The Vampire Lestat discussion

You have many years to pick the book up and read it later. There are too many good books out there that you don't have to force yourself to finish (and you probably will have to force yourself to finish some books for school at some point).

If it's vampires you love, there are tons of books out there for you!

Tori, don't let anybody tell you that you are too young for a book. At 12, I had a librarian tell me that I was too young for The Outsiders, but I'd already read it 3 times! To this day, it is one of my favorite books of all time.

Anne Rice's vampire series is pretty heavy reading. Some of the books heavier than others. I like Lestat way better than Interview, but I was 26 when I read it.

Here are some other options for you from a librarian here on Goodreads.

Got Fangs? by Katie Maxwell
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
Sweep series by Kate Tiernan
Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber (I can't stand these books, but the teens at my library love them)
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley.
Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
anything by Tamora Pierce.
I do agree, however, that lunch monitors or other people, don't have the right to tell you what to read. They probably have good intentions. I remember that there were lots of kids at my middle school reading The Da Vinci Code. It concerned me that some of the violence or religious discussions might be upsetting. I found that most students willing to pick up such a large, intense book were more than capable of handling the content! Hopefully, those people are just concerned.

Hehe, I agree with Leslie, but only about the whole "other people can't tell you what you can/can't read" thing. (Can I just mention Howl's Moving Castle has NOTHING to do with vampires? Sorry, just had to get that in. It is a good book though! XD)

I also want to share a story, while I'm at it. When I was in the 1st grade we had a huge library (huge to me, anyway) at the elementary, and you were allowed to check out one book at a time. Well, I immediately searched for the most interesting, thickest book I could find, and brought it up to the checkout desk. It was one of the Junie B. Jones books. My librarian looked at it, then me, and said, "You can't check that out because you can't read that." Of course, I argued, "Whatever, I can so!" And so the librarian had me read the first page and a half to her. I showed her! Point is, if you read can read it, understand it, and enjoy it, then DO it.

And I started reading Lestat today, actually. Just during the lunch period, and I only got a few pages in (I'm on page 26, I think, but that doesn't mean anything because I don't know what page chap. 1 starts on) and I'm already in love. I've never read anything of Anna Rice's but everyone I know says she's batty. Main character (guessing it's Lestat) is running away from a bunch of wolves. Then the bell rang, and I had to give the book back. Darn. I'm going to check it out from the library on Thursday, so hopefully once I finish it we can have some fun little discussions? I tried not to read your description, Tori, but I got sucked in! XD My friend (the one who let me borrow the book during lunch) was showing me a few interesting conversations between Nicholas and Lestat. She said the relationship between those two is the only reason she reads the book. I think it's funny, because the book I'm writing has a main character named Nic in it, and he sounds a lot like Nicholas, only my Nic isn't as...depressed. Is that the right word? Anyways, I should probably shut up now! XD

i love anne rice! i read all her books when i was in high school. i have re read all of them over the years and i love them every time. each time i read anne rice i instantly am pulled into her characters. they are like old friends for me. i miss them when they are gone i love coming back to see them again. the vampire series were so powerful for me when i was a teen. now i just enjoy being with my old friends again when i read any of the books in the series. the movie interview with a vampire also came out when i was a teenager. i still see brad pitt in my head whenever louie is mentioned.

don't EVER let someone else tell you your own mind. you can listien to advice but don't let it dictate who you are and especially what you read.

I read Interview With The Vampire back in 8th grade...loved it so much I went immediately onto The Vampire Lestat and it is still one of my all-time favorite novels.

Reading it at age 13 I never once felt lost or overwhelmed...I felt completely mesmerized in the best way. I could not believe the richness and depth of her version of the history of vampires.

I need to definitely re-read at some point since I loved it so much.

Maybe try The Mummy for another deeply rich historical mythology that stands alone?

When I was 12 I read Interview with the Vampire and felt exactly like you did. I loved the book but the rambling was a bit much for me. In fact I ended up dropping the book near the end only to pick it up later. The vampire Lestat IS better than Interview (well, to me) but I do suggest that you pick it up again later. When I "trudge" through a book I end up missing some important parts and it's just not really fun.

My first Anne Rice novel was Pandora and i was 13 years old. My first crush was Lestat...well first love.(He would understand my inner beaut)For me, her vampires are the best and the only ones i have enjoyed reading about. I have read everything by Anne Rice, even the newer stuff. I have all her book, they are like old friends to me that i love to re-visit.

