New book: Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore
Reading Group Guide
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 Reading
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.
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