Skip to main content

How to Catch and Keep a Vampire: A Step-by-Step Guide to Loving the Bad and the Beautiful by Diana Laurence

Rating: 2/5 Stars


I received this book as an ARC request in early October. I was very excited to start reading this and although it was "cute" it really didn't live up to my expectations.


Diana Laurence writes a self-help book for vampire lovers. The idea of this book is fascinating to me, with all the vampire books, tv shows and movies out there these days - its the right time for a book like this. I however expected something a little more tongue-in-cheek. I felt that Laurence took a more serious approach instead of a quirky approach, which I think would have made this book at success.

Maybe the trouble is it was more written for a teen? Not sure but something was missing for me.


There were a few notable quotes from this book:
  • "Women just get so sick of being good that they are completely and utterly and downright chomping-at-the-bit ready for a nasty vampire. and when you are ready for nasty, what you need is a bad vampire."
  • vampire pickup line: "They say a diamond is forever -- I can promise you an eternity."

This book fills the following challenges and groups:

  • Booktivity November Special: I thank for... not needing to know how to catch and keep a vampire
  • Booktivity November: Activity
  • PBT November Tag: Other
  • Monthly Mixer Mele Challenge (V for vampire in noVember)

Labels:

Comments

  1. Diana LaurenceNovember 10, 2009 at 10:12:00 AM EST

    Hi Faith! I like to post my thanks to all the people who review my book, good or bad. So thank you!

    I'm sorry the book wasn't quite what you're looking for. It was written for teens and adults alike...and as you wisely observed, is more than just a humor book. As for its more "serious" side, I liked how TrueBloodNet described it recently: "a wonderful guide to balancing fantasy and passion with your ordinary life." That's what I was going for.

    But like any book, it won't be perfect for every reader! I respect every reviewer's opinion as well as your willingness to spend the time on my book.

    Best wishes!

    Diana (www.howtocatchandkeepavampire.com)

    ReplyDelete
  2. SariJNovember 11, 2009 at 10:46:00 AM EST

    Faith,
    There seems to be a growing trend of serious books that people our age would think would be tongue and cheek. My son Alex loves to read Zombie books and one of his favorite is The Zombie Survival Guide. I picked it up thinking it would be a quirky book about Zombie lore but no, it is written as if Zombies existed. It was too serious for me. Alex has some other books like this.
    I would love a spoof on the vampire books as I am over the Twilight hype!
    Diane, thank you for being an author who stops by and leaves a comment. So many times authors ask us to review their book but never gives us reviewers any feedback. It is nice to know you are paying attention to what is being said about your writing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Diana LaurenceNovember 11, 2009 at 8:09:00 PM EST

    Sari, I just don't get that about authors, when it's so easy to use Google to find your book's reviews. And I truly am grateful for each reader who takes the time to review my book.

    Your remarks are insightful...I'll bet it's true that some people are just weary of the vampire hype and crave spoofs right about now. I get that, too; there are some Twilight spoof videos out there that just slay me. I shared this one on the How to Catch and Keep a Vampire Facebook fan page the other day: you guys might enjoy it too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1glNuQiE77E

    ReplyDelete
  4. FaithNovember 13, 2009 at 6:48:00 AM EST

    Thank you so much Diana for posting to my Blog! You are right, more authors should be looking for reviews and feedback this way!

    Im sorry the book wasn't for me, but I passed it on to my neice, who I think will really enjoy it.

    Sari, You are right and I too am over the Twilight hype! ;-)

    Thanks to both of you for posting!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Diana LaurenceNovember 13, 2009 at 11:15:00 AM EST

    You're very welcome, Faith! And I'm glad to hear you'll be sharing the book with your niece. I hope she really likes it!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BOOK GIVEAWAY: Raven Stole the Moon by Garth Stein

Welcome to my very first book giveaway! This GIVEAWAY has ended and the WINNER has been chosen Congratulations to Roberta! Thanks to all who entered. Thanks to Terra Communications for providing me with a review copy of Raven Stole the Moon ( read my review here ) and now a copy to give away to one of my blog followers! From the author of The Art of Racing in the Rain , Garth Stein's newly released book Raven Stole the Moon was released this week on HarperCollins and here is your chance to win a copy for yourself. Here is a synopsis of Raven Stole the Moon from BarnesandNoble.com: When Jenna Rosen abandons her comfortable Seattle life to return to Wrangell, Alaska, it's a wrenching return to her past. Long ago the home of her Native American grandmother, Wrangell is located near the Thunder Bay resort, where Jenna's young son, Bobby, disappeared two years before. His body was never recovered, and Jenna is determined to lay to rest the aching mystery of his death. But the s...
14 comments
Read more

Book Blogger Hop: April 23-29, 2010

Hosted by Crazy for Books It's Friday! Time for another Book Blogger HOP!! This is for ALL BOOK BLOGGERS (NEW AND OLD) and READERS! Let's make some new friends and have fun! It's FRIDAY!!! ABOUT THE HOP: In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blogger Hop to give us all book bloggers and readers a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on! So, I created this weekly BOOK PARTY where book bloggers and readers can connect to find new blogs to read, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start PARTYING!!Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews. If you start following someone through the Hop, leave a comment on their blog to let them know! Stop back during the week to see other...
6 comments
Read more

Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2011

I joined this challenge last year and it was a lot of fun so here I go again! Hosted by Bunnitas at Worth reading it? Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2011 January 1, 2011 to June 30, 2011 In the Hogwarts Reading Challenge you are a student of the school. You will be sorted into houses. Each book you read must fit in to the subject of one the classes. You do not have to read books that fit all the subjects. Each book equals one point (toward the house cup). You must read at least 5 books (audio books counts) before you are enter in to the drawing. At the end of the Challenge one person will win a $15 Amazon Gift Card and one house will win the House Cup (purely a pride thing). (from the WorthReadingit? Blog) Bunnitas will post all of the Mini Challenges in the next few days so that everyone can plan out their books in advance. To be eligible to win prizes you must have a blog and sign up using Mr. Linky. Then start a Hogwarts Reading Challenge post and link it back to the original...
3 comments
Read more