I do think it is a bit much for such a young age. But I was a little naive and kind of a stupid when i was young. Not proud of it but there is no use in lying about it either. I dont think i would like my child to read it as young as i was or you are. I think i truly understood what i was reading when i was about 17 - 18. When i started taking my studies more seriously, felt like a misunderstood teen...a little Gothic in high school.
I'm sure the lunch monitors meant well but I also say put it aside for now. Of course always read whatever you wont and vampires are great but read some fantasy or classics like Lord of the Ring or Jane Austen too.

This is perhaps my favorite book of all. Not in the vampire series by Ann Rice... but my favorite book of all time.

LeStat has the charisma of Elvis with a James Dean bad ass attitude. But then, I'm biased perhaps. I grew up using my toy chest as a coffin. With a blanket wrapped around me like a cape, all my toys would be on the floor, and I would be inside my tiny toy coffin.

Before you go off thinking I'm batcrap crazy, I do have other interests now. If anything you could call me a huge fan of Elvis, Prince, Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, Waylon Jennings, Alabama, Adam Lambert, Josh Krajcik... and a hundred others in between. I'm trying to say that I'M NOT A VAMPIRE NUT...now.

Out of all the books I've read, and I think I only have a small portion listed here, The Vampire LeStat is still my favorite book of all time.

Does that mean it's right for you? No. If you can't relate to it by now, meaning that far into the book, not your age, then you probably never will.

Is there a chance that you might grow older and enjoy it then? Yes, but it's doubtful. There are just some characters in books that people have a hard time identifying with. I have trouble putting myself in the role of a teenage girl if she were the main character. (think Twilight)

However, I do like that series. So, there is the possibility that you may enjoy all of Ann Rice's books one day. It took many years for me to find a main characters girlish teenage voice tolerable. So kudo's to Stephanie Meyers. I still like the vampire series by Ann Rice better though. :)

Definitely give it a try when you're ready to do so again. I agree with many here and say it is her best book. Plus, I will admit this, I crush on Lestat big time. (Yes I'm in love with a fictional character! LOL) and it was this book that did it for me. I love how complex he is. He's more than the Vampire you meet in interview. He's amazing. I think Lestat is one of the best fictional characters out there. Again, this coming from the woman who loves someone not real. LOL

I first read the vampire chronicles (well, all that where out at the time) when I was about fourteen/fifteen (I know this, because I quoted parts of the religious drifts in essays at school) and I loved them- although I found Queen of The Damned an extremely Hard Slog. If you're enjoying the characters then that's great but if you're finding the prose a bit too much then don't be afraid of putting it down and coming back to it later- there's nothing wrong with that! I had a similar problem when I was eleven- my best friend at school was reading Dracula and, as a lover of all things vampiric, I tried to read it but found the prose too distracting and forcing myself to read it put me off so much I didn't touch it again until I was nearly twenty!

If you're struggling, don't feel you need to force yourself to read it. Step back and relax and you can always try again later :)

This book is so worth it. I remember the first time I read it and stayed up all night as I couldn't put it down. I have read all of The Vampire Chronicles and reread them also. If you are having trouble finishing, keep going! This book is great as you get to know Lestat so much better than you can from Interview with the Vampire.
@ Lorenzo and @ Tina, agree this is one of Anne Rice's best books and Lestat is a great character, how could you not love him!

I love the book, but if you find the book less than interesting find another novel you enjoy. You still have many school years ahead where reading books that may be boring to you is a requirement, so when reading for your own enjoyment pick a book that holds your attention.

I loved all the Vampire Chronicles. I just finished a really good read that reminds me of Anne Rice and Diana Gabaldon. A Discovery of Witches. It is going to be a trilogy and the next comes out this summer. I think you should read what you like. My daughter is 10 and she is reading the Harry Potters and right now War Horse, which she is loving.

I really enjoyed Lestat and Interview, by Queen of the Dull, I was bored and her earlier writing style from the "romance" novels was starting to shine through making it really boring for me. The Mummy was pretty awesome as a pallet cleanser though.

Out of the first 3 books, i found The Vampire Lestat to be the very best! I love the character of Lestat, and his past did nothing but thrill me. Only leaves me wanting more. But as stated before, Queen of The Damned wasent as good, and i got really bored with it very quickly. But i did finish it, and will still try the next in line to see if she went back to her old style from the first two books.

