What was your first impression of Louis?
At first, he seems rather cold and unemotional, and not someone I feel much sympathy for. Then as we read his story, we see how much of his humanity still remains.
What was yourr first impression of Lestat?
He seemed rather vulgar, a hedonist to Louis's aesthete. Later, he seems more of a mystery, wanting companions, but not having much feeling for them.
Do you think that Louis's brother and Drusilla are comparable?
In a way. Both introduce the element of spirituality to the story, and both characters have a saintly, unworldly aura to them. (I am thinking of Drusilla before she was turned.) They introduce the question of how religion fits in all this, though without answering it. Both are sacrificed, though in the brother's case, this was accidental, whereas Drusilla's turning was obviously deliberate. But the brother doesn't seem to weigh much on Louis, except in rare moments.
Why do you think Louis didn’t leave Lestat instead of going to New Orleans?
I agree with
@NotASlayer, that it was fear of the unknown. As much as he disliked Lestat, he was the only other vampire Louis knew.
What do you think was Lestat's reason for turning Claudia?
To keep Louis with him. He knew Louis would stay to protect her. But it doesn't seem to have occurred to Lestat that they might ally against him.
Do you think Claudia was right when she called Louis, Lestat's slave?
No. Louis stayed, but he was never at Lestat's bidding. I'm not sure Claudia, who has so little of human feeling, can understand Louis's motivations, or even his sense of wanting to stick with old habits.
Did you think Claudia had killed Lestat?
I've read this before, and I can't remember what I thought then, though I might have been aware there was a sequel! But I think I would not have thought that such a conventional 'killing' would have worked on a vampire.
How are you enjoying the book so far?
It's a page turner! I do wish it had more breaks to have a good place to stop. I wonder why Anne Rice chose not to have chapters?
Do you have a favourite character?
My favorite character in this book is yet to come. Of these three, Louis is my favorite, simply as the protagonist, but I find Claudia the most fascinating.
At the moment, it is okay. The "interview" style takes some getting used to.
I have been wondering why the author chose that format instead of a straight telling of the tale from Louis's point of view. Is it to give us a companion in our possible disbelief? Is it to give another layer of separation from readers, so we are more obviously cast in the role of detached observer? I'd be interested to know what others think.
