Interview with the Vampire / The Vampire Lestat / The Queen of the Damned
by Anne Rice
The Vampire Chronicles (Collections and Selections — 1-3)
Member Reviews
These classics of vampire literature made Anne Rice a household name. And with good reason. Rice gave us a new type of vampire, a driven and flawed creature with emotions and motivations not unlike humans. Intelligent and not easily pinned down as meerly evil.
Though "Interview" is often cited as the best of her books, I think "The Vampire Lestat" was better. In that book, Rice not only gives us the origins of vampirism, but also the real Lestat. He's hot-headed, charismatic and not at all the vile, evil creature Louis made him out to be. Lestat decides to become a rock and roll star, and gets what he wants with style and flair. The third novel, "Queen of the Damned," is the weakest in the trilogy because of a non-linear style and jarring jumps from character to character. But, the ending was more than satisfying. Anne Rice deserves her reputation as a great writer for these three books alone, even if her books in recent years have been less than stellar.
Though "Interview" is often cited as the best of her books, I think "The Vampire Lestat" was better. In that book, Rice not only gives us the origins of vampirism, but also the real Lestat. He's hot-headed, charismatic and not at all the vile, evil creature Louis made him out to be. Lestat decides to become a rock and roll star, and gets what he wants with style and flair. The third novel, "Queen of the Damned," is the weakest in the trilogy because of a non-linear style and jarring jumps from character to character. But, the ending was more than satisfying. Anne Rice deserves her reputation as a great writer for these three books alone, even if her books in recent years have been less than stellar.
Anne Rice's infamous vampire Lestat is the original "Vampire crush" he woos his audience and his public as unapologetically as he does his victims. It is easy to fall under the "glamour" of the fiendishly charismatic Lestat as he unfolds his life to the reader, in an intimate and poetic narration / re-examination of his past and present day (20th Century) Life.
The reader will find themselves transported to that dingy New Orleans Hotel room where the first installment : " Interview with the Vampire" started, you'll become "the interviewer;" who's immediately smitten by his beauty; then terrified by his fiendish demeanor, and candor. Your heart will skip several beats as Lestat's recounts his last night as a human, as he shares his grief for the life and loves he's lost. Part of you will want to scream and run from the room in terror; yet you will find yourself fantasizing about letting him take you in his arms for that fatal last kiss.
Lestat's chronicle will re-awaken deliciously dark desires, and even philosophical re-examination of those uncomfortable questions about life, human existence, and " the meaning of all" (only if you want it to, like I do).
To me, Anne Rice's Lestat is a personification of what's both good and bad about humanity, and the individual's search for significance. Love him, hate him, or fear him, bet you cannot help empathizing with Lestat's reluctant bloodlust, as well as well as his conflicted drive for love, fame, acceptance, and show more even"Sainthood."
Lestat the cynical 15th century vampire who was unwillingly bestowed "the gift/curse" of vampiric immortality struggles to hold on to what's left of his humanity, morality, and soul in an increasingly changing world?
Through the eyes of The Vampire Lestat, and his cohorts, the reader is taken on journeys backwards and forward through time to share in the many adventures of Lestat and the other inhabitants of this preternatural parallel universe, where vampires, witches, demons, and spirits abound; Where the lines between good and evil; heroism and Villainy; hedonism and religion are skillfully blurred then redrawn. Underscoring the "self evident'" truths about humanity's frailty and our search for love- the only truly immortal gift.
The Vampire Chronicles are my favorite works of Anne Rice's, and I have read just about everything by her including biographies. To me Rice is the best Writer in this genre, her works are definitely not just " blockbuster fluff". Yes they are highly addictive and enjoyable, but I found this series to be well researched, prosaic and pleasantly philosophical at times. It's the definitive "Vampire" series, and all others are poor imitations (IMHO).
I didn't rate it 5/5 stars only because Rice failed to deliver on hers/ Lestat's implicit promise for an equally great sequel/ revamped "Vampire Chronicle" after " Queen of the Damned", subsequent attempts like "The New Vampire Chronicles" didn't quite deliver. She should really consider bringing Lestat into the 21st Century-I am really eager to hear his commentary on life in today's World. show less
The reader will find themselves transported to that dingy New Orleans Hotel room where the first installment : " Interview with the Vampire" started, you'll become "the interviewer;" who's immediately smitten by his beauty; then terrified by his fiendish demeanor, and candor. Your heart will skip several beats as Lestat's recounts his last night as a human, as he shares his grief for the life and loves he's lost. Part of you will want to scream and run from the room in terror; yet you will find yourself fantasizing about letting him take you in his arms for that fatal last kiss.
Lestat's chronicle will re-awaken deliciously dark desires, and even philosophical re-examination of those uncomfortable questions about life, human existence, and " the meaning of all" (only if you want it to, like I do).
