Anne Rice (born Howard Allen Frances O'Brien) was a best-selling American author of gothic, supernatural, historical, erotica, and later religious themed books. Best known for The Vampire Chronicles, her prevailing thematic focus is on love, death, immortality, existentialism, and the human condition. She was married to poet Stan Rice for 41 years until his death in 2002. Her books have sold nearly 100 million copies, making her one of the most widely read authors in modern history.
Anne Rice passed on December 11, 2021 due to complications from a stroke. She was eighty years old at the time of her death.
She uses the pseudonym Anne Rampling for adult-themed fiction (i.e., erotica) and A.N. Roquelaure for fiction featuring sexually explicit sado-masochism.
These are such a guilty pleasure for me. I don't know why vampires are so fascinating--these books, the Twilight Series, True Blood (an excellent HBO series), The Lost Boys, Salem's Lot, etc., but I got hooked on these books when I was in high school. Though I have not re-read them since, I remember being so enraptured by Lestat and the dark and mysterious vampire world he inhabits that I would gobble up the pages during my lunch break at Beaver Country Day school as a camp counselor. I was very anti-social that summer! The mythology Rice creates around vampires is epic and, strangely, believable (in a vampire sort of way). It builds on itself from book to book, stretching your imagination across centuries. What is it? Is it immortality that so intrigues? Power? Eh...I don't know. Maybe I just envy their ability to stay up all night;). Anyway, these are what I call "beach books", which in my mind are quick, guilty reads that absorb you so completely you forget how hot the sun is and the fact that there is sand in the crotch of your bathing suit.
4.5/5 overall, a good place to stop if there's no wish to delve into AR's wrangling of theology. These would be the four books to read to understand Lestat as a literary character.
In these four books, we see the conflict and resolution of Lestat's character ethos. let me explain -->
Lestat is introduced as a complete antagonist in IWTV. He is fully fanged, monstrous, and (to me at least) rather irredeemable. The caveat perhaps is that we see him through another character's perspective (this is in no way an invalidation of Louis' recount for me as a reader. In truth, it doesn't matter if Louis' tale is clouded by his guilt and grief, it doesn't matter if Louis is not telling the truth about the events, what he feels is true and there is validity to that. To Louis during their years in Louisiana, Lestat was the fanged arrogant monster and for that he is villainous.).
Contrary to popular assumption, TVL is not at all "IWTV (Lestat's version)". It is also far from a retcon, and perhaps only feels that way due to the tonal whiplash between Lestat and Louis' narration. In fact, he mostly corroborated Louis' account of his abuse (which is why I don't get how people suddenly forgive Lestat for all his iniquity... like does knowing his backstory negate or excuse his crimes). In this book though, we get to know about Lestat's past trauma and how it informs a lot of Lestat's personality and shortcomings. Similarly, we also get Lestat's view of goodness (morality?) and vampirism (savage garden).
In QOTD, his abduction by Akasha and his subsequent massacres has him (in my opinion) at his most vulnerable. He questions his wish/goal to be good and what it meant and continues to mean to him in parallel to his actions. This is the most enlightening of Lestat's moral character thus far in the narrative. It is also the point where I felt he was the most "redeemed" to me (not that he has to be, but it is tricky enjoying a morally flawed character, especially in the association discourse nightmare i currently inhabit).
This brings us to TTOTB, which I believe to be the perfect narrative close to Lestat as a character. The book starts with him at his most "want to be reformed/good" as he is still reeling from the atrocity he helped commit in the previous book aka the perfect set-up for us to explore his morality. He has the opportunity of a lifetime to experience mortality again (which was taken from him w/o consent to begin with). He switches bodies and immediately hates it. Turns out, he likes being a vampire, he is good at being a vampire, and he wants to be a vampire ASAP again. Yes, it is monstrous but it's who he is, he has come to a resolution for this internal conflict. This is why the ending (traumatic to me) is incredibly necessary for his arc. Lestat does the most unforgivable/irredeemable things in this book which cements him as a darker character. Lestat is perhaps at his hardest to love in this book but also he is fully dimensionalized.
