More Vampire Lore

Book 43: Insatiable

Meg Cabot

I always enjoy Meg Cabot.  Her reads are fun.  Insatiable is no exception.  Cabot capitalizes on what I think is the crest of vampire fatigue.  They are everywhere these days: hovering outside our windows in the delectably creepy "Let the Right One In"; Sexing up our Sunday nights on True Blood and the Sookie Stackhouse novels in which the Bon Temps undead originated; and in the seemingly indefatigable Twilight series, with its sparkling, "vegan" vampires. 

Insatiable brings back the best of the vampire stories.  With a deliberate shout out to Mr. Stoker, Cabot's heroine is Meena Harper, your typical lovelorn divorced New Yorker, stuck in a frustrating job and a generally mundane life. Except for one small thing. Meena can tell when you're going to die. Which some people might appreciate knowing, but it just makes Meena feel like a freak. As a heroine, she's likable.  Enough like all of us (save the whole knowing when people will die thing) that we cheer for her and want her to be happy. We know something is about to happen to upset the boredom of her every day life. Queue the crazy neighbors just aching to set up Meena with some eligible bachelor.  And enter the vampire, the true Prince of Darkness, Lucien Antonescu, who is suddenly captivated with Meena.  With shades of Buffy- and by that, I mean the action, the dialogue, and the humor- we also have the vampire fighters of the Palatine Guard, who are on a mission to eradicate the undead. The story all comes together over a few days in New York City against the backdrop of murders and a quest to overthrow the Vampire King.

This became my "let me read a chapter or two before bed" novel over the last few weeks.  It completely entertained me and Cabot's settings let me see the entire novel unfolding in my mind.  Not every book is supposed to make you think deep thoughts.  And that is in no way a criticism.  Some books are supposed to entertain and thrill you, make you laugh, transport you from the triviality of every day. This is one that does that very well.  And if you're like me, a bit over vampires being everywhere these days, this book is the perfect remedy.

http://www.megcabot.com/insatiable/

Book 24: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Book 24, another audio book.  I loved Seth Grahame-Smith's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Part of the reason I liked that one was that I was so familiar with the story of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice that it was a neat experience to see how Zombies were woven into the story.  I was a little apprehensive on Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter because I wasn't sure how on earth the story of President Lincoln would translate into some Vampire story.  Would it be too much like Buffy?


Still, I downloaded it from audible.com and have been listening to it over the last few weeks during my commute.  I really enjoyed the listen.  I like the historical perspective. There was so much to Abe Lincoln's life that is glossed over or completely eliminated from school books,and  I've never read a standalone biography.  But really, he had quite a remarkable life.


But how on earth would vampires fit into the story of a young Abe Lincoln, and eventually into the White House?  I don't want to give too much away, but what if the Civil War had been about more than slavery and states' rights? What if the South had really been led by vampires intent on enslaving the entire country?  And what other historical events might have been perpetrated by Vampires?  I think you get the gist of the  novel's plot at this point.


That being said, I want to focus a bit now on the listening experience.  Scott Holst is a great narrator. His voice commands the ear the same way a respected orator would.  Clocking in at just over eleven hours to listen, this is perfect for a commute or a good road trip. The story moves quickly, from Lincoln's early childhood, through his presidency and assassination, and then his legacy.  A nice addition to the end of the novel is a brief interview with the author.


So, Seth Grahame-Smith is two for two in  my book. I can't wait to find out what he is writing next!


http://www.audible.com/adbl/site/products/ProductDetail.jsp?productID=BK_HACH_000409&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes