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A review by charbck
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
genius. the cover says “spellbinding” and ya its that exactly. i have not been this entrapped by a narrative in so long. the prose is incredible, and so deeply erotic without there ever being nudity. its incredibly impressive. louis’s character is AMAZING. im glad i knew anne rice lost a daughter before going into this book… it makes all descriptions of claudia and louis’s feeling for her much more impactful. and claudia…!!! such a nuanced character i found myself aching for her as louis does. i watched the show before reading and was surprised and excited that it was so different than the book.
-.25 for the dubious and “problematic” implications of louis beginning as a plantation owner. its deeply ironic that he cares so much for human life yet owned and abused enslaved people. my issue is not simply with him being a slave owner. there was an opportunity for louis to reflect on his atrocities against african ppl in the same way he repeatedly reflected on his killings and on claudia. rice missed this opportunity and instead perpetuated antiblack racism through his dialogue in the first 100 pgs. im glad the tv show kept louis morally dubious as a pimp, and he reflected on his actions within the first episode.
there is also the dubious and “problematic” implications of claudia. one review calls it pedophilia, and i understand how the descriptions of her can be triggering. it’s frustrating that killing is so often compared to sex, and ofc louis and lestat kill and turn 5 y/o claudia. (this is a stupid comparison but its like how fusing in steven universe is compared to sex, but then STEVEN FUSES WITH HIS DAD.) claudia is based on rice’s daughter who she lost, who like vampire claudia, was stripped of the opportunity to grow old. this grief makes louis’s relationship with claudia so special, and to me, devoid of a sexual nature. louis (also madeleine) is clearly a self insert for rice. i LOVE the nuance of claudia’s struggles. the pain and frustration she feels as she grows older but is trapped in her toddler form… she cannot accomplish anything because of her size, despite her immortal mind… the guilt louis feels without being able to shake the notion that she will always be his baby. its so much different than the claudia of the show. its interesting that the other vampires are disgusted by the demon child and think poorly of louis for it. there are implications there i find hard to dictate… what gets me the most is THE LOSS OF CLAUDIA. AND LOUIS GRIEF AND APATHY THAT HE CANNOT SHAKE AND LOUIS HOLDING THE INFANT AT THE END……. ITS SOOOO GOOOOOOD for these reasons i understand claudia not as an outlet for pedophilia, but an outlet for adoration and immortal love of a parent, though i acknowledge the uncomfortable sensual descriptions of her.
CANT WAIT FOR SEASON 2 CANT WAIT TO READ THE VAMPIRE LESTAT
-.25 for the dubious and “problematic” implications of louis beginning as a plantation owner. its deeply ironic that he cares so much for human life yet owned and abused enslaved people. my issue is not simply with him being a slave owner. there was an opportunity for louis to reflect on his atrocities against african ppl in the same way he repeatedly reflected on his killings and on claudia. rice missed this opportunity and instead perpetuated antiblack racism through his dialogue in the first 100 pgs. im glad the tv show kept louis morally dubious as a pimp, and he reflected on his actions within the first episode.
there is also the dubious and “problematic” implications of claudia. one review calls it pedophilia, and i understand how the descriptions of her can be triggering. it’s frustrating that killing is so often compared to sex, and ofc louis and lestat kill and turn 5 y/o claudia. (this is a stupid comparison but its like how fusing in steven universe is compared to sex, but then STEVEN FUSES WITH HIS DAD.) claudia is based on rice’s daughter who she lost, who like vampire claudia, was stripped of the opportunity to grow old. this grief makes louis’s relationship with claudia so special, and to me, devoid of a sexual nature. louis (also madeleine) is clearly a self insert for rice. i LOVE the nuance of claudia’s struggles. the pain and frustration she feels as she grows older but is trapped in her toddler form… she cannot accomplish anything because of her size, despite her immortal mind… the guilt louis feels without being able to shake the notion that she will always be his baby. its so much different than the claudia of the show.
CANT WAIT FOR SEASON 2 CANT WAIT TO READ THE VAMPIRE LESTAT