Rating: Summary: A Fantistic Historical Horror Novel Review: The Vampire Lestat is in my opinion a finer example of Anne Rice's talent and imagination than most any other work she's written. Lestat, once the poor country lord of a small French province, is transformed into the Prince of Vampires. A creature like no other of his kind, he travels the world in search of the children of the millenia. Vampires as old as humankind, who would be able to share the reasons behind their existence. Anne Rice takes her reader on a trip through history. Her story deliciously wicked, wonderfully touching and always fascinating. She expertly mixes true history with her fictitious world of the undead. Folklore from around the world is blended with world history which would be taught in any college history course. I recommend this book to anyone who loves drama, art, and life. This is a story of a soul who has no wish to die, but strives to discover the meaning behind life as he has come to know it. Let Lestat take you on a journey of! discovery. Just like all of us, he finds plenty of road blocks and makes plenty of mistakes along the way, but that doesn't stop this reader from finding him the most compelling and charming character in Rice's novels.
Rating: Summary: If you read "Interview" you must read this!!! Review: Interview with the vampire was told from Louis's limited perspective. Lestat purposely kept him in the dark (no pun intended!) about the history and the meaning of being "undead." This book is written not only from Lestat's point of view, but by Lestat himself! (Ms. Rice would have the reader believe, anyway). It adds amazing depth to the tale started in "Interview", and takes the reader through centuries of richness and beauty (and blood of course) in Paris, Egypt, New Orleans, and London, answering "unanswered" questions and creating a vivid, complex, dark world of vampires. If you can read this book, and not long for "Queen of the Damned" (next book in series), you and I are as different as night and day. Being a faithful vampire reader, I'll take night
Rating: Summary: Brilliant!! Review: Absolutely brilliant. A. Rice pulls you into perhaps her best novel. The character Lestat is absolutely one of the most interesting and complex. Granted there are many others but he is the most charming.One could go on and on about this book. Other than the Witching Hour no other book of hers completely pulled me into it's world. READ IT! LOVE IT!! You will read all the others afterwards. Truly.
Rating: Summary: A Powerful and Moving, though Wordy, Tale! Review: I have some mixed feelings about Anne Rice's "The Vampire Lestat", but all things considered, I truly believe it is a worthwhile read. In this follow-up to "Interview with the Vampire", we are told the life story of Lestat de Lioncourt, and I was bothered by the inconsistencies between the two books. Lestat tells us that Louis has lied about all kinds of things, and the cruel and cold-hearted villain we came to know and love in "Interview with the Vampire" becomes a moral, soft-hearted, and tortured soul, always trying to do the right thing and find the answers to life's mysteries. Hmmm. I think if I had not read "Interview with the Vampire", I would have found "The Vampire Lestat" far more enjoyable, because then I would have been blissfully unaware of the transformation of Lestat's character. With that said though, "The Vampire Lestat" is a compelling, if lengthy and somewhat verbose, tale, and in the end I was glad I read it, because it has many redeeming qualities. The book purports to be Lestat's autobiography, and we are taken on a lush and erotic journey through Lestat's long and eventful life. From his youth as the son of a marquis in pre-Revolutionary France when Lestat befriends a troubled violinist named Nicolas, to the crowded streets of Paris where his life is changed forever by a solitary vampire named Magnus, who gives Lestat the dark gift before deserting him forever. Shocked and amazed by what has befallen him, Lestat, begins to learn what it is to be a vampire. Questions about the why and how of what he has become torment Lestat, but there is nobody for him to turn to. Lestat's story has many twists and turns; as he saves his mother from her deathbed with his immortal kiss, meets a hostile coven of Satan-worshipping vampires living under a cemetery, and ultimately goes off on a quest for a legendary ancient vampire named Marius in hopes of finding some answers to the questions that haunt him. And through it all we are treated to Rice's memorable and moving prose. However, the author's tendency to become overly descriptive is in evidence here, and there were some portions of the book that were a bit hard to get through. As I've already stated, my feelings about "The Vampire Lestat" are a bit ambiguous. But despite my criticisms of this book, I actually did like it a lot. Lestat's story is affecting, intriguing, and entertaining, and in the end I could honestly say that I enjoyed it. Many people adore this book, and it's easy to see why, and on the other hand quite a few people hate it, and I can understand their point of view too. I can't guarantee anything to anyone picking up this book, because Anne Rice's writing is hypnotic and beautiful to some, and deadly boring to others. Personally, I would have been sorry if I'd missed "The Vampire Lestat", since I really did become quite engrossed in Lestat's tale. So give this book a try and see what you think, you may just be pleasantly surprised!
