ninthwave's review against another edition
2.0
Very light: I enjoyed Lamb more. Also, particularly in the first several chapters, what was up (no pun intended) with the frequent mentions of erections?
I would've liked more time with and more information about the elder vampire - as the main antagonist, he was too absent from the story, in my opinion. I also thought the treatment of those living with HIV could have been handled better, but given the work I did in the 90s as a volunteer counselor, my perspective probably differs from that of the average reader.
Still, it was interesting to read an earlier work by Moore to see how he's progressed as a writer. I wouldn't say it was bad per se; more of a step along the path to better things.
I would've liked more time with and more information about the elder vampire - as the main antagonist, he was too absent from the story, in my opinion. I also thought the treatment of those living with HIV could have been handled better, but given the work I did in the 90s as a volunteer counselor, my perspective probably differs from that of the average reader.
Still, it was interesting to read an earlier work by Moore to see how he's progressed as a writer. I wouldn't say it was bad per se; more of a step along the path to better things.
impalalove's review against another edition
3.0
Really between two and three stars, but I did like it and thought some parts were particularly amusing, so I'll bump it up to three.
julie_loves_books's review against another edition
3.0
I love the characters that he's created. They are so original. I also really enjoy his writing. I find him very witty and funny. But, there's something missing for me and I just can't put my finger on it.
I am definitely more interested in the other vampire than her boyfriend. From the synopsis of the next book, it sounds like the boyfriend is sticking around. Not sure if I'll continue with the series or not.
I am definitely more interested in the other vampire than her boyfriend. From the synopsis of the next book, it sounds like the boyfriend is sticking around. Not sure if I'll continue with the series or not.
garbutch's review against another edition
4.0
I've actually read this twice now + was going to mark it for a re-read but ?? Apparently I didn't mark it the first time??
Anyway. There's definitely a lot of racism (as expected for a comedy novel written in the 90s by a white person with white protagonists) and some general... Problematic stuff.
The first time I read this I was 20 (or so) and now I'm 26, the same age as Jody. There is a clear difference in their maturity (Tommy is 19) and the power dynamics but I think some of it is pretty largely countered by the sexism aspect of things and society for them. I wouldn't feel comfortable dating someone who's 19, but I'm queer and live in 2021. I don't know how living in a city alone would be for a young woman in the 90s, in San Francisco, at the peak of the AIDS Crisis, and how hard it would be to find companionship with someone who would respect me in some way and love who I was. I'm not trying to sweep it under the rug, it's weird they had this age gap. Frankly making Jody 22 would still be "an older woman" to someone who's 19 and it truly wouldn't be as bizarre. Re/ power dynamics: it's also implied in the next book that Tommy... Is not respectful of Jody's body when she is sleeping (transcendent of what happened in this book, which was already shitty, but in different ways), in ways that aren't okay, aren't something I would ever feel comfortable forgiving or condoning, and I don't think would have been written at all even just 10 years later. I'd hope so anyway. I can go into it if anyone has triggers they want to ask about but basically somnophilia without prior discussion, and at one point Jody is put in a deep freezer because Tommy wants to go out with a friend who happened to be a girl and "didn't think she'd understand"
There doesn't seem to be any real trauma between them or malicious intent (aside from just... shit Jody experiences from Everybody) which honestly made it easier for me as a reader with PTSD and as a survivor. That doesn't mean it was handled respectfully or appropriately.
Re/ author
I haven't read more than this trilogy but I enjoyed it when reading it at 20. There's so many peripheral gay characters, which makes sense for San Francisco. And AIDS is not really treated as some kind of moral failing for someone to have. There was a character briefly whose story of his mother dying, the AIDS quilt square for her... It was sad and written well. That scene was written respectfully, I felt. It's hard to find books that depict this crisis as happening in a periphery that are respectful. Or that depict it as affecting both kind and warm people, as much as it did horrible people (like Simon).
The strangers who die in passing are depicted as people who were love by someone. Even a homeless person was loved by the Emperor.
I also take it as a privilege that it's me who enjoyed this book. There's some disrespect toward east Asian characters in general and one Black character (though the latter is in less scenes). It was weird to listen to an audiobook where certain accents were read by someone who was (presumably) white. It was uncomfortable to hear.
I felt like there were a lot of good funnies about vampires and I like how they described the sensory experiences of the vampires. Like how everything is so heightened that they can see the heat waves coming off people and their vitality.
I Loved The Emperor and his men. The Emperor being a real guy! The dogs being real dogs! Just from this era. Look up Emperor Norton. What a beloved guy!!
