Mundie Moms

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Book Review - Fat Vampire


By: Adam Rex
Published by Harper Collins
Released July 27, 2010
Source: Publisher
3.5 stars- I liked this book.

Synopsis (from Harper Collins):
Doug Lee is undead quite by accident—attacked by a desperate vampire, he finds himself cursed with being fat and fifteen forever. When he has no luck finding some goth chick with a vampire fetish, he resorts to sucking the blood of cows under cover of the night. But it's just not the same.

Then he meets the new Indian exchange student and falls for her—hard. Yeah, he wants to bite her, but he also wants to prove himself to her. But like the laws of life, love, and high school, the laws of vampire existence are complicated—it's not as easy as studying Dracula. Especially when the star of Vampire Hunters is hot on your trail in an attempt to boost ratings. . . .

Searing, hilarious, and always unexpected, Fat Vampire is a satirical tour de force from one of the most original writers of fiction today.

I'll be honest, I loved the cover. I craved a cherry ICEE (yes, I realize that's not a cherry flavor pictured) the entire time I read the book. I also laughed, smirked and chuckled way more than I ever thought I would because of the writing style and the predicaments of the main character.

Adam does a fantastic job at capturing outcast Doug's voice and personality. As an overweight, geeky kid who attends Comic-Con with his human best friend, Jay, Doug's character is so very believable that I even relished the moments where he was not always likeable.

I did love how one mishap led to another until Doug was being featured on the cable TV show, "Vampire Hunters". I really don't want to spoil this book for you so I'll refrain from talking about the plot points. But, I will say that if you have a reluctant teen reader, this would be a great book for them. It's also a great book if you're looking for a moment of escape from the endless amount of summer chores. It's a quick read with lots of funny scenes. I will point out a brief warning to some of our Mundie Moms who may be cautious about language. There are curse words throughout the book and they're used casually and conjugated in a witty manner. They didn't bother me at all but if you're looking at it as a possible book for your teen to read, I wanted to issue that caution.

Adam uses multiple POVs which switch from Doug, to the TV show to Sejal, an internet addicted, exchange student from India. I liked seeing the story develop through the different POVs, although at times, I wished there was a marker warning me that the POV had switched.

I encourage you grab a cherry ICEE, pick up Fat Vampire and spend a few hours reading Doug's story. It's an engaging twist on geek life, high school and vampire lore.

Clockwork Celebration Day 5

Today's treat is a small excerpt from the book. Enjoy!!

Jem shook his head. "I don't think so. Perhaps you are the sort who would sacrifice yourself on the altar of principle, but I doubt it. Most of us do things for reasons that are more purely personal. For love, or for hate."

"Or for revenge," Will said. "After all, you've known about what was going on for a year now, and you only just came to us."

"That was because of Miss Gray."
-Clockwork Angel, page 191

Cassie's U Stream Chat Highlights



We are only posting some high lights from Cassie's Ustream chat yesterday. To see the full chat, visit the archive here http://www.ustream.tv/simonandschuster

The most exciting NEWS- There will be TWO more books in the TMI series! The two books will be after City of Fallen Angels. There will be City of Lost Souls and City of Heavenly Fire.

**Cassie announced last night at her signing that COLS will release May 2012 and COHF will release September 2013!!

The Mortal Instrument Series Questions:
*City of Fallen Angels will out be April 5, 2011
* The TMI books have a time line of only a few weeks from when one ends and the next one picks up.
* There will be a total of 6 TMI books and 3 ID books, giving the Shadow Hunter series 9 books.
* The new TMI books will have our beloved characters like Jace, Clary, Magnus, Alec, Simon, Luke, Jocelyn, Isabel, Aline, as well as new characters.
* City of Lost Souls will connect the past and feature. As the whole TMI series is a Shadow Hunter history.
* The Shadow Hunter series is more Clockpunk than Steampunk
* How was Magnus's character inspired? Cassie went into a Korean nail salon and found a picture of a guy with spiky hair with glitter in it and green nail polish. He had an infectious smile and had a charm about him. She wanted Magnus's character to be this powerful wizard with an old soul and a wise spirit, but with that infectious charm.
* Is Cassie afraid to kill off her characters? Cassie is not afraid to kill off a character to show how dangerous the Shadow Hunter world is.
* Is it hard to write from a guys point of view? Cassie said it's not hard to write from Jace's point of view or any of her male characters. She said Simon is easier to write, as he's more open than Jace. Jace is more of a closed off character.
* Will Jace and Clary's relationship survive? There will be a lot of danger for Jace and Clary. She would not answer if their relationship would survive.
* Will the Clave be a danger to Jace and Clary? Jace and Clary will have more dangers than The Clave in COFA.
* Yes, Jocelyn is very protective of Clary being with Jace.
* Yes, Aline is gay and will have a girlfriend.
* Cassie finds that the intense, emotional scenes are easier to write.
* There will be ONE new male and female character in the new TMI books who will shake up a few relationships.
* CWA is dark, and COFA, COLS, and COHF will get darker than the other TMI books
* Sebastian may or may not be back.
* How were the Runes inspired? They were inspired when Cassie went to a friends tattoo parlor and she learned about the history of runes/tattoos. Tattoos were used as protection.
* When Holly Black asked about the plot in the next two TMI books, Cassie confirmed Jace and Clary would have a Unicorn baby (Holly is team Unicorn).
* YES, Jace will have a cameo in Holly Black's Red Glove. He also has one in White Cat.
* Will Holly Black's characters be in the TMI books? Cassie said we had to wait and see
* When Cassie first starting outlining for TMI, she knew the plot and ending.
* In COFA, Alec's parents have more of a issue with who he's dating, than his sexuality.
* Yes, we will get more of Alec and Magnus
* No, the antagonist for TMI has not been mentioned yet, but they are a character we know.

