Am I missing something?
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I've always lived with the idea that I can't criticise a book without having read it first. I therefore went down to the library and got myself a copy considering there are displays of the Anita Blake books all over book shops.
And I have to say it was one of the most badly written tales I've ever read. There was no depth to the vocabulary used - she describes the 'master Vampire' Nikolaos' laugh in the same words about seven times. The author did not seem to know when to keep humour out of the prose either. There was a wonderful scene in a 'Vampire junkie's' apartment when Anita and Phillip went to find clues about their mission - but then all the atmosphere was swept away with a joke about a Jack in the Box!
This book does nothing for the Feminist cause, even though Anita is supposed to be a 'tough' heroine who can take care of herself. For instance, if she's so tough, why does she wear high heels to a 'freak party' when there's a high possibility that she will have to run away from vampires? Great pains are taken to make the reader aware that even though some of the male vampires are wearing frilly shirts (cliche anyone?) they are still 'masculine', as if that's the most important thing!
The best thing about the book is that it's really quick to get through. So if you fancy reading something that requires little thought or intellect, and never once questions conventions (despite superficial appearances), then go ahead and read it. I personally will be avoiding her books in the future.
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Fast paced, sarcastic, excellent - MOHAHA!!
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In a reality where vampires, wereanimals, and animators are a fact of life and some groups even have equal rights, Anita Blake, who is an animator, is compelled by vampires to find the serial killer, who brutally murders vampires. - That was the one line attempt to encompass "Guilty Pleasures", but it makes the fast paced novel sound flat, which it by no means is.
A story of vampires and a vampire hunter a.k.a. Anita Blake, "Guilty Pleasures" has an individuality and sarcastic humour that sets it apart. You end up reading just one more chapter - the whole book through! Oh yes, the suspense is there. I definitely hadn't guessed who the serial killer was, which was wonderful - a great spin in the plot.
In telegram style:
Great, fast paced murder mystery with twists and turns STOP sarcasm galore STOP vampires and a little electric tension STOP must read STOP
Louise
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Just had to read more
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Thanks to my lovely holidays, I'm getting to spend time in this "preternatural" world and really enjoying it.
Anita Blake is a tough as nails Animator with a license to legally execute rogue vampires: This leads her into their world and when she is hired by the head honcho to work for them it proves to be an interesting and nearly deadly plot twist.
This book joins Anita after she has built her reputation and introduces some sterotypically enjoyable characters, but it's really a stepping stone onto the next novels, I've read 8 in in as many days and I'm only now starting to put the books down long enough to sleep and eat. This series is definately worth a go and gets better and more intriguing up to "Blue Moon".
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interesting but not well written
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i read this book a good 2 years ago and gave it a review of 2/10 calling it 'badly written claptrap'.
im writing this now to recind that view and give it a revised rating of 6/10. it isnt well written - its sarcastic, not funny where it tries, and uninspired in prose. the plot involves lots of interesting stuff, rituals, vampires, quite a bit of action and enough supernatural stuff to keep you satisfied.
but the plot is not well executed, there seem to be a great deal of superfluous scenes and anita just stumbles across the loose tongued villian - no clue setup, no piecing together of leads, just one red herring - in short not a satisfying crime novel at all - but more than satisfying in the vampire/supernatural stakes (haha - i crack myself up)
lastly, i really like Anita herself (apart from the pointless penguins:S) and i will read the next one because her story supposedly gets more complex (involved with vamps etc)
enjoyable vamp fiction, but not well executed literature. 6/10
- The best vamp book i ever read was Fevre Dream- George R R Martin (check that out instead)
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GOING UP THEN GOING DOWN!!
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DEFFENTLY WORTH READING (LKH) I LOVED THE WHOLE ANITA BLAKE SERIES BUT WAS HIGHLY DISSAPOINTED WITH LAST FEW(4/?)BOOKS THERE WAS NO VOILENCE, NO POLICE WORK, NO NOTHING APART FROM SEX! AND IVE LOST COUNT WITH WHO SHES SHACKING UP WITH I HATE THE WHOLE RICHARD THING. WHY IS HE STILL INTRESTED WITH HER WHEN SHES PROBABLY GOT ALL THE STD'S(I KNOW I KNOW SHE CANT GET CONTRACT ILLNESSES NOW) BUT COME ON LK GET ANITA BACK TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS AND IF NEED BE GET HER TO STRAP A DILDO/VIBRATOR ON HERSELF!!!
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