i feel like anne rice is the spiders georg of creating fanged sadsacks to be honest
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Hi there! stumbled upon your glorious blog after started re-reading VC. And let me tell ya, when I first read the entire thing some 13 years ago, it seemed to me so completely different, that I flip through pages now and go ‘wow, that really happened’. AR didn’t loose her touch with PL (which I detest and do not consider part of canon), but it reads more as an ‘audience book’ vs ‘author’s book’ as the previous ones do. And this is exactly what happened with some other novels, which is sad.
Thanks for the compliments! YES THIS THING IS GLORIOUS ♥u♥
So I’m not sure exactly what you’re getting at, re: an ‘audience book’ vs ‘author’s book’ but it I do know that AR has always advised to “write the book you would want to read.” She just put up two quotes recently that I think are relevant here:
[May 11, 2016 – X] [May 10, 2016- X]
I had posted recently about the fandom’s general judgment of the quality of VC as a series, and most ppl seem to agree that canon is stronger in the beginning, and it makes sense because those works drew their strength from the emotions she fueled them with at those times in her life.
Unfortunately, I think we generally prefer those books coming from negative places for her, and I think it’s because she spun gold from the misery, she fought her demons through those stories and the product was captivating, clawing into the reader and giving us some secondhand catharsis.
Stories that came from a more positive place for her seemed not to produce that kind of engagement for the reader, but it’s important to remember that some ppl may prefer those.
Either way, she’s given us an incredible gift. The stronger works resonate with us to the soul like only our favorite music and art can, the weaker works are humorous and we can lovingly refer to them as “the vampire crackicles,” but even they still have good moments in which AR has tapped into the old veins (pun intended!) to give us that gold we’ve come to expect from her.
I stand by my previous short answer on this subject: I think AR can still capture that old quality we all fell in love with, albeit in slivers. Which is why I can’t disregard any of the books entirely. It’s still hard for me to accept Prince Lestat as canon, I might never, but there are moments and lines of dialogue in it that are SO VERY GOOD. Moments where I’ve had to pause and smile, because it was as if the old Lestat, from IWTV or TVL, actually graced us with his presence, if only for a moment.
Has Anne Rice ever confirmed officially that Claudia=Michele?
^Stan and Michele Rice on the left, Lestat and Claudia de Lioncourt on the right. As a side note, before this gets into the more serious topic, AR has said she based Lestat on Stan, and there is a story out there that his name was meant to be “Lestan,” but ended up as “Lestat” bc of a typographical error. I don’t have a source on that.
Re: Claudia=Michele?
From the Vampire Companion:
(In the first draft of [IWTV], Rice described Claudia as three or four years old.)… Rice based Claudia’s appearance on her own daughter, Michele, who died at the age of five from leukemia. Claudia even shares Michele’s birthday, September 21.* However, despite the intense tone of suffering and guilt evident in Louis’s telling of the story, Rice insists that she had not been aware that she had included her feelings about Michele’s tragic death. “I never consciously thought about it when I was writing the book,” she says. “I wasn’t conscious of the connection. I knew that I was using the physical beauty of Michele as the model, but Claudia was a fictional character in her own right. The character, the voice, and the things Claudia say have nothing to do with my daughter – but there’s no question that this is the symbolic working out of a terrible grief. What else can it possibly be?”
In the first version of [IWTV], Claudia eventually goes off with three vampire brothers whom she meets in Paris. She does not die. As such, it was as if Rice had attempted to give her daughter a form of immortality. Rice, however, experienced psychological problems that cleared up only after she had rewritten the ending – by killing off Claudia and taking Louis through an experience of intense grieving. This version was much more cathartic for Rice.
*This is mentioned in canon in Claudia’s diary entry in QOTD, which recounts one of her birthdays.
Hit the jump for more, cut for length, not content.
From Premiere Magazine, November 1994:
(sorry, I don’t have a link, I transcribed this from the page)
In real life, Claudia was a nickname for Michele Rice, Anne Rice’s vibrant blond daughter, who had once piled her hair on top of her head, and spoken in a smoky voice like Claudia Cardinale. She was three years old when she developed leukemia, and five when she died, in 1972.
At first, Rice soaked her maternal despair in a steady stream of sixpacks. Then she unleashed her rage unto paper, into what eventually became Interview with the Vampire. Michele was reincarnated as Claudia, the raging woman locked in a child’s body. “Louis was me,” says Rice. “That dark, brooding, melancholy person ripped from Catholic faith and tormented with guilt – that was me. I’d love to be Lestat: the wishful me, the active, the dream, the other one. Louis was the more true, autobiographical portrait of the conflicted and lost and orphaned person. That’s what the book is about. It’s about being orphaned.”
From People Magazine, 12/5/1988:
“Writers write about what obsesses them,” says Rice. “You draw those cards. I lost my mother when I was 14. My daughter died at the age of 6. I lost my faith as a Catholic. When I’m writing, the darkness is always there. I go where the pain is.“
Does anyone else feel that the quality of the Vampire Chronicles books goes downhill the further you read into the series?