I own and have read all the Anne Rice books. I read the vampire series in order and I found that the story evolves - even the stand alone stories of the new age vampires are better when read in sequence.

I LOVE her vampire books, some of the others I have found very long winded.

i started reading her books in my early teens, after watching the interview with the vampire movie, they are certainly 18 rated books as it were, but that's never bothered me with either books movies or whatever

as for hr prose style, i probably actually had much more patience for that sort of thing when i was that age

I have read many books that were not suitable for my age at the time.
Some of them i had no problem understanding and folowing the plot while others were much harder.
So i pushed the pause button and read them 10 years after, it was completely different expirience.

Cayr wrote: "Tori, don't let anybody tell you that you are too young for a book. At 12, I had a librarian tell me that I was too young for The Outsiders, but I'd already read it 3 times! To this day, it is one..."

Well You might want to consider your own children when you give such advise Cayr, and if you don't have any children hold your advise for those who are young that your not leading..., I have read all books in the vampire chronicles. I do feel they are are more on a adult level. The opinion of the school monitor was corrrect for a 12 year old. I remember my daughter wanting to read these books after reading TWILIGHT.. I felt even Twilight was a bit heavy for a 12 year old but allowed it due to the exclusion of sex and extreme violence.. which the vampire chronicles do include. So give yourself some time to enjoy the books directed toward your age group. Reading is fun, don't stop and I honestly believe you will enjoy the vampire chronicles for different reasons when you get older, You will appreciate the mear talent of Anne Rice and the way she describes the flowers and streets in a particular seen, she is a splendid author for older teens/adults, please give yourself some time and check out The fault in our stars by John Green, my daughter is 17 and she LOVED LOVED LOVED THIS BOOK.. Enjoy your books dear..!!

Vorrutyer wrote: "I have read many books that were not suitable for my age at the time.
Some of them i had no problem understanding and folowing the plot while others were much harder.
So i pushed the pause butto..."

That was a very good reply for this reader, Thank you for saying this, I left a reply below and was trying to say the same thing. We do appreciate things differently when we are older... Bravo for your advise..

If you can read it, you are not too young.

If you don't like it, don't read it.

If you like it, but aren't getting it, put it down and come back to it later.

Try reading about 'real' vampires, like Dracula.

If you guys like the Vampire Chronicles, you will love my new book Amaranthine, you can get it here: http://www.amazon.com/Amaranthine-Tri...

Personally I'm not a fan of Ann Rice even thought I read quite few of her books in the vampire series and the Mayfair series while the stories are okay the writing style is not my cup of tea, but this is not the point, if you're not enjoying what you're reading and you haven't bought it why force yourself there is way too many good books out there to waste perfectly good reading time on books you don't enjoy :).

Books/authors are like some fine wines, they require an acquired taste. I was a HUGH Anne Rice fan until recently, she does tend to write more flowery than others. But like i said, not every book is for everyone that is why there are so so many of them out there. Personally, I dont like steven king, I think he rambles and he looses my attention and i have read many of his books.

Anne Rice's best book is Witching Hour, now days she has no idea what she wants to be, I honestly think all of her decisions are based on money now.

deleted user wrote: "While reading it in my lunchroom the other day one of the lunch monitors came up to me and asked me if I was too young to read Anne Rice, or rather told me. I told her I got the gist, and I wasn't ..."

Trust me wait to read this. I read it in my twenties and still had a hard time wrapping my head around what Anne conjures for her readers, don't get me wrong she is brilliant, but she wanders sometimes and her characters are very flawed as are most humans but she writes them each with many layers and some are kind of disgusting, even for me and I can read Stephen King and not be bothered. She goes to places you should not even know about yet. Keep your naivety for as long as you can. Read Twilight.

People shouldn't be told they are too young to read a book? I'll have to disagree because if I saw my kid at the age of 12 picking up Fifty Shades of Grey I'd flip out. Yes, you can be too young to reads certain books.

I watched Interview of the Vampire when I was about 11 and feel completely in love. Anne Rice vampires are THE vampires for me. But her world is heavy and it's not easy to read some of it especially for a younger person. I mean there is a BIG difference between Harry Potter and The Vampire Lestat.

I'd say wait and pick it up later. Potentially you'll really enjoy it later.