Just because he becomes the main character for most of TVC doesn't make him less of a villain. And just because I say I hate him doesn't mean I don't love him. And just because I say I love him doesn't mean that any of what he has done is forgivable or redeemable. But is that really the point of enjoying a character?
Anne Rice is superb! She has created a cast of vampires who have a moral conscience in spite of their blood thirsts. Of course, just like people in real life, some of them pursue their victims in an evil way. That is not the case with the vampire who she introduced us to in her first novel in the series, the vampire named Lestat.
I am a spiritual seeker who is traveling through this land of shadows, marked by the duality that we seem to experience in life. I am the writer of a series of outrageously funny novels with a spiritual message. Therefore I appreciate any book that focuses upon the soul of a person.
As for Anne Rice's compelling vampire series, I have gobbled each one of them up. Pun intended! You can begin anywhere and not feel as if you have missed out on what has come before. These four books are some of the best. Queen of the Damned will describe how the clan of vampires began. The queen is one of the compelling vampires who seems to have lost her soul. Let's just say that she gets her just dessert in the end.
The books are filled with enduring characters that are easy to relate to. Anne is a consummate storyteller. She engages the readers right from the start. Although many of the vampire stories are long, I did not want to put them down until I had finished. I trust that any of you will feel the same way once you become involved in the intriguing and captivating tales.
If you like Anne Rice's books, check out the books that her son, Christopher Rice has written. He has inherited her gift for suspense. Like Anne, he paints vivid word pictures that will take you on a fantastic journey and leave you wanting more. Thank God, both of them are prolific!
In these books, you will travel to a new dimension. They also have a very erotic quality to them. The blessing is that, while some of the scenes may be scary, the author keeps hope alive and goodness prevails in the end. These stories contain vampires who possess souls.
Davis Aujourd'hui, author of "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude"
If ever someone asks "what is your favourite book?" I pretty much always say The Queen of the Damned, The Vampire Chronicles. I read the series for the first time quite a few years ago, and immediately fell in love...i really enjoy stories which take you back to a different time and Rice is a genius in being able to do this. I also found myself admiring and looking up to these inspiring characters. I loved how all the characters were all so unique and different and yet so connected to one another. I found the themes throughout the Chronicles quite interesting....the exploration of power, the status of being a vampire and the endless possibilities this entailed, including making the world a better place under the rulership of a race of vampires. Oh and i must say that those who produced the film adaptations, especially queen of the damned, should be ashamed of themselves.
These were my first 'real' books I read voluntarily. I do admit back in high school I had a fetish for the dark stuff, but it wasn't just the gore, it was the romance in it all. Mixed in with a very romantic and dark display of love and certain cities was always a bit of sadness. I did read up until Memnoch The Devil, but after that kind of lost interest, guess my tastes were changing by then. Music to go with these books: U2 (Zooropa) and Cranberries (Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?).
I can't describe the vampire chronicles, I could not do them justice. Just take a chance and read them. They aren't for everyone. Rice's layered writing style can be somewhat suffocating for some, but it is my cuppa...tea. I can say these books have helped me through some rough times just by offering escape and although the characters are superhuman and supernatural, they grieve and love in very relatable ways.
OK - I read each book individually, but thought I might consolidate with one review for them all. Those who know me well are familiar with my slight vampire obsession (which was much more pronounced in my younger years). Anne Rice's ability to weave a tale of sensuality, beauty, darkness, anguish, love, intrigue and adventure is absolutely pleasurable. The stories span time and geographical location - description is lovely and entrancing. I love these books....
How could I NOT love these books.Anne Rice is a suberb author. These books epitomize whats vampire novels should be: Sexy, dark, and moody. The fact that she makes the vampires more than just super natural beings, but entities with human chacteristics, emtotions, and turmoils; really lends itself to being a more approachable and likeable series. It makes you think if its not just a commentary on humanity.
Anne Rice is by far my favorite author. Her writing is dark and beautiful without losing the horror factor. The philosophical nature of her vampires as well as the humanity found within them even though they feed on human blood has much inspired me. The thought of a pensive creature who by nature is a murderer gives a strange complexity and you find yourself falling in love with each of them and thier individual quirks. Truly amazing series.
