Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Ballantine Books (1986), Edition: later printing, Mass Market Paperback, 560 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Horror. Thriller. HTML:#1 New York Times Bestselling author - Surrender to fiction's greatest creature of the night - Book II of the Vampire Chronicles The vampire hero of Anne Rice�s enthralling novel is a creature of the darkest and richest imagination. Once an aristocrat in the heady days of pre-revolutionary France, now a rock star in the demonic, shimmering 1980s, he rushes through the centuries in search of others like him, seeking answers to the mystery of his eternal, terrifying exsitence. His is a mesmerizing story�passionate, complex, and thrilling. Praise for The Vampire Lestat �Frightening, sensual . . . Anne Rice will live on through the ages of literature. . . . To read her is to become giddy as if spinning through the mind of time, to become lightheaded as if our blood is slowly being drained away.��San Francisco Chronicle �Fiercely ambitious, nothing less than a complete unnatural history of vampires.��The Village Voice �Brilliant . . . its undead characters are utterly alive.��The New York Times Book Review �Luxuriantly created and richly told.��The Cleveland Plain Dealer.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Bookmarque
Ultimately The Vampire Lestat is a vampire coming of age novel. We learn about Lestat’s creation and early years. His initial horror and dismay. His foibles and stumbles. His discoveries and successes. It’s romantic and harrowing and I love it still after many re-readings.
This is probably the
This is probably the
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strongest of the series. After reading Interview I was understandably under the impression that Lestat was a right bastard and in many ways he was, but his motivation wasn’t to do harm. In this second book we find out just how clueless and insecure Lestat really is. Reeling from the loss of Nicky and Gabrielle, he is desperate to recreate a little family. He needs to be loved and cherished and when even Armand and Marius abandon him, he turns to duplicitousness to bind his new fledglings to him. It’s a mark of his desperation and insecurity and it endears him to us and makes him more human than he realizes. Show Less
LibraryThing member Menagerie
This was the first Anne Rice novel that I read and I fell completely, head-over-heels in love with her imagination and her lush, history-laden writing. Even though I normally do not like to read books out of order, I am glad that I read Lestat before Interview with the Vampire. I got to 'meet'
Rice spawned an entire genre with her vampire books and there aren't too many authors that can lay claim to such an accomplishment. This book is part of the foundation of that genre and it is still one of my favorite books of all time.
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Lestat through his eyes as opposed to those of his companions. This book, and indeed the entire Vampire Chronicles series, focuses on questions that no one in popular fiction ever asked before, namely what is the downside to immortality? What does beauty, wealth, intelligence and passion get you when you watch centuries go by? Can a human - undead though they may be - survive the changes and the sameness of the world through millennia? Rice spawned an entire genre with her vampire books and there aren't too many authors that can lay claim to such an accomplishment. This book is part of the foundation of that genre and it is still one of my favorite books of all time.
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LibraryThing member SumisBooks
I personally like this book very much even though it paints a completely different picture of Lestat than Interview with the Vampire did. I like the back story the author gave him and I especially connected with Gabrielle. But again, that's on a personal level. I look forward to reading the 3rd
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installment. Show Less
LibraryThing member ChelleBearss
The sequel to The Interview with a Vampire tells of Lestat waking up from an underground sleep for over half a century to the sounds of a fledgling rock band practicing in a residence nearby. Lestat desires to become a rock star and takes over the band, names it after himself and then pens his own
I found this novel enjoyable but slightly repetitive and hard to follow the different story lines and histories of the different vampires. (3.5* on audio)
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autobiography. The tale tells of Lestat’s life dating back to the 18th century. As a misunderstood aristocrat in a family that is ashamed of his differences he runs off to Paris to become an actor with his mate Nicki. He catches the eye of the Vampire Magnus and is kidnapped and turned into a vampire and then abandoned, all in the same night. Lestat then turns his dying mother and his mate Nicki into vampires. He tells of meeting older vampires and learns of their turnings and their history. The story ends after Lestat's debut concert and ends on a very frustrating cliff hanger.I found this novel enjoyable but slightly repetitive and hard to follow the different story lines and histories of the different vampires. (3.5* on audio)
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LibraryThing member Djupstrom
I took me a while to get into Rice's writing style, but when you grasp it, you fly through the book. Great story.
LibraryThing member LucidLove
I love this book. Lestat is one of my favorite characters of all-time, and that means one of my favorite characters from any book, movie, anime, play, Cartoon Network show, or anything. I love everything that he does and all of the problems he has. Besides Louis, Lestat is one of the most human
This book was a faster read for me than Interview was. I love both, but I'm thinking that I may like this book better. Anne Rice is the man... or woman.
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vampires of any I've ever read about in a book. He's so torn between selfishness and selflessness, between good and evil. I think everyone can relate to Lestat, as most are torn between themselves at several points within their lives.This book was a faster read for me than Interview was. I love both, but I'm thinking that I may like this book better. Anne Rice is the man... or woman.
