Buffy, All Grown Up and Kicking Butt in Our Own Backyards

What an amazing book--Julie Kenner's Carpe Demon. I love it for so many reasons, and not just becase it's one of the new books that's written like a chick lit (flawless first person, with an uber-accessable narrative stye), but also because a book finally, FINALLY, addresses the lives of still-hip women (at least, we'd like to think we are), over the age of thirty.

I love that the author spends no time introducing the concept of a vampire slayer to us--we're expected to understand the breed if we've picked up the book, and there are always refuns of Buffy and Angel to educate us, so why waste page time rehashing?

I love that Kate finds being a stay-at-home mom of two energetic kids and wife of an up-an-coming lawyer more of a daily challenge that demon slaying ever was--even when the demons launch themselves back into her life, it's that night's dinner party she's most worried about managing (demons are so not as big a deal). Speak to me, sister!!!

I love that the story is written, though hiply as I mention above, like a made-for-family movie (though there is a good bit of cursing, which in my opinion only adds to the realism of the work...still, for those who don't like that sort of thing beware before you hand it over to your teens): the kids are real, but not dangeraously so; the husband is self-absorbed, but not in a beat-my-wife-if-dinner's-not-on-the-tabe-at-six sort of way; the heroine is harried, but she's our hero so not to worry, she'll manage everything that comes her way; and the demons are scary, but somehow it's always clear from the start that they're going to be sorry for messing up Kate's important dinner (even though we're never sure from scene to scene, exactly how she'll manage (i.e., how will she manage to get that body burried without her dinner guests, or her husand, finding out?). Interesting and unique, Carpe Demon doesn't make me wonder if I'll be up all night after reading another chapter, so I keep reading!

It's escapism, dear readers. Just what I read light paranormal for. Exactly why so many of my generation, and not just our kids, fell for Buffy and Angel. I don't like Horror, but I like a good demon-fight as much as the next surburban mom. And it's well written escapism. Joss Weaton's (did I spell that right???) brilliance with the written word is what made his slayer shows work. You couldn't wait to hear what was going to come out of his characters' mouths next, so you kept watchinge even when his story lines became totally unrealistic. You'll feel the same about Carpe Demon.

So, the comments section is open. I know we are supposed to book chat on Friday's, but the spammers decided today would be best for us (had to wait for everyone to find the new blog).

What do you think--going to find a copy of Carpe Demon and dive in?

Many have written to say they're already fans. Tell us what you liked best.

Oh, and a little birdie shared with me the other day that they're already casting the rolls in the movie that's been optioned from the book--I CAN'T WAIT for this one to to be made into a film!!