Anne Rice: the Interviews, by Nola Cancel

I just finished reading the wonderful compilation of interviews with Anne Rice by Nola Cancel. Anne Rice shows herself honest, candid, humorous, intense in these correspondences. I especially enjoyed her quoting the Desiderata by Max Ehrmann, which are truly wise words to live by. I used to attend the Temple of Prayer, Peace, and Prosperity at a restaurant near the Ayala Triangle in Makati where that poem is played at the opening of the prayers.

You see the brilliance of Anne Rice's mind. Sometimes it's startling. She is so full of light even as her characters are called the Children of Darkness: vampires, witches, werewolves, ghosts, mummies. But Anne also wrote about the Man of Light and Truth, too: Jesus, and also of seraphims.

Nola Cancel asks the questions that draws the most thoughtful responses from Anne, and I think whether you like or strongly dislike Anne (and there seems to be those who do on the Internet), this compilation is an illuminating avenue to hear it straight from this celebrated and often controversial public figure. Here you can find out what Anne really thinks and feels about spirituality, religion, writing, the Internet, and even fame, among other topics. You find that this bestselling author has both feet firmly planted on the ground, devoid of egotism and artifice.

She is, like most of us who love her stories and characters, a Seeker, trying to understand the true and inner workings of the Universe, and a better way to live as a human being.

I think this book, along with Called Out of Darkness, are two volumes that shed most light into her persona.

Order your copy through Amazon.com.

A break from Interview with the Vampire

I am taking a little break from Interview with the Vampire for a few days. I want to see the Steve McQueen movie 12 Years a Slave in the meantime to have a picture of African slavery in the late 18th century to early 19th century. This is to deepen my understanding of the plantation that Louis owned and managed, and the many black slaves he had. Anne Rice describes them as exotic and wild, and I hope to see a glimpse of that in the movie. I am not sure if 12 Years would be the best movie for that goal, so if you have better suggestions, feel free to comment.

I also am reading Anne Rice: The Interviews by Nola Cancel, and enjoying it very much. I bought the e-book over Amazon. I think Anne is a literary genius of our time.

I also gave myself permission, finally, to read Prince Lestat, which I am describing as a true horror book for our times. I shall post a proper review soon. Until then, welcome to December!