Interview with a Vampire

Reading Interview with a Vampire almost felt relieving, like it gave me another perspective to the story, than what you see in the movie, so it was almost closure in a sense. I really enjoyed the fact that you were hearing the vampires side of the story was probably one of the most enjoyable things about this book. It relates to Monster Island, where you get that rare case where you get some insight in why they do what they do and how they feel about it and what they are. Especially with Louis. I felt he was quite emotional?, in a sense, about transforming into a vampire and then has to get comfortable with the idea and later on finally he excepts himself for who he has become. For coming out in the 70s, Anne Rice seemed to have a fairly decent idea of what a vampire should be, which obviously went on through The Vampire Chronicles and I think Rices vampires may be my favorite kind. Much more enjoyable than movies nowadays, but even the things she got away with within the book, just because it flowed so well. The gay aspects that just seem to be a tendency of their culture, like it wasn't strange that Louis and Lestat were that close or that Claudia wanted Madeleine to be turned to act as a mother figure and companion. I feel like today we would have called that a "bromance".. I thoroughly enjoyed that Anne included the glamorous parts to being immortal, as well as, the depressing truths and sacrifices you make as well. I don't think their were any parts I disliked, but I did get irritated with the ignorant interviewer when he interrupted the story. After hearing a story like that first hand and then begging him to turn you? Give me a break! It was obviously not the best solution for Louis and he begged for it initially too. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, as I assumed I would. I really appreciated that her approach to this novel was more just Louis telling this story. She didn't write it in an in-your-face kind of way, yet still achieved the core elements of a Vampire Novel.


These common attributes within Vampires are:

• Amplified in appearance
• Other than pale skin, generally dark in color
• Thirsty blood suckers
• Sleeping in coffins
• Garlic and Crosses are supposed repellents so-to-speak.

Frankenstein

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a classic novel published January 1st 1818. This novel contains every element I think something frightful should have:

• Powerful or dangerous knowledge
• Romanticism *
• Secrecy (which usually follows romance around)
• Monstrosity (both literally and figuratively)
• Passive women and troubles of that nature
• Strange atmosphere
  
  I had not read this book prior to this course and I felt that it was an ideal introduction to Literature of Horror, Fantasy, and Sci-Fi. Although I am not sure what we have in store for us throughout this course, but I can only guess by this novel and the class discussions we've had so far. Especially starting from the beginning and then working our way chronologically, it really allows you to see the progression of the entire genre and how it has turned into what it currently is. I guess that is one of my personal goals in this class, is to be more knowledgable about the literature of horror, fantasy, and sci-fi that was before my time. My generation is so limited in knowledge, because we are very focused on moving forward, and very few research on their own, so overall this was a great novel to begin with. I am not saying that it is a negative thing to progress and advance, but we started somewhere and it is important to know that if you really want to understand it completely. I really enjoyed when Frankenstein admitted to murdering William and shows some compassion. It is nice to witness a bad guy being good every so often in a horror novel/film, as it kept my attention longer, whether it is a genuine or false behavior. The ending with death is also very characteristic of a horror film or novel. You usually expect in a story line to have a problem but later there's a resolution/conclusion, but the element of shock and surprise is quite common within this genre.

Horror is...

Horror, personally, revolves around something negative, in a sense.. It is something that evokes the extreme emotions that include fear, anxiety, shock, disgust, etc. In todays society, we have somehow come to love the thrill of being scared. For example, Halloween Horror Nights, or Hall-O-Scream, where thousands of people attend these thrilling festivities just to feel the adrenaline from fear. On the other hand, when the genre of Horror originated it certainly did not take much to scare an entire audience out, or even make people cry or become nauseous. Of course, something so early like Frankenstein by Mary Shelley was not absorbed as it is today, there was a mixed review, but in the end became very popular. It was difficult for me to try to put in words what Horror means, but now that I have sat and thought about it for a while it is a VERY broad term, but it is one of the only genres that does not stem from actuality. In a sense, Zombies, Vampires and Werewolves have become massive icons of Horror, yet we cannot become them, which is why I feel the idea of them is such a big hit, nowadays. I cannot say I am not a fan of the thrill of a horror movie, but I think because it's been so long since I have seen a good one, I cannot say I am a massive fan. For example, the other evening my boyfriend asked me if I wanted to watch The Evil Dead (1981) and at first I thought it was a little strange, but I actually really enjoyed it and thought about it a lot the next day.

Some commonalities among the genre of Horror are:

• Majority of time spent during the night
• Dark Alley Ways
• Mirrors
• Little Children
• Ghosts
• Creepy
• Rain/ Poor Weather Conditions
• Vampires, werewolves, and zombies
• A main villan
• Alternative Motives
• Weapons
• Confrontation