Posts: 1344
From: U.K
Registered: Apr 2009

posted April 16, 2010 07:17 AM         

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Yesterday I went to buy a gift for my niece; she always gets the same thing - a book. This makes her happy, and me too. I did wonder though... what is it with all the vampire books? One strand of this, I know, is that publishers lack imagination and just churn out whatever they think is popular at the time. Another is the book section was not that big. But there was very little available for pre-teen girls that like history or classic fiction or anything that isn't about getting a boyfriend and preferably one who is a vampire. For once boys seem to be getting a better selection of reading material, if you are fine with variations of the theme of bowel movements. Frankly I prefer this topic to vampires, lucky then I have sons not daughters.

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Posts: 1688
From: Australia
Registered: Apr 2009

posted April 16, 2010 07:34 AM         

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Hey bluemoon!! I've been thinking about you!! Are you well? I've missed you being around....

Yes, the vampire thing.... how does something catch on overnight?

Next year, it will be telepathic mutants - or have we already had that?

I guess it satisfies the desire to escape and find answers for that lost soul and the "no-one understands me" dilemma.

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Posts: 537
From:
Registered: May 2009

posted April 16, 2010 07:55 AM         

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The choices don't get much better for older readers either.

But then that's pretty much what's popular on TV, too.

Just try a bookstore (some sell gift certificates, btw) instead of a book section at some general store. Though obviously you shouldn't waste your money if you find she or he is what most everyone else is into.

ETA: Though American-centric, she very well may like AG (American Girl) which are dolls that come with books and movies. But some girls become passionate collectors of these and that gets expensive...especially considering that their interest in it will almost certainly vanish one day. Basically they're dolls & stories of girls from various times in America's history. Tween girls and younger especially love them.

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Posts: 3255
From: Dayton,Ohio USA
Registered: May 2009

posted April 16, 2010 01:30 PM         

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I don't think the vampire theme will ever go out of style completely. It just cycles.

People are fascinated by the idea of staying young and beautiful forever, with the one you love.

Anne Rice did a great job in showing the down side of this... the boredom, the meaningless existance.. but the Twiilight books are not dark, they are more of a romance thing.

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Posts: 1344
From: U.K
Registered: Apr 2009

posted April 16, 2010 01:32 PM         

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Hey Koi, yes doing well, just busy hence not being around here much at the moment.

I don't mind if people want to read about vampires, it's all the same to me, I just needed to let this one out, it's the shopping thing. Specialist bookstore, yes, that's the answer, there just isn't one on the street I was shopping in but next time...

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Posts: 627
From: Nov. 11 2005
Registered: Apr 2009

posted April 16, 2010 06:01 PM         

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I hear you BM- Interesting to know it is raging across the pond as well.
When something is 'hot' a song, book titles, whatever, it is everywhere.

Surprising no one is using the toilet roll yet for adverts. There are green dyes they could use, and handy reading for all.

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Posts: 2794
From: acousticgod@sbcglobal.net
Registered: Apr 2009

posted April 16, 2010 06:18 PM         

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Never been into the idea of vampires myself.

My own vampire-loving Sag friend recommends the film Let The Right One In to those that are into vampires. I haven't seen it yet myself, but I trust his judgment.

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Posts: 55
From: 1,000 feet above sea level - Colorado
Registered: Feb 2010

posted April 19, 2010 06:24 PM         

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Ugh, the vampires. Yup, it definitely does cycle. We need some amazing author to write about how horrible and cruel vampires are so that the masses stop waiting for a blood-sucking prince charming to come and whisk them off. I kid you not, that is what some toddlers believe these days. One actually walked up to Robert Pattinson and asked "Will you bite me?"

And next year, it will be werewolves. Just watch. The year after? Sexy aliens from Venus who somehow look human.

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Posts: 245
From:
Registered: Apr 2009

posted April 19, 2010 09:22 PM         

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Yeah, vampires come in and out of style but there is really always a market. I was fascinated by them as a teen.... 20 years ago.

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