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A review by peapod_boston
The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks
3.0
I've always said that I wouldn't try to write a vampire book unless I had an original take. I think Catherine Jinks has found the last one.
Her vampires are sad, pathetic creatures. Living on guinea pig blood and herbal supplements to keep from feeding on humans, they are shriveled, wrinkled, weak, sickly--frankly malnourished--specimens. They meet every week for a support group to keep from giving in to the desire for blood, and Nina, the protagonist, makes money writing books that are (1) a total fantasy trip for her and (2) pointed parodies of paranormal romance.
Then real-life danger comes around when one of their number is staked. Now, Nina and her friends must rise above their sad little lives and figure out what it means to be a vampire.
Besides the malnourished part, Jinks has a few interesting takes on how vampirism works. But most of all, she has a host of amusing, eccentric characters thrown into a situation that takes a turn for the worse (or at least more complicated) every 5 pages. The last third of the books rolls forward in a "how are they going to get out of this ... oh, wait, it just got worse" rhythym that keeps it fun and sparking. I would love to see Pixar take a crack at this one, as the cover art perfectly fits their style and the tone of the book.
The style is workaday, but doesn't detract from the story--about what I would expect from a young adult book. An enjoyable, short ride for anyone who has been hearing too much about TWILIGHT these days.
Her vampires are sad, pathetic creatures. Living on guinea pig blood and herbal supplements to keep from feeding on humans, they are shriveled, wrinkled, weak, sickly--frankly malnourished--specimens. They meet every week for a support group to keep from giving in to the desire for blood, and Nina, the protagonist, makes money writing books that are (1) a total fantasy trip for her and (2) pointed parodies of paranormal romance.
Then real-life danger comes around when one of their number is staked. Now, Nina and her friends must rise above their sad little lives and figure out what it means to be a vampire.
Besides the malnourished part, Jinks has a few interesting takes on how vampirism works. But most of all, she has a host of amusing, eccentric characters thrown into a situation that takes a turn for the worse (or at least more complicated) every 5 pages. The last third of the books rolls forward in a "how are they going to get out of this ... oh, wait, it just got worse" rhythym that keeps it fun and sparking. I would love to see Pixar take a crack at this one, as the cover art perfectly fits their style and the tone of the book.
The style is workaday, but doesn't detract from the story--about what I would expect from a young adult book. An enjoyable, short ride for anyone who has been hearing too much about TWILIGHT these days.