"Witching Hour" by Anne Rice - anyone care to discuss?

[Lavenderbythefrontdoor]

One of my all time favourite books. I don't even know how many times I've read it but I always find some new detail, so its endlessly enjoyable for me.

Its a chonky book with a lot of disturbing topics within but I do find it captivating. Anne Rice is a great story teller and I enjoy her style very much.

First question which comes to mind - Do you believe Carlotta Mayfair was evil? She seems to have done a lot of nasty things for the "greater good of breaking the chain." Despite my many readings, I've never quite been able to pinpoint whether she was strong willed and more clearheaded about what was happening than the others or, if she just brushed all her evil under the strait-laced guise and was no better than the rest.

Ooh me me me! Love this book!! Just dashing out of the door but will be back later. I might be due a re-read actually.

Oooh good! Eagerly await your return 😊

I'm back!

Carlotta I think is almost a direct opposite of Antha and Deidre in a way in that their 'madness' was actually the truth and Carlotta's 'madness' led her to almost a state of denial.

But then you do feel a sympathy for her because Lasher is such a malign force upon the family. Even Deidre giving Rowan away couldn't stop him, so perhaps the desperation just addled her mind and her intentions were understandable even if her actions weren't.

There's also the duality of her character: devout churchgoer, charitable giver but then perpetrating abuse within her own home. She's very much a 'for the greater good' type, but it's sort of chilling how she can sacrifice her own family members so easily.

I've seen her described before as a well-intentioned extremist which maybe sums it up! The road to hell and all that ...

I definitely need to reread my battered old copy again. Going to dig it out tonight!

I love this book, but I’ve not read it for a few years. I always felt sorry for Micheal.

I’ll be re-reading again when I’ve finished my current book, being as the TV show is due out soon(ish). I don’t remember much as I’ve only read them twice, in my late teens, and always preferred the Vampire Chronicles which I’ve read countless times. AMC have the show so fingers crossed, it should be decent.

A TV SHOW????

When? Where? (please!)

Oh god, I love this book. I once even made my own Mayfair family tree after combing the books! As for Carlotta, well I think she started off with the devout good intentions of breaking the chain but like many others, could not see outside the narrow confines she created for herself and her family and enjoyed the power she wielded...

TV show????

nerdist.com/article/anne-rice-mayfair-witches-tv-show-everything-we-know/?amp

Here you go! I only came across it when looking for updates on the Lestat TV show.

I recently reread this. I love the delving into all the witches through the timeliness but dislike Rowan and the male character. Debating whether to read the next book. I can't recall what happened in it.

I enjoyed Lasher but felt like Taltos jumped the shark a bit.

I feel the same. The books dwindled in success for me. I grew to dislike Rowan in the later books; it was frustrating how she had all this power and all this knowledge but essentially just let herself be bullied or seduced for so long. Annoying!

I think the cincher for me in believing Carlotta wasn't a good person was where Michael touched Deirdre's' nightgown and seen a vision that she had an awful open sore on her back from sitting in the rocking chair all those years.

I could be open to debate on a lot of the bad things Carlotta done "for the greater good" but she allowed an innocent woman, who no longer had a hand in the game, so to speak, to be left to rot.

Oh, I 100% feel sorry for Michael throughout it all. He seems like such a pure character and he gets hurt in so many ways throughout the series.

I don't know if I can imagine Rowan & Michael having a Happy Ever After once it was all done and dusted.

Madly in love with the fact you made a family tree. I think that's the part of it that fascinates me most and where I'm always connecting new dots each time I read it.

Oh one of my favourites I really hope the series does it justice. My favourite was Mary Beth, she at least seemed to enjoy herself ! The drama of Orleans at the time and Julian seemed so appealing !