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A review by sp1derfairy
The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
3.5
The origins of vampires and Marius' story is fascinating, and I love how differently he interacts with the world than Armand does. I found his discussion of true curiosity about the world--as opposed to seeking answers to fulfil bias--really thought-provoking, and it's something I'm going to keep in mind as a standard to strive for.I really loved how vampires came to be as a demon yearning to feel and understand the human experience and out of a desire for humanity. It's so beautiful that it manifests in the literal consumption of human blood but also the complete isolation from humanity. It's such a beautiful take on vampires, and I am so thankful for Rice's contribution and complete rehaul of the vampire genre to make them so nuanced.
I loved the conflict between Gabrielle and Lestat and her desire to separate herself from the world which has brought her nothing but roles and structures she could not survive in. I loved her relationship with womanhood and how vampirism helped her. The relationship Lestat has with her and motherhood is..interesting. The return of Louis is really special, and I love the new banter between them. Writing these books helped them understand and process their feelings, and they meet again, tentative and hopeful to try again and be better vampires for each other. It's really sweet, they know each other like no other.I do prefer how the show interprets this reunion as it emphasizes that they are both still hurt and grieving, something I feel this book sacrifices for time. The whole end sequence feels a little rushed overall, despite how long it is. It becomes a bit cheesy at points.
The white supremacy and this idealisation of the West is so visible in the backstory Rice constructs with this love for Rome as the inheritors of Egyptian greatness and vampires such as Marius and Lestat--both white and blond--representing the greatest strengths of vampirism and the pinnacle of humanity. There's this orientalist emphasis on Rome as the pinnacle of reason and societies that aren't as hedonistic or absurd. Akasha and Enkil literally "bring civilization" to the Egyptians from the North. Marius is a product of his time, but I don't see Rice challenging this narrative overall, and instead it lays the foundation for the story. His bias about female vampires being inherently weaker and these white male vampires as the pinnacle of strength and wisdom is sometimes overwhelming. I'm interested to see what the show will do with it.
Rice's writing sometimes gets away from me as it lingers on the details and atmosphere, but some times it blows me away. I really enjoyed the sequences at the end where Lestat describes the rush of being on the stage and performing to the crowd; it is so erotic and hedonistic I felt as swept up in it as him. I loved when he drank from Akasha for the same reason.
I loved the conflict between Gabrielle and Lestat and her desire to separate herself from the world which has brought her nothing but roles and structures she could not survive in. I loved her relationship with womanhood and how vampirism helped her. The relationship Lestat has with her and motherhood is..interesting. The return of Louis is really special, and I love the new banter between them. Writing these books helped them understand and process their feelings, and they meet again, tentative and hopeful to try again and be better vampires for each other. It's really sweet, they know each other like no other.
The white supremacy and this idealisation of the West is so visible in the backstory Rice constructs with this love for Rome as the inheritors of Egyptian greatness and vampires such as Marius and Lestat--both white and blond--representing the greatest strengths of vampirism and the pinnacle of humanity. There's this orientalist emphasis on Rome as the pinnacle of reason and societies that aren't as hedonistic or absurd. Akasha and Enkil literally "bring civilization" to the Egyptians from the North. Marius is a product of his time, but I don't see Rice challenging this narrative overall, and instead it lays the foundation for the story. His bias about female vampires being inherently weaker and these white male vampires as the pinnacle of strength and wisdom is sometimes overwhelming. I'm interested to see what the show will do with it.
Rice's writing sometimes gets away from me as it lingers on the details and atmosphere, but some times it blows me away. I really enjoyed the sequences at the end where Lestat describes the rush of being on the stage and performing to the crowd; it is so erotic and hedonistic I felt as swept up in it as him. I loved when he drank from Akasha for the same reason.