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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
The first time I read this I was a teenager. It came at an important time when I was just beginning to think about my sexuality and perhaps to question it. This is the first book I remember reading that really had gay characters (or sexually ambiguous characters). I found it exciting and eye-opening.
Rice's writing here is beautiful. Lestat's voice is eloquent and romantic. I find it difficult to reconcile the beauty of the words with Lestat's truly despicable acts in this book. One sometimes forgets it but Lestat is truly a villain. In this volume, Rice reminds us of that.
Rice's writing here is beautiful. Lestat's voice is eloquent and romantic. I find it difficult to reconcile the beauty of the words with Lestat's truly despicable acts in this book. One sometimes forgets it but Lestat is truly a villain. In this volume, Rice reminds us of that.
Fueled but my boundless love for the AMC “Interview with the Vampire” series (if you are not watching it, you are really missing out of phenomenal television), I decided to keep reading Anne Rice’s “Vampire Chronicles” series and got a copy of “The Tale of the Body Thief”. While I have read the first three books many times (especially “The Vampire Lestat” and “The Queen of the Damned”), I had never gotten to book 4, even if it’s narrated by my beloved Lestat – who’s voice now sounds just like Sam Reid’s in my head.
After the events of book 2 and 3, Lestat is now one of the most powerful beings to walk the Earth, as close to an actual immortal as one is likely to get (I will not tell you why that is, go read the books if you want to know). He has seen and experienced extraordinary things, but one of the things he misses, ironically, is the sensation of living in a human body. This realization hits him after a failed attempt at ending his own life, which only leaves him with a surfer tan – because even at death’s door, Lestat still manages to find a way to be hot. When he crosses paths with the titular Body Thief, he is not convinced that this will work, but to his surprise, it does. However, predictably, the Thief has no intention of giving Lestat is supernaturally powerful vessel back, and Lestat feels rather helpless in the fragile human body he is now stuck in. What is a snarky vampire to do in a situation like this?
There are some minor spoilers from this point on, so beware if you plan on reading the book!
This storyline is framed by an ongoing conversation Lestat begins with a member of the Talamasca, David Talbot, whom he wishes to turn into a vampire, but Talbot insists he doesn’t want the so-called Dark Gift – and this is where the heavier elements of this book come up. Lestat’s and David’s ideas about the world and their respective place in it, God, Satan, good, evil, art, immortality and so on and their arguing with each other about it, take up huge chunks of the book, as Lestat tries to talk David into joining him and David arguing that this is not what he wants. Another character through which Rice explores similar questions is Gretchen, a nun who helps Lestat when he’s in an especially vulnerable position in his frail human body. I found her character both surprizing and charming.
I am not surprised that this is the book that made a lot of readers drop out of the series. Rice can be very long-winded, and if you don’t have interest in long philosophical debates about good vs evil, the spiritual vs the material world, and God and the Universe and everything, this can definitely be tedious – especially since it takes a while for the action (i.e. the actual body swapping plot) to really pick up and get going. I find her theological debates interesting, so I didn’t really mind, but you do get the feeling that she is using her characters as mouthpieces for her own spiritual struggles, and from what I remember hearing, this is something that remains an important part of the “Chronicles” as the series continues (especially with book 5, “Memnoch the Devil”, which I have seen described as ‘The Bible according to Anne Rice’). Her relationship with her faith was a convoluted one through her life, and she processed a lot of it through her work, which would understandably not be everyone’s cup of tea. I fully admit that I would have been happy with less theology and more misadventures in body-switching, as Lestat’s surprizing naiveté and clumsiness are very interesting, and let’s face it, Mojo the dog is by far the most endearing part of this book.
I do wonder if Rice was trying to be funny in her speculation of how simple things humans experience on a daily basis would feel like to someone who hasn’t known hunger or illness in almost 400 years, but I did chuckle at Lestat’s horror and disgust over things like lubricated condoms when we know that he’s been elbows deep in human cadavers for a significant part of his existence. I guess one’s definition of ‘disgusting’ changes over time and experience. Lestat has a long history of being fascinated with humans, but in his memoirs in the previous books, he doesn’t often recall the more inelegant aspects of mortal life and there is something absurdly comical about such a powerful being suddenly being stomped by the flu – and he definitely would be a dramatic mess about it.