You fall in love with the characters from the start very hard to put down. They are fast action fast paced books that make you hungry for more and i reccoomend exploring her continued vampire books on the lives of each vampire in her books. Everytime i re-read her books i discover a deeper maening behind the character and tthe story where i first read their name ANNE RICE is one of the best writers who twist facts with intoxicating fantasy and brings it to life.....
It's the ultimate cliche, the Goth girl reading Anne Rice. Anne Rice's vampire books are so much more than just a story about a blood sucking villain. She explores religion and philosphy while quenching our appetite for the sensuality and fear associated with more vamp stories.
Although Ann Rice is a very creative author, she's not nearly as good as she thinks. The books in this series start out good, but get worse as you progress through the series. She should have done herself, and her readers, a favor and kept a good editor on staff.
I loved this series of books, and the adjunct books in this series. They were dark, beautiful and twisted.They maintain a powerful undertone of sensuality without the camp and cheese. Preternaturally Fabulous!!
the first three books will apeal to anyone the fourth one is different, wild and if someone expects something like the previous three is in for a shock i loved all 4 of them, but i gotta keep it real
Interview with the Vampire introduced me to Anne Rice many, many years ago now, and I have been a fan of her work, and vampires, ever since. I think I have now read everything she has ever written, some several times over. Every so often I work my way through her books again and as a friend of mine who had never read any of Ms. Rice’s work asked me to ‘buddy read’ them with her, so I again took the opportunity to dive in. I love introducing people to her work, especially when they end up loving them as much as I do. Buddy Reading was a fun way to read this great series, because I had someone to discuss each book with as we finished. We have decided not to stop at just this series, but to read everything she’s written, together. I can’t believe I had never left a review for any of these books before, but sometimes I get so caught up in reading that I forget that I have yet to post a review. My reading challenge reviews were down about 150 or so last year because I would get so caught up in the books, that I would forget to leave a review, especially when reading a whole series back-to-back. So, this year I am determined to leave a review for every book I read. I adore Ms. Rice’s work, she writes so passionately and has a rich, vividly descriptive and detailed style that really lends itself to her Gothic fantasies. The stories are woven so well, I am not merely reading them, but experiencing them in exquisite detail. The historical elements that are sprinkled through her books are so cleverly done, and given her own unique twist. If you have never read any of her work before, I really recommend that you do, as Ms. Rice limitless imagination and spellbinding storytelling abilities ensure a spellbinding read. Happy Reading...
Just copying my reviews on the individual books here:
I've actually never read this before! Crazy, right? The movie has been stuck in my mind since I was a little girl, so it was WAY overdue that I read it. I liked it! In some parts it gave more inside and background story compared to the movie, and in some parts not. I have no idea what the next books are about, so I'll get started on that!
A very interesting read! You get to see the other side of the story. The first book was obviously just Louis' point of view, and now you get Lestat's - as well as other vampires'. There was a part where I felt it dragged on for a bit, but for the most part it was very entertaining. I loved the ties to mythology. I'm very excited to start the next one!
** spoiler alert ** I loved this one! It kept me excited and emotional basically throughout the entire book. Fun twist: This book tells you that the past books are real. The books were actually published. Now Lestat has his own band, and tells everyone that he's a vampire. In the beginning of the book we meet several characters that plan to go to Lestat's concert, and there is a lot of suspense and action. All the different POVs might slow it down a little bit, but it didn't really bother me. But I can see it might bother some! I think the best part of the entire thing was learning the history of the mysterious ancients. I really thought Akasha and Enkil were positive ''things''! I was wrong. Akasha angers me a lot towards the end, I'm happy she's dead. Lestat's POV later in the book isn't very exciting though. I'm going to give the movie a shot, just because I'm curious about how they made it. I KNOW I'm going to complain, but oh well. Review of the movie on my blog: http://carolinesometimes.blogspot.no/...
** spoiler alert ** A very different story, but I liked it! Lestat and David are very good friends now. Lestat being Lestat, he decides to switch bodies (temporarily) with a mortal man, despite David's warnings. Of course he doesn't come back, and Lestat is stuck in the mortal body, completely confused, disgusted and not used to being human. He becomes seriously ill and is taken care of by a nun. Then he goes to hunt for the body thief. Luis and Marius won't help him, but of course David will. It's a very action-filled story, and keeps a relatively good pace to the end.
