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Kat Kennedy's Reviews > Interview with the Vampire
Interview with the Vampire (The Vampire Chronicles, #1)
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If you would kindly look at my shelves, you might notice that I've read a good chunk of vampire novels written in the past two decades. It seemed strange to me, though, that I still hadn't read one of the more important ones.
Now, I don't think it's because this book is particularly brilliant or a masterpiece. Yet it does represent an important paradigm shift in the representation of vampires in modern literature. Whilst Vampires are still unaccountably evil in this novel, they are also relatable, capable of sparking our empathy and intimate to us on a level not really seen previously to this novel.
Published in 1976, it is the story of the world's most boring vampire, Louis. Okay, I take that back, ALMOST the world's most boring vampire...
Excellent, now that our obligatory Twilight reference is out of the way, we can get on with the review!
We've come a long way from the original publication of Interview With a Vampire. Previous to this novel, a story about Vampires was generally a horror novel and nobody expected Vampires to turn out to be the good guys. Now they are almost guaranteed to be, at the most, misunderstood.
Like our current generation of teenagers...
As far as I can see in my research, this seems to be the place where Vampire Empathizing began or at least was made popular. I wanted to know if The Lost Boys, Blade, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Anita Blake, Vampire Diaries, Twilight et al owe their existence to Interview With A Vampire and if they've done it justice.
Well, I've been searching for a Vampire novel or movie that is as much of a pop culture icon, that displays tenets of Vampire Empathizing and which predates Interview With a Vampire but so far my search hasn't revealed much.
As for how this novels stands up to the wealth of vampire media that followed it? Well, in some aspects I think it is a vast improvement. The idea of Vampires being the dark seducer isn't new and using them to represent repressed sexuality has become stock standard.
However this book deals with those two themes in a very different way. The dark seducer, Lestat, and the repressed sexual being, Claudia, both destroy Louis in vastly different ways and it's a nice, depressing change from the usual state of affairs.
But still, on its own, it's not a fantastic book. It may have popularized Vampire Empathizing, but it's probably also responsible for a lot of terrible gothic poetry.
And in case you're wondering if the movie is better than the book? In this instance, yes. Though I can't say why...
I'm not sure what the movie has that the book doesn't...
Or what makes the movie more intriguing...
But it sure is SOMETHING!
Now, I don't think it's because this book is particularly brilliant or a masterpiece. Yet it does represent an important paradigm shift in the representation of vampires in modern literature. Whilst Vampires are still unaccountably evil in this novel, they are also relatable, capable of sparking our empathy and intimate to us on a level not really seen previously to this novel.
Published in 1976, it is the story of the world's most boring vampire, Louis. Okay, I take that back, ALMOST the world's most boring vampire...
Excellent, now that our obligatory Twilight reference is out of the way, we can get on with the review!
We've come a long way from the original publication of Interview With a Vampire. Previous to this novel, a story about Vampires was generally a horror novel and nobody expected Vampires to turn out to be the good guys. Now they are almost guaranteed to be, at the most, misunderstood.
Like our current generation of teenagers...
As far as I can see in my research, this seems to be the place where Vampire Empathizing began or at least was made popular. I wanted to know if The Lost Boys, Blade, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Anita Blake, Vampire Diaries, Twilight et al owe their existence to Interview With A Vampire and if they've done it justice.
Well, I've been searching for a Vampire novel or movie that is as much of a pop culture icon, that displays tenets of Vampire Empathizing and which predates Interview With a Vampire but so far my search hasn't revealed much.
As for how this novels stands up to the wealth of vampire media that followed it? Well, in some aspects I think it is a vast improvement. The idea of Vampires being the dark seducer isn't new and using them to represent repressed sexuality has become stock standard.
However this book deals with those two themes in a very different way. The dark seducer, Lestat, and the repressed sexual being, Claudia, both destroy Louis in vastly different ways and it's a nice, depressing change from the usual state of affairs.
But still, on its own, it's not a fantastic book. It may have popularized Vampire Empathizing, but it's probably also responsible for a lot of terrible gothic poetry.
And in case you're wondering if the movie is better than the book? In this instance, yes. Though I can't say why...
I'm not sure what the movie has that the book doesn't...
Or what makes the movie more intriguing...
But it sure is SOMETHING!
