Are Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles books too complicated for a thirteen year old?

Question

I can be mature if I want to and I love reading. About a month ago I read Twilight and New Moon by Stephenie Meyer and loved both books! It's odd because I hadn't read any vampire books before because I thought they were...well, just stupid. But, I ended up reading the books and loved them both. I have heard from other Twilight fans that The Vampire Chronicles are good books. I just don't know if I will be able to comprehend them. The last time I was evaluated (in fifth grade and I'm going into eighth) my reading level was at a twelfth grade level.

Heh...I don't even know how hard the books are. For all I know they could be fairly easy. But, I don't want to beg my mom for the books and not be able to understand them.

I made a typo.
My reading level was at a tenth grade level last time I was evaluated.

Answer 1

First of all, I feel like organizing a parade in your honor, simply for using correct spelling, grammar, and syntax! Oy, some of the hideous shorthand one encounters in Yahoo Answers! :-)

Now on to your question.

I don't think they're too complicated for someone your age. [Then again, I was in my early 30s when I encountered them.] They are, however, dry in places, so they may tax your patience. You should know upfront, however, that they're not about blood and gore -- instead, the vampires are analogies for human loneliness and loss. [Rice had a daughter who died young; she is represented by Claudia in the first book.] Some of the vocabulary will necessitate your consulting a dictionary -- which is a beneficial thing, in my opinion.

My opinion of Rice is that she got better at writing with each book. Though "Interview With the Vampire" has an engaging story, it was all I could do to get through it. The writing struck me as clunky and not very refined. I ultimately ended up liking the book, but it took a friend strongarming me to get me to read "The Vampire Lestat" -- and was I glad he did, because it was much more enjoyable. My favorite in the series was the third one, "Queen of the Damned," which I've actually read three times. The writing style is very engaging, and the plot is excellent.

Oh, and I hope you're not anti-gay. Though there's no overt sex, there's a certain homoerotic tone to several of the characters.

Finally, I would advised reading them in the order they were written, as each one does reference back to a few things that happened in its predecessors.

And if you end up going ga-ga over Anne Rice and want to get really adventurous, read "The Witching Hour." It's incredibly long and has large chunks wherein you feel like you're reading someone's doctoral dissertation on a family history, but it all comes together at the end quite brilliantly.

Enjoy.

Answer 2

From the information you have provided, I think you would be able to comprehend and enjoy Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. Some other vampire-themed works think you might also like are:
Dracula (A must read for anyone interested in vampires. A true classic)
Sweetblood by Pete Hautman (You might like other works by this author also, such as Godless and Invisible)
Midnight's Choice by Kate Thompson (part of a trilogy that begins with “Switchers” and ends with “Wild Blood”)
Companions of the Night by Vivian Vande Velde (Check out more by this author too, such as Heirs Apparent and A Coming Evil)

Answer 3

I doubt they would be to difficult for you, after all, I am 14 myself.
The thing about Anne Rice's the vampire chronicles is basically the way she combines the supernatural, history, of New Orleans especially, with philosophy and absolute sensuality.
I think her writings are influenced by Niestsche. Especially regarding themes like ethnics and human (vampire) existence.
I would advice you against "The Vampire Armand", it is a little too graphic. I was quite disturbed by the sado-masochism and the blatant pederasty.

Answer 4

Just try them and see if they work for you. In general, I'd say 13 is rather young for Anne Rice, both because of the complexity of the story and the amount of sexual content she generally uses. And I don't think myself her vampire Chronicles are all that great. But if you're interested in vampire stories, give it a shot.

Answer 5

There are a couple that are a little complicated, but I think that a 13 yr old would be fine reading them and understanding them..they are all really good.

Answer 6

It depends on the 13 yr old..if you have a high reading level than why not.

Answer 7

they wouldn't be too mature for you. you can have my copies there not that good.