Negativity is a big draw. I know from personal experience: the largest number of hits to this blog in a single day occurred when I posted a nasty note. Go figure.
1-3: Three Vampire Tales (New Riverside Editions)
You can snag three great classics of vampire literature in one volume. If you claim to be a vampire aficionado and haven't read Dracula, I wag my finger at you. In fact, I've handed many of my students (who have devoured the Twilight books) a copy of Dracula and they couldn't finish it. Bah.
Pick up Three Vampire Tales, and you also have Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu and The Vampyre by John Polidori at your fingertips. Say you like the romance in Twilight? Who is sexier than the female titular character in Carmilla?
4. I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
Yeah, I didn't like the movie either, but this book puts the whole "vampire" thing in crazy perspective. Do you like bonafide twists in your endings? Brace yourself for the final denouement in Legend. Nothing is creepier than Neville's neighbor, the now-a-vampire Ben Cortman, shouting "Come Out, Neville!" all night long.
5. Some of Your Blood by Theodore Sturgeon
Did I mention romance? I mean, Some of Your Blood is a romance at heart, right? Not to mention one of the few books I actually put down at the end and felt a legitimate chill in my gut. Sturgeon takes the reader on a crazy ride in this one. Find a copy (if you can...I think it's out of print again).
And those of you who vote "at least they're reading" when they read Twilight, well, fine. And my track & field team is practicing on six-inch high hurdles.
14 comments:
You're right!
I'm ashamed...never even HEARD of Some of Your Blood. And I am Legend remains, to this day, the only vampire novel I have ever actually enjoyed. (More shame)
Unfortunately, I hear the ca-ching of many dollars being taken for the 'novella'. Sigh! At least your students have someone to show them the true dark path. :D
Twilight fans scare the shit out of me.
Cathy - Rarely. ;)
Barry - No shame. (wait...you don't own a copy of Twilight, do you?)
Cate - It is #1 at Amazon.com right now and not released for another couple months. Ouch.
Natalie - I hear you. They are my day job.
I like to pretend she's preparing future generations of vampire lovers for the Real Thing down the road. And once they get their hands on that, they'll realize.
(Of course I live in a fantasy world. I write, for god's sake.)
Ah... just when we think we can get over it the damn thing comes back and tries to win us over with something else unsavory.
Little story: I work in a bookstore (you may or may not recall) before the last book of the "Twilight Saga" came out I actually had English teachers and librarians coming it to tell us that they were so excited that their children were reading. IN FACT they were so excited that some of the schools were going to let out early for the release of the first movie...
I was greatly disturbed.
I like you're metaphor Aaron. That hits the nail right on the old noggin that does. And your book suggestions are great! This is a wonderful post.
Katey - Don't we all (live in a fantasy world). Don't we all.
Hinny - I about had a heart attack when I saw a Twilight study guide in one of my catalogs...ack!
I can't believe anyone would choose Twilight over Dracula.
I still haven't bought and read I Am Legend, but you make me want to rush out right now and get it. And I too hadn't heard of Some of Your Blood, but I'm adding it to my "to buy" list.
Long time no anything Polson! I read Twilight and it made me throw up a little in my mouth, but I understand I'm not the target audience. Did you read her adult book "The Host" though? Surprisingly decent amount of tension reminded me a little of early Dean Koontz stuff we used to read. Oh well, fun to stalk you on the internet!
Danielle - I hope you can find a copy without the movie on the cover. I always hate those cross-overs.
Ken! Stalk away, my man. I remember you devouring all those books in high school. Good times.
My boss recently started reading the Twilight books. Hey, at least she's reading, right? Good thing she's not in the office today, because I'm snickering out loud at the track team analogy. :)
I have never read Some of Your Blood, but I think I need to. I sense a trip to the used book store in the near future.
KC - I think that might be the only place you can find a copy...or a library...maybe.
Jamie - There's a reason Dracula's been around so long, right?
Aaron, will see if I can hunt one down. I'm not a fan of books with the movie covers on them either. And usually I read the book before I see the movie, but I'm in two minds as to whether I'll bother seeing the movie after I read the book from what I've been hearing about it.
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