When you live like I do

Anne Rice and her vampires

"One of America's most read and celebrated authors, Anne Rice is known for weaving the visible and supernatural worlds together in epic stories that both entertain and challenge readers. Her books are rich tapestries of history, belief, philosophy, religion, and compelling characters that examine and extend our physical world beyond the limits we perceive.

Anne lives and works in California. Anne's life experiences and intellectual inquisitiveness provide her with constant inspiration for her work."
Source: AnneRice.com

I am currently reading the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice, so I thought it would be fitting to write about her now. (I’m only up to Queen of the Damned yet, but I own all the books.) She has made a lot of different books, but I thought I would just write a bit about the Vampire Chronicles. Especially since vampires are so popular now a days. Don’t get me wrong, I like some vampire books and movies and TV-series. Just not most of them, because they are so sucky made (pun unintentional but after discovered intended). I like the TV-series True Blood, but I hate Twilight and its vampires and everything it stands for. But the only vampires in popular culture I find “believable” is Ann Rice’s vampires. Bear with me, because I’m going to generalize here.

First of all, they are dead. That means no sex, because those body parts do not work…because they are dead. This is also why all of her vampires are bisexual, if you want to put a name on it. They have no sexual drive, so they, in lack of a better expression, fall in love with other vampires and sometimes people’s minds. They need to be fascinated with someone so they can stand to live as long as they do. And often they need young vampires or people to help them adjust to new times. I mean, if you are a 2000 year old vampire the world has changed quite a bit since you were turned.

Second, they are dangerous. They have no empathy of conscience. They like to think that they have it, but they don’t really. They might feel attached to some human beings, and think that they love them. And they do in their minds, but these are exceptions, the rest of human kinds are considered food. I will make up an expression right now; they have a “love-food” relationship with humans. They love them in general, but when it comes down to it individuals they meet are considered food. And even if a vampire loves you, you can never be 100% sure he or she won’t get carried away some day by the smell of you or your heartbeat, killing you almost unintentionally. That’s why most of the people who are “human pets” are ones that want to be turned, which they have no guarantee that the vampire will ever do.

Very few vampires can stand living in our world for 100’s of years. Most of them need to take a break. This is done by burying themselves down in to the ground, where they slip in to a sort of trance or sleep. They do this to keep sane I think. A vampire who has not done this from time to time (like Maharet in the books) is considered to be very strong indeed.

I could go on and on about why Anne Rice’s vampires are the only ones I feel are made “right”. And don’t get me started on why Twilight is an abomination. But I think you get the point. Maybe I will make a part two of this post, or a separate post about the book series itself when I finish it. I don’t know yet. But if you want a fast way to get updated on the Anne Rice world you should watch the movie “Interview with a Vampire”. Anne Rice made the script herself, and the acting was superb. And do NOT see the movie “Queen of the Damned”. It was so bad I wanted to cry, probably because Anne Rice had nothing to do with this one. The acting sucked and I don’t like to think about its existence.

I will leave you with this picture:

The Jane Austen heroine Test

Normally I never do these kind of tests. But this one I could not resist. I am after all a dedicated Jane Austen fan! And I promise you I will write about her and her books a lot. Actually, with her I will probably have separate posts for each book, and one for the author.

I actually thought this was a very well made test. And I found myself thinking more about how I would react if I lived in Jane Austens world, and not just who I wanted to become (Elizabeth Bennet will always be my favourite).

Not quite sure what I think about the result. As I said, Elizabeth Bennet is my idol and my all time favourite. But I might actually be more of an Elinor Dashwood. Although I don't think anyone, least of all my sisters, would think me cold or boring. But I guess I have the same values as she does.

I would never go for Edward Ferrars though. Not my type of man at all. But Mr. Knightley from "Emma" on the other hand...

This test made me want to reread all of the books again. And I think I will. My sister gave me the collected novels for X-mas one year. So with that in mind there will probably come some more Austen posts on this blog. It's maybe not in sync with the overlaying theme of this blog, but I don't care. She rocks!

 

Your result for The Jane Austen heroine Test...

