Billie Kubat

“In a dark hotel room, a person stands next to a window while another sits at a table in the center of the room.”

While this might not sound like the most interesting beginning to a book, this scene gives an introduction to a very important character: the vampire Louis.

Most people know of or have read “Twilight”, “New Moon”, “Eclipse” and “Breaking Dawn”. Yet one of the most fundamental vampire books that started the whole vampire craze is “Interview with the Vampire” by Anne Rice. There was a movie made starring Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and Antonio Banderas, but there are many differences between the book and movie.

“Interview with the Vampire” is about how Louis was human before he was transformed into a vampire. The story of Louis shows the reader the world he is thrown into when Lestat, a vampire, transforms him. Readers follow as the love between Louis and Lestat blossoms throughout the story. In “Interview with a Vampire”, Louis and Lestat become a family when Claudia is transformed into a vampire as well and takes the place of a daughter. Louis describes his life with Claudia and Lestat, and later without Lestat. This book is about the trials of love, change and acceptance.

Anne Rice wrote “Interview with the Vampire” in 1976. This is the first book in The Vampire Chronicles Collection. The novel is written quite amazingly. The word choices that Rice uses is unique, and there are even times while reading this book that a thesaurus or a dictionary is helpful in understanding some of the words. Words are not the only thing that makes this book wonderful, but also the way the author describes every scene. Rice’s descriptive scenes allow readers to easily picture the action between Louis, Lestat and the other characters.

“Interview with the Vampire” could be on the top of anyone’s must-read book list, because this novel has something for everyone. It is a love story between Louis and Lestat, but there are many more love stories entwined within the plot. This is also an action story with fights, arson and even murder. It takes readers to places such as New Orleans and Paris, France. Some may be worried about the book sometimes dragging, and yes, there are slow parts to the story. However, each slow part lays the building blocks for the next adventure in the tale.

I was amazed with how this book wraps the reader into it within the first few pages. The sympathy that this book made me feel for Louis was absolutely amazing. Once I started reading this book, I had a hard time putting it down until it was finished. The only thing that I did not like about the book is the slow pace of some of the scenes.

I love this book and loved meeting each character. I would suggest “Interview with the Vampire” to anyone who is looking for a good vampire book or who wants to expand their literary horizons.