I’ve read four more books of meh since we last spoke about reading books. I started a series I felt lukewarm about but continued to read because I hate to leave a series unfinished, even when I’m not having fun. Crazy, I know. Well. I just finished the 5th book in the 8 or 9 or 10 book series and I am so angry the heat rolling off my body in waves could melt the pasty skin off a vampire. I’m so angry I may not finish the series. This is news, folks.
I just need to vent. This will only take a second.
Detailed Synopsis: Book-5 Hero is presented as a promiscuous bisexual vampire in the previous 4 books. (Not a word. I’m embarrassed enough for both of us.) In book 4, it becomes clear that he is very much attracted to, perhaps even in love with, his male roommate. Everyone is tolerant and understanding of this infatuation (including the roommate, who is also confused) and we, the readers, know in book 5 everything will resolve itself and that Book-5 Hero will most likely end up with someone other than the roommate. He does. He ends up falling in love with a butch female over the course of three days. The “straightening up” of the character was exceptionally annoying, but the author was vague enough in the previous four books to make it difficult to state unequivocally that the character was, and should remain, gay. Fine. I don’t like it, but I’ll concede the argument. What really made me angry about wasting several days to read five books is that the author then kills the female who “cured” Book-5 of his sexual proclivities.
No, I’m not upset she died. I’m upset she then comes back as a ghost and they live happily every after. Having vampire-ghost sex.
Brief Synopsis: A possibly gay vampire falls in love with a painfully stereotyped butch human female who is then killed at the hands of his enemies. It was a really busy weekend. She of the Magically Ambiguous Hooha comes back as a ghost, and they give new meaning to ectoplasmic residue.
I have no more words on the subject.
On the plus side, I am eager to return to the land of worthwhile reading! Have you checked out the PIBC pinterest page? It’s fantastic, and we’ve been having some good discussions over there. The contributors have been hard at work pinning possible book picks for the summer but, given the past week, I can’t be trusted to make a good selection. If you are up for it–there are a lot of books over there–I would love for you to check out the selections and see if there are three you would like to read/discuss.
I can’t wait to hear your picks!
You’ve got to share the name of the series! This sounds deliciously horrible and perfect for a summertime read.
It’s the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by J.R. Ward. They are NY Time Bestsellers, so I checked them out of the library thinking it would be like Sookie Stackhouse. I evened wondered why they weren’t a movie or HBO show, since that’s the way things go now.
Now I know. Actually, there are a lot of fans who are petitioning for the series to be a movie/show. We’ll see. Also, I’ve heard book 6 is equally bad, but that 8 or 9 is really good. I thought book 3 was good.
Magically Ambiguous Hooha is a great band name (or porn film title :)
Best. comment. ever.
Magically Ambiguous Hooha! That is truly hilarious, and I need to find a way to incorporate it into daily conversation somehow. Have you read, or do you have any interest in, the Game of Thrones series? I just finished the first one and it was a good combination of complex and interesting yet easy to read with the occasional ridiculously over the top plot line.
I’m actually on book 1 of the GoT series. I should just stick with that, since I’m waiting to finish the book before I allow myself to watch the series.
I read Dark Fever, so I’m pretty tolerant when it comes to cray-cray books and plots. But there is something about vampires who listen to rap and talk street (true dat?) that makes me want to “beat feet” towards another series, “my sister.”
I’ve been following the pinterest board and will go see if I can pick 3, but I’m stuck on ghost-vampire sex!
As was I, Susan. As was I.
Oh my word! Best book synopsis ever! Sometimes I wonder if these authors are serious, or they’re simply messin’ with us. I’m more concerned if they seriously think they’ve written an intriguing read.
Also, that wee video? My thoughts exactly.
It must be intriguing because they are NY Times bestsellers and there are A LOT of people who love the books. To each their own. I loved Dark Fever, so I’m in no position to cast stones. But I will. ;)
OK – this is impossible! I have read these two, but they are two of my favorite books so I’m recommending them HIGHLY – The Red Tent (haven’t loved her other books but this is a great story) and Truth and Beauty (about Lucy Grealy – a good book but really ought to be read along with her book Autobiography of a Face).
