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A review by jcoverdale
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Okay so, I watched AMC's adaptation of Interview with the Vampire for the first time this October and became (understandably) obsessed with the show. Like, rewatch the first season seven times in three months obsessed. It is with this obsession and love of the show and characters that I came into this book with, which I know has colored my experience of it both positively and negatively and will be reflected in this review. If you're looking for an unbiased review of this book from someone with no background in Anne Rice's vampires, this is not that review.
With that out of the way, I absolutely loved reading this book. It was amazing to be able to connect these characters, their struggles, and scenes and dialogue from the book to the show. I felt like it gave me a better understanding of the show and the process of its creation and the story it is presenting, while recognizing that the two versions are meant to be different. I enjoyed reading the scenes post-New Orleans and thinking about how they will be developed/adapted in season 2. I did feel like it dragged in some places, particularly when Louis and Claudia went to Eastern Europe, and that the prose could often drag the story down. But, there were often times where I absolutely loved the prose, particularly the insight it gave to Louis' mind and relentless pondering. That pondering often provided some of my favorite Louis moments, granted me a much deeper understanding and connection to him, and really got to the core of some of the long-standing questions of this series (and the show).
To get into specifics, I found the New Orleans/Louisiana section to often be dull at times. This might be because of my own comparisons with the show, but I would maintain that this section is not as compelling as other portions of the novel. Louis and Lestat's first meeting and their time on the plantation is boring, and it feels very obvious that Louis is not being entirely truthful about what occurred nor about his feelings regarding Lestat. The only section of this that was interesting were Louis family, which was little developed in my opinion, and Lestat's father dynamics that Louis cannot provide full understanding of. Additionally, the way that enslaved people are discussed in this section is often deeply racist, especially in some of Louis' ramblings about their "superstitious nature". This part of the novel really picks up after they move to New Orleans and create Claudia (my beloved) but I still felt like something in the way Louis describes their dynamics and relationship between Lestat, Claudia, and himself to be lacking. I think this is purposeful, Louis is not a trustworthy narrator, but it was my thoughts during this section regardless. The arguments and dynamics between Louis and Lestat and Louis and Claudia are the most interesting parts of this segment of the book. Claudia and Louis' murder of Lestat was compelling to me, given the connections and changes the show makes while at the same time Louis is entirely conflicted though we as the audience don't really understand why, outside of his guilt surrounding killing. What entirely saved this part for me, and was one of my favorite moments of the entire novel, was when Louis entered the Catholic Church in New Orleans, invisions multiple different funeral processions that he feels guilty/responsible for, gets called to confession by the priest, and then kills the priest on the altar like it is some sort of vampiric communion. Truly, this scene was such a beautiful way to establish how his religious upbringing STILL deeply affects Louis' life as a vampire and how the Catholic guilt he lives with eats away at him. As a queer person that was raised Catholic, this scene rocked me to my core and I absolutely loved it.
As I stated before, the Eastern European portion of this novel was boring and I'm glad it's been cut out of like every adaptation of this novel. When Louis and Claudia arrive in Paris, this novel becomes just breathtakingly beautiful and interesting to me. We get to see their dynamics at their most bare, with Louis' philosophical pondering eating away at him and Claudia (rightfully so) embracing her hatred of Louis for his part in making her what she is. The Théâtre des Vampires is so engrossing, their performance is deeply compelling and the view we get of other vampires highlights how human Louis still is. The philosophical debates Louis and Armand have upon meeting, but also at other points during this section, are so interesting and lay bare the questions on Louis' mind that plague his existence. The obsession they have with each other is really interesting, and Louis' ease at admitting his love for Armand just further brings into question what and why he was hiding with Lestat and New Orleans. Just kind of obsessed with loving a person because you are both evil, so you cannot imagine anyone else should/will love you. Claudia and Madeleine are really interesting, and I wish Anne Rice spent more time focusing on their relationship because it's just fascinating. I am excited for how the show will develop it.The return of Lestat, and the deaths of Claudia and Madeleine are heart wrenching, tragic moments to read. To watch them die, entirely out of Louis' control but caused by two people he deeply loves (Lestat and Armand) just rips out your heart and stomps on it. The fire of the Théâtre des Vampires feels good in it's revenge for the pain that Louis holds, and that I as the reader share (and I am excited for this adaptation in the show as well). The way that the murder of Claudia just absolutely destroys any human quality Louis had left, his passion most notably, is a sad, beautiful reflection of the enormity of his grief and his capacity for love that he lost. It forever connects him to Armand, but it seems to the displeasure of them both. Also, I was intrigued by Armand as a sadistic person. His involvement in Madeleine's turning! Him telling Louis to jump off the tower! His clear desire to completely isolate Louis, just so compelling to me as a reader.
