Interview with the Vampire (The Vampire Chronicles #1) by Anne Rice - Restarting May 1st 2021

[Ashley W]

Part 2
(view spoiler)[ I'm surprised that Claudia would even consider making more vampires when she resented Lestat herself so much. Interesting to see how this story describes vampires in other countries and people's reactions to them. It reminds me a lot of Dracula. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

70%
(view spoiler)[ I want to cheer on Louis here. I want him to be happy with Armand. He deserves it after so much misery. But I still want him to be loyal to Claudia. I'm conflicted. lol (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ A lot happened in all that time, but still it felt like the book dragged for me a lot. I think it may have just been Louis' voice for me. Any other character would have been livelier. I think it would have been interesting to read from Lestat or Claudia's Pov. I really did want him to be happy with Armand at the end, but there is no way he would get over Claudia's death. I thought the interviewer's reaction at the end was kind of a surprise. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Ashley wrote: "Dannii wrote: "First Quarter - [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

They definitely represent the good and bad binaries, so far. I haven't seen the movie yet but am going to find a copy once I've finished the book :)

[Dannii]

Aly wrote: "25% [spoilers removed]"

I'm finding the pace very slow as well, but I'm really liking how atmospheric and quietly creepy it makes all events feel.

[Dannii]

Ashley wrote: "50%
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Ashley wrote: "Part 2
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I can see the Dracula comparisons too, rather than more modern vampire fiction. I think both have a slow pace and focus more on the characters and how they react to everything occurring rather than solely their deeds. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Second Quarter - (view spoiler)[ This book is so tragic and full of emotion. I’m really enjoying how dark it is. I assumed the plot would be bloody/gory dark but not emotionally so. The introduction of Claudia ensured it remained especially so, throughout this quarter. I initially empathised with her, and I still do, but we are starting to see some more evil aspects about her personality revealed. She can’t be blamed for this, of course, given all she has been exposed to at her young age! It did make my skin crawl to learn that this ‘little girl’ murdered their help, had such a fascination with death and feeding, and exhibited both such calculation and such sensuality. She is still the most interesting character, so far. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Third Quarter - (view spoiler)[ I did not expect Lestat’s attempted murder, especially by Claudia’s hands. I did expect his return, however. This didn’t make their mad dash of escape by sea and to another country any less tense, however.

Claudia’s character still remains the most interesting one. Her mind has grown and yet her body remains that of a child, which makes her thoughts and actions feel pretty gross to read about! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Fourth Quarter - (view spoiler)[I really thought Armand and Louis were going to have their happy ever after, as were Claudia and Madeleine. Wrong! I had no idea what was going to occur when they were captured though and Louis made a prisoner inside his coffin. The scenes there made me feel as claustrophobic as he did. I was glad that Armand managed to save him pretty soon but distraught that Claudia was sacrificed as I assumed she would also be saved or later found.

This entire book has been gloomy and atmospheric but also super tragic and emotional. It really made this feel both like a traditional vampire book and also allowed it to bring something new to the genre, as it wasn’t just about the blood and the killings. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Ashley wrote: "Finished
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I did really enjoy this but I do agree with you about the slow pace. I had no idea how this was going to end but the interviewer becoming a part of the story that is to be continued was a real surprise. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Dannii wrote: "Second Quarter - [spoilers removed]"

Agreed (view spoiler)[ it's weird and creepy seeing her kill and seduce as a child, but it's only her body that's like that. It would be hard to mentally be an adult but everyone treats you like a kid. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ashley wrote: "Part 2
[spoilers removed]"

Very true (view spoiler)[ You would think she wouldn't want to damn someone else (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

50% (view spoiler)[ I feel bad for Claudia being trapped in a child's body. And they thought Lestat was dead but then he comes back and they have to run away. I wonder what they'll find when they get to Europe? (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

80% (view spoiler)[ I don't know that this is a good idea. I get that Claudia wants a mother, especially since Louis isn't paying her as much attention now. But it doesn't feel like a long term solution. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ashley wrote: "70%
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I agree. He deserves companionship with adults but Claudia is still childlike and can't be alone (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Dannii wrote: "Third Quarter - I did not expect Lestat’s attempted murder, especially by Claudia’s hands. I did expect his return, however. This didn’t make their mad dash of escape by sea and to another country..."

Yeah, even worse that (view spoiler)[ she sometimes bounces between acting like a child and an adult. So it's super odd (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ashley wrote: "Finished
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ It's true that Louis doesn't tell things with a sense of urgency or excitement. I guess because he already lived through it so to him it's just a history.

The interviewer really freaked out in a way I didn't think he would (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Dannii wrote: "Fourth Quarter - I really thought Armand and Louis were going to have their happy ever after, as were Claudia and Madeleine. Wrong! I had no idea what was going to occur when they were captured tho..."

That's a good way to put it, atmospheric. (view spoiler)[ I wanted them all to be happy at the end too, instead of Claudia and Madeleine dead and the men separate and miserable. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I have to say, the movie did a good job following the book! I kept waiting for there to be a big difference but there really wasn't.

I'm sad Claudia died, she didn't deserve that. I understand Louis not getting over her death, but I wanted him to have a companion.

I did feel kind of bad that Lestat was so weak at the end. He just wanted someone to stay with him and everyone left. Maybe he'll gain a new friend in the interviewer? (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Aly wrote: "Dannii wrote: "Second Quarter - [spoilers removed]"

Agreed [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[It really unnerved me as I was unable to see her as anything other than a little girl. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Aly wrote: "50% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I'm so glad we got to see them travel as I found that really helped to pick the page up, during the middle portion of the book. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Aly wrote: "Dannii wrote: "Fourth Quarter - I really thought Armand and Louis were going to have their happy ever after, as were Claudia and Madeleine. Wrong! I had no idea what was going to occur when they we..."

It didn't end at all like I had anticipated! I thought that (view spoiler)[Claudia would play a larger role in the following books as I felt she had so much more to give in the storyline. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Aly wrote: "Finished I have to say, the movie did a good job following the book! I kept waiting for there to be a big difference but there really wasn't.

I'm sad Claudia died, she didn't deserve that. I und..."

I need to watch the film now I have finally read the book!

[Aly]

Definitely! It's a 90s movie but pretty good