I mean, I love Anne Rice and her novels but sometimes I get the feeling she put out a book because of contractual obligations. Some of the VC books are just.. meh.
(If you don’t mind my input) I feel like the quality kind of slopes downward, comes up again just a little bit and then goes down even further. I actually enjoyed The Vampire Armand (despite the weird shit that went on), but as for the 2 books that preceded it, I really didn’t care for them at all. I haven’t read on-ward since because I’ve heard things regarding the other half of the series so, I can’t attest to that half.
I don’t mind 🙂
I’ve heard that some of the books are better but after I read TOBT it really killed my enjoyment of the series and I’ve only recently gotten back into it.
You’re not wrong—there are a lot of people who have the same general opinion (YMMV on which book began the downward spiral). #i-want-my-iwtv — you need to weigh in on this one!
I have argued to doctorate holders that IWTV is a true work of literary genius. TVL is my favorite for its unrepentant hedonism and introspection–I think Lestat is more self aware than Louis is, and more aware of how others think than Louis is, and I love his narration (despite the fact that I am literally Louis).
Queen of the Damned is well on par with TVL in its quality–and its a high quality straddling the line between good popular fiction and high brow literature……Armand, Blood and Gold, Pandora, Vittorio: they’re right below it in literary quality for me. The rest seem to be just good popular fiction, not great, but good.
I love them all to bits, and will defend Anne and her work, and continue to read whatever she writes, but….you are right, there really is a change in her writing.
*Officially weighing in*
Lots of good points above, I absolutely agree that IWTV is a true work of literary genius. Agreed on everything annabellioncourt wrote. For me, none of the later books remotely approaches the richness and intensity of IWTV, TVL, or QOTD, but yes, I’d say TVA was very good, and shouldn’t be lumped into the lesser VC simply bc of its post-MtD publishing date.
I would agree w/ firelight-fading that it’s not a sharp downward slide in quality, but more that “the quality kind of slopes downward, comes up again just a little bit and then goes down even further.” Blood Canticle would have ended this series, and for what it’s worth, I would say that Prince Lestat begins to get things back on a better track plot-wise and emotion-wise than it nearly ended on.
My short answer: I think AR can still capture that old quality we all fell in love with, albeit in slivers. Which is why I can’t disregard any of the books entirely. It’s still hard for me to accept Prince Lestat as canon, I might never, but there are moments and lines of dialogue in it that are SO VERY GOOD. Moments where I’ve had to pause and smile, because it was as if the old Lestat, from IWTV or TVL, actually graced us with his presence, if only for a moment.
However, in general, I would say that the VC began as a work of catharsis for her (we probably all know the Claudia = Michele Rice connection by now); she had real questions that needed answering, she had a powerful hunger to flex her storytelling muscles, steeped in all that older literature, she could still relate to us mere mortals, and she had her poet husband’s emotional and creative support. Don’t underestimate Stan’s contribution 😉
So I’d say that’s why the first few books (1-3 or 1-5 or whatever, depending on your cutoff point) are so strong, and why we mourn the loss of that passionate searching. Because as she got more successful, as she exorcised her demons, she might have lost touch with the emotions and questions she began the journey with. I’m happy she’s happy! I would probably still be a mess, if I had lost a child and a husband, both who still had a lot of life ahead of them ;A;
But I’m glad she seems to be in a good place, and that she’s still writing, even though she is probably financially secure enough not to need to touch WordPerfect ever again!
Hit the jump for more.
It’s easy to denounce a pile of books. It’s easy to just slam them down or make a gif of them on fire yes I did that before I finished reading it and it’s kind of a bonding experience to all agree to like or dislike a thing together. I get that. Hey, I actively dislike movie!QOTD. I immediately feel a little kinship w/ others who agree w/ me on that, and I am aware that’s mean to those who feel nostalgia for that movie, so I try to keep it to a minimum publicly.
Why do people dislike the later VC books? Because they’re wild? (They are!), They are historically inaccurate? (Probably!) The characters seem “off” or present unreliable narration as to past events told by other characters…? (They are and they do!)
^All of which are varying degrees of criminal acts that call for Fictional Character Protective Services™ but I advocate for the proverbial devil because that’s one of my things that I do so here we go:
Wild stories:
- Well, AR attempted to appease her POTP fanbase in some regard, merging the Mayfair Witch series into VC, and she acknowledged that it hasn’t “worn well.”
- She’s trying to appease the POTP who have begged her to give Lestat a biological child (check that off the list), and get married with a ~ceremony~ (allegedly happening in the next installment, Blood Paradise)
bc how can he be at all remotely happy w/out making an honest man out of Louis FFS like c’mon. - She’s always tried to push the envelope and TOBT was WILD for its time in this series, how incredible that she’s managed to make that seem so tame in comparison to later canon!
- Not to mention the Dora scene in MtD.
They are historically inaccurate:
- Probably! But I’m not a history buff, so for me, to say the characters are wearing something that wasn’t invented until, idk, 50 yrs later, doesn’t bother me.