My top picks of books I haven’t read would be: Quiet, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, The Secret History, and Never Let Me Go I’m sure you’re anxious to know why, so I’ll tell you :) Quiet because I’m one of those sociable introverts – I do it but am exhausted when I get home and can’t talk to anyone for awhile. Henrietta Lacks because my daughter, who is getting her master’s in public health, says it’s amazing and we have had some incredible discussions about medical ethics (awesome when your kids grow up and have expertise and professionalism!). The Secret History because it looks like a fun read. Never Let Me Go because The Remains of the Day is in my top-something list (I used to say 10 but it keeps growing) of both books and movies – beautiful book.
OK – so that was 6 altogether. I will read all of those, along with some others – the JFK book, which I just bought, The Snow Child, and something called I am Forbidden which one of your books linked me to on Goodreads (because I needed even MORE suggestions!).
It’s impossible, right? Thank you so much, Susan. As always, you are a great help. :) xoxo
LOL – is that a nice way of saying I have a lot to say? :D (Totally kidding!) The next best thing to reading books is talking about them.
I know exactly what you mean about wanting to stick with a series… because who knows it might just shape up and become good. Oh well. I just finished reading Still Missing by Chevy Stevens and is was amazing! Very engaging, seat of your pants, no nonsense story. I read it in one night, I couldn’t put it down.
Just followed that Pinterest board – thanks!
And, I would really like to know that series title, so I can avoid it at all costs. :)
It’s the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.
Since they are bestsellers, I kept waiting for them to get addictive. I read the first 5 quickly, but only because I wanted to get to the next one. Made no sense! After the “ungaying” of the vampire, I gave up.
Never imagined typing out that sentence.
This has to be The Black Dagger Brotherhood series! Lolololo! Totally nailed that book. Talk about jumping the shark, if one can really do that in a vampire series. :)
WINNER!!!!
And that’s funny, because I told my husband last night that if each book had its own shark, Book 5 was definitely The Great White. O_o
Totally!!!!!!!!
Yeah I knew what book you were talking about right away. I want to tell my dearest gay vampire friend that sadly, it does NOT get better. I stopped reading the series after the FUBAR that was Lover Enshrined. I hated that book with the fire of a thousand suns! So I used my get out of jail free card and moved on with my life.
********(SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!)************
That being said, if I see Tohr’s story in the library I MIGHT have to pick it up. I am curious as to how he moves on from the dead wife. Does she come back from the dead too? Also, at some point the mute one has to find out he’s reincarnated. Right? Le sigh….. ;o)
Hahaha! No, it does not get better. And the fact that Jane was the stereotypical butch woman (short blond hair, masculine body and speaking patterns, no make up) really grated on my nerves.
I was so angry last night that I spent and unreasonable amount of time researching the rest of the series to see if maybe I’m just not cool enough to read bestsellers. From all the reviews I’ve read, Lover Enshrined is totally FUBAR. It’s almost universally loathed by everyone except the die-hard Brotherhood fans. (Similar to Lover Unbound, but more passionately loathed.) How can it not be with that simpering, pot smoking Phury and subservient Cormia as main characters?
Bwahahahahhaaaaa! I totally agreed & love finding folks who agree in such a hysterical way. Truly is making my day!
I heard Tohr is back, btw. He’s not a main character…yet.
Never Let Me Go is a great read, I highly recommend it!
That one looks really good. I think I’m going to read it, regardless.
I just finished “Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors” and really liked it. Can’t explain exactly why, I need to think about it some more. But it’s been awhile since I really cared about finishing a book. That fact alone, makes me feel wonderful about it.
I just took a quick look through the PIBC Pinterest board, and I think my three choices would be:
The Snow Child
Quiet
The Discovery of Witches
You have so many good books there. Just finished The Secret History the other day, and I LOVED it! I’ll be writing about it on my blog today. :)
Oh good. I’ve been wanting to read Discovery of Witches! Actually, all three of your picks are on my top 10.
