Interview with the Vampire

Rating:
Summary: A Vampire Classic
Review: Though admitidly over twenty years old, 'Interview with the Vampire' is without a doubt one of the most well written (and famous) vampire novels ever to to be published.

Now considered an essential in terms of vampire drama reading, Rice's novel is the autobiographical story of Louis Pointe du Lac, and 18th century plantation owner who's sudden and tragic loss of his younger brother sends the young man spiraling into an almost suicidal depression. It is here that Lestat, the foppish, charistmatic and deliciously wicked hero of the Vampire Chronicles makes his appearance as a kind of undead savoir for the man. Making Louis a vampire, Louis immediately rejects his new life but attempts to make the best of it. The rest of the story follows Louis's exploits as he travels with Lestat around the world, becomes the inadvertant guardian and eventual paritial lover of Claudia, the youngest ever made vampire. It spirals to their dramatic escape from Lestat and Louis's eventual loss and short reunion with his maker, in one achingly poetic and strikingly human portrayl of vampires and their life.

Though a bit hard to swallow at times, Rices overwhelmingly descriptive first-person narrative is easily ignored as the story in the backdrop does an excellent job of distracting the read from the sometimes heavy prose. Though now criticed as heavy and annoyingly meloncholy, here we see Rice's now familar formula telling of one's life story as it was meant to be seen. A wondeful, in-depth preview into the private thoughts and reactions of a character telling of the events of their life. Every scene Rice tells is painted a vivid and beautiful picture as she gives new life to the often shadowy and frightening world of the night.

Some of the less patient readers may be turned off by her, at-times overly long descriptions and sluggish pace. But those readers who treasure details and vivid pictures will undoubtedly fall for this now classic vampire story. Even those readers who simply value a good plot and well created characters should enjoy this novel and find the trudge through heavy and poetic prose well worth the trip.

A must read for all Vampire fans.

Koyla Dae

Rating:
Summary: The Beginning
Review: After being thrilled with Anne Rice's style when I read "The Witching Hour" several years ago, I vowed to eventually read all of her work. Finally I have set myself to the task, beginning at the beginning with "Interview," her first, now classic novel.

For me Anne Rice's vampire and witches chronicles are a splendid mix of poetry, exotic romance, history, and philosophy, all entwined into a juicy supernatural tale. What could be better?

Here, we follow the story of vampire Louis, told from his perspective, as he painstakingly searches to unravel the mystery of his immortality. The story, although it is about vampires, seems to ride along the lines of man's neverending search for the history and purpose of human life. At least that's the analogy that I got.

Anne Rice does such a fantastic job of weaving the story through her character's personalities. She effortlessly pulls a reader back and forth through time, and across miles, writing stories within her stories. Absolutely spellbinding stuff!

One word of advice: If you haven't already, don't see the movie before you read the book. I watched the movie for the second time while I was smack in the middle of the book... kinda broke the magic of the story for me. The movie, although I enjoyed it on it's own account, does not even come close to the fun of this read.

Rating:
Summary: I want to know more...
Review: Anne Rice, is a master vampire who brings you in as one of her own. Teaching, taunting and creating a desire of beyond-human emotion. With each passing chapter, she creates a hunger that can only be quenched through her words. Before you are aware you are one of her own, and can comprehend the desires of the vampires she understands all to well. ...

Not a connoisseur of Vampire books, I was very pleased with the book, and longed for more. The book seemed to call to me, for it had been many months since I had seen the failed movie Queen of the Damned. The movie, good in parts was not all that great due to overacting and nonrealistic sequences. However, I wanted to read and learn more about it, her through the book... Yet, I felt I should start at the beginning. And here I am... After reading the book, I look forward to reading about Lestat and about how he came to be.

But I have a few gripes about the book.

The time traveled in this book goes over centuries. And yet, the language of the vampires is sometimes too modern? For Example, Louis uses the word stupid in one tangent. Another example is Louis is talking about housewives. Well, like I said I am not sure about the year(s), but from what I understand the term housewife is rather modern. (post 1920?) I say this because, women did not work outside the home, therefore there is no need for the terminology of a housewife? I am not a linguist but these and other instances stuck out to me like a sore thumb.

* I have been corrected- Charles M. Robinson III wrote me and said: "Read your review of Interview with the Vampire. I agree on the problem of words. For example, in The Wonder Years, they used Yuppie terms that we never used in the '60s. In House of Wax, taking place about 1907, they said "normalcy," a non-word coined by Warren Harding in 1920.

In Interview, however, most word usage is appropriate. "Housewife," for example, is a very ancient term that, in fact, was made obsolete by women entering the workforce, and by modern times in general. It is used to distinguish from midwife, or the various other types of wives of the past. It translates directly, i.e. German, Hausfrau. In fact the Swedish word for "wife" (spouse) is "hustru" (housewife).
Also, "stupid" is very ancient, indicating dull-witted, confused, or intellectually slow: stupid (French), estupido (Spanish), stupido (Italian). I have seen it in Civil War memoirs to describe men who suffered from combat fatigue."