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Reading Progress
August 27, 2011
–
Started Reading
August 27, 2011
– Shelved
August 31, 2011
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 59 (59 new)
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DARK ROMANCE
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rated it 5 stars
Aug 29, 2011 12:03AM
Oooh, can't wait to see your review on this one. XD
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Just think - Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Christian Slater, Antonio Banderas, Kirsten Dunst...
I read this book when I was still in school, right before the movie was released. I wanted to read it before watching the movie and I knew that I would be watching it since River Phoenix would be playing the reporter (the boy). I don’t think that I had ever read anything about vampires before, so maybe that’s why I couldn’t put it down. If GR had been around at the time, I’m pretty sure I would have given it 5 stars. Now, I have no idea. Nice review Kat.
Err... Christian Slater is the reporter?
Yes. Phoenix was cast as the reporter but then he died. Slater replaced him.
Oh! That makes so much more sense! I was quite young when the movie came out. I would have been around the same age as Kirsten Dunce I think?
Oops, no, I'm four years younger...
It was 1994, so I guess you must had been quite young, maybe even younger than Dunst :) She was amazing in this movie. It is still one of my favorites of all time I think.
If you're on a vampire kick at the moment, have you read Barbara Hambly's early Vampire books - Those Who Hunt the Night, Traveling with the Dead?It's kind of spy, detective, semi-Holmesian.
No, I haven't read those two books. Considering the Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance drama - how unique would you rate the vampire mythos in these books? Do the differentiate from the masses? Do they stand out? Do they have a fresh perspective?
Great review, Kat. It's been a long time since I read this book. I think her later books were better. I think there's one where Lestat becomes a rock star (not sure which book - Maybe The Vampire Lestat? They all feel the same after a while).I think the movie might have been better than the book, just because it launched a few careers and eyecandy.
Well, I don't know how 'fresh' books from the 1980s can be. They have both urbane and monstrous vampires, any romance which happens (in book 1) is between a married couple, and they're thorough-going detective stories from someone who knows a fair bit of history. I wouldn't say you'd find anything unique in them - just nicely written characters and teckery.
I couldn't finish the book, but the movie? It's one of my favorites. And yes, without Anne Rice, we might've been spared the horror of her latter day wannabes.
I like the Vampire Lestat way better.Louis is a whiny bitch and he annoys me.
I completely agree, Vampire Lestat is way above this one. Lestat is a much better story teller and a hell of a lot less whiny. I think that's why Anne Rice stuck with his point of view for the majority of the other books.
I recommend Those Who Hunt the Night as well, but definitely don't go into it expecting Paranormal Romance. As Andrea says, it is much more a historical detective novel with vampires. The vampires don't have sex and are only seductive to people they want to eat. The main character is a middle aged married professor. There is fun dialogue, good character development, and a very well done Victorian setting, but it is not much like what gets published as Urban Fantasy nowadays. It is not steampunk, either, it's just 1900 with vampires.
How can u prefer lestat?? He was awful! Heartless, cold, horrid thing. Louis was whiny because he was sad. That tends to make u whine. I loved him. He was just so hopeless.
I should preface any explanation of my preference for Lestat. Y explaining that I'm quite evil.
I think I should read this one on my own. I hated Tom Cruise/Lestat in the movie. Who knows, perhaps the book will change my mind.
I read this as a teen, who read about bizarre such, while others read romance novels. I read everything on vampires, werewolfie, and ghost I could get my greedy little mitts on. I mean anything historical, or claimed they my be real. All films watched, from the silent era through Hammer time! lolThis book was amazing to me then-so my rating. Then to see many years later to find a huge new following, and sequel books that sucked worse then the vamp's bite. Never seen the film, nor hardy any vampire films since the 80's.
I just started the book and i prefer it to the movie so far. I'm still yet to find any reason to admire Lestat. I hate him even more.
Great review. when I read this I felt sorry for Louis & annoyed by his constant whinning (sp?). In this book I could not stand Lestat but now in reading the 2nd book in the series I love Lestat and understand him so much more now. Also yes I am evil & like the bad guys haha Now I just need to watch this movie for some eye candy.
I agree with other commenters - you should check out the Vampire Lestat, which is my favourite in the series (I'm currently on book 5) by leaps and bounds. Before Lestat becomes as whiny as Louis, and before Rice has fallen so much in love with her own character that every book is pretty masturbatory.
Hi Kat.I do believe you're right about 'Interview With a Vampire' being a kind-of turning point in the depiction of vampires.