The plot-driven part of this book is very interesting and well-paced, but I had mixed feelings about it. Anyone can fall for a skilled conman, but I was still a bit surprised that Lestat, in spite of his long history of impulsive decision-making, went through with the crazy plan without taking better measures to protect himself. I also felt like once David joins him, they figure out how to get Lestat out of this mess a bit easily. As such, the book feels uneven because the theology could have been replaced by a more eventful plot and it would have made for quite a thriller, and it would have been a hard book to put down.
At this point in my exploration of ‘The Vampire Chronicles’, I am split between my love for this brilliant character (pro) and the fact that Rice clearly had other things besides plot and character development in mind at this stage of the series (con). The later books seem to go back towards historical fiction, which she is quite good at, so I may try to power through, but I am not sure I feel motivated to do that just now. I might just stick to rewatching the tv show for a while.
After the events of book 2 and 3, Lestat is now one of the most powerful beings to walk the Earth, as close to an actual immortal as one is likely to get (I will not tell you why that is, go read the books if you want to know). He has seen and experienced extraordinary things, but one of the things he misses, ironically, is the sensation of living in a human body. This realization hits him after a failed attempt at ending his own life, which only leaves him with a surfer tan – because even at death’s door, Lestat still manages to find a way to be hot. When he crosses paths with the titular Body Thief, he is not convinced that this will work, but to his surprise, it does. However, predictably, the Thief has no intention of giving Lestat is supernaturally powerful vessel back, and Lestat feels rather helpless in the fragile human body he is now stuck in. What is a snarky vampire to do in a situation like this?
There are some minor spoilers from this point on, so beware if you plan on reading the book!
This storyline is framed by an ongoing conversation Lestat begins with a member of the Talamasca, David Talbot, whom he wishes to turn into a vampire, but Talbot insists he doesn’t want the so-called Dark Gift – and this is where the heavier elements of this book come up. Lestat’s and David’s ideas about the world and their respective place in it, God, Satan, good, evil, art, immortality and so on and their arguing with each other about it, take up huge chunks of the book, as Lestat tries to talk David into joining him and David arguing that this is not what he wants. Another character through which Rice explores similar questions is Gretchen, a nun who helps Lestat when he’s in an especially vulnerable position in his frail human body. I found her character both surprizing and charming.
I am not surprised that this is the book that made a lot of readers drop out of the series. Rice can be very long-winded, and if you don’t have interest in long philosophical debates about good vs evil, the spiritual vs the material world, and God and the Universe and everything, this can definitely be tedious – especially since it takes a while for the action (i.e. the actual body swapping plot) to really pick up and get going. I find her theological debates interesting, so I didn’t really mind, but you do get the feeling that she is using her characters as mouthpieces for her own spiritual struggles, and from what I remember hearing, this is something that remains an important part of the “Chronicles” as the series continues (especially with book 5, “Memnoch the Devil”, which I have seen described as ‘The Bible according to Anne Rice’). Her relationship with her faith was a convoluted one through her life, and she processed a lot of it through her work, which would understandably not be everyone’s cup of tea. I fully admit that I would have been happy with less theology and more misadventures in body-switching, as Lestat’s surprizing naiveté and clumsiness are very interesting, and let’s face it, Mojo the dog is by far the most endearing part of this book.
I do wonder if Rice was trying to be funny in her speculation of how simple things humans experience on a daily basis would feel like to someone who hasn’t known hunger or illness in almost 400 years, but I did chuckle at Lestat’s horror and disgust over things like lubricated condoms when we know that he’s been elbows deep in human cadavers for a significant part of his existence. I guess one’s definition of ‘disgusting’ changes over time and experience. Lestat has a long history of being fascinated with humans, but in his memoirs in the previous books, he doesn’t often recall the more inelegant aspects of mortal life and there is something absurdly comical about such a powerful being suddenly being stomped by the flu – and he definitely would be a dramatic mess about it.
