Macabre's Favs: Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice

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Something you, dear reader, may not know is that the team here at Macabre Daily all have wildly different tastes in horror! Some may say the more gore the better, others may turn away at the first sight of blood. However, our love for the genre brings us together to celebrate all the ways to get spooked! I have a pretty good grasp on the team’s various movie tastes, BUT not so much what they enjoy curling up in bed with and reading until they fall asleep and have dreams worthy of Stephen King’s nightmares! So, I posed the question to the team; what is your favorite horror book of all time?

Starting off with Our Editor and Chief, Sam! I won’t lie, this one surprised me…

Sam’s favorite horror book of all time is the infamous “Interview With The Vampire” by Anne Rice.

Rice’s 1976 debut novel was based off her 1968 short story of the same title and tells the southern gothic tale of vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac, who is chronicling his life story to a reporter. Writing this after the death of her young daughter, Rice has also been criticized for claiming to have based the character of Claudia after her daughter. Claudia is often written as a sexual being and an object of desire - even going as far as to have a relationship with Louise. Despite any controversy, you cannot discredit the incredible impact that Rice has had in modern day vampire lore. Rice brought back to life the popularity of vampire stories at the end of the 20th century. This novel was met with mixed critical reception, but has since become a beloved classic and part of an 11 book series as well as a film adaptation in 1994 starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise and a television series in 2022.

Synopsis

Louis begins recounting his tale in 1791, when he was a southern plantation owner mourning the loss of his brother. Seeking death by any means necessary in his depression, he is visited by a lonely vampire named Lestat de Lioncourt who was in search of an immortal companion. Taking advantage of his vulnerability and loneliness, Lestat befriends and transforms Louis into an immortal vampire.

Disgusted by his craving for human blood, Louis survives off the blood of animals - preferring to feel unsatisfied rather than take a human life. The centuries-old Lestat has no moral qualms in draining many of Louis’ slaves and acquaintances. After many disappearances and suspicious murders, Louis’ slaves stage an uprising. Louis is forced to burn his own plantation and kill all slaves and residents to erase any proof of the existence of vampires. Having no other choice, Louis follows Lestat to New Orleans where he eventually succumbs to his thirst and feeds on humans.

Louis grows restful of Lestrate and hates his callous nature. He begins a plot to leave Lesta and escape for Europe. Worried he will be once again companionless, Lestat finds a dying young girl and transforms her into a vampire for Louis to father. Five-year-old Claudia is cared for by Louis and eventually enjoys being a vampire. However, once Claudia realizes her body will never grow as her mind matures to adulthood, she begins to hate Lestat. After 60 years of living with him, she hatches a plan to kill him and leave for Europe with Louis. Having successfully escaped from Lestat, Louis and Claudia travel Europe in hopes of finding vampires like themselves. They eventually settle in Paris with a coven. After several years of peace, they are visited by the presumed dead Lestat. Narrowly escaping, Louis flees with his friend Almand and eventually returns to New Orleans to continue the anguish of his immortal existence.

Sam’s Thoughts

Sam detailed his adoration for Rice and her debut novel “ Interview With The Vampire”:

“Rice's ability to transport the reader into fantastical worlds shines through like a light in the darkness and as the opening book in her ever romanticized and dark Vampire Chronicles, Interview With The Vampire gives us just enough bite to come back and as Claudia once said, "Want some more." Rice sadly passed away a few years back but one would be remiss to not advocate for her past works as being essential reading, not just for vampire or homo erotic fans, but for tales of mystery and intrigue and dare we say "people '' as well. Interview With The Vampire is a heavy tome that pulls at your heartstrings all while beckoning you closer and closer like a loved one needing an embrace until you realize that the story calling you in is actually hunting you. The character development along with Rice's ability to paint the world in so many broad strokes of death and horror truly accentuates all the senses for a reading experience many dream to attain but few truly do.”

Our fearless leader, Sam, perfectly imparts the spirit of a true horror fan and recognizes the longevity of this FANGtastic work of art.

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