Ann Rice has been on my hit list for quite a while. She feels to me like one of those authors you should experience at least once. I tried reading this one a long time ago and it didn’t take. For Christmas, one of my friends sent me her beautiful copy of the Vampire Chronicles so could give it another try as she said I must. Wanting to read the book, as well as the beauty of the book and gesture brought me to this moment… where I can tell you – yes, read Interview With The Vampire. ~Sheila
As the book begins, Daniel Malloy is set to interview the vampire named Louis. Louis is wanting to share his life story from the time he was human and the details surrounding his change as well as the time and events that followed. Daniel, nervous (as one would expect) yet excited for this opportunity, records the telling. Louis shares his life from human form, to the events surrounding his change and the time and happenings that followed.
It’s still a little hard for me to explain all that this book is even though I finished it a few days ago. I always have enjoyed reading stories that are not a cookie cutter outline of other stories and this one certainly fits the breaking the mold description. Ann Rice’s idea to write a book about a vampire sharing his life (and death) story is in my opinion, brilliant. I devoured the book.
I preferred Louis to the Vampire Lestat, not only because it is Louis’ story – but that Louis still for the most part, maintains some feelings for the preciousness of human life and does not (for the most part) use his new ways for evil. I think that helped me ease into this book, knowing that Louis still maintained somewhat of a heart and feelings.
I found the book to me enlightening. Once into it – I could not put it down. I wanted to know what would happen to all of them involved and in the end… it was somewhat sad.
My rule on spoilers is you need them if the book is less than 20 years old and not well-known you dont allow them in a review. In this case, I feel it is safe to say that I wish Louis would have found love and I hoped he would in Claudia, or in Armand, and I was saddened that as much as he wished to find others like himself, when he did, he found them wanting and for the most part – lived a life of solidarity pushing others who cared for him away.
Overall, I enjoyed this read and I am glad I finally read it. There are three books within the book I was given – The Vampire Lestat is the second and Queen of the Dammed is the third. While I am taking a break from them at the moment, I do plan to one day return to this book and read on.
Book Journey 
The witching hour!! Read that one!! I felt like I was reading a true history..truly her best best work
That book you’re holding is beautiful
OOh thanks Diane for the tip 🙂
I was a late comer this party as well, but Rice is a favorite author. She has said in the past that Interview is NOT the first in the series, but has never said much else except that Cruise was not her pic as Lestat in the screenplay.
I have learned a lot about a lot of things in the Vampire series. She is a consummate researcher on topics- one a book as the series progresses: violins, iconography, paper and writing implements, Roman History…
I reread Interview every once in a while, and I still kind of feel as you do
MMM more info than I knew before – I have red nothing on her but feel I should. Fascinating woman
I read this one and decided that it wasn’t a genre that I particularly enjoyed. But I know I’m in the vast minority.
It took me a while Lloyd 🙂
So you actually enjoyed a book you once turned down? Makes me wonder how many books I missed that way… What changed? Was it your friend that really convinced you?
Yes – and this is not the first time I revisited a book that at one time “didnt take”. The same thing happened with The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night. My book club read it a long time ago and I could not get into it – read it years later and loved it 🙂
What changed? Hmmm…. a desire to read Ann Rice was always something – but talking about it with my friend Amanda and her love for it really sealed it for me to try again.
I tried reading this book years ago and it was too violent for me.
I think that was what stopped me the first time Kathy
I read this series in college from a fellow, sorority sister. Man, it was good. I tried reading Rice’s witch series and boy that stuff was crazy.
LOL yes I see she has a ton of books out there… I will be happy if I can get to these three 🙂
I read this book so long ago and remember liking it, but not loving it. I did not continue on with the series
I want to continue – but not right away. I am curious about the others
I loved this book; liked the second one even better. And there are more beyond the first three. But then, Lestat is my favorite of her characters. Her later books got a little weird . . . and I’m being kind here with “weird”, but the early ones I found consuming, I just couldn’t put them down.
Interesting Leslie – you have inspired me. At this time… I like Louis and thought Lestat was a pain in the a** who kept Loius and Claudia captive due to his own failures…. now i am curious if I have it all wrong…
I loved this series back in the day. I even loved the spinoff stories about Claudia and the other vampires Lestat and Louis meet. I haven’t read any of them in a very long time, and I have not read the recent Lestat books she published. I am not certain whether I can put aside my personal feelings for her enough to enjoy her books anymore. I do think my favorite of hers was Ramses. That one really stands out for me. The Witching Hour is good too but the rest of that series is crazy pants insane.
Sheila, I’m glad that you ended up really enjoying this book. It sounds intriguing, even though I’m not much of a reader of vampire stories. Years ago, I read Cry to Heaven by Anne Rice, because a friend recommended it to me.
I am glad that you posted this review. Anne Rice is one of the authors that I tried in my teens and like with you it didn’t take for me either. I think because I was just too young to really appreciate it. I have been meaning to get back to her books so reading this review was a great reminder for me. I am glad that you enjoyed it!
Yay! An Anne Rice inductee! I’m so glad you liked it. She is my favorite author, but can you believe I haven’t read all of her books? Shocking! In my defense, I never read series books one right after the other. It’s just not in me. However, I have read books 1, 2, 4 and 5 twice, and Queen of the Damned (Book 3) is my favorite book. I’ve read it four times! I’m currently reading Book 6, The Vampire Armand…and I’ve read some of her other books…The Mummy (excellent), Pandora, The Mayfair Witches trilogy. You must read The Witching Hour! Another favorite.
Meant to say also…I love the new blog look. 🙂