Customer Reviews

Thirsty

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I was amazed at this powerful story of a young man confronting forces so far beyond his control that every plan he makes, every instinct he has absorbed from the horror movies that he and his friends constantly discussed prove to be woefully inadequate. _Thirsty_ is an amazingly example of a genre writing against itself.

On tap of that, I liked the tone of Anderson's first-person narrator -- sarcastic, confused, but also shy. He's a 15- or 16-year-old guy trying to figure out how the world works -- and if that weren't enoough, he's beginning to suspect he's a vampire and a pawn in a mysterious battle between the Forces of Light and Dark.

I'm going to read everything M.T. Anderson writes for the rest of my life.

With biting humor, this first-time author offers readers a cynical look at the onset of vampirism coupled with adolescent angst. Chris struggles with a crush, his annoying brother, and his parents' failing marriage. But all of that seems important -- not when the fate of the universe appears to be at stake. A very Buffy-The-Vampire-Esque horror comedy for the slightly darker, simply smarter side of the YA crowd.

I thought those words would never leave my lips (or fingertips), but it does seem that many people who gave negative reviews for this book were missing the entire point, at least as I understand it. It even says in the back of the book that the author wanted to write about how someone can struggle "with the isolation of wanting to do the right thing when there was no right thing to do." The hopelessness of the novel at the end was intentional. There are not always concrete conclusions, let alone HAPPY concrete conclusions. In life, there are no definite beginnings and ends, except for birth and death of course. And that would be a long book. So if it ends on a kind of "well, what now?" note, it's all the more realistic.

The writing style I think is more a matter of aesthetic than anything. I didn't really like it the first time I read it, but it grew on me.

As for Chris, and his personality, it's actually pretty realistic. If I look objectively, I can see a lot of myself in him. Especially me a few years ago when I was his age. For the guy who said he was swept away by other people's actions and never did anything, well, he actually mentions that IN THE NARRATION. That was intentional, too. How many teenagers do you know that actually take charge of their life? I certainly didn't.

And the people who are complaining about vampires being a fact of life, come on man, it's an allegory!

So, ok, this book isn't for everyone, I guess. But before you criticize it, make sure that you're not missing the point.

Then again, maybe I don't know what the hell I'm talking about. In which case, just ignore me.

I really, really wanted to like this book. I did.. it takes place in the general Western Massachusetts area, near a reservoir I assume is based on the famous Quabbin (the reservoir that replaced towns... the very same one as in the film, "In Dreams"). Unfortunately, I found this book tended to fall a bitflat. I almost feel guilty for giving it just a fair rating, but there were just some things about the book I just didn't like.

-Anderson doesn't use a lot of contractions, and thus the dialogue sounds oddly stilted, especially when you consider it's teens talking.

-Though this book was published in 1997, it would seem as if it had been sitting around a while, or else Anderson has no idea what contemporary teens are like. He rather unfairly stereotypes several background characters as speaking like the great Valley Girl craze of the 80's. In fact, this book almost seems like it's from the 80's.

-At the end, we are suddenly given a second point of view of the vampires,and how they too are oppressed and murdered through hatred. By then, it's far too late. We had just spent the past couple hundred pages witnessing vampires eating flesh and people (most notably in one of the most stomach churning scenes at a vampire church banquet), as well as hearing reports of innocents being slaughtered AND knowing that the vampires worship an evil demon lord. This is hardly the point in the book to try and gain our sympathy, it's just too late.

This is not to say the author lacks potential. Anderson looks to be a very exciting talent, and I do own a copy of Burger Wuss that I am looking forward to reading. The imagination and the story are here, but the execution was a bit flawed, and I never felt drawn into the book or a part of the action. I just felt like I was watching everything happen through a smudged and dirty window.

Once beginning this book, I was surprised to finish it within a week. Most books are boring to me and drag on for months. :-)

I couldn't put this book down. Great elements for a horror, twisted, teenage book. Read this book even if you like powerpuff girls or fruit-salad. (I don't like either).

Read the book.

I'm a little confused at the reviewers who bemoan this book's lack of factual accuracy. Since when have vampires been real? Who are these people?
I thought the book was excellent. Entertaining and thought provoking at once, with lots of great descriptions. I must admit, unlike some of my fellow reviewers I don't believe in vampires. But the physical effects of turning into one were so vividly described it seemed real enough for me.
Probably my favorite thing about the book is how the physical and emotional experiences of turning into a vampire mimic the adolescent experience of turning into an adult. The self doubt and realizing that those around you can be quite cruel - it can be a very painful and confusing time. I think we can all relate to that.

This book is hauntingly dark and realistic while at the same time being satirical and extremely funny in some parts. It is a story describing how sometimes it can be hard to do the right thing, especially when we don't know what the right thing truly is. The way the teenagers in this book are portrayed are so true to life, and even though they are placed in a kind of alternate world in which vampires and other creatures coexist with humans. The lust and pain Chris feels is so wonderfully written, and the dialogue is original and believeable. The end of the book is great because it leaves the reader with things to ponder about. I would recommend this book if you like darker moods and rich fantasy mixed with rich reality, even if you are not a teen.

"It is said that the spirit Tch'muchgar in prehistoric times ravaged the land with an army of darkness, and that his dominion extended over the whole expanse of mountain and forest now covered by the 508 and 413 area codes."

I start with this quote from Thirsty because I think it serves as a good litmus test to determine whether you will like the book or hate it.

If you are entertained by that sentence's juxtaposition of ancient and modern mentalities, I think you'll enjoy this novel's deadpan humor. You will appreciate that M. T. Anderson is taking risks--with style, voice, and setting. You'll probably love his oddly hyperrealistic portrayal of vampires as a banal feature of suburban life ("My father claims we have them this year because it was a mild winter, but he may be thinking of tent caterpillars").

On the other hand, if that sentence leaves you cold, I'm afraid...well, I'll be tactful and say you're not the target audience. Now I'll be untactful and speak my mind: you might be one of those one-star reviewers who just don't get it. Tactful Me would say that this book isn't for everyone. Untactful Me says, if your standard of good fantasy writing is Twilight, you might not be capable of enjoying what this book has to offer. As evidence, may I direct your attention to reviewer James N Simpson, whom you'll find down in the one-star reviews, throwing a tantrum over the lynchings portrayed in the book: "We all know vampire executions don't happen in the USA today." Sir...Please. Don't. Read. Any. More. Fantasy. OK?

If you do like imaginative, original, well-written, well-characterized, intelligent YA fantasy, I urge you to read a sample of Thirsty. You will quickly know which camp you fall into.

Wow, this book was good. For once, I found a book that wasn't completely cheesy. I loved how Chris sticks with his ethics all the way through, assuming he doesn't kill a family member after the book ends. Also, I really liked his confusion on what to do,it's so sweet that he has some crush on someone he couldn't possibly have, and in the end, like in real life, he doesn't always get the girl. I just loved the dramatics in the story, it was filled with a lot of emotion, I don't see that enough in books. Especially the feeling of horror. The ending was abrupt, but I still liked it. It reflected a more realistic view or life.

Wow, this book was good. For once, I found a book that wasn't completely cheesy. I loved how Chris sticks with his ethics all the way through, assuming he doesn't kill a family member after the book ends. Also, I really liked his confusion on what to do,it's so sweet that he has some crush on someone he couldn't possibly have, and in the end, like in real life, he doesn't always get the girl. I just loved the dramatics in the story, it was filled with a lot of emotion, I don't see that enough in books. Especially the feeling of horror. The ending was abrupt, but I still liked it. It reflected a more realistic view or life.