Sabine

I rarely purchase books that I am unfamiliar with ahead of time. However, the fabulous cover art coupled with the synopsis (Teen lesbian obsessed with female teacher at 1950's French boarding school... and vampires?!) proved to be irresistible. I think this book was a great way of spending a few hours. The narrator, seventeen-year-old Viola, reminded me a good deal of Humbert Humbert, one of my favorite literary characters. They both are completely and unnaturally fixated on someone unattainable, constantly speaking in French, and in spite of this I actually find both endearing. The tone of the book also reminded me of Lolita, because a sense of dread pervades both stories; I wanted to keep reading if only to find out how bad things would get. The book is somewhat gothic in feel, and I enjoyed the heady eroticism that lay under the surface; however it is definitely not too graphic. I am not sure why the author chose to use a pseudonym, for the subject matter isn't all that shocking, and the writing is quite good. That brings me to the vampires. My compliments to the author for actually making it all work, and letting the plot come together in a plausible way. From the start to the finish, I enjoyed the novel, and totally recommend it as a little bit of naughty fun.

4 stars being "above average" but nothing extraordinary. In the 1950's, a British, 17 year old girl, Viola, finds obsessive love in one of her French boarding school's teachers... a female teacher (Sabine). Fear not (or lament, depending), there isn't much in the way of graphics. Sabine falls ill and during a gab session with friends (half way through the book), the word vampire is mentioned, in jest. But the idea grabs Viola and soon she's convinced Sabine *is* being bled by a vampire. But no one is going to believe her since vampires don't exist. What's a 17 year old to do? The book has a catchy writing style and some memorable quotes. The ending was, for me, unpredictable.