I vill suck your blooooood...

[icepixie]

Note to self: Reading vampire books late at night? Not a good idea. Not a good idea at all.

I'm 150 pages into Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian, which is a bit like The Da Vinci Code would be if it had well-written prose and interesting characters who are more than just ciphers to move the plot along, were about Dracula and the history thereof, and were generally not crap. (I don't dislike it because it's popular, I dislike it because it's bad.) It's very good so far, and I hope the following five hundred pages won't disappoint.

However, vampires, when well-written, are just about the only horror genre trope that can genuinely scare me. So, in addition to Kostova really knowing how to reel out tension, this book is really quite creepifying. I think it goes back to childhood. Remember that series of "Scary Stories" books (Scary Stories 1-3)? The ones with the really quite spooky illustrations that were basically just urban legends retold? Mostly I just thought they were kind of disgusting, but one of them did actually get to me. It's the one where there's a girl on a lonesome farm in the middle of nowhere (naturally), who has to face various vampires, whose glowing red eyes she can see at night through her window, coming towards her. I think her two brothers, and probably various farm animals, fall victim to the vampires (who are randomly showing up from a cemetary nearby, or something like that) before she does herself. Anyway, we used to live on a fairly busy road, and out my window at night, I could see the brakelights of passing cars, which, to my eight-year-old mind, looked exactly like glowing red vampire eyes. The fact that they were inevitably going away from me didn't really help things much.

So, yes, vampires, not so much. But the book is still really good.

(Actually, the whole "go into a bathroom, turn off the lights, chant Bloody Mary/Mary Worth x amount of times, spin around a few times, and then look to see her escaping the mirror to scratch your eyes out" always kind of freaked me out as well. Remind me again why this is a popular sleepover game?)

*

Which Doctor (from Doctor Who) Are You?

You are the eighth Doctor! Friendly and warm, you are the most human of all the Doctors. Your sense of style is a bit old-fashioned. You have a bit of trouble figuring out exactly who you are at first, but no worries. Eventually you'll find your way.
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How am I not surprised that I'm Eight? *giggle*

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[calliopes_pen]

Which Doctor (from Doctor Who) Are You?

You are the first Doctor! Oh, you can be a bit cranky, that's true. And your ego can be a bit of a put-off at first. However, underneath that sour demeanor is the heart of a true hero! Your compassion for your fellow beings knows no bounds, and you'd happily sacrifice your life to save another.
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[alto2.livejournal.com]

Ya know, I really thought I would get Eight or Five, given how much I love them both (and how transparent the questions were, which makes it really hard for me to give objective answers!). Ah well.

[elflore.livejournal.com]

Yeah, vampires creep me a bit too. I think it's the combination of the possibility of either conversion or death (circumstances depending), along with speed, strength, and a lack of reflection.

It's funny, there were times when I was a little kid, and the house was dark, and I'd be feeling a bit spooked...and I'd walk into the bathroom and think about how something could jump out from behind the door behind me...but I had to look in the mirror first in case it was a Medusa-type monster, then whirl around fast in case of a vampire....

Also, you know what's an incredibly creepifying combination? Watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer every night...and then listening to 'Chimes at Midnight', also at night, during that time. Walking around the farm with that story playing into my ears, after watching a vampire show...yeah, that *really* got me feeling like something was gonna jump out. *snerk*

And heheheheh on the Doctor quiz. I got Seven, which is perfect and awesome...only I refuse to repaste it to my LJ since their definition of the 7th Doc includes the 'liquid morality' garbage from the books which I can't agree with. :?P But still, me Seven, woo! *g*

[fiara.livejournal.com]

I checked that out from the library but then didn't have a chance to read it. Wonder if I can find the paperback before I leave and take it with me?

When are you free to hang out/catch a movie?

[cheekygal.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, The Historian was great fun. As are Alvin Schwartz's books, even if they're just urban legends redone with freaky illustrations. The kids love them at our library.

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

Aww, it's a pity you don't have the temperment to really enjoy Buffy. There *are* a few intensely creepy episodes, and a billion with hilarious dialogue (that's my favorite part, really), and some great characters. We probably shouldn't've started you with the first season, though. : ) You should try season three or five sometime on Netflix. Good stuff. It moves past the high school junk (and Captain Obvious Metaphors) pretty fast, and then there's loads of "Oh, the angst, I'm in love with a mysterious immortal guy!" stuff that seems right up your alley. : ) And yeah, there's major Buffy influence on Who. I think it may be your duty as a dedicated fan to do some scholarly research...

Eight reminds me of Alan Rickman in a costume drama. Doesn't work for me at all. Alas.