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 the
crimes 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 Bookclub
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.