What really catches my attention with this novel is the style in which it was written. Its much more modern text. The descriptions of Louis's first kill truly sent a shiver down my spine and made my stomach queasy. I think it is because it is written in the way that my mind thinks, therefore, I am able to feel the descriptions in a much stronger sense than I am when reading something written in classic text. Perhaps its because when reading classic literature, I am always going to be detatched, ever so slightly...
Which brings me to my next point: Rice's vampire story is much more graphic than Dracula. In Dracula, I was caught up in the delicate way it was written-craving to find out the mystery it presented. Will Dracula kill Jonathan? Is Lucy going to die or be saved in time? The entire book was blanketed in a suspense that Stoker so intricatedly wove. This complicated and romatic plot fascinated me. In Interview with the Vampire, I feel more raw fear. Whenever I came across any description of Louis sucking blood, I was disgusted... and yet, I enjoyed this feeling because rarely do I get that strong of an emotion from a book. Does this have to do with our soceity today? Am I just so desensitized that I need vivid descriptions of murder and deception to feel anything? This notion makes me sad...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Well, you enjoyed Dracula, didn't you? We all loved it, in fact. It's a wonderfully written story... and in some ways, Interview with the Vampire is crude in comparison.
ReplyDeleteI think a clearer sign that we're all desensitized is the fact that Interview with the Vampire doesn't disturb me at all... I actually find the descriptions so far facinating. Rice certainly has an interesting take on vampires, and though it might be considered disgusting and crude, it also has a certain beauty in it. Because the story is told from a vampire's perspective, it isn't just "AND THEN THE SCARY UNDEAD MONSTAAAAAAR"--that was spelled incorrectly on purpose--"JUMPED OUT OF NOWHERE AND ATTACKED THE POOR HELPLESS WOMAN." It's personal... and in that way attractive.
Yeah! You're right!
ReplyDelete