Published in 2005. 312 pages.
First line: After a year of hunting, I finally caught up with Sarah.
Plot summary (from the Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data): Cal Thompson is a carrier of a parasite that causes vampirism, and must hunt down all of the girlfriends he has unknowingly infected.
Why I read this book: I put Peeps on my to-read list a while ago, after my now 19-year-old daughter recommended it to me and I picked it up via BookMooch. Because I needed four more books published in 2005 for the Countdown Challenge, I decided now was the right time to read it.
A few random thoughts: This is a very readable sci-fi novel that combines science with myth in a plausible manner. The book alternates between chapters that move the plot forward and chapters that explain some of the science of parasites. With its 19-year-old protagonist, I think the book skews toward the upper end of the young adult age continuum - and it certainly entertained me as an adult. I thought of Will Smith in I Am Legend a few times as I read about Cal's hunting trips.
What Scott Westerfeld said about Peeps on his website: "Some days you wake up, and you just have to write a vampire novel." (Read more here.)
From the peanut gallery: My 14-year-old book-loving daughter says, "Creative take on the stereotypical vampire. But it freaked. Me. Out."
2010.61
Me at Yallfest!
1 week ago
I've read a bunch of Scott Westerfeld books and this was my least favorite of the bunch. I mean, I thought it was okay, but just not as great as the others!
ReplyDeleteSuey: The only others I've read are Uglies, Pretties, and Specials. I really loved Uglies! What others of his would you recommend?
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed The Midnighters series...at least I think that's what it's called! They are The Secret Hour, Touching Darkness and Blue Noon.
ReplyDeletePlus his new series which starts with Leviathan, and the next one just came out called Behemoth. So very unique and clever.
I haven't read any of Westerfeld's works. I hope to fix this one day.
ReplyDeleteSuey: My 19yo daughter says she recommends The Midnighters series too. I actually have Leviathan - it was a Christmas gift - but I haven't read it yet.
ReplyDeleteAlice: Yes, you should fix that! :)