Discovery of Witches …. sooooooo good! I place it right up there with Outlander. And you know how I feel about that!
This reminds me of my visceral reaction to that Tom Cruise/Nicole Kidman movie Far and Away, where two Irish immigrants run off to America at the turn of the century, and have many many longwinded and boring tribulations apart, and finally find love at the very very very end of the very very very long movie, and (spoiler!) he dies. I was all WHAT?? I wasted nearly THREE HOURS of my life on this drivel and HE DIES?? Oh wait a minute, HE COMES BACK TO LIFE?? Hell no. I don’t think I’ve seen a Tom Cruise movie since.
There’s a Danielle Steel book that did the same thing–an entire book of the two leads torn apart by tragedy, leading separate lives the entire book, and then at the end, they don’t end up together. I stopped reading Danielle Steel then, too.
I demand believable happy endings.
I felt exactly the same way about Cold Mountain. Ugh.
Yeah, I read and disliked Cold Mountain, too. But this really ticked me off because it’s fluffy reading, and the whole point of fluffy reading is the HEA. If I wanted a book that made me think, I’d read one of the dozens I have around the house!
Well because you know I’m dangerously drawn to sub-par material. I need to read these books. In my defense they sound like the perfect material to fit in between 2 jobs that take up 95% of my life.
On the other end of the spectrum, I’m completely in love with the PIBC pinterest page. It makes my heart happy! So many awesome choices there. I may just have to read all of them!
It just read like an affluent white woman trying to be street. You’ll see.
“ungaying”??? ha ha ha! ghost-vampire sex? Oh did someone already mention about this whole genre jumping the shark…..
My TOTAL and complete sympathies. I hate that, when you’ve invested time in a crappy book or series….but there’s no way but THROUGH the sludge…
I have read the series and I hear what you are saying. I really like books 1-3, and the novella about Zadist. After that I was discouraged, but kept reading. The most recent book Lover Reborn is not too bad. I love looking through the Pinterest list of books. I tend to always go for the romance in whatever setting, and like getting new ideas on what to read!
There are a lot of great contenders! I’ve been wanting to read Devil in the White City, The Art of Fielding, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and A Discovery of Witches. I realize that’s four, instead of three, but I can’t narrow it down any further.
Wait, are you a Supernatural fan? Just when I thought I couldn’t admire you any more–!
I don’t know about the books, but your synopsis is pure gold. I think I’ll stick with that.
For my first post ever on P&FF….I almost died laughing from your post and all the comments. This seriously made my day and I have no clue what any of you are talking about in regards to this gay/not gay vampire book. But oh my….the laughs I just had. On another note, The Discovery of Witches is a very good book and there is going to be a sequel I believe.
my vote – Quiet, Wrinkle in Time (didn’t appreciate it in 6th grade), and either Rachel or The Handmaid’s Tale. and these comments. hilarious (the posts are wonderful, and comments always complete the story!)… I mention this book club to all my friends – the name alone is worth the telling!
I got the whole bundle of 8 books in the series from my library and from some delusional sense of obigation, made myself finish all of them. Please stop at Book 5! Honestly – the madness only continues. Also, really want to read Quiet – my mom said that she suddenly understood some of her own feelings and behaviours and felt more accepting of herself after reading it.
Is it bad that I know what episode of Supernatural that clip is from?
I would love to suggest The Last Days of Summer. A friend gave it to me saying I would love it. I resisted, thinking I wasn’t that into baseball books, but I finally gave in. So glad I did.
http://www.amazon.com/Last-Days-Summer-Steve-Kluger/dp/0380797631
LOL Jules…sounds phenomenal! ;) I think I’ll make sure NOT to read that series… ;)
I just visited your PIBC pinterest page and it’s AH-MAHzing! Already commenting :) What a great rec page for peoples I’m sure are like-minded. I am on book 2 of the Hunger Games series. Been reading more recent fiction which is a switch for me. I always go back to the classics when I’m undecided. Maybe I’ll get my act together and finally read one for the PIBC!