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jamesly's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.25
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
3.0
Jody is walking home from work when she’s attacked. Next thing she knows, she’s waking up underneath a dumpster with a burnt hand. The knock to her head has done strange things to her vision and smell and she’s starting to act like a different person. When she finally gets back to her apartment, her boyfriend has had enough. She’s on her own and soon she’s going to realise what she’s become…
I have been meaning to read some Christopher Moore for years, and have several books dotted around the flat, from various series. I think they’re all set in the same universe but there are some more standalone and not all characters are in all books. Bloodsucking Fiends is the first in his vampire trilogy.
It was off to a good start. Jody has the sort of reaction to becoming a vampire that I can imagine myself having. She’s not up and running with the whole bloodsucking business straight away but she is rather practical about it. I liked Jody’s character despite the odd hiccup like not being able to cope without a man. For once in her life (or un-life) she has a valid reason for keeping a man around. She needs a day person.
Tommy, I liked much less, and he was probably at the root of my problems with the book. It’s funny how humour actually ages. Maybe some of it is timeless, but a lot of this 90’s humour is still based on women being a different species to men. Tommy has some excuse, being a naïve 19-year-old who has never really been around women much. But he’s clingy and needy and overreacts far too much. Plus he’s an aspiring writer, who favours the Great American Novel, which isn’t a character occupation I’m over fond of.
Scott and Zelda the snapping turtles were fantastic though. They should have had their own spin-off series. Fate is so unfair! Tommy also spends some time testing out the vampire theories from various books, to Jody's disapproval, often when she's dead to the world. (On this note I thought there was one scene that was going to be creepy rapey and I was prepared to put the book down but Tommy thankfully comes to his senses.) There were some great bits about life in San Francisco and on the drudgery of work too.
There were some parts of the storyline I felt had great potential but I wanted them treated with a bit more sensitivity. It’s more than just a humorous vampire story but the failures in the humour got in the way a bit. I am always quite fond of reading about 90s opinions on computers though (really minimal here but it still made me chuckle).
I doubt I’ll read any more of his vampire books but I do still want to read Lamb and I have the Christmas one in the Pine Cove series. If you’ve read his books, I’d love to know your thoughts. I do realise humour can be one of those things that's very subjective!
I have been meaning to read some Christopher Moore for years, and have several books dotted around the flat, from various series. I think they’re all set in the same universe but there are some more standalone and not all characters are in all books. Bloodsucking Fiends is the first in his vampire trilogy.
It was off to a good start. Jody has the sort of reaction to becoming a vampire that I can imagine myself having. She’s not up and running with the whole bloodsucking business straight away but she is rather practical about it. I liked Jody’s character despite the odd hiccup like not being able to cope without a man. For once in her life (or un-life) she has a valid reason for keeping a man around. She needs a day person.
Tommy, I liked much less, and he was probably at the root of my problems with the book. It’s funny how humour actually ages. Maybe some of it is timeless, but a lot of this 90’s humour is still based on women being a different species to men. Tommy has some excuse, being a naïve 19-year-old who has never really been around women much. But he’s clingy and needy and overreacts far too much. Plus he’s an aspiring writer, who favours the Great American Novel, which isn’t a character occupation I’m over fond of.
Scott and Zelda the snapping turtles were fantastic though. They should have had their own spin-off series. Fate is so unfair! Tommy also spends some time testing out the vampire theories from various books, to Jody's disapproval, often when she's dead to the world. (On this note I thought there was one scene that was going to be creepy rapey and I was prepared to put the book down but Tommy thankfully comes to his senses.) There were some great bits about life in San Francisco and on the drudgery of work too.
There were some parts of the storyline I felt had great potential but I wanted them treated with a bit more sensitivity. It’s more than just a humorous vampire story but the failures in the humour got in the way a bit. I am always quite fond of reading about 90s opinions on computers though (really minimal here but it still made me chuckle).
I doubt I’ll read any more of his vampire books but I do still want to read Lamb and I have the Christmas one in the Pine Cove series. If you’ve read his books, I’d love to know your thoughts. I do realise humour can be one of those things that's very subjective!
adequate_squatch's review against another edition
5.0
After slogging through the abomination that was Twilight, I wasn’t looking forward to another vampire love story. However, Christopher Moore’s Lamb was one of the funniest books I’ve ever read, so I was willing to give Bloodsucking Fiends a try.
This was a great light read. It was poignant and funny, and the adorable romance will make you want to run around your house and cuddle random things. Moore has a great way of juxtaposing the eloquent with the hilarious. His characters were real and lovable. Jody is logical and reserved, but finds herself doing a lot of uncharacteristic things as she discovers her new powers. Tommy is romantic and naive, but still manages to be a natural leader. The Emperor, an eccentric homeless man with his “army” of two stray dogs, really makes the book.
Even though I loved the story, I did feel like the main characters were thrown together too fast. It was kinda like, “Hey, you’re hot.” “Will you live with me?” “Okay. I love you.” “Me too.” There wasn’t really a get-to-know-each-other process, and I think that the story could have had more dimension if that had been included.
Aside from that, I can see this being a novel I will read again and again. The best part? It has a sequel.
This was a great light read. It was poignant and funny, and the adorable romance will make you want to run around your house and cuddle random things. Moore has a great way of juxtaposing the eloquent with the hilarious. His characters were real and lovable. Jody is logical and reserved, but finds herself doing a lot of uncharacteristic things as she discovers her new powers. Tommy is romantic and naive, but still manages to be a natural leader. The Emperor, an eccentric homeless man with his “army” of two stray dogs, really makes the book.
Even though I loved the story, I did feel like the main characters were thrown together too fast. It was kinda like, “Hey, you’re hot.” “Will you live with me?” “Okay. I love you.” “Me too.” There wasn’t really a get-to-know-each-other process, and I think that the story could have had more dimension if that had been included.
Aside from that, I can see this being a novel I will read again and again. The best part? It has a sequel.
yaynotboo's review against another edition
4.0
Loved it! A vampire book for smart people with great senses of humor.
davidcrow's review against another edition
4.0
Bloodsucking Fiends" is a fast-paced and fun vampire comedy with quirky characters and laugh-out-loud moments. A great read!
susan_ok's review against another edition
4.0
This was an entertaining book to balance out academic readings on job satisfaction and thesis writing.
showell's review against another edition
4.0
Reason #543 why I love reading Christopher Moore: his description of turkey bowling on a grocery store's night shift: "A collective gasp rose from the crew as the fourteen-pound, self-basting, fresh-frozen projectile of wholesome savory goodness plowed into the soap bottles like a freight train into a chorus line of drunken grandmothers." (from Bloodsucking Fiends)