. Lots of countries recognize younger people to be adults. Maturity is indivual and varies amoung all ages.

As I said before the sex was not written graphically but the entire romance was written so sensually you didn't need it to be graphic. Anne Rice certainly is a great example of wonderfull writing. You can feel the passion as you read.

I fell in love with Jeremy and Belinda and the entire book.