Anyway. This book and The Princess Diaries were some of my first experiences with the fictional San Francisco. And it felt like home even though it was not.
Overall, I can't recommend this book without needing to give a significant amount of warnings. But it was nice to read this to get my mind of my own problems (homelessness, death of a loved one) at the different points I read it. I can't see it as POC-friendly and I know it's not a book for everyone.
Anyway. There's definitely a lot of racism (as expected for a comedy novel written in the 90s by a white person with white protagonists) and some general... Problematic stuff.
The first time I read this I was 20 (or so) and now I'm 26, the same age as Jody. There is a clear difference in their maturity (Tommy is 19) and the power dynamics but I think some of it is pretty largely countered by the sexism aspect of things and society for them. I wouldn't feel comfortable dating someone who's 19, but I'm queer and live in 2021. I don't know how living in a city alone would be for a young woman in the 90s, in San Francisco, at the peak of the AIDS Crisis, and how hard it would be to find companionship with someone who would respect me in some way and love who I was. I'm not trying to sweep it under the rug, it's weird they had this age gap. Frankly making Jody 22 would still be "an older woman" to someone who's 19 and it truly wouldn't be as bizarre. Re/ power dynamics: it's also implied in the next book that Tommy... Is not respectful of Jody's body when she is sleeping (transcendent of what happened in this book, which was already shitty, but in different ways), in ways that aren't okay, aren't something I would ever feel comfortable forgiving or condoning, and I don't think would have been written at all even just 10 years later. I'd hope so anyway. I can go into it if anyone has triggers they want to ask about but basically somnophilia without prior discussion, and at one point Jody is put in a deep freezer because Tommy wants to go out with a friend who happened to be a girl and "didn't think she'd understand"
There doesn't seem to be any real trauma between them or malicious intent (aside from just... shit Jody experiences from Everybody) which honestly made it easier for me as a reader with PTSD and as a survivor. That doesn't mean it was handled respectfully or appropriately.
Re/ author
I haven't read more than this trilogy but I enjoyed it when reading it at 20. There's so many peripheral gay characters, which makes sense for San Francisco. And AIDS is not really treated as some kind of moral failing for someone to have. There was a character briefly whose story of his mother dying, the AIDS quilt square for her... It was sad and written well. That scene was written respectfully, I felt. It's hard to find books that depict this crisis as happening in a periphery that are respectful. Or that depict it as affecting both kind and warm people, as much as it did horrible people (like Simon).
The strangers who die in passing are depicted as people who were love by someone. Even a homeless person was loved by the Emperor.
I also take it as a privilege that it's me who enjoyed this book. There's some disrespect toward east Asian characters in general and one Black character (though the latter is in less scenes). It was weird to listen to an audiobook where certain accents were read by someone who was (presumably) white. It was uncomfortable to hear.
I felt like there were a lot of good funnies about vampires and I like how they described the sensory experiences of the vampires. Like how everything is so heightened that they can see the heat waves coming off people and their vitality.
I Loved The Emperor and his men. The Emperor being a real guy! The dogs being real dogs! Just from this era. Look up Emperor Norton. What a beloved guy!!
Anyway. This book and The Princess Diaries were some of my first experiences with the fictional San Francisco. And it felt like home even though it was not.
Overall, I can't recommend this book without needing to give a significant amount of warnings. But it was nice to read this to get my mind of my own problems (homelessness, death of a loved one) at the different points I read it. I can't see it as POC-friendly and I know it's not a book for everyone.
bizzylizzie's review against another edition
4.0
I love vampire books, and this was a refreshing take on the genre, done in typical Christopher Moore style. Our heroine, Jody, is reluctant to accept her place among the undead, but eventually finds a way to cope with it. Meanwhile, she has to deal with the reality of everyday life - a mom, an apartment in San Francisco, who to feed on...it's not my favorite book by Moore, and seems a little dated, but is an enjoyable read nonetheless.
fictionalyme's review against another edition
4.0
A very different kind of vampire book. Instead of the normal inner struggle of am I a monster. The vamp in this book is angry about being turned before she lost five pounds and is excited about how much she'll save on utilities now that she can see in the dark. Light comedic easy read.
thatweirdlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I love this author. It was a great funny interesting book. My favorite character in this book and in Dirty Job is the Emperor and his "boys" I like Bummer the best of his boys. Next time I'm in San Fran. I'm going to look for the Emperor.
jessicafee86's review against another edition
3.0
Super fun read and I was really excited to encounter the Emperor and his men again! Mighty Bummer leading the charge and Lazarus keeping track of the Emperor.