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Interview with the Vampire

Book 1 in the series:The Vampire Chronicles

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In "Interview with the Vampire," readers are introduced to Louis, a vampire who opens up about his origins, nature, and experiences to a young journalist in New Orleans. The book offers a fresh and innovative look at vampires and their lore, exploring themes of immortality, love, loneliness, and existential musings. The narrative style draws readers into a world of vampirism that Anne Rice vividly recreates, making it hard to believe it's fantasy, and leaving a lasting impact on those who delve into the story.

The book delves into the emotional elements of vampirism, portraying the struggles and complexities of being a vampire without romanticizing the experience. Through the eyes of Louis, readers get a glimpse into a world where the act of being a vampire is not idealized, but rather depicted as an intense emotional crisis that surpasses human struggles. The characters, including Louis, Lestat, and Claudia, are brought to life in a mesmerizing and realistic manner, making the reader live with them until the end of the journey.

Characters:

The characters are richly developed, with Louis embodying existential angst, Lestat serving as a darker counterpart, and Claudia illustrating the tragedy of unaging innocence.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by rich and descriptive language, interlaced with philosophical reflections that enhance the emotional depth of the story.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative is centered on the struggles and experiences of Louis, a vampire turned by Lestat, as he navigates his existence and complex relationships.

Setting:

Set against the backdrop of late 18th and early 19th century New Orleans, the setting is intricately tied to the gothic elements of the story.

Pacing:

The book features a slow and sometimes meandering pace, balancing introspective reflection with moments of dramatic action.
ISEE…” said the vampire thoughtfully, and slowly he walked across the room towards the window. For a long time he stood there against the dim light from Divisadero Street and the passing beams of traf...

Notes:

The book is a first-person narrative by Louis, a vampire, recounting his life story to a reporter.
Anne Rice's work, particularly this novel, is credited with revolutionizing the portrayal of vampires in modern fiction.
Louis struggles with his morality, feeling guilty about his existence and the need to kill for survival.
Claudia, a child turned into a vampire, explores themes of eternal childhood and the frustration that comes with it.
The novel raises profound questions about the nature of good, evil, and what it means to be human or inhumane.
The relationship between Louis and Lestat is complex and characterized by love and resentment.
Rice's prose is noted for its lyrical and gothic qualities, creating a rich atmosphere throughout the story.
Published in 1976, 'Interview with the Vampire' sparked a renewed interest in vampire literature and culture.
The book includes significant philosophical musings, which some readers find slow or tedious, while others appreciate for their depth.
Anne Rice's vampires are often seen as a reflection of marginalized identities, highlighting the struggle for acceptance.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of violence, moral ambiguity, discussions of child vampires, nihilism, and existential dread.

From The Publisher:

The spellbinding classic that started it all from the #1 New York Times bestselling author

"A magnificent, compulsively readable thriller . . . Rice begins where Bram Stoker and the Hollywood versions leave off and penetrates directly to the true fascination of the myth-the education of the vampire."-Chicago Tribune

Here are the confessions of a vampire. Hypnotic, shocking, and chillingly sensual, this is a novel of mesmerizing beauty and astonishing force-a story of danger and flight, of love and loss, of suspense and resolution, and of the extraordinary power of the senses. It is a novel only Anne Rice could write.

Ratings (228)

Incredible (36)
Loved It (91)
Liked It (60)
It Was OK (29)
Did Not Like (11)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (388):

Read It (234)
Currently Reading (6)
Want To Read (96)
Did Not Finish (10)
Not Interested (42)

13 comment(s)

Hated It
2 days

I have to warn you that the writing style is extremely gross. Literally every character from a 1000 year old vampire to a little girl to a literal baby is described in a very sexual and explicit way. Everyone is “putting hands to their round breasts” and “pursing their plump delicate lips.” It's one thing when it’s an adult being described this way but when it’s a child I feel nasty. I’ve read my fair share of fan fiction and romance novels that take it a little too far but this is another level. The main character (Louie) and his vampire master turn a young mortal girl into a vampire and at first I thought it was going to be a cute found family relationship between Louie and the girl Claudia. I love adopted family dynamics. However they go the Game of Thrones route and it's so gross. Louie describes her as: “Claudia who is my daughter and my lover” I’m sorry????!!!!! They aren’t actually related but it's still so weird. Claudia is physically 10 years old. Mentally and technically she acts older but that doesn’t make it okay.

There was an attempt to do something here. The idea of a good vampire trying to resist the inner temptation to be a primal evil being. But the weird pedophilic relationships and unbelievably sensual descriptions of every single character really ruined it for me.

 
It Was OK
3 days

Nice gritty vampire book, in places it was slow but I will be picking up more in this series.

 
Loved It
2 weeks

I gulped this up like my favorite chocolate. Its no masterpiece by any means but the story is so delicious and fascinating. I wished I had other books in the series to go (at least I think it's a series) but unfortunately I do not. I loved my reading experience with this as I was fully invested in it and I want more of it.

 
Liked It
3 months

I typically don't read books like this, but Anne Rice is fantastic. Scary, fascinating, a page-turner, atmospheric, epic, I loved it!

 
Did Not Like
4 months

Stupid dark creepy

 
Liked It
5 months

Interesting characters, surprisingly engaging.

 
Incredible
6 months

Anne Rice’s writing style turned me into a vampire lover! Her novels transport me to another world.

 
Loved It
7 months

Louis is the best vampire of the entire series

 
Loved It
9 months

Anne Rice's vampire series

Lyrical storytelling

Character fascination

intricate plots

Dream-like narrative

Controversial themes

Complex characters

Acceptance of character flaws

Claudia's portrayal

Intriguing character dynamics

 
Incredible
1 year

This book is classic and was one of the first paranormal books I read. It explores a dark world of the vampires and brings to light that other beings could exist within our world. The writing is descriptive and leaves your imagination alive.

 
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About the Author:

ANNE RICE is the author of thirty-six books, including the fifteen books in the Vampire Chronicles series. She lives in La Quinta, California.

 
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