Customer Reviews

Exit to Eden / Cassettes (narrated by Gillian Anderson & Gil Bellows)

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(19)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I have read quite a bit of Anne Rice/Anne Rampling before. This book marks both a departure from her thougtful, sexy horror fiction (e.g. "Lestat," "Inverview with a Vampire," "Mummy") and her fantasy-themed, erotic Beauty series (e.g. "The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty"). It kind of falls in between.

The book examines the relationship between an intelligent, conflicted, strong proprietor of a S&M-themed island (Female) and a passionate, creative photographer (Male). (As you may have already guessed, this is not a book for those with conservative sensibilities!)

The relationship/chemistry between the main characters is interesting, believable, and sexy. Rice makes you feel as if you know each of them -- and are in the same room with them. You feel their passion and understand their internal struggles.

My less-than-stellar rating speaks to the book as a whole -- the story arc, in particular.

"Exit to Eden" reads like two books:

Book 1: An interesting love story about a couple who's erotic pursuits help them tap into their feelings about each other, relationships (in general), and power.

Book 2: A story detailing the maintenance and baggage associated with being the proprietor of a S&M resort. (Think: "Fantasy Island" with velvet-covered handcuffs.)

Also, because Rice chose to set it in modern times, you have to have a *major* suspension of disbelief. You must believe that an island like this is legal, feasable, profitable, & enjoyable. I had a difficult time doing this.

Summary: If you enjoy Rice's books and are looking for a departure from her typical themes, read this.

However, if you're a person who would like to read your first Rice book, don't choose this one. I think you'll be disappointed.

When I picked up this book and scanned the back I caught that it was a sex club and a romance type book. I am not into S&M at all and at first I was nervous to enter into that world. But I really loved this book and have read it multiple times. Some one said it is a romance novel for people who dont like romance novels and I totally agree with that. Nothing felt cheesey, it felt heart felt and honest in its characters. Its not too hard core. If your looking for that, look elsewhere. Its just an exciting story that basically says love can find you anywhere. I am a very satisfied reader. Thank Anne.

I just need to say that this book started out quite s&m like. Full of exciting sexual happenings.... but ended up as being just a really good 'happily ever after' story. Theres nothing wrong in that, because mind you i loved the romantic side to the story, it was beautiful. But it would seem that after the first few chapters, the whole s&m or Master/slave aspects were just totally lost and gone. And if you've read the 'Beauty Series' by Anne Rice that is probably why you picked up this book. Well if you are hoping for something as satisfying as the Beauty series then you've chosen the wrong book. If you are into reading love stories and love to see happy endings where people run away and fall in love, then your in luck!

I have read so much about Anne Rice - and finally managed to read one of her books - since I dislike anything with vampires thought I would give this a try. All I have to say is "where is the Club?" and where can I meet a man like Elliott?? wow! This is a very sensual tale about two people Lisa and Elliott who have enjoyed to the hilt such a heavy dose of an alternative s&m life style but when this couple finally meet - PASSION!! Much more powerful and intense for both of them than they have ever experienced. They both find themselves willing to risk anything to persue this opportunity with "love." Rice actually allows you to see them fall in love in their flight from the Club. This is a strong powerful book and I found it a page turner.

I was told that Anne Rice's Exit to Eden was similar to The Sleeping Beauty series. While there are various similarities between the two offerings, the eroticism and BDSM scenes are far more subtle in this one. The novel centers on how the romance between Lisa and Elliot flourish amidst painful and confusing pasts. Lisa is one of the mistresses at The Club -- an exotic and erotic getaway for bondage enthusiasts. Sadomasochism has always been the center of her life. But then Elliot comes along. An insubordinate photojournalist, Elliot is always searching for the next thrill ride. He takes a two-year training program in The Club to vent out some of his submissive fantasies. But life in The Club is far more hardcore than he had anticipated. To make matters worse, he falls for his beautiful trainer...

Anne Rice has once again showcased the psychological implications of the human heart. She delves into the aforementioned implications in a deeper level this time around. My only complaint is that Exit to Eden isn't as taboo and sexually charged as The Sleeping Beauty series. This book is more bodice-ripper than smoldering erotica. It's brilliant nevertheless. Even though her erotic novels aren't in the same caliber as Story of O, they have a profound sensuality all their own. Highly recommended...

This is my first Rice novel, and I have to say that I found this book to be terrifically written with all the splender of erotica and romance with a plot. I fell in love with most characters and found their instincts quite remarkable and to the point. That is to say, I was quite surprised that a woman author was able to capture the true essence of the male psyche so richly as Rice has done here. I loved the book and am looking forward to my next read. You won't be disappointed!

This book describes an island that I'm sure the author would like to visit and how she would like to spend her time there. While the SM is described with some detail it is still lifelike. I particularly liked the part where the dominant felt nervous about coming up with new things to the blindfolded, waiting submissive. I've been there!

This book is a good work of fiction. I also enjoyed reading The Story Of O and some of John Norman's Gor books. For good SM nonfiction, I like "Screw the Roses", "SM 101" and "The Sexually Dominant Woman".

Don't confuse the movie with this book. There are no detectives chasing diamond thieves and this is not a comedy.

Anne Rice took a break from writing her Vampire Chronicles series to pen "Exit To Eden" under the pen name Anne Rampling. This novel explores the subject of BDSM within the context of a romantic relationship between Mistress Lisa Kelly and Elliot Slater. Kelly manages an isolated BDSM resort that offers its high-end clients an exclusive setting in which they can experience the life of a Master or Mistress. Likewise, the slaves are there of their own freewill in search of fantasy exploration.

Mistress Lisa gets first pick of the new slaves and chooses Slater. Their chemistry is undeniable from the start and intensifies throughout their time together. As the story unfolds, they fall in love with each other and must come to terms with the power dynamics of how Mistress and slave can become mutual lovers.

Although fiction, this book reveals the potential correlation between BDSM and romance. Anne Rice is a wonderful author.

I think Anne Rice started out writing one book and it just happened to turn into something else. I personally found this to be an interesting book and have loved it since it was published. Here's how I see it: Lisa is someone who has always been a little lost and out of touch with others. She is even more out of touch with herself. She seems to have no close friends, has uneasy relationships with her family and is basically an unhappy person. However, she finds something - BDSM - that excites her powerfully and makes her feel like she belongs at last. "Exotic" (described as such by Ms. Rice) seems like a revelation to her, and she immerses herself in it by creating a fantasy world that is highly successful for a lot of people. But utlimately it doesn't fulfill the need she has to love and be loved and to truly belong. In fact, there is always the part of her that remains ashamed of what she does and who she is, despite the fact that she knows very well that there is no real reason for it. Then she meets Elliot, who has similar issues apart from the shame, and they fall in love and run away together.

Mostly, it's about belonging, and not wanting to feel like an outsider or an outlaw.

Although I am an avid Anne Rice fan, I initially bought this book because the back cover proclaimed it to be "the modern Story of O". Since Story of O is one of my favorite books in the genre of erotica, I just had to buy it, but then it seems that such sweeping claims hardly ever turn out to be true.... The book starts out strong, with intensely erotic scenes focusing on Lisa and Eliot and the beginnings of an interesting love story, but as the book progresses the characters seemed to become less and less realistic: by the time I finished it, I felt extremely unsatisfied. If you're an Anne Rice fan, this is a good book to read, if just to see how she fares in a genre other than horror, but overall there's much better erotica out there, and this book definitely does not live up to its claim of being as good as the Story of O.