Review: NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

• ISBN-13: 9780062200570
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Publication date: 4/30/2013
• Pages: 704
• List Price: (Hardcover) $17.33

 Kayso, as you know, I love me some Stephen King. Also, though, I am a big fan of his son: Joe Hill. I have read everything he's written so far and liked it all (my review of Heart Shaped Box: here). So, as you can imagine, I was very excited for the release of some tasty new Joe Hill, and I was not dissapointed.

So, title = vanity license plate, which, yeah, is kinda dorky, but who doesn't like a Nosferatu reference? And is the book about vampires? Sort of. Is it about spooky Christmas vampires and a magic bike and a cool tattooed lady? Well...yes.

Plot: there is a girl named Vic. When we first meet her she's a sassy little kid who has a magic bike (yes, this reminded me of Silver from King's IT) that will take her across a magic bridge to find things that are missing. After it happens she's sick and doesn't really remember it 100%. But, as anyone who has a special ability and then two sets of memories to cover it up (because that's a pretty common thing, right?) Vic is not totally mentally stable as she grows up. She meets another gal who has powers and she tells Vic that she is the only one who can stop Charlie Manx. Who's Charlie Manx? Ah - that's right - the creepy vampirey dude who steals children and takes them to Christmas Land (which sounds fun, but totally isn't) in his magical death car (which yes, is sort of sentient, like Christine). Of course Vic tries to find him and terror ensues.

NOS4A2 has a lot working in it's favor: Vic - she's a really cool main character. She's kinda mean and nuts and has tattoos and it basically a total badass. Her lover, Lou, is a comic book nerd and has a hilarious conversation about being Browncoats with a dude nurse at one point. The bad guy - Charlie Manx, is totally creepy and his little demon kids in Christmas land are chilling (who's up a rousing game of Scissors-for-the-drifter? Anyone...? Hello...?) There's just lots of good here. The thing I like about it is that the characters are all really interesting and engaging and you root for them, and that's in addition to being super creeped out by the bad guy. It's no wonder that this book has inspired a lot of icky/awesome fan art.

Uh...I think I'll walk, thanks...

For more on Mr. Hill - you can check out his tumblr.
Soundtrack: Of course, an old school Christmas song. (and there's something definitely spooky about a Christmas song in the middle of the summer -especially when it plays on a radio that you didn't turn on)

Movie Trailer: Twilight

Here's the newest trailer for the upcoming Twilight movie which comes out on December 12 (aka: not soon e-friggin-nough).



At first I was skeptical of Cedric Diggory as Edward but now that I see it I am happy. Kristin Stewart should be good, I liked her in Speak. Here's the other trailer that's out.



For more Twilight info the movie site is here, IMDB is here. The book site is here. And the new book comes out August 2nd. Chances that I will be going to midnight madness for that book? 100% baby.

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (February 13, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763627917
• ISBN-13: 978-0763627911

Okay, so here's the thing. Guilty pleasure are supposed to be pleasurable. Tantalize has all the makings of being a pretty hot teen vampire read. Except somewhere in here things fall short.
Quincy (yeah, short for Quincy Morris. From Dracula. Not even a girl's name. also from Texas. uck.) is a senior in high school with a (half) werewolf as a best friend/secret love interest. Like ya do. Anyway, apparently they live in some world where everyone knows about werepeople and vampires and they live in some kind of uneasy truce like in X-men. (Coincidentally, were = man so werepeople is manpeople? boo.)
So Quincy's fam owns a restaurant but now the only surviving family members are her and her passive aggressive Uncle. They are remodeling the place to be Sanguini's (get it?) a vampire themed restaurant. And the chef dies at the last minute and they need a new one and of course Quincy is the one to train him/oversee his vampire routine and creation of the menu.
In short order Quincy adopts a skipping school problem almost as serious as her shiny new drinking problem. She also alienates her were-boyfriend and develops an uneasy crush on the dockers-wearing blond cook who she's supposed to be turning into a vampire chef.
This ends, I'm sure you could guess with Quincy tied up in the bonds of some vamps. There are the makings of some good stuff here, but it all goes kind of flat somewhere around the addition of baby squirrel to the menu and Quincy donning a crazy lady dom outfit.
Not a fan of the characters in here so much, and there's nothing really sexy going on although it really seems like there should be (with a title like Tantalize....just sayin'). Oh, jebus, I forgot to tell you. None of the other werepeople turn into anything cool. Here's a thought for you: were-armadillo. Not Sexy! I want to hit this book's nose with a rolled up newspaper and say "Bad book! No were-armadillo! Bad!"
Here's the thing: I was hoping this would be some nice filler until I can read about Edward and Bella again, but it only made me miss them more. le sigh.

