Well, since I did a review that pretty much covers things - I'll answer the questions! =D
1.) Is this the first Octavia E. Butler book you've read? Yep!
2.) How did you like Butler's take on the vampire myth? Do you think she tried too hard to be different? I thought her take was interesting. I got the feeling that she did some vampire myth digging to get some new ideas instead of just feeding off the old myths. I don't think she tried too hard - I think she used what information she had and either mixed in some of her own ideas or took concepts from other cultures and mixed those in. It didn't feel like she tried too hard. She had to get the information across to the reader in some way because how the Ina functioned related to the rest of the story in an important way. I never felt like it was heavy-handed or anything like that.
3.) How did the writing style work for you? Worked fine for me. It was mellow, but not flat. And I don't need oodles of description or fancy prose for descriptions or other things to see them or for a point to get across.
4.) Let's talk about sex. What worked? What didn't? What exactly is Butler trying to say here? It totally worked for me. I'm not sure if she's trying to say anything. I'd like to think that instead of trying to put something out there (because let's face it - saying that sex with kids is okay is NOT okay), she just had a great thought and went with it. And as I said in my review, I think she did an excellent job. I was impressed that she pulled it off and wasn't ever really bothered with it at all because I was too busy thinking, "Oh man, is she REALLY going to do this?" in that impressed writerly way some of us tend to get. Like watching a magician pull off a magic trick. I can easily see other readers being put off, and maybe I'm weird, but the simple fact that she did it and did it well, I wanted to high-five her.
5.) How satisfying is it? Good, but nowhere near great. The first half was interesting, but the end drove me up the wall. All that buildup and...*puh* Hmph. I'm sure you're right - probably not the best place to start when it comes to Octavia E. Butler.
1.) Is this the first Octavia E. Butler book you've read?
Yep!
2.) How did you like Butler's take on the vampire myth? Do you think she tried too hard to be different?
I thought her take was interesting. I got the feeling that she did some vampire myth digging to get some new ideas instead of just feeding off the old myths. I don't think she tried too hard - I think she used what information she had and either mixed in some of her own ideas or took concepts from other cultures and mixed those in. It didn't feel like she tried too hard. She had to get the information across to the reader in some way because how the Ina functioned related to the rest of the story in an important way. I never felt like it was heavy-handed or anything like that.
3.) How did the writing style work for you?
Worked fine for me. It was mellow, but not flat. And I don't need oodles of description or fancy prose for descriptions or other things to see them or for a point to get across.
4.) Let's talk about sex. What worked? What didn't? What exactly is Butler trying to say here?
It totally worked for me. I'm not sure if she's trying to say anything. I'd like to think that instead of trying to put something out there (because let's face it - saying that sex with kids is okay is NOT okay), she just had a great thought and went with it. And as I said in my review, I think she did an excellent job. I was impressed that she pulled it off and wasn't ever really bothered with it at all because I was too busy thinking, "Oh man, is she REALLY going to do this?" in that impressed writerly way some of us tend to get. Like watching a magician pull off a magic trick. I can easily see other readers being put off, and maybe I'm weird, but the simple fact that she did it and did it well, I wanted to high-five her.
5.) How satisfying is it?
Good, but nowhere near great. The first half was interesting, but the end drove me up the wall. All that buildup and...*puh* Hmph. I'm sure you're right - probably not the best place to start when it comes to Octavia E. Butler.
My rating using your rating - Like, Not Love
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