On Alma Maters and Vampires: The Book List

Not too long after I finished reading Writing Ann Arbor: A Literary Anthology, the University of Michigan began contacting me for money. Given that the book was edited by a University professor (who was also my professor for a brief period of time), the conspiracy theorist in me believes that a microchip embedded in the book recorded the delivery address, registered my name, cross-referenced that with a list of University alumni, and then released the wrath of the Michigan Telefund on me. Since I am in no shape to donate to the University at this time, I have gone into my alumni record (which was conveniently updated with my phone number even though I’ve never given it to the Alumni Association, hmm . . .) and deleted my phone number. But be warned—if you buy anything that relates remotely to your alma mater, I am quite sure that they will be calling you for donations in no time flat.

(How they found IP, I have no idea, but the “Michigan Difference” push seems to be kicking into overdrive. Never mind that I told them years ago to take me off their calling lists. I guess they figure a new address and phone number gives them clearance to harass me again. Michigan, I love you, but you didn’t give me that much money—I’m not going to give you that much, either.)

Anyway, being hunted down through my purchase of the anthology aside, I have to say it was a fairly good read for those of us who have a love-hate relationship with the University of Michigan and the town itself. Townies will appreciate it, but they’ll also sniff at how the book seems to contain more University stories than Ann Arbor-only stories (umm . . . because the University made you, A^2?). There are many excerpts that beg for a reading of the larger work, but alas, they are no longer in print. I could have done without the poetry; Dr. Goldstein is a poet, and poetry was to be expected in the anthology, but Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan don’t have enough gravitas to merit verse unless it’s in a fight song. Even our alma mater song, “The Yellow and the Blue”, makes me yawn. Don’t even get me started on “Laudes Atque Carmina”.  There is a reason why my family was bored at my commencement, and at one point prompted my brother to say, “C’mon, snipers, where are you?”.

So, overall? Good, quick read with many instances that will make alumni giggle, issue a nostalgic sigh, snort out loud, or roll their eyes. Especially at the Michigan Daily articles included at the end of the book. It’s nice to know that, even after I left, the Daily continued the proud tradition of having columnists who write nine or 10 short paragraphs on different subjects throughout the day and then randomly link them together at press time. Good job, Daily!

From there, I moved onto Christopher Moore’s latest, You Suck: A Love Story, a tale of two vampires in love. As always with Moore, I am completely charmed by his comedic horror writing. Although I haven’t read Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story (You Suck is a sequel), I could follow the implications of the previous story well enough. I bought the book in a despondent mood before heading to the restaurant to have one large and one regular sized prickly pear margarita; work had been hell and the next day promised no relief. I was quite happy to be cheered by Jody and Tommy’s love story which, if unusual, was still touching on some funny/macabre level of insanity. The power dynamics of being a vampire in San Francisco—with Jody loving the power to prowl the night granted to her and Tommy not really getting the hang of being a creature of the night—are nicely explored, and become the central conflict in the couple’s path to living dead happiness. Abby Normal, a minor character from Moore’s A Dirty Job, makes an extended appearance in this book; we learn that the “dark lord” she’s been following around in A Dirty Job is in actuality Tommy, and she’s now Tommy and Jody’s minion who runs errands for them during daylight hours. Moore is at his best when he’s writing as Abby, who combines her fascination with darkness and death nicely with her youth; she’s still a kid, and her voice, a cross between Goth protégé and ballet princess, is spot-on in her diary entries.

As of right now, I’m still reading Evolving God by Barbara King and have received three books courtesy of a Barnes & Noble 25% off coupon: Christopher Moore’s Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story and The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, Version 2.0 (one word for reading a Christmas story in March: zombies!), and Sarah Vowell’s Radio On: A Listener’s Diary.

Onto the third 2007 book list:

Finished:

1) Love Is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield
2) Galileo’s Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love by Dava Sobel
3) Helen of Troy by Margaret George
4) Writing Ann Arbor: A Literary Anthology Edited by Laurence Goldstein
5) You Suck: A Love Story by Christopher Moore

Re-read:

Empty

Currently Reading:

1) Evolving God: A Provocative View on the Origins of Religion by Barbara J. King

Waiting To Be Read (Already Purchased, Got as Gifts, Borrowed from My Boyfriend, or Otherwise Accessible without the Use of Funds, But Not an Assurance That I Will Read These Before I Buy More Books):

1) The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, Version 2.0 by Christopher Moore
2) Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story by Christopher Moore
3) Radio On: A Listener’s Diary by Sarah Vowell