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The Society of S (Ethical Vampire #1)

by Susan Hubbard (Goodreads Author)

3.43 of 5 stars 3.43 · rating details · 2,252 ratings · 413 reviews

"If you ever want to hide from the world, live in a small city, where everyone seems anonymous."That's the advice of twelve-year-old Ariella Montero, who lives with her father in Saratoga Springs, New York, in a house haunted more by secrets than by memories. "The Society of S" traces her journey south, to Asheville and Savannah, and on to Florida, as she learns that every...more

Hardcover, 304 pages

Published May 1st 2007 by Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group

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Aug 04, 2009 Natalie (Mindful Musings) rated it 3 of 5 stars

So here I present my first review of an audio book! (Cue canned applause)!

The audio book of The Society of S came into my possession by accident. I was shopping online at Barnes and Noble, and saw the book in the bargain section, so I ordered it. When it arrived, I realized that I had accidentally ordered the audio book instead of the hard copy, but I decided to give it a try anyways.

It worked out rather well, and I found that I really enjoyed the change-up in listening to a book instead of read...more So here I present my first review of an audio book! (Cue canned applause)!

The audio book of The Society of S came into my possession by accident. I was shopping online at Barnes and Noble, and saw the book in the bargain section, so I ordered it. When it arrived, I realized that I had accidentally ordered the audio book instead of the hard copy, but I decided to give it a try anyways.

It worked out rather well, and I found that I really enjoyed the change-up in listening to a book instead of reading it.

The Society of S follows the story of young Ariella Montero, who lives with her single father in New York. Ariella’s mother disappeared the day she was born, and many questions remain as to why. Ariella is unusually intelligent for her age, probably a result of having been homeschooled by her father.

Ariella’s is prompted to take a journey to find her mother after a series of mysterious events. On her trip, she goes through many trials associated with coming of age, though the author took a creative liberty and added a supernatural spin on things. Ariella finds out that she is a vampire, and that she can choose to be mortal like her mother, or a vampire like her father. This decision, among many others, drives the action in the novel.

Personally, I really enjoyed The Society of S. Even though the narrator is a young teenager, I feel like this book was written with more mature audiences in mind (not that younger readers wouldn’t enjoy it) because the writing wasn’t the typical super-romantic, angsty writing that usually accompanies teen characters (not that I don’t love that kind of writing!). I felt that the author’s tone voice was unique and had just the right amount of description and imagery. Overall, the book was well-written, and had enough suspense and mystery to keep me turning pages.

As a sidenote, Hubbards has recently released a sequel to this book, called The Year of Disappearances. It’s on my reading list, and I’ll have a review of it once I’ve acquired the book and read it!(less)

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Feb 18, 2008 Carolyn rated it 2 of 5 stars

For a vampire story, it is pretty slow-paced and uneventful in the way I must have been expecting...I was only partially drawn into this story, it's characters somewhat on the bland vs. alluring side, and perhaps underdeveloped as characters one could empathize with.
These vampires can drink scientifically created blood substitutes rather than feeding off of humans, and would like to co-habitate in some sort of harmony.
The focus was on a family unit being split apart when the husband is "vampi...more

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Aug 10, 2007 Lena rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Vampire/society type readers

The story starts off and ends with the journal of a child/preteen girl, that finds out that her father is part of a secret society of vampires called the Sanguists.
Ariella ( the child) has been raised by her father, thinking that her mother is dead. Ariella who is a loner and home schooled by a local lady, eventually makes friends, with the lady's family and starts to bloom into a normal girl.
Ariella starts to notice things about her father and delves into her past. Arielle believes that her m...more

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Jul 16, 2009 Theresa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Theresa by: ...it was on clearance at B&N for $5!

Shelves: audiobooks, fantasy, ya, 2009

On audiobook.

This book was different from what I thought it was going to be... it was intriguing. I have found this series called by two different names: Society of S and Ethical Vampire Novels. I think that the second title is more fitting. The author really put a lot of thought and planning in to creating the world that Ariella "Ari" Montero lives in. This is not a fluffy, YA novel and I enjoyed that it made me think.