- I can understand why it might irritate the hell out of someone else, though.
The characters seem “off” or present unreliable narration as to past events told by other characters…
- But that happens in real life, too! X might have one version of a story and Y, who also experienced it, might have a much different version. I enjoy seeing the perspectives, and consider for myself who’s version I believe.
- Louis and Lestat argue over whether Lestat was about to eat a baby at the end of IWTV “in a scene which we both know did not take place!”
In the last analysis, AR can still blow me away with a scene, or just a line of dialogue, even in the far less popular books in the series. She can still make me put the book down and stare off into space for a breather.
BUT, as I mentioned above,
I think AR can still capture that old quality we all fell in love with, albeit in slivers. Which is why I can’t disregard any of the books entirely. It’s still hard for me to accept Prince Lestat as canon, I might never, but there are moments and lines of dialogue in it that are SO VERY GOOD. Moments where I’ve had to pause and smile, because it was as if the old Lestat, from IWTV or TVL, actually deigned to be present, if only for a moment.
Peek Inside Anne Rice’s Former New Orleans Estate
What is next for me is another novel with Lestat, as he probes deeper into the origins of the vampires and the origins of human beings, another novel about his never ending quest for meaning, and his deep acknowledgment that he will always be an outsider know matter how much he is loved. Lestat has always been obsessed with goodness, and evil, and that will continue in my next book, of course.
Do you think vampires consider human attributes when it comes to social status or is it just based on power and age or wealth? It’s cause I can imagine Lestat occasionally rubbing it in ppls face that at one point he was nobility (not that he’ll mention the exact situation) Like just shoving it in Armand’s face like “I was Marquis once what about you, huh?” I just love the idea of him thinking he has an edge over “common” vampires. Actually, what kind of system do vampire run on anyway?
So I think sometimes they’re a pile of dysfunctional hipsters prodding eachother like that, but I think the last thing Lestat wants is to be reminded of his father by bringing up his former social status. He left that when he left the Auvergne :-
But Lestat still managed to earn the Brat Prince title, before anyone knew about his mortal past.
[VC watching Tru Blood by @hedonistbyheart (they gave permission to repost)]
^I see coven gatherings as being like this. There are so few fanarts of them as a group, but I’ve collected a few under #group shot.
At coven gatherings, everyone breaks into little groups of 2-4 to catch up on eachother’s unlives, discuss the movies and art they’ve seen recently, current playlists, Lestat bragging about jamming with some current musician “yeah I got backstage, and she invited me to play the next show with the band, but all the rest of their tourdates are daytime shows so I had to refuuuuuse *pouts*”
Sometimes Armand thinks he’s made it up, but everyone’s usually very impressed or at least they ACT impressed to move onto the next topic.
The power hierarchy doesn’t seem based on physical beauty or financial wealth, since they can all buy whatever they want. The social status seems to be based on the physical power (age or blood) of each individual vampire and their alliances benefit by extension.
Lestat’s at the top of the food chain with that, for obvious reasons. His fledglings are close, since you know he would defend their honor at the slightest provocation.
Marius, however, still holds some sway over Lestat as the mentor-figure, and rule-maker, since he’s one of the oldest and one of the ones who have lived the most mortal years. David and Marius often find common ground on subjects, and are less flappable than those made at younger mortal ages.
Gabrielle also has a lot of power socially, and somewhat physically, being Lestat’s first fledgling.
Hi… I got something… This interview to Josh Boone, and one of the questions is about VC movies and series
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=861753807280589&id=530081247114515
AR also linked to the article I shared last night:
^So this is separate from the script Chris Rice worked on, which seemed to be more focused on TOBT. [X]
this picture of anne rice at a book signing in the 90s feels reeeeally important
thats it, thats exactly the experience of reading an anne rice book.
You even make the same face.
^TRUTH
^im sorry for this
About your tags on that mark hamill gifset “wish one of the iwtv actors would say this”, Anne Rice has said it already.
Yep, as far as I know, AR is fine with ppl headcanoning them as gay, or other sexual orientation. IIRC, this was her response re: Daniel and Marius:
Look at all my tags on that post, tho: #fandom #mark hamill #wish we had one of the IWTV actors saying this #but I think theyd all agree w/ it #your headcanon may vary #ship and let ship #gif #quote #headcanon #lestat likes this #you dont need the authors permission to think whatever u want about canon #YOU DONT NEED AUTHORS PERMISSION FOR YOUR HEADCANON #just be respectful #of others’ headcanons too #reyton #roselioncourt #pointed this out to me #thank u
I don’t really need the IWTV actors to say it, either. Just would have fit on my blog better 😉
For example, some ppl headcanon Gabrielle as transgender. I don’t, personally, but I’m respectful of their opinion. I don’t know what AR would think about that opinion, and I don’t reeeeeally care, bc you don’t need the author’s permission to think whatever you want about canon. Just be respectful of others’ headcanons, too *u*
I-want-my-IWTV 