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LibraryThing member shojo_a
When I was 13, I read this book so many times that I had the first page memorized. Flowery prose bordering on the purple, beautiful vampires that never die, tortured love...The Vampire Chronicles had everything a teenage girl could wish for. To explain how obsessed I was with these books. A few
Oh god...that's so embarrassing.
But I have to admit, that the Brat Prince will always be my favorite hero of fiction.
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years ago I found a note book from when I was 13, where I recored my three wishes. They were as follows: 1)To be 16. 2)To be beautiful 3)To become a vampire.Oh god...that's so embarrassing.
But I have to admit, that the Brat Prince will always be my favorite hero of fiction.
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LibraryThing member MoiraStirling
How Lestat was made. A delectable introduction.
LibraryThing member susanbevans
This is the second book in Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. Lestat is among my favorite vampire characters of all time. His story is beautifully written and extremely captivating.
LibraryThing member Psychodrama
Not as fond as this one as I was of Interview with the Vampire. Maybe it was the lack of Claudia, who made me love the first book.
What really had me confused here is that in this book, Lestat says that Louis was basically lying about his portrayal of Lestat in Interview with the Vampire. In that
What really had me confused here is that in this book, Lestat says that Louis was basically lying about his portrayal of Lestat in Interview with the Vampire. In that
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book, Lestat is portrayed as simple and violent and uncaring for humans. In THIS book, he's shown as having a great love for humans, and being as philosphical as Louis was in the first book. It just didn't make sense to me. Show Less
LibraryThing member mauveberry
I think this is the best out of all the books in Anne Rice's vampire chronicles series. The first book (Interview with the Vampire) was okay compared to this book. The ones after were not very interesting to me.
LibraryThing member MzCaledonia
The first Anne Rice novel I ever read and still my absolute favourite. It is the story of how Lestat became the brat prince of the vampires and I defy you not to fall in love with him. I read this book practically in one sitting when I was a teenager and it was magical.
LibraryThing member EmScape
This Lestat bears very little resemblance to the creature we are introduced to in Interview with the Vampire. I wanted to kick that Lestat in the crotch. This Lestat, I want to offer my neck to. While the author does try to explain pieces of his behavior in her last novel as misunderstandings and
I would have liked to have had more of this book take place in the present, as I feel the conception of his musical group and his reasons for wanting to reveal himself are not really explained. While I enjoyed very much the stories of Lestat’s and Marius’s pasts, I felt that they went on rather longer than necessary. I read this as an e-book and even in Microsoft Reader, it was 908 pages!
I am enthralled with Akasha, however, and am very much looking forward to reading Queen of the Damned.
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ignorance on the part of Louis, I don’t really buy it. I think it would have been more congruent to character to introduce an entirely different vampire and ascribe these experiences to him. I would have liked to have had more of this book take place in the present, as I feel the conception of his musical group and his reasons for wanting to reveal himself are not really explained. While I enjoyed very much the stories of Lestat’s and Marius’s pasts, I felt that they went on rather longer than necessary. I read this as an e-book and even in Microsoft Reader, it was 908 pages!
I am enthralled with Akasha, however, and am very much looking forward to reading Queen of the Damned.
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LibraryThing member sdtaylor555
The greatest vampire book of all time. Lestat is a god.
LibraryThing member shmuffin
I enjoyed this book a lot more than Interview. There were less overly descriptive parts although some of the story did drag on. The story was good however and I am interested in reading Queen of the Damned.
LibraryThing member booksandbosox
I enjoyed this much more than "Interview" but I'm pretty sure that I'm going to quit the Vampire Chronicles now. I really wanted to love these books, seeing as I love vampires and these are supposed to be the among the essential in vamp lit. I just couldn't love them, though. Like I said, I liked
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this one a lot more. Lestat is a fascinating character and I really enjoyed reading his history. Some parts definitely dragged though. Regardless, I'm glad I trudged through it, but sadly, I'll be passing on the rest of the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member vlucia
Doubtless the first part of this novel is my favourite of all Vampire Chronicles which I managed to finish; the second part is less to my liking, unfortunately. I wondered why? And I realised that I liked the human side of Lestat, with which he struggled much; his passionate yet tragic
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relationship, contrast and dynamics with Nicki fascinated and impressed me so greatly that I found them far more interesting than Lestat and Louis. Show Less
LibraryThing member PigOfHappiness
While Louis is a bit of a whiner, Lestat is over-the-top in his antics. Written with Anne Rice's signature romantic style, the second in the vampire chronicles does not disappoint (and in my opinion, is much better than the first...and perhaps the best in the series). Appropriate for high school
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and beyond. Show Less
LibraryThing member chersbookitlist
This is the iconic modern vampire novel! Well-written, great plot progression and character development.