The Tarot Cafe Volume 1 &2 by Sang-sun Park

Volume 1:

• Paperback: 184 pages

Publisher: TokyoPop (March 8, 2005)

• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595325557
• ISBN-13: 978-1595325556
• List Price: $9.99

Volume 2:

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: TokyoPop (June 7, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595325565
• ISBN-13: 978-1595325563
• List Price: $9.99

First off: my new puppy ate one of these books, which is awful. We won't be repeating that mistake again. In any event: Viggo says they are tasty.
So: this is a fairly popular comic book series. Basically you have Pamela, who has crazy hair, tells fortunes and runs the cafe. She happens to tell fortunes to a hodge podge of different folks: like a dude who's really a cat. Or a blind male model/vampire. So, what you really have is little vignettes of their stories framed by Pammy in the cafe.
The vignette I liked the best was in the first book with the vampire dude. He keeps finding his true love over again and then offing her sister. I hate when that happens. There is also a cool one about a puppet master who's boy puppet falls in love with him. Please enjoy a visual sample, here:

The next book has a little more about Pamela and there's also a werewolf boy, which is cool. I can see how this is popular with the tweeny girls cause it has some dark ideas/themes plus fantasy fun. Here's one thing, now: anime male characters are often very pretty but these guys are downright beautiful (and they might be wearing lip gloss. strawberry lip gloss) and I often had to use context clues and dialog to make sure I knew the sex of the character. See, check out cat boy, pretty, huh? I wish my lips were that full. Either way, it's something I found funny and a little odd. Boys will have to be pretty secure in their masculinity to dig on this as much as the female of the species.
If you lurve this series you can join a fan group here. Also, here's the TokyoPop webpage, if you want to check out similar manga.

Film Review: I Am Legend

• Based on the book: I Am Legend
  
• Directed by: Francis Lawrence
  
• Screenplay by: Mark Protosevich and Akiva Goldsman
• Warner Bros. Pictures (2007)
• PG-13
• 101 min.
• I watched this film on Dec. 14

Okay, so I'm not trying to be one of those asshats who's all: "Oh, the movie was sooo much better than the book!" because: fuck that noise, the are different things. But I will be the first to tell you if a movie is different. You may remember that I read this book and reviewed it: here. Also, here's more info on the book, but beware of spoilers in that link.
Anyway, Will "Parents Just Don't Understand" Smith is Robert Neville here and his name, the general scenario and the title are about the only similarities to the book. But let's put those facts aside for a moment and discuss the film.
Smith, as usual, is beautiful, strong and really an actor who deserves more credit. I would image it's pretty damn hard to carry an entire movie with only yourself, a dog to deal with (also some hungry girl at the end - eat a cookie!). He is entrancing as someone who is in this impossible situation, who is both fixed on survival and a bit mad. I actually teared up (just call me Weepy McEstrogen) at one part just because of his face. I literally couldn't watch he was emoting so believably.
So, you can imagine that the story of the last(ish) man on Earth is a fucking bummer, and that's true. But, it's also creepy. The vamp/sickies were creepy, though a little too CG at times. Either way, I do not want to get eaten by one of those guys.
Okay, now, the things they changed, ie: everything. They totally changed Skinny McHungrypants as a character which was lame and that in turn changed the whole effing ending and the reason for the title. Which is kind of lame. I'm not going to get into it, you should read it, but trust me, it's bizarre. Though, this ending gave a more sunshiny, lollipops kind of ending, unlike the book.
Once again, I really did like this movie. It was intense, it was creepy, there were some good jumps and there was lots of emotion (possibly even a chuckle). So, see it. But...you know, read the book too.

Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (March 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 142310126X
• ISBN-13: 978-1423101260
• List Price: $8.99
• I finished this book on Nov. 26

So, first off: this is the first book finished/review from my new house! I'll be posting pictures soon, once we're more situated.
Right, the book: have you ever heard of vampires with different colored blood? Now you have: thanks to this YA vamp tale. Fucking get this: they are rich kid vampires...and they really have blue blood. Ack.
Our heroine Schuyler (who shall henceforth be called Skylar cause that's cooler and I can't spell that other Dutch nonsense) who is apparently a "young Kate Moss" (p.s. i can't stand kate moss. too skinny, not cute, coke addict, grossest boyfriend ever. hate! so much hate i refuse to capitalize. or write complete sentences!) Anywho: Skylar is from a super rich family and goes to some crazy prep school in NYC. Apparently she is goth, and dresses like a homeless person, but also sometimes models. The fuck? Whatever. So, she finds out she's really a vampire. There's some really bizarre vampire history here about how they are totally immortal and die so they can chill out, but then their memories are reborn or something. I dunno, I didn't really get it/like it.
Anyway, nothing is supposed to be able to kill the blue bloods, but (dun dun dun!) something is. Oh noes! So, Sky has to figure it out with the on again off again help of Jack Force, fellow vamp and sometime douche bag. Also, there was something about Jack having to marry his twin sister. V. C. Andrews, anyone?
What I didn't like about this (besides the above) is that these rich kids have an irritating sense of entitlement. Why are three 15 and 16 year olds sitting at a hotel bar drinking cocktails, not to mention getting into clubs. Also, I can't stand name dropping of any kind and there's a fuck-load of that in there too. The only fashion I know is Project Runway (what happened to Andre?)
and I'd like to keep it that way. Do not talk about designers/brands to me in order to impress me, thanks.
So, yeah. Oh, I forgot to mention that absolutely nothing goddamn happens in the end. Not a thing is resolved. At all. Cause there's a sequel. Something about Italy. Or space pirates, I wasn't really listening. Cool cover, but I still wouldn't recommend it.

Dracula: the Graphic Novel by Bram Stoker, Gary Reed and Becky Cloonan

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (March 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142405728
• ISBN-13: 978-0142405727
• List Price: $10.99

Let's start with the cover shall we? Wow. First, Dracula looks like a male stripper/Elvis impersonator version of a vampire, no? Not nearly as sexy as Stuart Townsend or Keifer Sutherland (or really anyone from the Lost Boys) and not nearly as creepy as Bela Lugosi. Also, Mina looks like Christina Ricci. A lot. Not that there's anything wrong with that but she should totally sue.
Okay, that's off my chest. Now, the actual illustrations. There's nothing wrong with them, per say. It's just that...well...everyone looks like they are in a goddamn emo band. Seriously. It's bizarre. Please check out Jonathan Harker getting bitten by Dracula here: He's all "Oh noes! Please don't mess up my eye makeup!" All I'm saying is: he looks like Pete Wentz. Which is bad news. (Damn you, Becky Cloonan, for making me admit I know who that douche is.) And you think Dracula looks bad there? When he gets young he grows flowing locks of fury. Spooky! The female characters actually look pretty good. They have good hair that artfully blows into their faces as all comic book females should (I wish my hair did that). Dr. Seward looks like a malnourished Snape with a ponytail. And he's inexplicable sweaty. Oooh! And Van Helsing sort of looks like a wolf man.
Thirdly: the adaptation. I'm not saying it's bad. But I'm not saying it's good. I'm just saying this: if I hadn't just read Dracula I would probably be very confused.
I have to hope that this kind of book would appeal to the tween population and maybe I'm just too old and lame to get it. But, I kinda doubt it.
Now, for fun: please enjoy a booknerd recommended video. My excuse for posting this is that this song is definitely vampiric. And it's effin rad. Thanks, Chip!

Sweetblood by Pete Hautman

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse (August 10, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689873247
• ISBN-13: 978-0689873249
• List Price: $5.99
• I finished this book on Oct. 29

