When I returned to “Interview With the Vampire” quite some time after first reading it, I was shocked to discover how poorly it held up. The writing was horribly pretentious, the novel aspects of the story seemed to be missing, and it was hard to reconcile my fond memories of the book with the reality on the page.
Upon re-reading this follow-up novel, it was immediately apparent that this was the book upon which all those fond memories were truly formed. It’s not perfect, by any means, but the writing style seemed to be more polished and the ideas were far more substantial. The character of Lestat was always more interesting than Louis, of course, and that makes his long and tortured narrative a lot more involving.
I’ve always enjoyed stories that delve into “secret histories”, and that is a large part of the appeal of this novel. In the strictest sense, the story takes place in “modern” 1984; Lestat has decided to reveal the existence and history of the vampires to the mortal world through the 80s version of a cutting edge Goth band. Those framing sections haven’t aged well at all; they seem cheesy and self-important (which, frankly, fits Lestat like a velvet glove).
Once Lestat starts telling his autobiography, however, the story becomes almost timeless. The French world of Lestat’s young mortal life is rendered in compelling detail and his libertine sexual tastes are explored just enough to communicate Lestat’s serious psychological needs. Two things stand out as nearly perfect: the exploration of Lestat’s unique role in the vampire world, and the use of Lestat as a window for the reader into that world.
While “Interview” certainly gained the attention of millions of readers, this is the book that cemented Anne Rice as a mainstay in the “erotic horror” genre, something that she all but jump-started in the first place. It’s also interesting to note that the quality of her novels is in direct proportion to the depth and extent of the history that her characters are led to explore. “The Vampire Lestat” was the first substantial look into her vampire universe, so as one would expect, this is one of the strongest novels she produced.
Rating: 9/10
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