Book Review: Interview with the Vampire

As it is October, and Halloween is just around the corner, I decided it would be fitting to read a vampire novel. So I asked my mother (who is perfectly terrified of vampires) if she had any suggestions. She told me that Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice was worth reading, even if it was all about vampires. It may be important to note what my mother considers qualities of value in anything she reads (which determine if she will suggest a book to others). She looks for an articulate novel with a strong plot, characters that are unique from the other characters in the book, and something thought provoking. If a novel fails in these areas she deems it not worth reading.

I took her advice and found the book, surprisingly, on a shelf of books surrounded by some of her favorites. I started reading Interview with the Vampire and was instantly sucked into the world Anne Rice had so eloquently created. ““I see…” said the vampire thoughtfully, and slowly he walked across the room towards the window. For a long time he stood there against the dim light from Divisadero Street and the passing beams of traffic.” I was drawn by that simple beginning into a world that could be right outside my window. The only difference between the world of Louis (the main character; a vampire) and my own is that in my world I do not know that he exists outside of the pages of the novel. After reading the novel I believed that he could. I even wondered how could he not?

Though I cannot do Anne Rice justice in a simple plot synopsis, it will be easier for someone to decide to read the novel if they have a basic understanding of the plot. The novel begins with an anonymous boy and Louis in a dark room in San Francisco. The interviewer plays a minor role in the novel, which focuses on Louis sharing of his life story up to the interview. Louis began life as a plantation owner in Louisiana. He was turned into a vampire by Lestat, who simply wanted Louis’s plantation. For the majority of the first half of his story, Louis and Lestat remain companions, though Louis grows to hate Lestat and his own life form. (This is the message he is trying to convey to the interviewer who seems to be blinded by a lust for the power of vampires.) Finally, Louis decides he will leave Lestat, who believes he needs Louis. To prevent Louis from leaving, Lestat turns a five year old plague ridden girl into a vampire. Louis falls in love with the girl (Claudia) and stays with Lestat to care for her. Claudia grows mentally and emotionally but never reaches a physical adulthood. For this she comes to hate Lestat. She convinces Louis to aid her in murdering Lestat and then traveling to Europe in search of other vampires.

To reveal any more of the action would be unjust both to the reader and to the novel.

To truly appreciate the novel, however, one must be acquainted with the language and description Anne Rice employs. It is both vivid and articulate. She creates a world that, as I have said, is so flawlessly believable as to make me wonder if it is fiction or reality. The characters are unique and believable in a way that suggests Anne Rice’s great understanding of human (or vampiric) nature. Personally, I believe it is a must read for Vampire fans, and fans of well written novels in general.