Not your typical dracula novel

I was looking for a new book to read at my local bookstore. I don't like to go to the bookstore with nothing in particular in mind because I usually end up buying something that fails to deliver. The book ends up sitting on my shelf collecting dust after that initial read and I experience buyer's remorse. Because I was desperate for a new book, I took the chance- and I'm so happy I did! I stumbled upon Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian and it is a winner.

The Historian is written in the style of a Victorian gothic novel, yet is is immensely readable. Kostova delivers layer upon layer of suspense at just the right pace, which kept me glued to the pages. A young girl follows her father across Europe, learning as she does so about her parents's mysterious contacts with the bloodthirsty noble believed to be long dead- no other than Vlad the Impaler. Immersing herself in her father's fascinating story, she finds herself increasingly in danger from the unbelievable evil her father has discovered.
 Like Morton's The Forgotten Garden, the story is told from the perspective of several characters over a long period of time. Their stories weave together, sometimes abstractly, piecing together cohesively at the end. Yet it couldn't be more different from Morton's novel-in short, The Historian is a vampire novel. Before you lose interest, you should know that this is no twilight or Sookie Stackhouse novel. Instead it is literary, heavily researched and so enjoyable to read. Mingled with the supernatural and suspenseful elements are historical details about the Ottoman Empire and Eastern Europe. This novel might even teach you an historical fact or two. If vampire novels aren't your thing- keep an open mind. This is surprisingly light on gore and oh so good! This book has put me in the mood to read Bram Stoker's Dracula and  Kostova's newest novel, The Swan Thieves. Happy Reading!

A future possibility?

I am a big fan of futuristic or post-apocalyptic science fiction novels. A really good futuristic novel is not only intriguing and engrossing because of the fictional future world it depicts, but it is also rather frightening because the reader can see parallels to our own present-day societies. Books like 1984 or The Giver are prime examples of this. These novels would not be nearly so powerful if we didn't see Big Brothers or vestiges of the community in our own lives.

Two such novels look at some very important questions: do some members of society have more value than others? Should some members of society be used to improve the lives of others? Are some people dispensable for the greater good? This isn't a new issue. We see it everyday in abortion clinics and in the debates about euthanasia. This blog isn't intended as a platform for either of those issues but it is hard to dispute that the futures described in The Unit and Never Let Me Go are very frightening possibilities.

In Ninni Holmqvist's The Unit, there is a special place reserved for those who don't contribute meaningfully to society. The unit is full of unmarried and childless men and women, past middle age who do not work in important industries. They are given fine food and entertainment, art, recreation and the company of others. While the unit is a pleasant place, it has a much more sinister purpose: the residents of the unit are kept healthy for as long as possible while their bodies are slowly harvested for the desirables. The men and women of the unit are fully aware of their role in society. They are even accepting of their imminent deaths- but what happens when two people on the unit fall in love?  Holmqvist keeps the reader emotionally invested in the novel, right up until the surprising- but perfect- ending.

 Kazuo Ishiguro explores similar themes in Never Let Me Go. Kathy narrates her experiences growing up in an unusual English boarding school. As Kathy transitions from childhood to adulthood, she dares to deam about a future with the boy she loves. More than anything, Kathy just wants to be a normal girl- will she be given the chance? As you put the pieces together, you will be captivated by Ishiguro's commentary on humanity and value. This is a complex, multi-layered and intelligent novel.

I hope that you will enjoy these novels and, more importantly, I hope they will make you see the frightening possibilities.