Interview with the Vampire
Ratings546
Average rating3.8
This is the story of Louis, as told in his own words, of his journey through mortal and immortal life. Louis recounts how he became a vampire at the hands of the radiant and sinister Lestat and how he became indoctrinated, unwillingly, into the vampire way of life. His story ebbs and flows through the streets of New Orleans, defining crucial moments such as his discovery of the exquisite lost young child Claudia, wanting not to hurt but to comfort her with the last breaths of humanity he has inside. Yet, he makes Claudia a vampire, trapping her womanly passion, will, and intelligence inside the body of a small child. Louis and Claudia form a seemingly unbreakable alliance and even "settle down" for a while in the opulent French Quarter. Louis remembers Claudia's struggle to understand herself and the hatred they both have for Lestat that sends them halfway across the world to seek others of their kind. Louis and Claudia are desperate to find somewhere they belong, to find others who understand, and someone who knows what and why they are.
Louis and Claudia travel Europe, eventually coming to Paris and the ragingly successful Theatre des Vampires--a theatre of vampires pretending to be mortals pretending to be vampires. Here they meet the magnetic and ethereal Armand, who brings them into a whole society of vampires. But Louis and Claudia find that finding others like themselves provides no easy answers and in fact presents dangers they scarcely imagined.
Originally begun as a short story, the book took off as Anne wrote it, spinning the tragic and triumphant life experiences of a soul. As well as the struggles of its characters, Interview captures the political and social changes of two continents. The novel also introduces Lestat, Anne's most enduring character, a heady mixture of attraction and revulsion. The book, full of lush description, centers on the themes of immortality, change, loss, sexuality, and power.
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[1]: http://annerice.com/Bookshelf-Interview.html
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13 primary books#1 in The Vampire Chronicles
The Vampire Chronicles is a 13-book series with 13 released primary works first released in 1976 with contributions by Anne Rice.
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Very well written book, although the flourished, Victorian prose is lost on me. I mainly liked the overall idea of the book, and what it set in motion in the world of the vampire genre, as with the creation of the Vampire: The Masquerade RPG.
The protagonist, Louis, is kind of stupid and the ethics of the story are incredibly lack lusting. Maybe I have to give credit because of the time the events took place, but for a well read man, one who knows his Socrates, to see nothing wrong in killing indiscriminately or not to be able to see evil in degrees is disturbing. But ignorance is necessary to keep the feeling of hopelessness and dread the book sets out to establish.
The villain, Lestat, is kind of a shallow and one dimensioned, but still satisfying, depiction of a monster. There were some attempts made in order to add more nuances to his personality, with Louis evolving his opinion of him the more time they spent together. But still, Lestat is just a psychopath who enjoys torturing and killing his victims. And Louis, the vampire he sired, is too naive and inexperienced to make the distinction between what he perceives to be two inexorably bonded traits: being a vampire and being a psychopath.
I like my characters stoics, but Louis can't help but despise his vampiric nature, and Claudia to bewail in vain about her eternal childish features. But these aspects also contribute to the story being told, making it a bit more interesting as well. Lestat and Armand are the only ones who fully accepted what they are.
So, for the depiction of vampires as more then just monsters, because of Louis conflicting nature, his fear of what he is becoming, fear for his immortal soul, if it has not been dammed already, I approve this novel.
For anyone who likes vampires, read the RPG, 2nd or 3rd edition. You will forever judge everything else vampire related to the lore described in that book.
I read this for my first time ever in anticipation of the show and really enjoyed it! It was unlike what I expected, though I can't really articulate what I expected, and I enjoyed it. Going in with virtually no spoilers, I was very much along for every twist and turn.
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