The return to New Orleans with the decaying, depressed Lestat is another sad reflection of grief and love lost that I found compelling and beautiful. Armand and Louis' final discussion in the park, where Armand admits his involvement in the events in Paris and that he never expected it to utterly destroy the passion he loved most in Louis is touching and highlights again the extent of Louis' grief and how it changed him. His final confrontation with Daniel, and Daniel beginning to search for Lestat is a beautiful way to end the book and showed again Louis' detachment from humanity that has been caused by his grief and the vampires in his life.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and the insight it gave me into the show and these characters, who I've come to love in their book form. I really enjoyed reading this with a lot of my friends at the same time (unintentionally lol)! Onto the second book!
With that out of the way, I absolutely loved reading this book. It was amazing to be able to connect these characters, their struggles, and scenes and dialogue from the book to the show. I felt like it gave me a better understanding of the show and the process of its creation and the story it is presenting, while recognizing that the two versions are meant to be different. I enjoyed reading the scenes post-New Orleans and thinking about how they will be developed/adapted in season 2. I did feel like it dragged in some places, particularly when Louis and Claudia went to Eastern Europe, and that the prose could often drag the story down. But, there were often times where I absolutely loved the prose, particularly the insight it gave to Louis' mind and relentless pondering. That pondering often provided some of my favorite Louis moments, granted me a much deeper understanding and connection to him, and really got to the core of some of the long-standing questions of this series (and the show).
To get into specifics, I found the New Orleans/Louisiana section to often be dull at times. This might be because of my own comparisons with the show, but I would maintain that this section is not as compelling as other portions of the novel. Louis and Lestat's first meeting and their time on the plantation is boring, and it feels very obvious that Louis is not being entirely truthful about what occurred nor about his feelings regarding Lestat. The only section of this that was interesting were Louis family, which was little developed in my opinion, and Lestat's father dynamics that Louis cannot provide full understanding of. Additionally, the way that enslaved people are discussed in this section is often deeply racist, especially in some of Louis' ramblings about their "superstitious nature". This part of the novel really picks up after they move to New Orleans and create Claudia (my beloved) but I still felt like something in the way Louis describes their dynamics and relationship between Lestat, Claudia, and himself to be lacking. I think this is purposeful, Louis is not a trustworthy narrator, but it was my thoughts during this section regardless. The arguments and dynamics between Louis and Lestat and Louis and Claudia are the most interesting parts of this segment of the book. Claudia and Louis' murder of Lestat was compelling to me, given the connections and changes the show makes while at the same time Louis is entirely conflicted though we as the audience don't really understand why, outside of his guilt surrounding killing. What entirely saved this part for me, and was one of my favorite moments of the entire novel, was when Louis entered the Catholic Church in New Orleans, invisions multiple different funeral processions that he feels guilty/responsible for, gets called to confession by the priest, and then kills the priest on the altar like it is some sort of vampiric communion. Truly, this scene was such a beautiful way to establish how his religious upbringing STILL deeply affects Louis' life as a vampire and how the Catholic guilt he lives with eats away at him. As a queer person that was raised Catholic, this scene rocked me to my core and I absolutely loved it.
As I stated before, the Eastern European portion of this novel was boring and I'm glad it's been cut out of like every adaptation of this novel. When Louis and Claudia arrive in Paris, this novel becomes just breathtakingly beautiful and interesting to me. We get to see their dynamics at their most bare, with Louis' philosophical pondering eating away at him and Claudia (rightfully so) embracing her hatred of Louis for his part in making her what she is. The Théâtre des Vampires is so engrossing, their performance is deeply compelling and the view we get of other vampires highlights how human Louis still is. The philosophical debates Louis and Armand have upon meeting, but also at other points during this section, are so interesting and lay bare the questions on Louis' mind that plague his existence. The obsession they have with each other is really interesting, and Louis' ease at admitting his love for Armand just further brings into question what and why he was hiding with Lestat and New Orleans. Just kind of obsessed with loving a person because you are both evil, so you cannot imagine anyone else should/will love you. Claudia and Madeleine are really interesting, and I wish Anne Rice spent more time focusing on their relationship because it's just fascinating. I am excited for how the show will develop it.
The return to New Orleans with the decaying, depressed Lestat is another sad reflection of grief and love lost that I found compelling and beautiful. Armand and Louis' final discussion in the park, where Armand admits his involvement in the events in Paris and that he never expected it to utterly destroy the passion he loved most in Louis is touching and highlights again the extent of Louis' grief and how it changed him. His final confrontation with Daniel, and Daniel beginning to search for Lestat is a beautiful way to end the book and showed again Louis' detachment from humanity that has been caused by his grief and the vampires in his life.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and the insight it gave me into the show and these characters, who I've come to love in their book form. I really enjoyed reading this with a lot of my friends at the same time (unintentionally lol)! Onto the second book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism