Questions for Discussion
1. Everyone has been exposed to Vampire lore, either through books, movies, or television. How does Jody's transformation into a vampire differ from how you always thought someone became a vampire? In what ways is it similar?
2. Jody and Tommy's relationship moves at a rather alarming pace, and within a week of meeting each other, they are in love. Is love at first sight possible? Or in their case, at first bite? Why do they connect so instantly?
3. The book is filled with religious connotations, whether intentional or not — from the mention of "the pyramid" (The TransAmerica Tower), to the use of crosses to ward off vampires, to the Animals being referred to as "Crusaders." How intentional do you think this was on the part of the author? What do these add to the story?
4. The book touches upon the idea of euthanasia — the practice of ending the life of a terminally ill person in a painless or minimally painful way in order to limit suffering — in that Elijah Ben Sapir, the vampire who creates Jody, only kills those who are about to die or whose lives are limited in some way. What are your feelings about "mercy killings"? Do vampires have an ethical standard?
5. When Simon threatens Jody after she refuses to turn him into a vampire, she ends up killing him in the front of his truck. Jody then blames the killing on Elijah, however, and never confesses it to Tommy. Why not admit to it when Elijah has been restrained?
6. Why are Jody and Tommy "set up" as the culprits in the recent crimes? What would it mean if they were caught? Why do these crimes need to be pinned on anyone? Couldn't the criminals cover up thecrimes in another way?
7. By the end of the novel, both detectives — Cavuto and Rivera — begin to believe in the supernatural and that vampires could exist. To what extent do you believe in the supernatural, either vampires, ghosts, or even just that some people may or may not have psychic ability?
8. Tommy uses Anne Rice's The Vampire Lestat, which of course is fiction, as his "Owner's Manual" for learning about Jody and her new powers. Discuss the author's use of fiction within fiction in order to tell a story. Have any members of your group read The Vampire Lestat? How do the two books compare?
9. Once Jody becomes a vampire, she finds that she has many new and different abilities, including superstrength, heightened senses, and superspeed. Which do you think is her most needed new superability?
10. Though Jody finds herself immortal, she also retains many of her normal human characteristics and failings, including vanity, fear, anger, and disgust. Discuss how even though she has become immortal, and can protect herself from many of the regular dangers of everyday life, she is still unable to disassociate herself from normal human emotion.
11. At the end of the book, the reader is left with the impression that Jody is about to turn Tommy into a vampire. If she does change him into a vampire, how do you imagine their story continues? How would it continue if she does not?
Enhancing Your Bookclub
1. Would you be willing to give up your normal life — being able to go out in the daylight, not being immortal — in order to become a vampire? You'd be able to live forever, have superstrength and -speed, among many other different gifts. Would it be worth it? Why? Why not?
2. To read more about vampires, take a look at the following titles: The Society of S by Susan Hubbard, Vamped by David Sosnowski, The Book of Renfield: A Gospel of Dracula by Tim Lucas, and Happy Hour at Casa Dracula by Marta Costa.
3. Learn more about vampires: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampires.
Christopher Moore is the bestselling author of You Suck, A Dirty Job, The Stupidest Angel, Fluke, Lamb, The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove, Island of the Sequined Love Nun, Bloodsucking Fiends, and Practical Demonkeeping. Visit the
official Christopher Moore website at www.chrismoore.com.
vampires are known to be in many cultures around the world. The idea of vampires have been around since the beginning of man. They weren't made popular until the early 18th century.
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ReplyDeleteI found out that there are many "super natural" activity that takes place in Rochester. I found out that we are home to the "White Lady" Spectres which supposedly haunts Durand Eastman Park. I also found out that Garlic, a crucifix, rosary, and holy water are commonly used to ward off vampires. In Europe they believe that sprinkling mustard seed on the roof of your house protects it from vampires.I also learned that the idea of people rising from the dead can be from people being buried while being unconsciousness and not really dead.
ReplyDeletevampires have been around since neolithic times. They are known to feed off of human and animal flesh and drinking their blood. It is believed that crosses, holy water, and garlic are used to protect people from vampires. Vampires didn't become popularized until the early 18th century, with the early Dracula movies
ReplyDelete1.)she got bitten on the neck which was similar to a typical vampire story, but the unusual part was he stuffed her under the dumpster, so that she wouldn't get harmed by the sun. Most vampires don't have any type of conscience about who they bite.