Here is what happens when I have to go through a list of all the titles in my library. I start adding titles to my list of books to read like a crazy person. Also, I have added this to my challenge reading list and switched it up a bit because I just bought a house and I'm busy (this is my excuse for everything right now, and it tastes good)
As you may know, my dearies, I do love vampire stories. I also love YA lit. This little gem combines both those into a neat little package. So, Lucy (hehe, I just got that reference to Stoker when I typed it) is a 16 year old diabetic goth (but she'll tell you she's a not-goth. oooh, goth-served) and she has a fantastic theory about vampires. Little Miss Lucy says that original vamps were actually people suffering from advanced diabetes. She writes an extremely cool paper on this topic for her English class which definitely freaks out her teacher and parents. And you know what that means...time for a shrink! Also, Lucy spends lots of time in vampire chat rooms and finds herself mixing with some very questionable people at parties.
This is a very interesting take on illness, goth kids and teen angst. As I write this I find I'm liking it more and more. I suggest reading it just to check out the paper that Lucy wrote her teacher elaborating on her diabetics as vamps theory. It's a cool idea and vamp enthusiast should check out.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Bantam Classics (November 1, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553212710
• ISBN-13: 978-0553212716
• List Price: $4.95
• I finished this book on August 21

Okay my lovelies. Here's the thing, I have mentioned about a billion times that I love vampires, but the truth is: I had never read this before. The place where it all started. For shame. Also, I have seen the 1992 film version so many times that I could not stop picturing those actors as the characters. Boo!
Anywho: I'm sure everyone knows the story of this one. However, if you haven't read it and you are going on popular perception of it, you've probably got it wrong. First, there is no love affair between Mina and Sirius Black, I mean Gary Oldman, I mean Count Dracula. The 1992 movie led us to believe that Mina was all "Blood? Yes, please!" But that's not the case. Also, Neo's portrayal of Jonathan Harker in that movie may lead you to believe that Harker is, in fact, a tool. This is not so. In fact, one thing I was continually struck by is how good the people in this book are. They are almost unrealistically kind and understanding. I wanted to hug them. Also, Dracula is not killed by a stake to the heart. I'm just saying...
The book is written in journal entries and newspaper clippings which is very cool. You get to see all the different characters points of view and it's not as cheesy as the switch off chapter narration of some books. I have to say that even though I knew what was going to happen I was still very invested in the melodrama of it all. I can see why this book spawned such an empire. From crazy fan sites, to movies, to being studied in school to delicious breakfast cereal. Mmmm, marshmallow bats...
Though in my head I am definitely cooking up a sexier version of vampires (1/2 Edward from Twilight and 1/2 my boyfriend Trent Reznor perhaps?) I feel a much better vamp enthusiast having read this. And I promise: I will certainly be picking up more classic gothic horror in the near future.

Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer

• Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (August 7, 2007)
• Pages: 628
  
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316160202
• ISBN-13: 978-0316160209
• List Price: $18.99
• I finished this book on August 8

Remember when I was wistfully missing Edward and Bella? Well, they are finally here. I picked this up as soon as it came out and read it in just over 24 hours. I was almost as excited for this as I was for Harry Potter. Only, unlike HP I have no one to talk about this with, because I don't know anyone else who's read it. When HP came out my phone was ringing off the hook with people who wanted to discuss and scrutinize. Now, there's no one to discuss my favorite vampire love affair with. So, I'll tell you.
Edward and Bella return in the third book in the Twilight Saga. You may remember I reviewed the first two: Twilight and New Moon. In this volume Bella and Edward are about to graduate from high school and they are trying to figure out what to do in the future: turning Bella-wise. So there are some arguments about that because Edward is reluctant to turn her and she's very stubborn. Also, Bella's werewolf friend Jake, who is painfully in love with her stirs up some trouble between the love birds. Including some kissing!! So, poor Bella has to choose between Jake (who's hot, cause, apparently werewolves are super-heated) and Edward who's so cold. I, however, had never had even one beautiful supernatural creature who was vying for my affections. I'm just saying. Regardless: the love triangle action was very cool. I am totally Team Edward, though I can see what is appealing about Jake (he's so hot!).
Anywho: this book also features lots of cool fighting / vampire war goodness. And, the Big Bad was not who I was expecting, so that was cool too. Another cool part of this book was hearing the background stories on some of the other vamps in Edward's family. I was not expecting to ever feel sorry for Rosalie, but...what do you know, I do.
My predictions for this book were woefully wrong. I had hoped to see two things: Bella turned into a vamp and some sexin'. And you know what? Unsurprisingly, I am 0 for 2. Also, no wedding. I expect the next book will come out and it will be the three days leading up to the wedding and I still get nothing. My my that is frustrating. Though the book wasn't what I was expecting it is always nice to spend time with characters like these. The next one should be out in the Fall of '08 and I super want her to release the book Midnight Sun (Twilight from Edwards point of view) but that may never happen. For those interested, you can read the first chapter of that on Meyer's website. For crazy fan news and other related goodies, visit the fan site, here. For general info, go here. Also, this series gets extra point for having three beautiful covers that will look lovely on my bookshelf in my home library some day.
All in all, it went by too fast and now I'm annoyed to have to wait for the next one. Oh, well, I suppose I can find something to read to tide me over...