To me, Anne Rice's Lestat is a personification of what's both good and bad about humanity, and the individual's search for significance. Love him, hate him, or fear him, bet you cannot help empathizing with Lestat's reluctant bloodlust, as well as well as his conflicted drive for love, fame, acceptance, and show more even"Sainthood."
Lestat the cynical 15th century vampire who was unwillingly bestowed "the gift/curse" of vampiric immortality struggles to hold on to what's left of his humanity, morality, and soul in an increasingly changing world?
Through the eyes of The Vampire Lestat, and his cohorts, the reader is taken on journeys backwards and forward through time to share in the many adventures of Lestat and the other inhabitants of this preternatural parallel universe, where vampires, witches, demons, and spirits abound; Where the lines between good and evil; heroism and Villainy; hedonism and religion are skillfully blurred then redrawn. Underscoring the "self evident'" truths about humanity's frailty and our search for love- the only truly immortal gift.
The Vampire Chronicles are my favorite works of Anne Rice's, and I have read just about everything by her including biographies. To me Rice is the best Writer in this genre, her works are definitely not just " blockbuster fluff". Yes they are highly addictive and enjoyable, but I found this series to be well researched, prosaic and pleasantly philosophical at times. It's the definitive "Vampire" series, and all others are poor imitations (IMHO).
I didn't rate it 5/5 stars only because Rice failed to deliver on hers/ Lestat's implicit promise for an equally great sequel/ revamped "Vampire Chronicle" after " Queen of the Damned", subsequent attempts like "The New Vampire Chronicles" didn't quite deliver. She should really consider bringing Lestat into the 21st Century-I am really eager to hear his commentary on life in today's World. show less
I've heard so much about Anne Rice's vampire books and I've seen the movies, but I'm disappointed with the three books in this volume. I don't like the writing style and the violence was too much for me at times. On the other hand, all three books were very compelling and I became invested in the characters and their well-being. I HAD to continue reading to find out what happened to them even though I really didn't want to finish the volume.
3 stars
Disclaimer – I received this book as a gift from my grandmother-in-law. I am not paid or compensated in any way, shape or form for this honest review. I will not change or alter this review for any reason unless at my discretion.
3 stars
Disclaimer – I received this book as a gift from my grandmother-in-law. I am not paid or compensated in any way, shape or form for this honest review. I will not change or alter this review for any reason unless at my discretion.
Done with Interview with the Vampire! I'd read it so long ago that I had forgotten a great deal of it, which left me with the same feeling of satisfaction you get when reading a new book. And I really enjoyed it -again. A reminder that vampires are supposed to be these cold, dead, murderous creatures; and not the pretty young playthings from most contemporary vampire stories. Now, on to the Lestat novel!
Update- Done with The Vampire Lestat. Not bad, but I have to say it wasn't quite as satisfying as the previous book was. There are a lot more things going on in this story, but it somehow doesn't feel as cohesive as Interview with the Vampire did. I also felt that the author was somehow deviating a bit from the original concept; that might have helped make the series more popular, but I'm not sure it's made it better. Not a bad book, but not as good as the first one in the series.
Update- Done with The Vampire Lestat. Not bad, but I have to say it wasn't quite as satisfying as the previous book was. There are a lot more things going on in this story, but it somehow doesn't feel as cohesive as Interview with the Vampire did. I also felt that the author was somehow deviating a bit from the original concept; that might have helped make the series more popular, but I'm not sure it's made it better. Not a bad book, but not as good as the first one in the series.
Done with Interview with the Vampire! I'd read it so long ago that I had forgotten a great deal of it, which left me with the same feeling of satisfaction you get when reading a new book. And I really enjoyed it -again. A reminder that vampires are supposed to be these cold, dead, murderous creatures; and not the pretty young playthings from most contemporary vampire stories. Now, on to the Lestat novel!
The best stories on vampires that have ever existed or could ever exist. Lestat is an amazing villainous character and Louis is a stunning protagonist. Starting in rural Louisiana, Louis lived on a farm with his family. Lestat turns him into a vampire, and they travel and live together, partners in immortality, though they are soon joined by a little girl, Claudia. I don't want to spoil the action or adventure that takes place in the novel, but really it is worthwhile to read. Rice has amazingly gorgeous descriptive language about everything, especially time.
I absolutely adore Anne and everything I have read by her. These three books (in this particularly unwieldy format) were my first introduction to her and the Vampire Chronicles. I read them in junior high and absolutely devoured them. My goal is to re-read them this year to get a fresh take on some of my favorite characters, and simply to re-visit the writing of a fabulous wordsmith.
The first three are my favorites. Of the three I liked Queen Of The Damned the best.
Lestat is one suave vampire.
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