ReplyDelete2.)Yes, love at first sight can be possible they probably fell in love with each other so quickly because him being a vampire alone sparked her interest, and his bite linked them together.
3.)I think it was real intentional that the author added all of the religious connotations. The religious connotations added a sense of hope.
4.)"Mercy killings" are ethical in the vampires sense, but it still isn't right. Vampires aren't divine creatures so they don't have a right or obligation to kill people in that way.
5.)Tommy only kills people through "mercy killings" She didn't want to seem like a cold blooded killer, and a vampire. to the love of her life.
6.)If the crimes were put on the vampires it wouldn't mean anything, because they weren't human. The crimes needed to be pinned on someone because if they weren't the people who committed the crime were still guilty.
7.) I fully believe in ghosts, but I don't believe in vampires or zombies or anything like that.
8.)By the author using a fiction inside of a fiction it was an allusion.
9.)Heightened sense.
10.) Although her physical nature has altered, her mentality will still be the same. she still is the same person, but just have different abilities. She has only just become a vampire, but she has had those characteristics for her whole life. It will take time for her to get rid of those bad habits.
11.)If she turns Tommy into a vampire she will be able to be with him for all eternity, But if she does not she will watch him grow old and die.
(Nautica Graham, Shayla Sanders, Marissa Santana)
Brianna Corbitt & Kennethea Wilson:
ReplyDelete1. Jody's transformation into a vampire differ from what I'm use to seeing because in most vampire scenarios, a vampire bites a human because their dependence on blood. In "Bloodsucking Fiend" Jody is bitten not only because of his desire and need for blood but also because he wanted to fall in love with her.
2. I believe that love at first sight/bite is possible...but rare. A lot of times I'm convinced that when a person "falls in love" so rapidly--they're getting the feeling of lust confused with love. In this book however, Jody and Tommy are exceptions to this rule. They seemed to fall in love sincerely. Their physical attraction connected them in a way beyond description.
3. Christopher Moore added many religious references to the novel purposely--this wasn't done coincidentally. The religious symbols represents ambition and optimism when considering the topic of love.
4. I think mercy killings can help some people in more ways than one because most would rather die than suffer helplessly. Vampires do have ethical standards because if they didn't, they wouldn't believe in mercy killings. If they didn't have any standards they wouldn't care if people suffered or not.
5. Jody was okay with mercy killings, but she didn't want to seem like a vicious murderer.
6. If Jody and Tommy were caught committing this crime, they would be revealed as vampires and everyone would be afraid of them.
7. In some ways, I believe in supernatural existences, while in other ways I do not. I don't believe in psychics however--that just creeps me out. Some powers people just shouldn't have.
8. The author is using allusion, comparing one piece of article in a novel itself.
KHARI AUBREY ZACH
ReplyDelete1. Everyone has been exposed to Vampire lore, either through books, movies, or television. How does Jody's transformation into a vampire differ from how you always thought someone became a vampire? In what ways is it similar?
Generally, a vampire will lure someone to their place of residence, bite them after seducing them, and they will wake up as a vampire. Their allegiance will usually be to the elder vampire who turned them. In Jody’s case, she was bitten, left alone with resources, and saved from an impending doom by a vampire who would soon abandon her.
2. Jody and Tommy's relationship moves at a rather alarming pace, and within a week of meeting each other, they are in love. Is love at first sight possible? Or in their case, at first bite? Why do they connect so instantly?
They connect because Jody really needs someone to manage affairs in her life, and because he’s cute enough, and because she’s had an issue with being alone. He connects with her because she’s beautiful, he wants to get in her pants, and he’s set on finding a beautiful girl in the City who will break his heart.
3. The book is filled with religious connotations, whether intentional or not — from the mention of "the pyramid" (The TransAmerica Tower), to the use of crosses to ward off vampires, to the Animals being referred to as "Crusaders." How intentional do you think this was on the part of the author? What do these add to the story?
These connotations were intentional, but didn’t really add to any theme of the book. They were probably used to give the reader something familiar to latch on to, according to already understood and accepted myths.
4. The book touches upon the idea of euthanasia — the practice of ending the life of a terminally ill person in a painless or minimally painful way in order to limit suffering — in that Elijah Ben Sapir, the vampire who creates Jody, only kills those who are about to die or whose lives are limited in some way. What are your feelings about "mercy killings"? Do vampires have an ethical standard?
