The Vampire Lestat discussion

I'm a firm believer in the "don't read it if you don't enjoy it" school of leisure reading.

This book is not for everyone and it's appeal is lost to many. It was a re-boot of the Dracula legend at a time when such things were rarer than they are today. Also the homosexuality, the Egyptian mythos and the existentialist quandaries were all somewhat new additions to the "Dracula dogma."

Personally I think at least some of that had to do with Ms. Rice working though some of her own conflicted emotions about suspecting that her son was gay.

If this makes the story more (or less) interesting, fine but if you're not finding a book to be an interesting story, engagingly told then it's a mismatch for you at the present.

Definitely put it down for now. It's a superb read, so if it doesn't grab you at this moment there's no point in forcing it. Try again down the road. It opens the door to a run of great stories, and you'll likely love everything to come through Memnoch the Devil.

In a different direction, try The Necroscope by Brian Lumley. It's more of a sci-fi take on the vampire tale, but it's a ripper.

Have you read anything else by this writer and liked it? If you enjoyed Interview with a Vampire, chances are good you'll like this one too. My main criticism of Rice is that she has a hard time developing female characters, but that doesn't bother a lot of people.

If it just feels like WORK to read it, get a different book. I forced myself to read some classic works, but then I was also a literature teacher, and it's terrible if a student wants to discuss an important work of literature and I haven't even read it. But this book isn't an important work. It's another book. Some like it; some don't. A good rule of thumb (unless the book you are reading has very short chapters) is that if you have read the first five chapters and are not having a good time, it won't get any better for you.

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 ..."

Unusual that you enjoyed "Interview with the Vampire" and not this one. Generally Lestat is considered the faster paced novel, with more action (and it is, with lots of secrets revealed in it). However, the first one was always my favourite too. I think you should shelve it until you appreciate it, then you'll get the most out of it. After 15 years I tripped across Tom Holland's, "The Vampyre," - just did not appreciate it when I was a teen but loved it as an adult. Hope that helps :).

are you kidding, I loved this book

I didn't want this book to end it was so long but really good.

In my opinion this book is the greatest book I will have ever read. It is what inspired me to become a writer. As much as I would like to day trudge on, this book isn't just a read, it is an experience. I pray that one day my Vampire series will have just one book in it that is as good as Lestat's first tale. When you feel you are ready, then pick it up. But... like others said, this is just an opinion. Do what you really want.

-JK

The Vampire Lestat is probably the best book in this series. I still go back every few years and read it

Personally between Vampire Chronicle books I've read, The Vampire Lestat is the greatest book, and I enjoyed reading it. It was about Lestat life journey from just a human to a powerful vampire.

But, I also had the same experience once or twice with some books. Sometimes, you just need time before you are ready to read it, since not every book in a series could be read in the same view of mind. Sometimes, it just because they're just not your taste, so you could stop forcing yourself to read it.

The point is, like most people here had said, you could pick it up at a later time, or not, your choice. One book of a series might be enjoyable to you while others in the series just not. (speaking from experience)

I read this book over 20 years ago, and it's still one of my all-time favorite novels. Lestat is a delicious villain, and you gotta love him, kind of like Alex in Clockwork Orange. To me, Anne Rice's portrayal of Paris in the 19th century is unforgettable.

The Vampire Lestat is one of my fav. books. I've read it three times.

Katie wrote: "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, jus..."

I look like I act like?

I personally love Anne Rice's writing style. But that is probably because I am quite verbose myself. The language she uses is romantic and I'm a hopeless romantic. Those pragmatists among us would be frustrated by her writing style.

I LOVED The Vampire Lestat! One of my all-time favourite books. I fell in love with Lestat in this book as opposed to loathing him in Interview.

That being said, if you're not enjoying it, put it down and read later.

I think their are subtleties in this book that require the reader to have a little more life experience. It's not that you are immature, just not 'seasoned' at life yet.