I have already picked up the audiobook of the second book, The Year of Disapp ...more

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May 13, 2008 Jackie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: work-review-related-reading, vamps-and-other-paranormal-pleasure

I've read a lot of vampire books--you could say I'm a bit of a connoisseur. So I appreciate a fresh perspective on the idea, which is exactly what Hubbard's book brings. It centers on 13 year old Ariella Montero--delicate and protected from the world by a reclusive father after her mother disappeared shortly after her birth. It's certainly a coming of age story, though this teenager has a few more
things to deal with than your average middle-schooler. She begins to slowly but certainly unravel t...more

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Jul 15, 2010 Mr. Z rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: a-classroom-library, fantasy-mythical-magical, family-life

"Imagine finding the love of your life, then losing him. Yes, people lose their loved ones all the time to war and disease, accidents and murder. But imagine watching your lover change before your eyes, devolve into some other being, and you're powerless to bring him back."

As an 8th grade language arts teacher, I can think of a number of reasons why this vampire series may resonate with readers, especially at the teenage level. "The Society of S" is a story about a teenaged girl, Ari, who is tr...more

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Mar 18, 2009 Courtney rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: g-paranormal, l-i-own, 2008

I wanted this book to be better than it actually was. It has an interesting twist, but the plot is lacking.

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Aug 18, 2012 Selenis rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Selenis by: Marta Mendonça

Tive sentimentos contraditórios sobre este durante a leitura. De início, gostei imenso. A meio, começou a parecer-me que estava a perder-se um pouco. No entanto, voltou a ganhar interesse no fim. Uma perspectiva diferente sobre o assunto, o que não é fácil tendo em conta o tema :D
Obrigada pela dica, Marta :)

I had contradictory feeling while reading this book. At the beginning, I found it really interesting. Then, it seemed to be a bit lost in the middle, but found it's way again towards the end...more

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Dec 21, 2010 Jaz.parks rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

Shelves: must-read, review-reseña, ganado, firmado

Gané el libro en un concurso ;) hace unas tres semanas y llegó a mi casa el miercoles 25/8. Debo decir que desde el momento en el que abrí el paquete y saqué el libro quedé enamoradísima, más aun cuando abro y veo que estaba firmado y DEDICADO para mí (Fue genial)

La lectura de "La Sociedad de la Sangre" es fácil y rápida. A pesar de que he leído más reseñas malas que buenas de este libro a mí me ha parecído buenísimo.
Ariella tiene 13 años y ha vivido toda su vida entre las paredes de la casa qu...more

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Nov 28, 2010 Kristin rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Nov 30, 2007 RJ McGill rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: readers who enjoy vampires, literary fiction, intelligent & refreshing slant on an old theme

Shelves: reviewed

Intellectually provocative and absolutely addictive, Susan Hubbard's The Society of S is an intelligent work of fiction that entertains and stimulates the senses! A modern thriller that brilliantly combines an ingenious and intricately layered plot with a haunting portrait of a young girl faced with the realization that everything she knows about her family is a well fabricated lie.

A beautiful, Victorian mansion, in the heart of Saratoga Spings, New York is home to Ariella Montero and her over-p...more Intellectually provocative and absolutely addictive, Susan Hubbard's The Society of S is an intelligent work of fiction that entertains and stimulates the senses! A modern thriller that brilliantly combines an ingenious and intricately layered plot with a haunting portrait of a young girl faced with the realization that everything she knows about her family is a well fabricated lie.

A beautiful, Victorian mansion, in the heart of Saratoga Spings, New York is home to Ariella Montero and her over-protective, eccentric father. Ariella had been content living in semi-seclusion until she was exposed to life outside the mansion by the housekeeper. As Arie's friendship with the housekeeper's daughter grows, so also do the questions about her life and her place in it. The deeper she delves into her family history she discovers everything she held as truth to be lies. Her father was a vampire, her mother, a mortal...what did this mean? Disappearing after Arie was born, her mother had taken the answers she so desperately needed with her and now Arie had to find her. We follow the young Arie as she journeys throughout the south trying to put this new information about the Society of S into perspective within the confines of her own life. These are not typical vampires, they are seamlessly integrated into mainstream life, day walkers, that are as comfortable with vitamin tonics as the historic counterparts were with sinking fangs into flesh.

While twisting the plot into great knots of emotional complexity, Hubbard has crafted a perfect mix of fascinating detail and provocative dilemma. The lyrical voice utilized throughout adds an exceptional quality to this beautifully written, coming of age story that goes inside the questions that have plagued humanity since the dawn of the world. Hubbard explores these with a refreshing eye for detail and patiently allows the character to fulfill her destiny without rushing the story, nor dragging it out with unnecessary wording. Gorgeous settings immerse the reader in a three dimensional environment, populated by believable, well rounded characters that are filled with the emotion and passion that makes mythology so enticing. The indefinable quality within Hubbard's writing that gives it that extra special zing is simply the fluidity with which the characters interact and how easily the reader becomes a part of their world. Ariella's pursuit of knowledge captures the imagination on a basic human level and takes us on a riveting journey that remains in the heart and mind of the reader long after the book has been closed.

