For the sake of trying something different here at Bibliophila, Please, Thursday is now Thenadays.
Title: The Vampire Lestat
Author: Anne Rice
Publisher: Ballantine Books (I believe)
Release Date: 1985
Since I feel so utterly guilty about being unable to finish The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice, I find it necessary to share something that I do love about this author.
I will admit that I did not read anything by Anne Rice before Interview with the Vampire came out at the movies. I was obsessed with Brad Pitt, and I somehow finagled my way into seeing this movie. Let me assure you, I was NOT anywhere near old enough to see this at the theater. Still, I managed it. Though it satisfied my adoration of Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, I found myself wanting more. I pulled some strings and managed to get my hands on the novel upon which the movie was based.
I hated it. Louis was a sniveling, whining brat. I could hardly abide him. I suppose the beauty of Brad distracted me (and still does) in the movie. I thought I was done with vampires and Anne Rice. I would have never looked back and spent the rest of my formative years reading high fantasy if my mother had not thrust The Vampire Lestat into my hands.
I fell in love with Lestat. I loved reading his history, seeing him fight for survival and against loneliness. If I could pick one phrase to describe him it would be "I do what I want" because he embodies it perfectly. Although he is a delicious bad boy, he does do some good things. But you know what they say, "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions". (Am I speaking in riddles? My apologies.) He is exactly what a vampire should be in my opinion. He's brutal, a killer, self-absorbed, out of touch with humanity, attached to his loved ones, a great lover of beautiful things, a great lover of beautiful mortals, a rule breaker, and so much more.
I'll stop here before I give too much away, but just writing this reminds me that it is time that I go back and reread The Vampire Chronicles. I miss "the Brat Prince" who began my addiction to the vampire genre.