The Nymphos of Rocky Flats by Mario Acevedo

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Rayo (March 14, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060833262
• ISBN-13: 978-0060833268
• List Price: $13.95
• I finished this book on July 7th

Okay, so right now you're shaking your heads. Another vampire sex romp? I know, I know. Here's the thing for a book with such a sensational title there is no sex in this book. Honest. There is some brief talk about it, but, in the end: no love. Weak.
The plot: Felix was a soldier in Iraq and he accidentally killed some civilians. Then an Iraqi dude turned him into a vampire. Seriously. So, now he's a private detective vamp who walks in the sun (sunscreen, ugh) and doesn't drink human blood (Oh! The Guilt! Double Ugh!) I must admit I'm a little sick of how every vampire in every book doesn't drink from people. Come on! That's what we're here for! You're not scary if I don't think you might attack me for my delicious plasma at any moment.
So anyway, Mr. Not Spooky Pants slaps on some sunscreen and tried to figure out why some broads at this military base have come down with nymphomania. Hehe. Eventually of course, he does figure it out, but the ending is not what you're thinking. Trust me.
This reminds me vaguely both of the Jack Flemming books and the Dresden Files books. I would recommend this book for vampire lovers like me, but the casual vampire reader may not need to go here. It's not the best example of the genre ever. The pros: moderately funny. Kick ass title/cover. Reasonably cool main character. The cons: did I mention the book is about nymphos and has no sex scenes? Mr. Acevedo you tease.
Apparently this is the first in a series. You can check it out, here. Also Mr. Acevedo writes a blog with another vampire writer, here.
This makes me miss my favorite animal drinking vamp: Edward. When oh when is Eclipse coming out (August 7)?

Grave Peril by Jim Butcher

• Paperback: 378 pages
• Publisher: Roc; Reissue edition (September 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451458443
• ISBN-13: 978-0451458445
• List Price: $7.99
• I finished this book on May 22

Hey, check it out: I'm trying something new: cover photos. Let me know if you like it, think it's silly, or what.
So, in the third edition of the Dresden Files our other favorite wizard Harry has a lot going on. Actually, the plot of this one is all over the place. At the beginning you think you're going somewhere completely different than where you end up. Which is okay with me, but I was surprised where things had gone in the end.
Where did they end up, you ask? With vampires (yay!). Except Butcher's vampires aren't my favorite because they are super creepy underneath their pretty pale skin. I'm not talking freaking Buffy forehead, I'm talking creepy bat creatures in people suits. Zoinks, Scoob, that's not sexy! However, there is a new fun friend named Michael, who derives his strength from some kind of God sword and his faith. Our new Jesus-fish friend and Harry are hunting down a baddy who is terrorizing ghosts and humans alike. Of course, there is more to the haunting hijinks than it originally seems. The ending here is a bit of a bummer, leaving our hero Harry in a bit of a funk. It's quite gloomy actually but I'm hoping things in the next one get better for him.
I'm not sure how this happened, but I never noticed the 'about the author' blurb on these books. I usually enjoy looking at that, and Mr. Butcher's did not disappoint. Apparently, he is skilled in many obsolete things and has a ferocious guard dog. Also, please check out his picture of him working some awesome eyebrow action.