My favourite of her Vampire Chronicles is actually The Devil Memnoch, which I actually don't recommend for a 12 year old turning 13.

Jaded wrote: "Books/authors are like some fine wines, they require an acquired taste. I was a HUGH Anne Rice fan until recently, she does tend to write more flowery than others. But like i said, not every book..."

wow thought i wrote that!

Christopher wrote: "Anne Rice's best book is Witching Hour, now days she has no idea what she wants to be, I honestly think all of her decisions are based on money now."

I loved that too, but where in the heck did she go with Taltos??? See she wanders off and I think forgets what she is writing about...

David wrote: "I really enjoyed Lestat and Interview, by Queen of the Dull, I was bored and her earlier writing style from the "romance" novels was starting to shine through making it really boring for me. The M..."

I loved the Mummy too, what happened with book II?

I loved this series, but some people just aren't that into Anne Rice. I wouldn't waste my time reading books that you don't like. Life is too short! Some YA books that you might like are: Crispin by Avi, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaimon, The Immortal Instruments series by Cassandra Claire, Beautiful Creatures (can't remember the author), and A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray. Happy reading.
Andrea Cefalo, Author of the Fairytale Keeper series

deleted user wrote: "While reading it in my lunchroom the other day one of the lunch monitors came up to me and asked me if I was too young to read Anne Rice, or rather told me. I told her I got the gist, and I wasn't ..."


If a book doesn't hold my interest I don't read it. There's no reason or prize for trudging through a book you don't enjoy. I think your lunchroom monitor might have been making reference to many of the mature themes underlying the story.

Again - If your not enjoying it, why read it?
Perhaps you'll come back to it another time and look at it a different way - perhaps not.

I'm just excited that you are an avid reader.

Personally I loved it, but my favorite actually is the third in the series "Queen of the Damned". I agree with others, you have time to come back to this book and if you don't that's okay to. I'm a voracious reader and if it takes me more than 3 days to finish a book then I obviously wasn't enjoying it like the critics thought I would. It happens! Lestat has alot of back story to get through and unless you really like that convoluted family background I can see why it would drag for you. Interview was more in context of the moment (century they were in). They never delved far into the past to Louis consternation.

Can I also say, it's awesome to meet another avid reader. I started eating books like they were junk food in the 8th grade and haven't lost my love affair with them. I read a broad spectrum of books... pretty much will give anything a try, as long as it has a decent rating here on goodreads (i.e. 3.25+ is my minimum). I don't read alot of non-fiction other than a biography here or there. Love this website because now I can easily track what I love, didn't love and chat with fellow readers. All good.

Sue wrote: "Personally I loved it, but my favorite actually is the third in the series "Queen of the Damned". I agree with others, you have time to come back to this book and if you don't that's okay to. I'm..."

Sue, I agree with you that Queen of the Damned was a great novel. I was extremely impressed with how she provided a cohesive origin story that was logical within the context of the story, fit perfectly with the tone of the story and dovetailed all the loose ends together so nicely. I didn't read much beyond this trilogy of Ms. Rice's novels because the storylines were a little too purple for me but I thoroughly enjoyed all three novels.

I felt the spin on vampires in Interview was at the time new, unique and fresh. I loved the descriptive poetic prose and was fascinated by her interpretation of how vampires percieved reality through they enhanced senses and surreal perspective.

I was also enthralled with the Vampire Lestat. His origin was original and fascinating. I also loved how he acknowledged Louis perpspective but added to it. His personal narrative while different did not invalidate Louis narrative. He was the same character.

Anyway, I read these books the first time as an adolescent and yes, they obviously made an impression on me.

I also am glad the young lady originally posting is an avid reader.

This is a great book!!! And the history of the Vampire queen, mother of all and her ending is spectacular.... I loved it and the books that came to follow were just as good. This seris is much more than a trilogy though.... so don't allow yourself to think there are 3 books in this series there are over 10 and each better than the last... Merrick was a favorite of mine... and I love the fact that Anne does NOT REITERATE facts like CHARLAINE HARRIS DOES, I hat when a auther relives the past of her previous books in every new book, Anne does not do that and does not waste time.. SO GET READY TO READ A NEW NOVEL WITH new and exciting continuations per vampire/novel with each new book, you will love them......

