Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 23, 1994 TAG: 9401230177
SECTION: HORIZON PAGE: D-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
By Anne Rice. Knopf. $25.
"Lasher," a sequel to the romantic and mystical "The Witching Hour," contains all the mystery and madness of its predecessor. But somehow in this endeavor, the ingredients that once enthralled us now have us counting the pages we have to go until we can send this "devil" back to the shelf where it came from.
"Lasher" is the continuing saga of the Mayfair family, an old clan of powerful witches, and the spirit that has haunted and protected this family for generations. This spirit, which had manifested itself in flesh at the end of the first novel, now leads us along its journey as it wreaks havoc on the family on which it once survived.
The novel isn't all bad. Toward the middle, the pace picks up and the imagery and writing become more powerful. But by the time that happens, many readers will have lost interest in the piece. For the avid Anne Rice fan, "Lasher" will provide answers to open questions from the first novel and nominal entertainment. As for the reader unfamiliar with the tale of the Mayfair family, "Lasher" is a confusing, fruitless road to travel.
- DEBBIE MARTIN
EMT: Rescue.
By Pat Ivey. Ivy Books. $4.99 (paper).
Pat Ivey, a Salem native, wrote of her introduction to the world of the Rescue Squad in "EMT: Beyond the Lights and Sirens," which was reviewed in this column nearly four years ago. This book is another chapter in that story.
The episodes recounted are brief and sometimes linked with reflections on the place and philosophy of volunteerism in America. The prose is sturdy, sometimes plodding and other times racing to capture the terror and excitement of the moment. The book stands as a tribute to those who volunteer their time, talents and energy for little recognition but to the community's everlasting gain.
- SIDNEY BARRITT
\ Debbie Martin is a designer at an advertising agency.\ Sidney Barritt is a Roanoke physician.
by CNB