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A review by goblinhearted
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
5.0
The novel is told in three parts, from the thoughtful and existential perspective of Louis who narrates the story to a young, human interviewer. The first part of the book focuses on Louis’ early experience being turned into a vampire and the unique trials and tribulations that he faces in New Orleans. He is accompanied by Lestat, a more experienced vampire with a flippant, cruel and playful/flamboyant personality. Along the way, they are joined by Claudia, a child vampire. Together, they form a sort of unusual family. The second part of the book is a quest through Europe to find other vampires. The third part takes place in Paris, and the fourth part wraps up the conclusion.
The characterizations in this story are positively stunning.
First we see the contrast between Louis and Lestat. Louis is wrapped up in very “mortal” concerns like, why do vampires exist? Why must they feed on living creatures? Are vampires creatures of God or of Satan? He has a very sentimental and sensitive perspective. For example, at the beginning of the novel, Louis chooses to feed on animals instead of on humans, thinking this is a less evil and cruel way to sustain himself. In contrast, Lestat, likes to “play” with his victims before killing them, drawing out and taking pleasure in the process, which Louis finds to be cruel and callous.
Then there is Claudia, who is made into a vampire at a very young age, and so she is essentially locked in a body of a five-year-old, never to physically develop even though over the years, she matures mentally in the course of experiencing life and consuming knowledge. Because of her age, she never really has the firsthand experience of living as a human in the way that Louis does. She can’t comprehend it at all.
I find the relationship dynamics between Louis, Lestat, and Claudia to be really interesting and complex. Lestat is manipulative to Louis. To Claudia, Louis and Lestat are like her parents - while Lestat wants to teach Claudia about being a vampire, and to bond with her over their vampiric natures, Louis wants to teach her about art, literature and poetry, which Lestat considers to be mortal concerns. As Claudia develops and matures, she becomes obsessed with her nature as a vampire and, feeling alienated, desperately wants to find others like her. Louis seems locked into viewing her as somewhere between his precious daughter and his lover (the latter of which is very limited, due to her size and “age”). Over time resentment builds inside of her as she realizes all that she will never be able to experience, especially because of the limitations of her body, size and strength. She desperately wants to be seen as what she is - a woman - and not a child and seems to go between feeling resentful toward Louis, for treating her like a child, and expressing her love for him, as her closest friend and companion.
I thought the third and fourth acts were the most fascinating and readable, as they go on to reveal information and set events in motion that will change everything. It truly feels like everything that happens up until that point perfectly leads up to these events.
I really enjoyed all of the gothic descriptions in the novel. The descriptions of their surroundings, from nature to the interior design is really immersive and beautiful. The narrative style, while beautiful and descriptive, was certainly heavy and dense at times, which made this feel a little tiring to read. Also, some of the description goes overboard in the sense that it’s difficult to follow or make out what is actually happening. These parts tended to lose my attention, even though I would re-read them a few times, really wanting to understand. Then the pacing would pick back up again, causing tens if not hundreds of pages to go by without even realizing.
Above all, the most striking aspect of this novel to me was the impeccably realistic and tragic characterization of the main characters. They were ever-changing, fully brought "alive" on page. These complexities are what urge me to rate this book with five stars.
The characterizations in this story are positively stunning.
First we see the contrast between Louis and Lestat. Louis is wrapped up in very “mortal” concerns like, why do vampires exist? Why must they feed on living creatures? Are vampires creatures of God or of Satan? He has a very sentimental and sensitive perspective. For example, at the beginning of the novel, Louis chooses to feed on animals instead of on humans, thinking this is a less evil and cruel way to sustain himself. In contrast, Lestat, likes to “play” with his victims before killing them, drawing out and taking pleasure in the process, which Louis finds to be cruel and callous.
Then there is Claudia, who is made into a vampire at a very young age, and so she is essentially locked in a body of a five-year-old, never to physically develop even though over the years, she matures mentally in the course of experiencing life and consuming knowledge. Because of her age, she never really has the firsthand experience of living as a human in the way that Louis does. She can’t comprehend it at all.
I find the relationship dynamics between Louis, Lestat, and Claudia to be really interesting and complex. Lestat is manipulative to Louis.
Spoiler
He even goes so far as claiming to create Claudia in order to keep Louis from running away.I thought the third and fourth acts were the most fascinating and readable, as they go on to reveal information and set events in motion that will change everything. It truly feels like everything that happens up until that point perfectly leads up to these events.
I really enjoyed all of the gothic descriptions in the novel. The descriptions of their surroundings, from nature to the interior design is really immersive and beautiful. The narrative style, while beautiful and descriptive, was certainly heavy and dense at times, which made this feel a little tiring to read. Also, some of the description goes overboard in the sense that it’s difficult to follow or make out what is actually happening. These parts tended to lose my attention, even though I would re-read them a few times, really wanting to understand. Then the pacing would pick back up again, causing tens if not hundreds of pages to go by without even realizing.
Above all, the most striking aspect of this novel to me was the impeccably realistic and tragic characterization of the main characters. They were ever-changing, fully brought "alive" on page. These complexities are what urge me to rate this book with five stars.