I didn't bother to read any other comments, so I may be repeating things, but the fact is that The History parts in The Vampire Lestat, do drag to some extent, but it is worth trudging through, because it introduces one of the more bad ass characters, Queen Akasha, you will get lost in book three if you don't finish Lestat. As for the book being beyond you at the "tender age" of 12, Pish Posh, I started them at 12, and was up to book five by 8th grade when it came out. The books don't have any real language issues, yes the homoerotic story lines are rampant, but they are critical story line. It Does Get Better! I Promise you, but a word of caution, Do Not Continue to read them while at school, 9 out of 10 members of the faculty will give you a hard time, they won't believe that you can understand it, or they will think that it will damage you somehow, simply because they don't have the balls to actually read it.

I first picked up the Vampire Lestat when I was 14 years old and it was a gateway into a love affair with books that I will have forever. When I was a kid on the streets the intense love and eternal life grabbed me in. As I got older and went back to those first authors I loved decades later it was the historical world Anne Rice wraps her stories in became my favorite part. Everyone will find their own authors at the right times for you. Don't feel rushed just keep picking up books and keep on reading. I know it will bring you many years of joy. :)

I read The Vampire Lestat right after I finished The Interview with the vampire. I think that's why I was consumed reading it is because I am very fond of history.

If you are finding it hard to read the book, I suggest stop it. It is one of the essential rules in reading, don't read what you don't like.

That's true. If you're not enjoying it, what's the point? Life's too short to waste time reading fiction you don't enjoy.

I'd like to make a recommendation that might be in line with what the reader was looking for: Evermore. This might be more in line with what you'd like to read. Very intriging and grabs you immediately, it's YA but that doesn't detract from an excellent plot (closer to twilight but it's not as melodramatic) and the writing itself is better. (Also a serial).

This one was my absolute fave in the series....and yes it is very well worth it!!!!!!

I fell in love with the character Lestat too. Not because he is a vampire - it probably has more to do with the time period he comes from, and the way he sees the world. Not the conventional protagonist - Ann Rice does ramble, but the character is so different, its worth the extra time.

My advice is to stop reading it now. Save the book and in about 4 years or so... re-read the entire book. I loved the book and story. It was the first book of the Vampire Chronicles that I read and one of my favorites. I read this book in my early 20's and it was perfect for me. Anne Rice is my favorite "Vampire Book" author.

As a parent I monitor what my kids read. I think they should not only read slightly above their reading level, but books they enjoy. If they are emotionally mature enough for the contents...sure why not. For example what my 11 yr old reads is usually a more mature choice than what I would allow my 13 yr old to read. She hasn't reached certain levels in maturity that i look for before allowing her to tackle a subject. As for Lestat. If you feel the need to put the book down...do so. Pick it back up later, you'll enjoy it more. I've done that plenty!

I read this book first and loved it, read "Interview with a vampire" next and felt cheated. The "Queen of the Damned" came later and was a decent closure. the rest I did not bother to read as this kind of vampire telling left me somewhat cold.
Anne Rice might just not my cup of tea but I prefer her writing over the Twilight nonsense.

Definitely worth the read, when you're ready for it. Absolutely one of my faves in the series.

I read the series almost 20yrs ago and loved it. I found them after reading the Mayfair Witches series. My grandmother complained to my mother when I was 12 for reading a book by John Jakes "The Bastard", my mother told her as long as I was reading... I remember sneaking my older sister's book late at night when I was 13 to read "Sweet Savage Love" she said I was to young to read it.(of course I always kept a dictionary when reading). Enjoy!!

My daughter try to read the series when she was in her teens and couldn't get through it either, so don't trudge through a book not holding your interest, put it down and pick it up some other time...it will still be there for you. ;) Don't let that person effect what you read! Read what you like not what others THINK you should read. I read a lot of odd stuff about witch craft and demonology at your age and one bookstore owner ask my dad wasn't he worried about what I read, my dad said nope at least she's reading. Way to go dad! So I say the same, at least your reading, and from your synopsis of the book your comprehending the book fine. I'm on books 7 in the VC and I'm loving it but I'm 47. lol
I'm just now listening to the series myself and I feel the same at times that Rice does ramble a lot. I listen to the audio books in my car on my way to and from work and think I'm enjoying it much more as audio books than I would reading them due to the way the person reading does different voices. For some reason I enjoy some books more as audio books then I do reading them. I usually have two books I'm reading at once, one audio in car and one I read at home. Keep reading hon and as long as your enjoying them thats all that matters.