LibraryThing member whiteknight50
I loved this book. I love most of the Anne Rice novels due to her unique writing style, the blend of good with evil, and the deep, rich characterization of her work.
I never do quite know what to say about her books though. The stories are always interesting, they manage to maintain a freshness,
This book was highly introspective. Lestat is "made" into a vampire in this book, it is the story of his birth into the world of the undead, and of his transition from being a basically good human being into a world that goes against his basic nature. The obvious struggle between the good and evil that comes out of this is the meat of the story.
The main reason I like Anne Rice novels in general is the richness of her writing. Descriptive passages capture the readers heart, revealing the back story for her characters, without going to such depth and using so much verbage that the reader is overwhelmed with detail. She manages to balance the level of detail and the story line quite well.
I never do quite know what to say about her books though. The stories are always interesting, they manage to maintain a freshness,
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never quite being "like" another of her novels, even when about similar, or the same characters. This is something I like, though some readers may not. This book was highly introspective. Lestat is "made" into a vampire in this book, it is the story of his birth into the world of the undead, and of his transition from being a basically good human being into a world that goes against his basic nature. The obvious struggle between the good and evil that comes out of this is the meat of the story.
The main reason I like Anne Rice novels in general is the richness of her writing. Descriptive passages capture the readers heart, revealing the back story for her characters, without going to such depth and using so much verbage that the reader is overwhelmed with detail. She manages to balance the level of detail and the story line quite well.
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LibraryThing member LaurenGommert
I loved the look into Lestat's birth into the immortal world. His story gives the reader incredible insight into why his character behaves the way he does. We see parts from the other Chronicles through Lestat's point of view. We see things as he saw them. I especially love the complexities between
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him and his mother. I think it might just be possible that all of Lestat's issues are Freudian! Not my very favorite book in the Chronicles, but an essential one. This one is kinda the thread the ties it all together. Show Less
LibraryThing member kyrabones
I LOVE this book! In my opinion, Anne Rice is miles above Stephanie Meyer. This book looks at Lestat in a whole different light than Interview with the Vampire did. If you've read Interview and think of Lestat as a cold hearted monster, you will be surprised. I'll be sure to read the next books in
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the series! Show Less
LibraryThing member Wallflower90
** spoiler alert ** The Vampire Lestat is the second book in the Vampire Chronicles.
I liked it slightly better than Interview With a Vampire. Just beacuse Lestat is such a great character!
We also get to see how he felt about the events of IWTV, but also know more about him and his life before death
Armand makes another apperance and he is very different from the Armand we know from the first book. Other interesting characters like Marius,Nicki,Akasha and Gabrielle appear.
...more The Vampire Lestat is the second book in the Vampire Chronicles.
I liked it slightly better than Interview With a Vampire. Just beacuse Lestat is such a great character!
We also get to see how he felt about the events of IWTV, but also know more about him and his life before death and after it.
Armand makes another apperance and he is very different from the Armand we know from the first book. Other interesting characters like Marius,Nicki,Akasha and Gabrielle appear.
It was alot more "Vampire History" in it. We got to know how the Theatre of Vampires came to be and so much more.
There were some parts when I couldnt put the book down and had to continue reading but then there were the parts I just wanted to skip through as well.
All in all a very interesting book
I liked it slightly better than Interview With a Vampire. Just beacuse Lestat is such a great character!
We also get to see how he felt about the events of IWTV, but also know more about him and his life before death
Show More
and after it.Armand makes another apperance and he is very different from the Armand we know from the first book. Other interesting characters like Marius,Nicki,Akasha and Gabrielle appear.
...more The Vampire Lestat is the second book in the Vampire Chronicles.
I liked it slightly better than Interview With a Vampire. Just beacuse Lestat is such a great character!
We also get to see how he felt about the events of IWTV, but also know more about him and his life before death and after it.
Armand makes another apperance and he is very different from the Armand we know from the first book. Other interesting characters like Marius,Nicki,Akasha and Gabrielle appear.
It was alot more "Vampire History" in it. We got to know how the Theatre of Vampires came to be and so much more.
There were some parts when I couldnt put the book down and had to continue reading but then there were the parts I just wanted to skip through as well.
All in all a very interesting book
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LibraryThing member emanate28
Definitely a fun read, although without the angst & depth of feeling of the first book, Interview with the Vampire.
LibraryThing member isabelx
"Ah, the taste and feel of blood when all passion and greed is sharpened in that one desire!"
The second book in Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. I enjoyed it a lot when I first read it, but now I'm all vampired out.
The second book in Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. I enjoyed it a lot when I first read it, but now I'm all vampired out.
Awards
World Fantasy Award (Nominee — Novel — 1986)
Language
Original publication date
1985-10-31
Physical description
560 p.; 6.93 inches
ISBN
0345313860 / 9780345313867
Local notes
The Vampire Chronicles 2