Blind Side

Have you ever been in a bookstore--yes, we already know you have--and ever thought about all the books that you DON'T see? (Besides the bestseller that hit shelves that day but for some reason the stupid store doesn't have it out yet.)

When I browse the shelves, I'm looking for anything that catches my eye. And not a lot does. What about those books that don't interest me? Is it because they aren't good? What makes a good book, good? What makes it a bestseller? SOMETHING is appealing to the wider audience. The writing style? The storyline? The characters?

My guess? It's all about presentation. I see a book that looks like it was published back in the eighties and my mind immediately skips over to the next book. I see a really thin book? Voom! My mind is racing by. I see a thick book that looks interesting but it doesn't click. It's got a really weird cover.

You've got to admit that we all do it. We all break the ancient saying: don't judge a book by its cover. We all fall victim to it. Don't say you don't because you'd be a liar. Anybody with any sense who sees a crappy-looking cover and set up, you ain't gonna give it the time of day. We should all know by now that presentation is everything. It's what sets apart books that get the opportunity to shine. If you see a book with a fantastic looking cover, you're gonna pick it up and look at it and give it a chance. You see a crappy cover? Mooooove on.

I was at the bookstore a few days ago and I was there on a mission: find some obscure books that I normally wouldn't give the time of day. Bring them home. Read them. On the next go around, find books that I wouldn't touch merely because they are "oh-my-gawd-so-popular!" See what makes it tick. See if it ticks at all.

That's my mission for the foreseeable future.

How bout you?

Le Vamp?

I am not a sucker for vampires. And oh, lemme guess, you just automatically assumed it's because of Twilight, right? Oh, don't think I'm calling you out or anything. Cause maybe that is true. Consider: how many vampire books were around before Stephenie Meyer came along? (Note: Don't get huffy. I'm not dissing Ms. Meyer.) I remember there being a small handful of books about vampires that were out there and maybe a bit popular. Then Twilight came along and it's all shot to hell.

(Side note: Should I be proud of the fact that I'll be able to tell my kids, "Oh, Mommy was around when vampires weren't dominating the world.")

To continue on that note, notice how I said, "world" and not "literary world". Big difference there and I put it there for a reason. Because look at how obsessed people are about vampires. There are hundreds of girls/guys who's lives revolve around their next vampire fix. People don't realize how extensively literature can affect a person's life. The idea gets inside your head and suddenly, it's all you act on.

Scary, really. Just hope that a band of very-human people won't start vandalizing a major city because they're so convinced they're vampires. If a body shows up drained of blood in an alley somewhere, I'm moving to Antarctica. If a vampire wants me, they'll have to come and get me.

As noted above, I'm not a huge vampire fan. Maybe it's the whole idea? Nah. I don't think so. It's mostly that I can't bear to read the same things that so highly influence our society in such a negative way. Is the subject of vampires somehow new and fresh? Note how all the vamp dudes are "oh my gawd, so butter-melting gorgeous!". Stereotypes anyone? You give me a book WITHOUT any vampire stereotypes and I will kiss the ground you walk on.

When I read, I want a dash of reality. Not a wave, just a sprinkle. And that starts with making the vamp dude UN-perfect. Is there a perfect man out there? Nooo. There is a perfect man FOR YOU, but not one perfect for everyone. (Sorry, Edward, gotta use you as an example.) So take Edward Cullen. I'll just say it: the dude annoys the crap out of me. And not in that "boy, this guy is so annoying, but I still love him like the dickens". As in, I wouldn't be able to spend fifteen minutes in the same room with him, let alone spend a few days/weeks/months dating him, you know?

Maybe I should raid every vampire book I come across, just so I can prove every single time that once again, vampire stereotype has been enlisted. Why not make an ugly vampire? Where did this whole vampires are god-like in their beauty come from?

In "Other" by Karen Kincy, the main character makes a little observation about vampires. She notes that they are very normal-looking and that their personalities and looks range from god-like to completely geeky. I liked that. A sprinkle of originality--boom!

What are your thoughts on vampires? Do we need a fix-up? Call in a clean-up crew? Should we even worry about vampires taking over the world!?

(Seriously. As in, go wild with your response. I love rants. -_')