things are getting desperate when all the boys can't be men

[ivy_chan]

Nicole and I were talking about Twilight again, where she described many things about the series in detail and I explained why exactly they showed the foundation of real life abusive relationships. At some point, she realized that the relationship shown in the books was completely unhealthy and abusive, but she still likes it anyway- which is her

Comments

[rainydaymare]

Vampires being portrayed as "sexy" kind of hilariouses me, because... vampires are dead, bloated, putrefying, bloody-mouthed corpses. Vampires of folklore, I should say. The vampire of literature (using the term loosely) is an entirely different creature, and how the one gave rise to the other... I'm not really sure.

That said, I'd recommend Vampires, Burial and Death by Paul Barber. It's not really a "vampire book" but it's a great read and it explores the vampire legends of various cultures throughout the ages as well as explaining how the various processes the human body goes through as it decays, and other circumstances surrounding death and burial, relate to those legends.

Wow that was wordy. Sorry for TL;DR comment. XD

[ivy_chan]

Ooo, thanks for the book recommendation! I do adore books on mythology, especially creepy mythology. XD And yeah, vampires being dead always seemed like it should have been a big fat turn-off.

[rainydaymare]

Any time! Yeah, there's plenty of science in there too, but it's cool science! ...heh. Yeah, inorite? And aren't there plenty of perfectly good mythological man-creatures who, like... AREN'T the walking dead? Where is all the pooka-love, for example. XD

[ivy_chan]

I shall write an epic fantasy about the doomed romance between a pooka and a unicorn. It shall be heartwrenching.

[lvsinsanity]

I honestly don't know many vampire books that aren't romance packed.

There is one, but this vampire is a side character to the main ones, Werewolves. She's an older one that has a very misanthropic outlook on life and would prefer everyone leave her the hell alone.

But, I am going to say reading your entry made me want to rewatch Hellsing. Also, I adore the same pairings you do, lol

[ivy_chan]

ehtfjygukh. See? What is it about vampires that makes people think 'romance'? Just for that, I should MAKE a vampire novel that has no romance at all. The romance will all be with something else. Like unicorns.

*lol* Thanks for the book rec. And yes, don't think I don't want to watch Hellsing once more, now.

[saralinda]

I love your well-thought-out, articulate objections to Twilight.

Me--I just hate it because it's boring and poorly written. That's enough for me. ;)

My favorite vampire-related media continues to be Buffy.

[saralinda]

Oh, and here's valancy_s's review of the New Moon movie. I'm going to post a link to it on my journal as well. Funny stuff.

[ivy_chan]

*DIES LAUGHING*

[ivy_chan]

Ha, well, there's that, too. XD Everything I hear about this series makes me like it less and less.

And Buffy was super-awesome. BUFFY FOREVER

[scdsam]

I reiterate my original suggestions for Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris. Sookie Stackhouse is anamazingly badass woman from the get-go (while still being incredibly relatable) and even though she does have a sexual relationship with Bill the vampire she is not by any means being seduced/toyed with. She carries her self equally and demands respect and I love that the stronger, less flaky she is, the more the sexy-bloodthirsty vampire men want her and can't have her. Which I think is how it should be.

The TV show True Blood is from this book series (although I have not watched the show and make no assumptions to how well they stick to the characters).

[ivy_chan]

I heard that True Blood has some gender fail in it from a friend of mine who watched it, but I'll pick up Dead Until Dark the net time I'm at a book store for my fantasy reading stack. XD Sounds awesome!

[solempne]

Some romance, but definitely not shoujo manga formula, starring a certifiably Badass Lady (due to her guts and brains). The vampire is also shorter than the starring lady, to her great amusement. - Tanya Huff's Blood Series, starting with Blood Price

http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Price-BLOOD-Tanya-Huff/dp/0756405017/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259021332&sr=1-1

Not shoujo at all, and I wouldn't call it romance, more like strange, twisted partnership, starring a un-expectedly powerful young woman with a strong sense of self. Also features an absolutely un-handsome, non-dreamboat vampire - Sunshine, by Robin McKinley

http://www.amazon.com/Sunshine-Robin-McKinley/dp/0425191788

[ivy_chan]

Oh, thank you!