Song in the Dark by P.N. Elrod

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Ace; Reprint edition (September 26, 2006)
• ISBN-10: 0441013732
• ISBN-13: 978-0441013739
• I finished this book on Feb. 26
  

So, dear readers, you know I've been trying to find a good vampire book besides the YA variety (not that those aren't the best ever!) and after my last failed attempt, I had high hopes for this one. It was not really what I was expecting, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Jack Flemming is a vampire night club owner in 1938 Chicago. In this book Flemming has stepped into his friend's shoes as a mob boss while he is temporarily out of commission. While, as a nearly invincible vampire it is relatively safe to be in the mob, it is a bad choice of extracurricular activities if you are suffering post traumatic stress, which Flemming is. Apparently, this on is the most recent book in a huge series by Elrod. Anyway, the deal is that Flemming got tortured pretty bad in the previous tome and now his vampire tricks are all wonky.
There is some really solid historical fiction action in here, with many references to real mob guys like Al Capone and lots of talk about old songs and clothing, which I think is neat. Elrod's take on vamp mythology is a little weird for me, but I'm not mad at it. The funny part is, it's actually some of the more traditional views on vamps, but I suppose I'm used to more modern twisting of the lore. For instance, Flemming has no reflection and can evaporate into mist (which is super convenient). In a more modern vein (ask me if I'm sorry about that pun, totally not) Flemming has a conscience and doesn't feed on humans, unless they are already dead (and you encounter a lot of dead people when you're in the mob, I'll have you know). There was also a twist at the end which I had suspected the whole time, and that made me feel like a genius for a day.
The moral of the story is that this was pretty good, entertaining, sort of funny and interesting. I won't be reading more in the series right now, but I may pick them up someday. For anyone who is interested in non fiction vampire info such as details on beliefs in different cultures etc, there are several books available. I like Vampires: The Occult Truth by Konstantinos.

New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (August 21, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316160199
• ISBN-13: 978-0316160193
• List Price: $17.99
• I finished this book on Feb. 9

Wow, I'm still all flushed from finishing this one, folks. Ever since I read Twilight, the first book in this series, I have been dying to get my hot paws onto the sequel. It did not disappoint, my friends.
In this edition, Edward pulls a typical moves and tries to leave Bella because he feels he puts her in danger. Hasn't he seen any movies or read any books? Doesn't he know that this scenario virtually never works... for anyone? Typically this results in heart break and then the jilted person does something rash. This is exactly what happens: Edwards leaves and Bella plunges into despair. She makes friends with someone who turns out to be a werewolf. Total shenanigans ensue, including motorcycles and jumping off cliffs. Not to mention nasty vengeful redhead vampires.
I liked seeing the other vamps in Italy, even if they were creepy. I liked all the Romeo and Juliet allusions. There were many good things in this one, even if there was a lack of Edward.
This book was slower in parts through the middle than the first, but I still really liked it. I was totally mad about them being broken up through most of it, but I liked Bella's friendship with Jacob, too. I like the contrast of the guys (the species?) and I love the loose ends and sweet promises for a new book, which should be out sometime late this summer. Did I mention that there was a proposal in this one? Even if it wasn't as achingly romantic as this girl would have hoped it did make my night. I'm not entirely sure I will be able to make it until the next book comes out.
I know it's stupid, and probably not going to happen but I want someone to turn Bella into a vampire in the next book. I want it to be Edward, but since he probably won't here's how I think it should go down: Some other bad guy ( or girl) vamp gets at her and she turns and it's not anyone's fault, and no one in the family can be blamed or feel guilty, and then she gets what she wants and Edward can't be too mad. That's way too convenient and completely not going to happen, but it's a long time from now until summer and I can dream...sigh.
There's also talk of making Twilight into a movie, which I want to see badly. But I'm also concerned that they'll wreck it. Here's hoping...

The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf; Reissue edition (August 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440213460
• ISBN-13: 978-0440213468
• List Price: $5.99
• I finished this book on Feb. 3

