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challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Characters:
Louis was a bit insufferable for me personally. Melodramatic, constant, unending navel-gazing... couldn't get over hating being a vampire... just, not my cup of tea.
Worldbuilding/Atmosphere:
very gothic, dark atmosphere to the book, for sure.
Writing Style/Authorial Voice:
The navel-gazing really just did me in. I essentially dnf-ed this because the final 100 pages I BARELY read, not gonna lie.
This would be a book well-suited for critical literary analysis in an literature class, but for just a leisurely read, it was too much of that for my personal taste.
I don't necessarily need or want themes to be spoon-fed to me all the time, but I also don't want to feel like I need a literature class discussion to understand all of the vague philosophical meanderings in the narrative.
Also all of the pedophilia references were uncomfortable, to say the least. Calling a literal 5 year old "sensual"... just WHY?? I'm sure Rice had her reasons and it's all very grand and intellectual, but just casually reading this book it made me personally quite uncomfortable.
Did not really enjoy this reading experience overall (clearly).
Louis was a bit insufferable for me personally. Melodramatic, constant, unending navel-gazing... couldn't get over hating being a vampire... just, not my cup of tea.
Worldbuilding/Atmosphere:
very gothic, dark atmosphere to the book, for sure.
Writing Style/Authorial Voice:
The navel-gazing really just did me in. I essentially dnf-ed this because the final 100 pages I BARELY read, not gonna lie.
This would be a book well-suited for critical literary analysis in an literature class, but for just a leisurely read, it was too much of that for my personal taste.
I don't necessarily need or want themes to be spoon-fed to me all the time, but I also don't want to feel like I need a literature class discussion to understand all of the vague philosophical meanderings in the narrative.
Also all of the pedophilia references were uncomfortable, to say the least. Calling a literal 5 year old "sensual"... just WHY?? I'm sure Rice had her reasons and it's all very grand and intellectual, but just casually reading this book it made me personally quite uncomfortable.
Did not really enjoy this reading experience overall (clearly).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Violence
Moderate: Pedophilia
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Grief
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Murder
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Slavery
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Death of parent
Minor: Slavery
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A pretty interesting book. The writing style was hit or miss with me, sometimes I found it riveting and capturing my attention, but sometimes it was too pretentious and I had a hard time telling what was actually going on. One of the many Dracula influences on this novel seems to be that the middle is boring as hell. Thankfully I found the beginning interesting enough, and the last 20% of the book was excellent.
I can't say I ever got a good grasp on any of the characters. the author's descriptions of characters isn't very tangible, and everything tends to center around the main character thinking about how sad and depressed he is.
Despite this, I enjoyed most of it, and will likely read the other books in the series.
I can't say I ever got a good grasp on any of the characters. the author's descriptions of characters isn't very tangible, and everything tends to center around the main character thinking about how sad and depressed he is.
Despite this, I enjoyed most of it, and will likely read the other books in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Blood
Minor: Confinement, Suicide
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is one of the few instances where the movie is better than the book. That said, there are some really vivid moments in the book that the movie was unable to include such as Louis taking the life of a priest on the altar where communion is given in a cathedral. Like, talk about vampire aesthetic right there. And the fact that Louis was forced the lie on top of Lestat that first night? Priceless.
The writing could get a bit tedious and Lestat sucking the blood of children was disturbing for a number of reasons though most notably in the way it was described. That said, Louis having an existential crisis every 10 pages was surprisingly relatable though whether that is because of 2020 or just because I am equally as broody is hard to say. But I appreciated that being a vampire did not come as naturally for Louis as it seemed to for Lestat or Claudia.
Louis is forced to come to terms with his passivity and the role it played in how his life played out was important since much of what happened might not have come to pass if he had only done something instead of letting everyone else control him.
If anything, I only wish the subtext of Louis and Lestat's relationship was actual text since it's clear that, despite everything, they are drawn to one another. I guess it's a good thing they have eternity to figure themselves out.
The writing could get a bit tedious and Lestat sucking the blood of children was disturbing for a number of reasons though most notably in the way it was described. That said, Louis having an existential crisis every 10 pages was surprisingly relatable though whether that is because of 2020 or just because I am equally as broody is hard to say. But I appreciated that being a vampire did not come as naturally for Louis as it seemed to for Lestat or Claudia.
Louis is forced to come to terms with his passivity and the role it played in how his life played out was important since much of what happened might not have come to pass if he had only done something instead of letting everyone else control him.
If anything, I only wish the subtext of Louis and Lestat's relationship was actual text since it's clear that, despite everything, they are drawn to one another. I guess it's a good thing they have eternity to figure themselves out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Blood
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Yes. I ended up enjoying a vampire book. This was the second time I read it, the first time being way back when I was only in middle school. So, about five years. I forgot how homoerotic this book was, or how creepy it was with Claudia and Louis. Not too creepy, though. I just had to forget that Claudia was a little girl to get past that bit and accept the romance. I even didn't mind Louis being all hateful for the whole thing, ranting about nothing and just being like Edward. Rice definitely did a good job with this book. It had sex appeal and the interest of the vampire's lives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Blood, Grief