The Infernal Devices Questions:
* The other two books in the Infernal Devices series are Clockwork Prince, which Jem will be on the cover and Clockwork Princess, which Tessa will be featured on the cover.
* CWA book trailer will be released soon.
* Cassie and Tessa are similar in they have a love for books, but that's it.
* Tessa is persistent and seeks for truth and Clary rushes into things. (I missed more of what she said).
* Will Tessa and Clary meet? Cassie said she couldn't answer that.
* Who is Cassie's favorite Victorian writer? Wilkie Collins
* The Moon Stones are a favorite Victorian book of Cassie's
* If you're read and when you read CWA, share your thoughts with Cassie. She loves to know what her readers think.

**If there are any errors in the text, please let me know. This post is made from notes I took yesterday during Cassie's chat and in no way have I intentionally meant to misquote anything Cassie said.

Don't forget to grab your Shadow Hunter series Widget. With each release, the widget will then show the next book's release.

Crescendo ARC Giveaway!!

I can not stop talking about Becca Fitzpatrick's Crescendo! This is one amazing sequel that I think Hush, Hush fans will be completely blown away with. Crescendo is one heck of a wild, twisty, had on my emotions on edge ride. When it was over, I wanted to read it again. Honestly, I didn't want it to be over with.

Becca will surprise fans with her plot twists, character motives and the ending will leave you completely shocked! Is it next year yet!?! I'm dying to read the next book. SO, why am I telling you all this, because I have got to share this with someone else. If you're dying to know what happens, be sure to enter our giveaway.

Please do not enter if you have received an ARC or a copy of Crescendo. I want to send this ARC to someone who does not have a copy of it. Thank you!

Thank you Simon and Schuster for sending us Crescendo.

Thoughtful Thursday-The UNICEF Tap Project


Fact: Over 900 million people worldwide do not have or have limited access to clear water. Half that number are children.
Fact: 24,000 children die every day from preventable causes

Water is something we tend to take for granted and I'm shocked that such a high number of people do not have access to water. Water is such a valuable part of life, it's what sustains us. What's being done to bring water to those who desperately need it? UNICEF is currently working with more than 100 countries around the world to improve their access to safe, clean water.

The UNICEF Tap Project was started in NYC in 2007, when restaurants would ask patrons to pay $1 or more for water they normally gave away for free. The money went straight to UNICEF to bring clean water to children all over the world. Since 2007, the UNICEF Tap Project has grown nationwide. All money raised for this project goes directly into making clean, safe drinking water for the millions of children and people world wide who don't have that luxury. (stats taken from their site)

Their Role-
UNICEF has saved more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization, and UNICEF is committed to doing whatever it takes to achieve the goal of reaching the day when ZERO children die of preventable causes. Currently, UNICEF provides access to safe water and sanitation facilities while promoting safe hygiene practices in more than 100 countries.

In alignment with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, UNICEF is working with its partners to reduce the number of people without access to safe water and basic sanitation by 50% by 2015, which will also save children at risk from waterborne illnesses, the second highest cause of preventable childhood deaths. (quoted directly from their site)

You can visit The Tapp Project to learn more http://www.tapproject.org/about/

Every dollar donated goes straight to helping UNICEF promote and help communities and schools have safe clean water, as well as clean and safe sanitation and hygiene programs.


Thank you Smash Attack for bringing this wonderful organization to our attention.

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