Elinor Dashwood

51% romance, 44% sauciness, 57% etiquette, 77% intelligence

You're always aware of social obligations and have more than your fair share of sense. You would never say something out of anger or in poor taste. This may lead some (like, perhaps, your saucy little sister) to accuse you of being cold. Nothing could be further from the truth! It's just that you don't believe in making a scene. Respectable gentlemen everywhere swoon for you (though you'd never admit it). But you only have eyes for one. He is lucky to have you.
Ideal matches: Edward Ferrars, Mr. Knightley, Captain Wentworth
Guaranteed heartbreak: John Willoughby, John Thorpe
Not worthy of your affections: Frank Churchill, Captain Benwick

Take The Jane Austen heroine Test at HelloQuizzy

Movies: Labyrinth

Sarah (Jennifer Connely) is a young girl who is kind of a dreamer. Her favorite book is the book “Labyrinth” about the Goblin-King, and she often reenacts scenes from the book by herself. One day she has to babysit her baby brother Toby, and she is not happy about it. He cries a lot, and to make him quiet she tells him the story about the Goblin-King. Telling him that she wishes the goblins would come and take him away. And then they do. Sarah meets the Goblin-King Jared (David Bowie) and gets a choice, to come and be with him, or to save her brother. She chooses the latter, and is given 13 hours to get through the labyrinth, or her brother will turn in to a goblin. In the labyrinth Sarah makes some new friends, is in a lot of danger and has a big adventure.

I have loved this movie my entire life. I saw it the first time when I was probably about 10 years old. And I have seen it many many times since. I have always had a small crush on David Bowie as Jared the Goblin-King. And I have a hard time getting why Sarah chose to save her brother instead of a lifetime being with him. I have told my brother that if it were us he wouldn’t have stood a chance.

This movie is just as great for adults as for children. It’s adventurous, funny and exciting. It has beautiful music, made by David Bowie, and awesome costumes. Only thing I would say is that if you are not from an English speaking country you should probably wait till the kids are old enough to read subtitles. Just because it can get tiring explaining what is said all the time.

 

Movies: Twelve Monkeys

In the year 1996 a lethal virus wiped out over 5 billion people from the earth. Only 1% of the population survived, and they had to go underground. In the year 2035 they decide to send a convict named James Cole back in time. He is supposed to locate the virus before it mutates, so the scientists can study it. It is believed that the virus was released by a group or organization who calls themselves The Army of the Twelve Monkeys. But on the first try they make a mistake, and send him back to 1990, 6 years before the virus was released. He gets arrested, and is put in a mental institution. Here he meets the psychiatrist Dr. Kathryn Railly and the mental patient Jeffrey Goines. When the scientists in year 2035 realize their mistake, they bring Cole back, and send him to the right time. 1996 a short time before the virus is released.

This is one of my favorite movies of all times. It’s one of those movies that you have to watch several times to register all the details. I notice new things every time I see this movie. All the time traveling can get confusing for some the first time they see the movie, but you get used to it pretty quick. It’s a movie with a lot of small twists and details, so you have to be a bit concentrated while watching it. Not a movie you watch when hungover in other words. The story is great, and so are the actors. The main characters are played by Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe and Brad Pitt. I especially want to express how good Brad Pitt as the mentally unstable Jeffery Goines is. All his little ticks and the way he talks just makes him so believable. Best part he ever played in my opinion.

 

Movies: RED

Frank Moses is a retired CIA agent, and his life is pretty boring. He has a phone flirt going on with Sarah, a Pension Department employee. This all changes when someone tags his CIA file as RED (Retired Extremely Dangerous). He gets attacked in his own house, and sets out to find out what is going on. He later also joins up with some of his old associates, who’s also retired, and he also brings an, at first, unwilling Sarah. And together they set out on a fun and action filled adventure.

This movie is one of the best I have seen in a long time. It has the combo I love most in a movie, which is action and humor. The movie also has the best cast I have seen in a while. I’m talking Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Mary-Louise Parker here. With a cast like that you just cannot go wrong