With the benefit of hindsight, surely someone could have gotten Mark Chapman to swing by Anne Rice's house, and the world would have been a better (read: Cullen free) place.
Lestat is one of the best charecters ever. Although I must admit that he gets awesome starting from book 2: here he's just the ultimate jerkI find it funny that you might prefer the movie to the book. I guess it comes from having seen the movie first.
I read the book long before watchning the movie and I remember hating the movie's casting with a passion, since it was all backwards.
I did enjoy the book imensely but ill admit, liked the movie better.
while interview is not a great book. as a big fan of anbe rice i hate saying that, but it is not a great read. please try the rest of the vampire chronicals. there were many years between the writing of book one and two and anne grows wonderfully and the characters (louis aside) become friends how's antics are almost like a drug!
i agree that the movie is better than the book. it took me forever (not really only 10 days) to read the book. i would much rather watch the movie :)
The movie is definitely better and for all the reasons you "state". By the way, thanks for the series of "statements". :)
While I respect your opinion I have to say I loved and still love this book. It seemed very honest to me and although Louis is a tad "whiny" I felt that it was to be expected from someone who genuinely dislikes being undead and still feels human emotions. I also enjoyed Lestat's character in the book and the contrast of him as a caring son with him as a bloodlusting vampire.
I have to agree with someone above, interview may not have been the best, but when you read the whole series (yes there us a few if them) the characters really dine through, I own nearly every single Anne rice book, loved the movie interview hated the queen of the damned movie, (the difference... Anne rice helped with the first but was left out of the second movie).I do love the books though, I think I have read these and the witching hour series several times.
And please forgive spelling errors, using Android app on phone so it is changing words on me :-)
i had to take a break from the series. it was a struggle just to read them i would be on the same book for like 2 weeks. so i put them down after reading the queen of the damned i started another series and so far the books take me like a day to read. so who knows when ill get back to them
I had read Interview and The Vampire Lestat YEARS ago ... I just never started the next one. Then, I got a Kindle PaperWhite for Winter Solstice and I read Rice's The Witching Hour trilogy. That got me back in a Rice vibe. I already had half the Vampire Chronicles in mass-market paperback, so I bought the rest of the series used-LIKE NEW for .01ç each! I am now re-reading Interview (and gonna read all The Vampire Chronicles. Rice can be VERY descriptive; it's more a good thing, but can get tired. I also LOVED her book (under another pen name) Belinda ...
I'm curious Kat as to what capacity you are researching vampire literature? I am I'm the process of writing my masters thesis on vampire literature! I'm not convinced I agree completely with your assessment (although I truly enjoyed the sulky teenager part!!), but your review has given me some food for thought.
I'm not quite sure how this would fit into your research, but the original Dark Shadows soap opera (which ran from 1966 to 1971) had a very good "reluctant vampire" in Barnabas Collins. He was pretty sympathetic.
RARG! I'm trying really hard to fight the impulse I have to curse at you but I believe in the right that everyone has the right to their own opinion even if that opinion is incredibility wrong (which in this case yours is) but I guess will just have to agree to disagree
I agree with your assessment of this book. it was on my "to read" list and now that I'm done with it, I doubt I will read anymore of this series.
yes, I suppose the movie was better...and your line, "[...] like our current generation of teenagers..." hah, really made my day!
The book is entitled Interview with the Vampire.
bullshit. most.of your comment is crap; to say the movie is better kills any othe point you may have had. the movie was good; yes, but it still had many faults
Only almost half way through and beginning to think the movie was better which is a rare thought for me.
What are your favorite vampire books? Great assessment- I agree. The most boring vampire ever!
Movie was good... book not so much.
The only other thing I can say about Louis is that not only was he boring but he was a bit of a whiner. Thought Lestat was a deeper character. Kinda disliked him, but would like know more of his history.The thing that I came away with this story is that Vampires are not only blood suckers but emotional suckers too. Lestat, Claudia and Armand were trying to get Louis to have some sort of strong emotion, be it love or hate or revenge, so that they could feel more alive. When Louis could no longer supply them with these strong emotions that is when they started to die.
What is your favourite vampire novel/ series?
Landon that’s my question too!! What is your fav vampire novel then and why?
Movie is better than the book because you can actually see the hot vampires lol
Gee, "I can't say why" either ...It's been several years since I first read this book, and, having read an incredible vampire book, I'm giving it another chance.