Rating: Summary: Extremely well written yet Overly Pretentious Review: Being the sequel to the amazingly popular "Interview with the Vampire", Anne Rice takes her favorite character of her 'Vampire Chronicles' novels and weaves for him a long and prentious (at times) dragging story of his own life. The novel starts with Lestat awakening from a long sleep in a modern day New Orleans and stumbling upon a world where the charms and living as "Gentlemen" of the past is gone. Intriguied by the flashy and hardcore world of the 80's Lestat masters living in the twentieth century and decides to become, of all things a rockstar. Then the story moves to (once again) telling the story of his past, staring from his youth in 17th Century France as one of the youngest sons of an aging and landless nobles to his subsequent involuntary making as a vampire and his exploits in Paris until his desire to begin a search for his kinds 'Origins' which ultimatley paves the way for this novels sequel "Queen of the Damned". Though Rice's amazing writing ability at times can be overwhelming, the book is often bogged down by Rice to use Lestat as a soap box for her sometimes eerily accurate beliefs and observations of humanity and it's societies. Lestat although a charismatic character, at this point in the series has a very negative view and often times shallow view point of the world. Rice's attention to detail is both a blessing and a curse for as was mentioned before the novel has at times dragged heavily. Though Rice provides a wonderful picture of the time period, being both realistic and believable. Even with her vampire characters thrown into the mix. Though if Rice focused less on preeching her view points and critisizms of humanity's history and past and more on telling the story itself and fleshing out Lestat to less of a shallow, selfish character that gives the reader room to love him past all his egotism this novel would have earned an extra star. This novel is a reccomenddation for hardcore Rice fans, who undoubtedly will devoure this novel and is also and optional and nice reccomendation for newer fans (preferably vampire loving fans) who can read this novel though it its a sequel and have little trouble adapting to the Rice world. A good reccomendation to fans, an opitional read for newer fans.
Rating: Summary: The most charming vampire you'll ever read about Review: Lestat is one of the vampires you first meet in Interview With The Vampire. He made Louis a vampire. Since Louis told his story, and Lestat is not one to be out done, Lestat decides to write down his story. The beginning is a bit slow. You're shocked Lestat is a rocker now. You'd think Anne Rice would be out of touch with the world of music, but as you read on you find out it's not a bad choice for the attention craving Lestat. You start off in the present. As anyone who read Interview knows, at the end of that book Lestat could was barely alive and couldn't take care of himself. So, he goes underground. Here's where the tricky part comes. Lestat went to sleep for like 50 years. Meaning Louis couldn't have seen him. You don't think about it at first. You think about it after you've read the book. It really bothers you afterwards. That in my opinion, is the only problem with the book. By the way, even Rice herself admits she made a mistake with that. All throughout the book, you learn of Lestat's past. You learn that he was born into a poor noble family and was taken out of school at an early age. You learn about his early struggles with wanting to be good. I liked his relationship with Nicholas. Nicholas and Louis seem in my opinion very similar. Nicholas' story is sad. It's fascinating how he always wanted attention. That's why he became an actor. Lestat is very close to his mom. He even makes her a vampire. One of the things I really enjoyed about this book is when Lestat talks about what happened in Interview. He sets the record straight. Giving his side on what happened. Once you read his side, you'll never look at him or at Interview the same. Louis was upset and wrote him as a monster. Lestat tells what really happened and his reasoning. Siding that Louis never know his reasons for doing things. Lestat also feels bad for keeping secrets from Louis. Also, Lestat didn't like the way Louis protrated him in Interview... This was a great squel to Interw With The Vampire. You learn about the misunderstood character of Lestat. This is my all time favorite book. I doubt any book will ever take it's place as my favorite book. Why did I give it four stars instead of five? Well, when I first read it I thought it was the best book ever and still do, but that whole time mistake Anne made really upset. I couldn't stop thinking about it. Thinking about who lied? Was Louis about it, or was Lestat denying it? This was the only flaw with the book. Besides for the book being so damn addictive.
Rating: Summary: A supernatural book of wonder .... that stays forever Review: This is a book that has it all; a gripping plot, deep drawn characters, and real emotions and so many mortal questions mingled all together so magically in the midst of this mesmerizing universe of vampires. It is a book that stays with you forever as you remember breathtaking scenes or unforgettable moments. When I first read it and discovered the trick that Anne Rice played in making the book a sort of a reply from Lestat to Louis and his book "Interview with the Vampire", I laughed out loud at the cleverness and imagination of this writer.... Or Did Lestat really write the book under her name and make fool of us all! In writing this book, Anne has done what seems impossible. She has thrown the whole light on Lestat making us see him truly and at the same time she has managed skillfully not to make Lestat here appears to be a different being from the one introduced in her first book. No, he is the same creature; only Louis failed to completely understand him. By the end of the book, I was under the spell of this Brat prince of the vampires but at the same time Louis will always remain my most loved character for all that mesmerizing mixture of humanity and sensitiveness which he alone seems to possess (I really wish that Anne would use them again as her main characters in another gripping book ) Their final scene together is my most cherished scene. It seems at times magical in the way she was able to write such a highly emotional scene, that though normal, its strength is quite abnormal. But abnormality is a feature of this book. It is supernatural and abnormal in every way that one can't go for a long time without reading it again then again. Yes, It is one of my dream books and one I dream of being able to write something that matches its high standards one day.
Rating: Summary: Wowie Zowie Review: Oh My God!!! This is the best vampire book that I have ever read. Anne Rice describes everything magnificently. If you want a great read this is the book you need. Also, try reading the book Blood and Chocolate, that book is also wonderful.
Rating: Summary: The best in the series. Review: This was the best book in the "vampire" series. It was well thought out and well written. It's slow at parts, but quickly picks up. It's very good.
Rating: Summary: Mm... Review: Not one of my favorites by Anne Rice. Wasn't as interesting to me as her other books. Lestat seems to be a lot different than in the book Interview with the Vampire, he's almost...kind. I guess it depends who the story is told from. I disliked Gabrielle very much in this novel, that might of been why this story wasn't as intersting as the others.
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