Our entire group seems to feel that, depending on the situation, euthanasia is perfectly acceptable. In the book, the murder of the homeless, people with AIDS and cancer, especially if they’re asking to die, can be seen as a good deed rather than a vicious killing. Vampires have some degree of ethical standards, but will easily toss them aside to carry out their natural function of predation.
5. When Simon threatens Jody after she refuses to turn him into a vampire, she ends up killing him in the front of his truck. Jody then blames the killing on Elijah, however, and never confesses it to Tommy. Why not admit to it when Elijah has been restrained?
ReplyDeleteBecause she didn’t want to break Tommy’s trust.
6. Why are Jody and Tommy "set up" as the culprits in the recent crimes? What would it mean if they were caught? Why do these crimes need to be pinned on anyone? Couldn't the criminals cover up the crimes in another way?
They’re set up because Elijah wants to ruin Tommy and Jody, or otherwise, because he’s playing with them. They don’t need to be be pinned on anyone, really, because vampires have the ability to turn their slain to dust.
7. By the end of the novel, both detectives — Cavuto and Rivera — begin to believe in the supernatural and that vampires could exist. To what extent do you believe in the supernatural, either vampires, ghosts, or even just that some people may or may not have psychic ability?
We believe that there is something of the “supernatural,” but we see it as things that humans just can’t comprehend. Like how deer can’t make complicated theses, humans may not be able to understand psychic abilities.
8. Tommy uses Anne Rice's The Vampire Lestat, which of course is fiction, as his "Owner's Manual" for learning about Jody and her new powers. Discuss the author's use of fiction within fiction in order to tell a story. Have any members of your group read The Vampire Lestat? How do the two books compare?
None of us have read the The Vampire Lestat. The use of fiction within fiction is a nice touch, as it helps us realize that these events are unfolding in a world in which we are even vaguely familiar with.
9. Once Jody becomes a vampire, she finds that she has many new and different abilities, including superstrength, heightened senses, and superspeed. Which do you think is her most needed new superability?
Her heightened senses, by far, since they allow her to see what’s coming, and know who’s better to feed on.
10. Though Jody finds herself immortal, she also retains many of her normal human characteristics and failings, including vanity, fear, anger, and disgust. Discuss how even though she has become immortal, and can protect herself from many of the regular dangers of everyday life, she is still unable to disassociate herself from normal human emotion.
Because her sense of being has heightened, not her level of consciousness.
11. At the end of the book, the reader is left with the impression that Jody is about to turn Tommy into a vampire. If she does change him into a vampire, how do you imagine their story continues? How would it continue if she does not?
If she does, they become a quirky couple that has no day-walker to sustain them, and would end up making a family of regular humans to do their bidding. If she doesn’t, then he might leave her and she’d have to find someone else to help her.
Posting for Alex, Danielle, Valerie and Wade.
ReplyDelete1. We didn't notice much of a difference in Jody's transformation from vampire lore; she was bit, she received his blood, and suffered from minor memory loss.
2. Tommy is a naive, young teenager and is basically in the "relationship" in order to have sex with Jody. Jody, in the meanwhile, basically tells Tommy how both of them will make a living, and pushes him around for her own agenda.
3. THIS WAS NO ACCIDENT. It adds a layer of minor faith to the story, but there's real no significance that really contributed to the story.
4. Valerie says she's all for it, I agree that it should be done, Danielle does not agree, and Wade agrees. "GO KEVORKIAN!" They can't really be held to the human ethical standpoint, since they're immortal, but the fact that they only attack the terminally ill does have some shred of morals.
5. She doesn't want to ruin the relationship she is building with Tommy.
6. Because Ben plants the deaths near Tommy and Jody as part of an ongoing “game” with Jody. It means that Jody would possibly be discovered as a vampire, thus leading her and Tommy into a life of being constantly on the run. Ben didn’t need to leave bodies, but is only doing so to mess with Jody as he is helplessly lonely.
7. We believe that it’s all a psychosomatic matter: Vampires do not exist, but people can force themselves to believe that they are vampires.
8. It adds a metafictional layer to the story, but none of us thought it was too appealing.
9. Probably one of the most important abilities of Jody was her ability to see the heat signatures of people, as it allowed her to see who was about to die (these people possessed a gray aura), but also allowed her to realize her loneliness.