Interview with the Vampire (Vampire Chronicles #1) - January 2015

[Savanes]

Interview with the Vampire is the 1st book in the Vampire chronicles series.

The group is reading the series in preparation for reading the Horror Category Winner Prince Lestat later in the year.

Book Summary:
Here are the confessions of a vampire. Hypnotic, shocking, and chillingly erotic, this is a novel of mesmerizing beauty and astonishing force—a story of danger and flight, of love and loss, of suspense and resolution, and of the extraordinary power of the senses. It is a novel only Anne Rice could write.

We will start reading as group on January 15.

Please use spoiler tags whenever appropriate. We wouldn't want to spoil the book for the others!!

[Savanes]

This book was first published in 1976.

- So have you already read it? If so, did you like it and do you plan to read it again ?

- Has any of you watched the movie (with Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Kirsten Dunst, Christian Slater, Antonio Banderas... such a nice casting ^^)? Do you prefer the book or the movie?

[Valerie]

I read it way back in college and thought it was just okay, so I don't plan to reread it. I am going to jump in with the second book in the series because I can't remember if I read that one or not.

I did see the movie around the same time and I actually preferred the movie. I thought it had better flow. Anne Rice has a tendency to get lost down rabbit holes that have nothing to do with her plot. Also, I thought that Kirsten Dunst was eerie beyond belief at portraying an old soul trapped in a child's body. Brad Pitt did a great job, but I could take or leave Tom Cruise.

[Michon]

I just finished this book today! I thought I would need a head start to finish by the end of the month but really couldn't put it down. I can't wait to start "The Vampire Lestat". Anne Rice's writing is a feast for the senses...so rich.

[Linda]

Yes, I did read it back when and NO, I do not ever intend to read it or any of the vampire chronicles again, It just exhausts me.

[Janina]

I also read those back around the time when the film came out. I'm currently re-reading it and I find the writing quite tiring. It might be the interview style, but also the language ...
I have to say this is one of the rare case where I also prefer the movie (even though Tom Cruise is really not Lestat in any way whatsoever). I really like the story being told in this book .. and I find the movie easier to digest. The writing style is just so heavy and flowery and just overdone.

I know that I abandoned the series back in the 90s because the books just turned too "bat-shit-crazy" for my liking. This one is easily digested with a heavy red wine .. the further ones felt more like you needed something more serious.
But, it's been a long time and maybe it'll be different this time around. I was completely astounded that she is still writing the series. I thought Anne Rice had become a fundamentalist Christian or something like it??

[Sharon]

I also agree I read them back in the 90's. I couldn't even consider reading them again. There are to many authors out there with better books to read

[Janina]

I've finished the book and I still stand by what I said earlier. I really enjoy the story itself and all the characters. I just feel like the writing is more a hindrance than enjoyable. It's just a bit too heady. Which does make for a nice setting in a way, but well .. it's also a bit too much for my taste.
I'm curious how I'll like the next ones .. if I recall correctly they are more focused on Lestat?

[Kirsten]

I had read this years ago and am now enjoying re-visiting the novel. I'm about 1/3 through so far. I like her style of writing. It is very atmospheric.

[Jennifer]

I loved this book! I read it back in 2010. This was the first Anne Rice book I ever read and I really enjoyed her writing style. It was beautiful to read and the storyline was very creative.

[Linda]

Does Anne Rice seem to "loop" away from the narrative occasionally, or I the one "looping"?

[Valerie]

Linda wrote: "Does Anne Rice seem to "loop" away from the narrative occasionally, or I the one "looping"?"

No, she definitely wanders off on tangents and sometimes takes a while to get back. This is my major frustration with her writing.

[Eilfie]

I have actually tried reading the book several times. It just frustrated me most times with the pacing of the plot. I am giving it another shot to go through the entire chronicles including the newest Prince Lestat. Giving it another try and hope it gets better as the series goes on.

[Michon]

I feel like the odd man out. I am really enjoying Rice's writing style and while I admit sometimes she veers off topic abruptly, I'm finding the story as a whole very absorbing. Already finished Interview ahead of schedule and halfway through The Vampire Lestat. The beauty of this club is that it doesn't matter if you don't finish. There's plenty of other choices out there.

[Kirsten]

Just finished Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I found her writing a little flowery. I liked the story and the characters and it was very absorbing. But it felt very cloying and almost a sickly sweet smell. But maybe she did that on purpose.

[Savanes]

So who's up for the second book?? I just opened the discussion thread.
See you there : https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Valerie]

I still have 9 people ahead of me on the library list.

[Savanes]

It's ok Valerie, the thread is not going anywhere!

[Kirsten]

Got the MP3 from Overdrive!