I read this book in one day after finishing Twilight. I think I wanted more vampire goodness. This did not exactly do it for me, to be honest. Klause has another book out, which I liked called Blood and Chocolate (about werewolves and now a movie, also). So, I thought, I liked her other book, and I love vampires, so this is a sure thing. But...not so much.
The story is about a teen girl whose best friend is moving away (bummer) and whose mother is dying of cancer (super bummer). One night she sees a strange boy in the park. He scares her and though they lock eyes they do not speak. Then she meets him again on the street, and they talk. She seems to think he's nice, but nothing more. Then she sees him in an alley eating a bird (yikes) and runs away (good move). However, directly after this incident she proceeds to let him into her house where she is home alone and hang out with him. What? By this time I am annoyed. There is nothing smooth about this progression, their relationship is odd to me, off kilter somehow. He trusts her with his vampy secret and she lets him drink her blood and now I'm mad. It's a good scene, but meshed into the story in a weird way.
The characters are odd, and their dialog is not natural, nor compelling. I liked the idea of the story, but nothing really did it for me. The main villain, a child vamp, was not scary enough for me. Believe me, a child can be a scary foe (Stephen King did it, twice, not to mention Anne Rice's Claudia) but this evil child was not chilling. I also felt that the climax was rushed. The whole vanquishing of the bad guy part was not even exciting to me.
Also, there is a pretty preachy moral to this story. Something along the lines of accepting death, blah blah, living life to the fullest, blah blah.
Overall, I'm not mad I read it, but I wanted for it to be better. I had high hopes, and they were sadly unfulfilled. I can't hate on Mrs. Klause too much though, because she is a librarian, and I love the library ladies. (I wonder if she ever booktalks her own books? I totally would.) Anywho, I definitely suggest reading her werewolf book instead of her vampire book.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (October 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316160172
• ISBN-13: 978-0316160179
• List Price: $17.99
  
• I finished this book on Feb. 3

Wow, guys, you're not seeing things, it's two Bee symbols of highest booknerd praise in a row. I just finished reading this and I'm still all pumped. Why? Because #1 I heart YA books. #2 I heart vampires. #3 This is almost exactly the book I would want to write if I were able to write an actual book and not just nerdy blogs. For real, folks, I feel that I have daydreamed nearly every part of this book at some time in my life. So good! For real.
So, here's the scoop: Bella has just moved to some tiny town near Seattle with her father. She hates the area, prefers sunny Phoenix, but has moved here to give her mother some space. Anywho: on her first day she sees this incredibly beautiful "family" of adopted kids sitting together at lunch. Who are they? Vampires. Does she fall in love with one of them, thereby putting herself in incredible danger? Yes sir. Is it cool and sexy? You'd better believe it.
This book mixes cool vampness with a lot of good tension and plenty of confused, angsty teenness. Also, Bella, our hero, is super clumsy and I am also super clumsy, so you know, maybe a vampire is on love with me. (probly not). I really liked Bella's first person narration and her total social awkwardness at times. It was not enough to be annoying, in fact it was totally realistic.
Also, this book has a sequel already in print, and according to Mrs. Meyer, the whole things some big series. So that's excellent too. This book is so popular with the YA kids I know and it's checked out at nearly every library in the area. I'm stoked to read the next book in the series, when I can get my hot little hands on it. In the meantime, there's more reading (book outtakes?? effin outstanding!) at her website, here.
Hmm, if I can't get the sequel at the library, maybe I can find some more vampire goodness. Just keeping you posted!

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Orb Books; 1st ORB pbk. ed edition (September 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031286504X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312865047
• List price: $14.95
  
• I finished this book on Jan. 20

So, someone recommended this book to me because I heart vampires. So, I hunted it down and read it. This particular volume contained the novel I Am Legend and then some other short stories after it. I can't say that I was in love with the short (and I mean really short) stories, but I really dug the main attraction.
First, I'll admit that there wasn't really as much vampire action in the book as I had kind of expected. However, I think the good parts of the book are the same things that make a lot of zombie stories cool: What do you do when you are alone in a crazy and dangerous world. The story picks up in the middle of the survival story of the last man on Earth after what I assume is some sort of vampire apocalypse. Good times. He stays in his reinforced home at night and hunts the sleeping vamps in the daytime. One cool thing I hadn't thought of before is that he can't really travel anywhere beyond a day's journey. So he's pretty much stuck within a safe radius of his home. For the record though, I believe that I would have like 6 watches and an almanac to predict the time of sunset and be safely home by then. (i feel like a farmers almanac or something would have that info).
The ending of this book was awesome, and not what I was expecting at all. Of course, I have a philosophy about reading books. I don't ever try to figure out what the ending will be while I'm reading it. When I'm reading Eve and Roarke books, I am never trying to figure out too hard who the killer is. I like to be taken on a ride, told the story, not try to outsmart the author. Harry Potter books are the only ones that I actively try to figure out what's going to happen, and maybe that is only because it takes so long for those to come out.
Anyway, I thank this book for giving me something to worry about besides zombies taking over the world, now I have to worry about vampires too. Thanks a lot, Matheson.