#29: Interview with a Vampire, Anne Rice

When I was a little, little girl I often watched vampire shows and movies on television with my mom.  This was, of course, in addition to our ghost and alien favorites.   I was a sci-fi nerd in training, if you will.  We watched many episodes of Dark Shadows and you could definitely find us on the couch on weeknights watching Mulder and Scully crush some alien bad guys on the X-Files.   We were quite excited, then, when the movie Interview with a Vampire came out in 1994.  I was about 10, mind you, and I could not tell you to this day if I ever saw more than a moment or two - blood, gore, and sex are often associated with vampires and this movie did not lack those.  Toss in a little 90s hunkage (Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise anyone?) and 10 year-old Robyn was probably in a bit over her head.

Logistically, I felt the "interview" part of this novel was a waste.  Louis's story was interesting and Rice told the story from his point of view.  When reading the sections where Louis spends time with the student interviewing him, I found myself wishing to skip up to the next section.  It was unnecessary.

Needless to say, as an adult reading Anne Rice's novel I was mature enough to understand the confusion Louis felt in a very different way than I did if I did happen to see the movie as a lass - Did he love humans?  Did he want to destroy them?  Why was he always questioning who he was?  What was the deal with Claudia?  She was a child but he loved her... or did he?  I felt drawn to his confusion, his ordeal.  Anyone of us, even those of us who are not vampires, can find ourselves lost in situations we never imagined ourselves in.  How did I get here... ? we might think... Do I deserve such pain, such suffering?  Louis was a character I will not soon forget - like an old friend who stops calling me for coffee dates because he is in a great deal of pain.

While lost in the Shire, I found Westeros. (#5: A Song of Ice & Fire, George R.R. Martin)

A friend and I went out for sushi on Cinco de Mayo.  While wandering around Beverly after a glass of Saki, we discussed "The Fellowship of the Ring," as she, too, was reading the Lord of the Rings series.  I let her know I was lost in the Shire.   I can not venture past the realm of Tom Bombadil in the Old Forest.  For those of you who are not familiar, I am on page 182/1348... in the first book of a three book series.   I would love to say it is because he and his beautiful lady friend, Goldberry, entice me and I dread leaving their company.  Alas, this is not the case.  Each time I pick up my Nook and attempt a page or two, I find myself day dreaming about another fantasy world I have spent much time in as of late:  Westeros.

I have two friends at my office who are as nerdy (maybe more so...) as I am.  They both recommended the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin.   Although at least one of these four novels is over 900 pages,  I have caught up in just about two months.  I am about to start the forth, and the fifth is due out on July 12.

George R.R. Martin, where have you been all my life?  For the sake of not spoiling the new HBO series for those of you who are not readers, I will refrain from sharing details.  I will, though, mention that the poetic prose of this novel is incredible. The imagery, the details, the love I feel for many of the characters - and hatred for others - are so intense.

When I began this escapade through the top 100 fantasy books ever written, this is what I expected.   Wolves that might be men, children that might have green tongues because they might eat frogs, boys that might be crows, families full of deceit, kings who can't rule, knights who are not knightly, battles that may or may not have been won by 'the good guy'.

I promise that one day I will find my way back to the Shire and follow Frodo on his journey, but until then, I'll be in Westeros.  Come find me if you can.

#1: Lord Of the Rings Trilogy, J.R.R. Tolkien

Well:  I cheated.  I have moved up to number one.  I decided that since I am in grad school working my butt off to become the most amazing animal advocate out there... that in my downtime, I am going to read the best fantasy books ever!

So, here I am: reading one of the most incredible fantasy books ever written.  J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy.  Interestingly enough, I downloaded a copy of the Triology on my special Christmas Nook that my husband bought for me (because he's amazing... who knows me better?  Reading is awesome... and reading without destroying trees is even more awesome!!). 

As I'm reading the first book in the Trilogy, "The Fellowship of the Ring," I can't help but remember the movie version that came out when I was in high school.  I remember watching the movies and loving them... beautiful characterization, beautiful setting, and a great rendition of the novel.  When I was a little girl, I was obsessed with "The Hobbit" (more on that later... when I re-read that novel!) and I tried very hard in middle school to try to read the Fellowship:  I was rather unsuccessful, to be honest.  The reading was difficult and not as "unserious" as I wished.  I do remember the book, though... it was an old copy... maybe from the 1970s... with the cover was an off white color... and the font was green.  My friends who are graphic designers would probably be happy to know that I recognize it as some sort of a bold Roman font with fancy-smancy details... The novel itself?  Unfortunately, not very rememberable to the 12 year old me!

I will absolutely comment more on the Fellowship later...  Frodo's journey away from the Shire reminds me of the journey of all of our lives.  We are safe.  We have homes. We have our loved ones.  Then, we move on to a scary, dark unknown world...

#96: Daughter of Blood, Anne Bishop

Romance Novel Meets Harry Potter.