The book is worthy of a read. Since this is my first introduction to Ms. Rice I look forward to more.

On a final note, there was one reviewer who said it better to read about Lestat before the "interview" this may be true for those who have not seen the movie, but if you have seen the film you will know and understand the characters so I would say stick with the order for which she writes.

* Thanks to Charles M. Robinson III

AMR

Rating:
Summary: immortal
Review: Once upon a time a writer named Anne Rice sat down and wrote a book that became a legend. If you have only read Rice's latter works and were displeased check this one out now. It's the real deal. Rice was at the peak of her powers when she created the beautiful monster, Lestat, his brooding companion Louis and of course, little Claudia.

Over the years I've gotten to the point where I just don't read anything by Rice anymore but Interview With a Vampire just seems to get better and better each time I read it. Interview is an immortal classic of gothic literature.

Rating:
Summary: love it
Review: "interview with the vampire" is a great book and i loved it. i could not put it down and read it in two days. this is a book in which you relate to, even though the main character, louis, is not human. when i read the bok i felt happy when things went his way and i cryed when sad things happened. i personally think that i way way better than the most resent harry potter book and will be well worth you time.

Rating:
Summary: Great, but not amazing
Review: Interview with the Vampire has in a way become required reading for any fan of vampires or the acult so many people stummble upon it and some get lost in its detailed-filled pages of eighteenth and ninteenth century life, while others identify with one of many of its intresting and magnetic characters. I found the book to be very intresting in both area's. Anne Rice has a fabulus talent with bringing a character to life on the page while at the same time painting a realistic canvas for that character to live around. I found that the many thought provoking ideas about God vs. Devil, Good vs. Evil, right vs. Wronge were all captured beautifully and let me look at these ideas of life in a completly and sometimes desturbing way. But by fare the biggest grabe that the book gives to the reader is its facinating characters: from the charming and villanis Lestat to the contimplative and regretful Louis and the woman within the child that we come to know as Claudia. The relationships that each character shares with the others is also fasinating. Mostly shown in a sexual way, Louis and Lestat both are attracted to Claudia and it is left up to the reader to truely discover how fare they all went with those feelings and the relationships between Lestat and Louis or Armond and Louis. Overall I found this book to be intresting and an inthrolling read that I couldn't put down. However though, I do not think that it is the world changing event that some fans make it out to be. Read for pleasure, but don't expect the world to change.

Rating:
Summary: Rebirth Of The Timeworn Vampire Legend
Review: The Vampire is finally brought to life by Anne Rice compared to Bram Stokers ambiguous Vampire in Dracula. Interview of the Vampire marked a new beginning of understanding the Vampire. Rice gave a more descriptive and human face to an otherwise misconceived monster portrayed in past folklore and legend.

Rice obviously has fun telling her tale, and you are hooked from the opening line of the first paragraph. The turmoil of these desolate creatures was touching to learn about and fun to immerse in. And Rice has such a powerful narrative that you can't help but to be entranced by her tale.

Rating:
Summary: The first in the chronicles and the best.
Review: Great book. I first watched the movie when it came out and loved it. Then I just had to read the books. I must say I loved the book more than the movie. I guess there is only so much you can put into a 2 hour movie. If you are thinking about reading the chronicles go for it you will not be sorry.

Rating:
Summary: "Vampire the Lestat" is the first book to read
Review: Although this book is the first Vampire book ever written by Anne Rice, you'd better read gVampire the Lestath first. I read gInterviews with the Vampireh first without knowing who Lestat is and later knew his mortal life in gVampire the Lestat.h I was totally fascinated by Lestat by the narratives unfolded in that book and reread "Interviews with the Vampireh with insatiable hunger for blood. You canft get fair knowledge of Lestat and you shouldnft evaluate him and his story without reading gVampire the Lestat.h If you read this book after reading gVampire the Lestat,h your praise for the vampire will be doubled without doubt.

Rating:
Summary: A Review
Review: An exciting opener to an indomitable series of vampire stories, Interview with the Vampire establishes a human connection between the reader and the characters of the series. Louis, a suffering human spirit trapped in an immortal body striving to reconcile his new identity as a bloodsucker and a murderer with his human morals and principles. Lestat, the antithesis of Louis in some respects, is an ancient vampire devoid of the simplest and most innate traits of goodness. Claudia, Lestat's and Louis' daughter, is an evil and manipulative vampire child that would stop at nothing to avenge her eternal predicament. Armand, a vampire that falls in love with Louis, is the oldest vampire alive.

The story, told in first person, is entertaining and gives the reader a window on the lives of people in New Orleans and Europe during the late 1800's and early 1900's. Anne Rice does a great job in adding a human semblance to her vampire characters. The reader might get to relate, and subsequently, empathize with the actions and logic of those characters. This is not a page tuner, but definitely a fast read.

This is one of the contemporary American classics. Read it if you enjoy vampire tales, supernatural tales, Anne Rice's writing or intriguing period stories.