<![CDATA[Vampire Vow]]>

false <![CDATA[Vampire Vow]]> http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1176595142m/638786.jpg 638786 1 Michael Schiefelbein, after spending ten years studying for the priesthood, graduated from the University of Maryland with a doctorate in English. He is a professor of writing and literature in Memphis, TN.An interview with Michael Schiefelbein author of Vampire Vow"I wanted Jesus. That's how it started. Yes, the Jesus they built a religion on, the one they say rose from the dead."With this opening sentence, it becomes immediately clear that this is not a typical novel, and by the time you have raced through the remaining 213 blood-soaked, terrifying pages, it is clear that Vampire Vow is not a typical vampire novel either.Victor Decimus is perhaps the most horrifyingly amoral creature of the night ever created, and yet in Michael Schiefelbein's skilled hands he is almost as attractive as he is repellent. Combining sex, religion, and blood lust is a tricky business and not for the faint of heart, but as we discovered from our conversation with Vampire Vow author Michael Schiefelbein, he knows whereof he speaks:Alyson: Your novel violates quite a few taboos-the sex-religion combination, the subject of Jesus' sexuality, vampires and Jesus-I mean, you have a man falling in love with Jesus and becoming a vampire to spite him. Are you nervous about reactions?Michael Schiefelbein: Like crosses burning on my lawn? The thought has crossed my mind, especially here in the Bible Belt. But I strongly believe in a real, human Jesus who might have been gay. Who knows? And to me, the ultimate tribute you can pay someone is to desire him, body and soul. In terms of sex in the novel, it's appropriate. Victor, the protagonist, is a ruthless, passionate Roman guard who uses sex to assert his power. He's not admirable for that, but his fury with depictions of Jesus as otherworldly and asexual is justified. Victor certainly exploits the Church by posing as a monk and pretending to play according to the monastery's rules. But he also brings some flesh and blood-no pun intended-into spirituality.Alyson: So the idea of Jesus as a lover isn't blasphemous to you?MS: Some of the great Christian mystics saw him that way-St. John of the C 625005 1 7 2001 Vampire Vow total:46|5:6|4:9|3:17|2:10|1:4| 46 141 88 6 4 0 false false Sat Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Jun 05 21:40:02 -0700 2009 Sat Jun 06 08:47:01 -0700 2009 3 0 true false Sun Sep 07 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Wed Sep 03 11:16:40 -0700 2008 Sun Sep 07 08:08:52 -0700 2008
The main character is unlikable. He's learned nothing in 2000 years--nor...more...]]> 5 0 false false Mon May 18 13:54:49 -0700 2009 Wed Jul 01 10:29:04 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Wed Sep 19 10:06:00 -0700 2007 Wed Sep 19 10:22:08 -0700 2007 more...]]> 2 0 false false Fri Oct 05 13:19:21 -0700 2007 Fri Oct 05 13:22:05 -0700 2007 1 0 false false Wed Aug 01 21:18:38 -0700 2007 Wed Aug 01 21:18:52 -0700 2007 3 0 false false Tue Nov 24 07:00:29 -0800 2009 Tue Nov 24 07:00:29 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Sun Nov 22 15:06:37 -0800 2009 Sun Nov 22 15:06:37 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Sat Nov 21 21:14:33 -0800 2009 Sat Nov 21 21:14:33 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Tue Nov 17 08:32:28 -0800 2009 Tue Nov 17 08:32:28 -0800 2009 5 0 false false Mon Nov 16 19:31:56 -0800 2009 Mon Nov 16 19:31:56 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Sun Nov 15 23:00:42 -0800 2009 Sun Nov 15 23:00:42 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Sun Nov 15 12:54:02 -0800 2009 Sun Nov 15 12:54:02 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Sat Nov 14 22:52:02 -0800 2009 Sat Nov 14 22:52:02 -0800 2009 4 0 false false Wed Nov 04 21:22:17 -0800 2009 Wed Nov 04 21:22:17 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Tue Nov 03 22:30:49 -0800 2009 Wed Nov 04 19:19:33 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Tue Oct 27 21:40:16 -0700 2009 Tue Oct 27 21:40:16 -0700 2009 2 0 false false Thu Oct 22 12:53:21 -0700 2009 Wed Oct 21 14:56:40 -0700 2009 Thu Oct 22 12:53:21 -0700 2009 2 0 false false Tue Oct 20 22:45:32 -0700 2009 Tue Oct 20 22:45:32 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Fri Oct 16 18:31:39 -0700 2009 Mon Oct 26 05:33:15 -0700 2009 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=638786