Interview with the Vampire

Interview with the Vampire begins with Louis de Pointe du Lac telling a reporter the story of his life. Louis is a vampire, which makes that a rather more complicated interview than the reporter might have hoped for. I would want a strong coffee and several follow-up questions before trusting anyone’s account of a whole lifetime.

For me, the fear in that set-up is quiet. You are listening to someone who can speak for himself, but you still have to decide what to make of what he says. I’d put the scare at three out of five: one for a night when you want to feel unsettled and have time to sit with it, rather than one when you want to check the locks.

This was Anne Rice’s debut novel, developed from an earlier short story. Claudia, a child vampire in the book, was inspired by Rice’s daughter Michele. That is a human detail I carry into the premise without needing to know where the story goes. I’d choose it for a quiet, rainy evening and for anyone drawn to the strange thought of a vampire trying to tell you who they are. Put the kettle on first. A life story could take a while.