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A review by angethology
The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
3.25
"Maybe I was not the exotic outcast that I imagined, but merely the dim magnification of every human soul."
Regardless of the plot, Anne Rice's prose is absolutely mesmerizing and is somehow able to make an ancient, theatre vampire turned rock star into a polemic that somehow resonates with the average person in today's age. But, unlike "Interview with the Vampire," I wasn't really as enthralled with the storyline, especially in the second half. I love the idea of a vampire revealing themselves — a completely blasphemous thing to do for vampires, who are usually solitary — by way of hiding in plain sight. But the story quickly delves into Lestat's past, and while I didn't think it was going to be the main focus at first, I did get invested in it, up to a point.
Lestat, always trying to be righteous and altruistic, eventually pursues his dream of performing at the theatre, alongside his best friend and nihilistic, depressed lover Nicki, a violinist. Their relationship is the most intriguing aspect of this book, since it covers their dissonance that simultaneously sublimates into attraction and love. Rice always has a great appreciation for art, whether journalism, or the theatre, or music, and it shows in the character's conveying their emotions through the medium: "Was [Nicki] deliberately creating these long, pure liquid notes to say that beauty meant nothing because it came from the despair inside him, and it had nothing to do with the despair finally, because the despair wasn't beautiful, and beauty then was a horrid irony?"
Even with Lestat's new "Dark Gift" and vices, he still wishes for his mortal loved ones to triumph in life, and even with his attempt at becoming a villain, he's still an optimistic, light, completely anathema to Nicki: ".. And in exact proportion to the light coming out of you, there was the darkness in me! Every exuberance piercing me and creating its exact proportion of darkness and despair!" Lestat's positivity is jarring to Nicki, especially as Lestat ironically uses his Satanic-like powers for good. It's a good portrayal of someone who struggles to define their identity in their world, and staying with a loved one who's depressed and ready to let the world obliterate him any time.
Lestat's arrival at the new generation of humanity and his joining the rock band is a testament to his love for humanity, and the importance of wanting to leave a legacy behind "I revealed myself. I did the very opposite of deceiving. I wanted somehow in making manifest the monstrosity of myself to be joined with my fellow humans again." Despite always being a part of the underworld due to his very being, Lestat will always want to find a connection with other humans — he's genuinely Not Like Other Vampires™. Unfortunately, the book almost lost me as soon as it introduced me to other vampires, the cult, and even Marius. I was so invested in his and Nicki's relationship, and even the rock band, that it felt like the book just grabbed me by the throat and threatened me to care about the other, "new" characters. And for that, I'm giving it between 3 and 3.5 stars.
Regardless of the plot, Anne Rice's prose is absolutely mesmerizing and is somehow able to make an ancient, theatre vampire turned rock star into a polemic that somehow resonates with the average person in today's age. But, unlike "Interview with the Vampire," I wasn't really as enthralled with the storyline, especially in the second half. I love the idea of a vampire revealing themselves — a completely blasphemous thing to do for vampires, who are usually solitary — by way of hiding in plain sight. But the story quickly delves into Lestat's past, and while I didn't think it was going to be the main focus at first, I did get invested in it, up to a point.
Lestat, always trying to be righteous and altruistic, eventually pursues his dream of performing at the theatre, alongside his best friend and nihilistic, depressed lover Nicki, a violinist. Their relationship is the most intriguing aspect of this book, since it covers their dissonance that simultaneously sublimates into attraction and love. Rice always has a great appreciation for art, whether journalism, or the theatre, or music, and it shows in the character's conveying their emotions through the medium: "Was [Nicki] deliberately creating these long, pure liquid notes to say that beauty meant nothing because it came from the despair inside him, and it had nothing to do with the despair finally, because the despair wasn't beautiful, and beauty then was a horrid irony?"
Even with Lestat's new "Dark Gift" and vices, he still wishes for his mortal loved ones to triumph in life, and even with his attempt at becoming a villain, he's still an optimistic, light, completely anathema to Nicki: ".. And in exact proportion to the light coming out of you, there was the darkness in me! Every exuberance piercing me and creating its exact proportion of darkness and despair!" Lestat's positivity is jarring to Nicki, especially as Lestat ironically uses his Satanic-like powers for good. It's a good portrayal of someone who struggles to define their identity in their world, and staying with a loved one who's depressed and ready to let the world obliterate him any time.
Lestat's arrival at the new generation of humanity and his joining the rock band is a testament to his love for humanity, and the importance of wanting to leave a legacy behind "I revealed myself. I did the very opposite of deceiving. I wanted somehow in making manifest the monstrosity of myself to be joined with my fellow humans again." Despite always being a part of the underworld due to his very being, Lestat will always want to find a connection with other humans — he's genuinely Not Like Other Vampires™. Unfortunately, the book almost lost me as soon as it introduced me to other vampires, the cult, and even Marius. I was so invested in his and Nicki's relationship, and even the rock band, that it felt like the book just grabbed me by the throat and threatened me to care about the other, "new" characters. And for that, I'm giving it between 3 and 3.5 stars.