Post-holiday cravings

[megwrites]

Now that I've had all the eggnog and turkey I will want for another 365 days, I can't express how much I'd really love to find a really good vampire novel to read, especially since I'm about to hop a flight.

Except, I don't know where to find said vampire novel. I'd like it, if at all possible, to be something that I can actually take a bit seriously or at least something sparkle-free.

I'd love to read about a vampire that's a fascinating character without just being the boytoy. I'd love to read about a heroine who has never seen a pair of high heels or leather pants in her life. (Maybe she could be a heroine of color? Or who's not 25? Or who isn't supermodel pretty?)

More than that, I'd kind of like a vampire novel not written in first person from the POV of the de rigeur, snarky, leather clad, "I angst about my dating life while running for my actual life" type heroine.

Alas, having read and/or skimmed quite a few of the offerings on most mainstream shelves, I don't think this novel exists.

Comments

[buymeaclue.livejournal.com]

Sunshine?

[merriehaskell.livejournal.com]

Exactly what I was going to suggest. Well, yes, there's first person POV, and there's snark, but not typical snark of the genre, and no leather. Otherwise, it fully transcends the genre. No sparkles. Plenty of consequences. Fascinating vampire. No boytoyness. By Robin McKinley...

[buymeaclue.livejournal.com]

With cinnamon rolls. :)

[merriehaskell.livejournal.com]

As big as your head!

[fiction-theory.livejournal.com]

Do tell me more. I've seen it on the shelves, but have been uncertain about it. Did you like it, and what was good about it, vampire wise?

Don't worry about spoilers, either. I love spoilers.

[lagringa.livejournal.com]

Read I, VAMPIRE (http://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Confessions-Strangest-Desires-Fawcett/dp/0449146383/) by Michael Romkey.

[fiction-theory.livejournal.com]

Looks interesting. I shall add it to my List of Things to Buy From Amazon When I Get Around To It (a big list, I might add).

Just a question, what did you particularly like about the book?

[kara-gnome.livejournal.com]

Terry Pratchett's "Carpe Jugulum" was good, but it's not a traditional vampire novel. It's certainly got some of your list, though, and I think it's one of Pratchett's better stories.

Well, I guess you'll have to write your own really good vampire novel :D. C'mon, you can do it! It'll be fun! Woudn't that be something, rough out a new novel on a plane flight because you can't find what you want to read? Ha!

[fiction-theory.livejournal.com]

I'll see if I can scare up a copy of the Prachett book. I blow hot and cold about him, though, but I'll give it a show.

Woudn't that be something, rough out a new novel on a plane flight because you can't find what you want to read? Ha!

Thanks to you, that's exactly what I ended up doing! Although it was on the way home, not the way there (Tennessee, for the curious). It was more a list of things I really hate about the popular urban fantasy/paranormal romance vampire genre than a plot or anything, but still. I blame you! :)

[scififanatic.livejournal.com]

Have you already read Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler?

[fiction-theory.livejournal.com]

I have not, because the book stores I've been to apparently think Ms. Butler only wrote three books in her life time, which I can assure them she did not. She wrote several more than that.

Although, funny you should mention her because I just finished Kindred a while ago and was thinking that I could go for another dose of Butler's writing. I have to say, she has a clarity of style that's absolutely refreshing. Especially after sludging through overwritten fantasy books which feel the need to describe every little boring detail without paying attention to whether the plot is going anywhere.

In other words: she can elegantly cover more plot in 50 pages than most writers can in 300. I wish writers would learn from that.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Alas, the best vampire novel I've ever read can't be recced when people ask for vampire novels, because that would be a spoiler.

[fiction-theory.livejournal.com]

Oh, please do recommend. I don't mind spoilers at all (they don't affect how I enjoy a book), and I'd really love to read any kind of good vampire novel I could get my hands on.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Steven Brust's Agyar. The book works best when it takes you a while to figure out exactly what's up with the first-person narrator, but it's well worth reading even if you already know.