Bishop's tale about a young girl becoming Witch (capital "W") entices the soul, but only slightly.  Her characterization is a complex web of confused individuals ranging from Saeten, to Daemon, to Lucivar (do you see a trend here?).  All flawed, but loving, the main characters are "the bad guys" gone right when a new (old?) witch is drawn to them.   I felt no connection to any of the characters, as I wish I did, I felt no sadness when the girls in the insane asylum were abused, I felt no happiness when Daemon came out of the "Twisted Web..."  The confusion between female witches ruling (ruining?) the world and the males saving (destroying?) all that is good is disconcerting.  The magic made by each of the characters is confusing - it is based upon each character's "jewel" he carries (or doesn't carry and instead hides in a chest that somehow hovers with him even though the witches want him to be powerless) causing the reader to refer to the list of jewels and their powers on the first page of the novel regularly. 

I couldn't put this novel down, but it may just have been book-candy since I was just finishing my first semester of graduate school....

#96: Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka

Metamorphosis...  is a book I have read several times.  Each time I get the chills.   For some reason the thought of one morning turning into a giant "dung beetle" and having my family not recognize me even though I am still a salient being completely freaks me out... for lack of better terminology.

Perhaps it is my complete adoration of my sister that makes me feel this way.  The sections of the short story where Gregor's sister, Grete, feed him leftovers even though he is a giant insect make my stomach churn.  It is almost as if she knows her loving brother is in there somewhere and just can not quite get his thoughts to her.  The thought of never being able to speak to my sister again makes me so anxious and unwell, especially if it is because I am a giant bug!

Also, imagining being a giant insect and having my father chase me around with a bag of rotten apples, only to have one stick to my disgusting bug back makes me feel queasy.  How can Gregor possibly go on living this way?  So close to his family... but also so far.  Kafka tells the reader Gregor dies from hunger and an infection caused by the apple stuck in his back.  I don't think so.  I think he is so secluded... so unloved... so bugged... that he can no longer live his miserable life.

I was curious what underlying meaning a "bug" could have to a German writer so read some articles about the original German version of Metamorphosis online.  The word used by Kafka in his short story does not actually translate to "bug" or "insect." Ungeziefer, Kafka's term, actually translates simply something "unclean animal not suitable for sacrifice."  Although this translation takes away the metaphorical meaning I was looking for (and was expecting to find), it gives the story an even more emotional feeling.  Gregor was not necessarily changed, physically, into something so awful his family could no longer love him... perhaps his "physical" change was created to portray an evil act he committed...

#98: Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Richard Bach

The story of Jonathan the Seagull is the tale of a bird who flies higher and better than his flock.  He finds himself an Outcast (yes, that's right, with a capital "O") , and as such, able to reach higher bounds than those who are not Outcasts.   A story obviously written in the 70's, this story takes us to a time and place where the individuals who separate themselves from the social norms are the ones who succeed.  I am all for being an individual, but for whatever reason Jonathan's story of becoming "closer to God" by removing himself from his family and friends did not sit well with me... The writing structure was boring and made up of one or two phrase sentences.  There was not a lot of description and the gulls lives were not at all that interesting.   On a scale of 1-10? Probably a 3.

#97: The Wizard of Oz, L.L. Baum

Well, I learned today that my top 100 books fluctuate!  I am going to read the list from top to bottom, numbering them as I work my way to the top books!

As of this week, The Wizard of Oz is book #100!  The Wizard of Oz was my absolute favorite movie growing up! I have read this book, listened to the soundtrack, read the book, and read Wicked... and saw "Wicked" the musical!  I know this story inside and out.  Golden shoes, ruby shoes, scarecrows, tin men, hearts, love, learning... It doesn't get much better! AND L.L. Baum also threw in an apple tree throwing apples! WOW!

Next Up: #98 Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Life and philosophy from the point of view of a seagull.

I just ordered this book from the library.  It's ready for me to pick up!

Can't wait!

#99: The Master and the Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov

Well, if you have seen me at all in the last few months, you probably already know this: The Master and the Margarita is now one of my favorite novels.  This novel is involves a complex story line about Satan visiting Russia just after the revolution and the not-at-all-complex love triangle involving a nameless writer and a beautiful married woman.  Magic shows, Pontius Pilate, several men named various versions of "Ivan", witches, an angry woman smashing the mirrors of a man's room and filling his tub with water... There were so many interesting and wonderful concepts within in The Master and the Margarita.  At times the writing style was difficult to manage, likely caused during translation from Russian to English, so I forced myself to read the book "lightly." I tried to avoid any political, satirical, or "larger than life message" which is something I am always looking for when reading fiction.  In the end, the message never became clear.  I'm not sure there was one, to be honest, but many.  This is a must read!

Sneak Peek! #99: The Master and the Margarita

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8xtxA7EBVw&feature=channel