The plot-driven part of this book is very interesting and well-paced, but I had mixed feelings about it. Anyone can fall for a skilled conman, but I was still a bit surprised that Lestat, in spite of his long history of impulsive decision-making, went through with the crazy plan without taking better measures to protect himself. I also felt like once David joins him, they figure out how to get Lestat out of this mess a bit easily. As such, the book feels uneven because the theology could have been replaced by a more eventful plot and it would have made for quite a thriller, and it would have been a hard book to put down.
At this point in my exploration of ‘The Vampire Chronicles’, I am split between my love for this brilliant character (pro) and the fact that Rice clearly had other things besides plot and character development in mind at this stage of the series (con). The later books seem to go back towards historical fiction, which she is quite good at, so I may try to power through, but I am not sure I feel motivated to do that just now. I might just stick to rewatching the tv show for a while.
TBH I removed a star because Lestat was a colossal idiot and that irritated me
I devoured this book in one sitting and was so wrapped up I didn't realize I'd read straight through til the time I needed to wake up for high school!
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this book tells us the story of how lestat de lioncourt fucks up ONCE AGAIN. because he never learns and decides to switch bodies with a man who is not planning to give him his VAMPIRE body back.
lestat constantly wants to fuck old man david talbot and since he likes him too much, he now starts being a very important character in the chronicles... personally i do not like david because he is boring but also now having read merrick, he disgusts me.
this is a fun book, silly and goofy but i want to warn some people that doesn't mean this doesn't have extremely dark parts.
TW: rape, physical abuse
chapter 11 contains a graphic scene of rape.
chapter 33 contains the depiction of physical abuse and forced turning to a vampire.
lestat constantly wants to fuck old man david talbot and since he likes him too much, he now starts being a very important character in the chronicles... personally i do not like david because he is boring but also now having read merrick, he disgusts me.
this is a fun book, silly and goofy but i want to warn some people that doesn't mean this doesn't have extremely dark parts.
TW: rape, physical abuse
chapter 11 contains a graphic scene of rape.
chapter 33 contains the depiction of physical abuse and forced turning to a vampire.
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was actually a lot more interesting than I thought it was gonna be. Claudia should have been in it more.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Oof. I wasn't a fan of Interview because I found Louis to be a bore. Lestat and Queen were both fine, I had issues but overall they were more entertaining in a campy way than not. Body thief, however had diminishing returns.
After 2 books of "Lestat wins everything and always gets away with it" I was hoping for something more interesting. Instead what I got was some peak snake eating its tail nonsense. Lestat gets away with rape. Lestat refuses to acknowledge boundaries. Lestat does exactly what he was told not to do but everything that results is still somehow Louis's fault. And Marius's. And everyone else's. Lestat is so clever but still gets outsmarted at every turn. Lestat manages to force his human friend into a new, younger body despite said friend repeatedly telling Lestat he doesn't want immortality (and now Lestat gets another 50+ years of hassling him about immortality). Lestat beds a nun.
It's a weird gross power fantasy. Everyone and everything is a plaything for Lestat. And the moment you resist he can and will burn your house down. Then you'll tell him you love him and go to bed with him bc why not.
The series had become no stakes and conflict free because Rice clearly just won't let Lestat lose and is thus boring.
After 2 books of "Lestat wins everything and always gets away with it" I was hoping for something more interesting. Instead what I got was some peak snake eating its tail nonsense. Lestat gets away with rape. Lestat refuses to acknowledge boundaries. Lestat does exactly what he was told not to do but everything that results is still somehow Louis's fault. And Marius's. And everyone else's. Lestat is so clever but still gets outsmarted at every turn. Lestat manages to force his human friend into a new, younger body despite said friend repeatedly telling Lestat he doesn't want immortality (and now Lestat gets another 50+ years of hassling him about immortality). Lestat beds a nun.
It's a weird gross power fantasy. Everyone and everything is a plaything for Lestat. And the moment you resist he can and will burn your house down. Then you'll tell him you love him and go to bed with him bc why not.
The series had become no stakes and conflict free because Rice clearly just won't let Lestat lose and is thus boring.