The Queen of the Damned was by far the best of these 4 books. Creative spin on the origin of vampires. My favorite thing about the book is that Anne somehow made cannibalizing your loved ones after they die sound totally logical. Obviously not an easy thing to do. My sister read this book before I did, I remember her telling my mother and I that she wants us to eat her if she dies and that she would do the same for us I we died first... we declined of course but thanked her for her morbid interest in devouring our flesh. For a long time after that I was convinced that she had lost her effing mind. Then I read this book and I was like "huh, that's where she got it from. And yeah, it does kinda make you wanna eat your family"... and then I threw up in my mouth a bit. A quick note about the movie Queen of the Damned. It sucked. Don't bother watching it unless you're a Korn Kid who wants to see a really long Jonathan Davis music video with inserts about the Vampire Chronicle mythology. Even then, you should save yourself the embarrassment and just download the soundtrack.
It took me several tries to read Tale of the Body Thief over a few years until I finally followed through to the end. I didn't find it as engaging as the others. But I think that's just me because I have had people strongly disagree.
I saw the movie Interview with the Vampire before I read the book. They were both pretty good, but at the proverbial end of the day, I could take or leave either of them. If you liked the movie, read the book purely to get all those extra details and scenes that they couldn't fit into the film.
The Vampire Lestat was an awesome book. That being said... The lyrics that Lestat sings in his 80's hair band are soo effing embarrassing it will make you physically uncomfortable. It also a gets bit Homoerotic at parts, if your into that. Guy on guy is not my flavor, but I was able to ignore it.
Interview with a vampire, Havent seen the film and after reading Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse series I was in the need of another vampire series to sink my teeth into. It didnt get me hooked straight away and I found it very dark, the main charactor Louis really struggles with his urge to kill and spends much of the book digusted at what he has become. His maker Lestat is the more interesting of the two and does nothing to help to knew vampire come to terms with his immortality. The title of the book is literal, Louis is being interviewed and I am looking forward to book 2 which is all about Lestat.
The Vampire Lestat, Ah, this one is much better! Lestat was always the much more interesting Vampire and in this book we learn all about his past and how he came to be a vampire. We get lots more information in this book about the history of the vampires. Very interesting to see how Louis fits into Lestats history and I appreciate book 1 a lot more now.
I read these back in high school. I enjoyed the near-debilitating obsession, as did my friends. Things that are too rich, too intense, must eventually be given up and never revisited. That said, Anne Rice has more writing talent in her little toe than most modern writers have in their whole being. My favorite was The Queen of the Damned, but I loved the humanity of The Tale of the Body Thief. Seeing Lestat as a weak and fallible mortal was good for both of us. 4.5 stars
I read these books when i found them for exceedingly cheap prices at our local used book store. i REALLY liked them, if I could obliterate the face of Tom Cruise as Lestat in my mind. (I just don't like him, sorry) (Tom Cruise not Lestat) (Actualy Lestat kinda rocks). But i quit reading in the middle of Queen of the Damned because I was having the most vivid and amazing dreams in which i was, of course, a vampire. So i changed my path to other vampire and etc. books by Christopher moore (hilarious, and much more light-hearted). And I reverted to ordinary dreams of fish clouds and horses in trees.
Out of this collection, I did NOT read, the Vampire Lestat. Why, I have no clue, but the other 3 were PHENOMENAL. NOTHING remotely close to the movies (referring to Interview with a Vampire and Queen of the Damned). 10 times better then the movie. The store she weaves about vamps and their origins...WOW! The details made it hard for me to get through these books, but it also made it all the more an interesting reading. I don't really need to know how the wall paper looked, but other details simple made the stores.
I have read the first book - INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE - i am sure we all remember he movie version with Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. I am, embarrassingly enough, kind of a vampire fanatic. I have researched the origin of the myth in many different cultures - fascinating stuff - really. but this book was a long drawn out affair that really failed to keep me interested. hopefully as i continue the series it will get better.