This is a wonderful book, don't miss it! The characters and the story have been shaped with just enough mystery in the clues to allow for a sequel! I hope for at least one more installment from Hubbard revolving around these characters.

Happy Reading!
- RJ

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Feb 26, 2008 Camille rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Camille by: Reader's choice table

It seems like there are a lot of books about reformed vampires been written right now. This is one of them. My favorite books with vampires are still The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. This book was worth the read. The most interesting part about this book was the fact that she was born a vampire rather than created and that she had a choice. That her father kept her in the dark about his nature, and her mother didn't even try to contact them was a little odd, but it all pulled through in the end...more

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Feb 16, 2013 Paperback Princess rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: library, reviewed

Originally posted at Paperback Princess to view in it's entirety pls click here.

This is not your usual vampire story, I'm actually quite sure that Susan Hubbard only added the vampire part of the character just to make it more interesting but it's certainly not the main plot of the book. This is a coming of age story.

The main character, Ariella Montero is a 12 year old who has been brought up and home-schooled by her Father. She knows no one beyond the people that work within her home. Whilst ve...more

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Dec 03, 2012 Jen Blackham rated it 2 of 5 stars

I picked this up in audio format for the long drive during to Disneyland ... if I had been reading this, or even had a backup audiobook, I probably wouldn't have finished it. Now I LOVE vampire tales, and this did have its own approach/background to the traditional lore. But this was more a book of philosophy (a LOT of talk) ... little to no action, not a lot of story ... very slow.

Also - the main quote "If you ever want to hide from the world, live in a small city, where everyone seems anonymou...more

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Dec 20, 2011 Rick rated it 4 of 5 stars

I don't have a clue when I bought this book but I found it in the bookcase and picked it up and started reading. I also don't know why I've not read it before as much as I like this genre. It is an interesting take on the vampire genre, especially considering you sort of know from the beginning but it isn't said until halfway through the book. At first, I didn't know what I'd think but the more I read the more I enjoyed it. It is written in the person of a young teenager's journal but it's writt...more

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Dec 06, 2011 sheen added it · review of another edition

How will you live your life when secrets were kept from you? And only dreams tell you about your real personality at times? What if the secrets began to reveal where reality seems unreal?

Ari (Ariella Montero, the main character) is a twelve year old innocent girl with much on her mind. She had been with her dad who served as her tutor for school in Saratoga Springs. She is so much knowledgeable on everything with regards to literature, history, science and so on… But has a very little experienc...more

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Nov 29, 2011 Maduck831 rated it 2 of 5 stars

“The Germans call it Ohrwurm, or earworm: a song stuck in one’s brain.” (47) “I want you to understand how things ensued, how one thing caused another,” he said. “As Nabokov wrote in his memoir, ‘Let me look at my demon objectively.’” (103) “My father leaned back in his chair. “Why so forlorn, Ari? Russell also called love a source of delight and a source of knowledge. Love requires cooperation, and human ethics are rooted in that cooperation. In its highest form, love reveals values that otherw...more

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Nov 26, 2011 GSGS rated it 3 of 5 stars

I can't make up my mind whether I like this book or not. It was one of the most intelligent books I've read for a while, and the vampires in it were refreshingly different compared to the sparkling crap you usually get, and it had me gripped - I started it six-thirty pm on Friday, had a dream about it that night, and had it finished the following morning. Hubbard sets up questions very cleverly, and you NEED to have them answered. (BTW, I was wikipediaing something she mentions in the book, syne...more

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Sep 09, 2011 Dayan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Es un libro de vampiros. Me leí el primer tomo y lo encontré bueno, yo lo recomendaría, debo decir que jamas deja de mantener en suspenso el libro, y la historia por lo menos da para un segundo libro. El segundo lo tengo se llama El año de las desapariciones. No lo he leído por falta de tiempo, ya que tengo que releer el primero, para no olvidar ningún detalle.La redacción del libro es buena, no aburre, y no se basa en alargar la historia innecesariamente. En mi opinión hasta el momento esta es...more

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Jul 29, 2011 Kara rated it 4 of 5 stars

I don't know why this keeps getting grouped in with Twilight because it's a very different kind of story - and by that I mean The Society of S actually has a positive message for girls. Sure they are both young adult books about vampires. But that's where the similarity ends. The protagonist, 13 year-old Ariella, is intelligent, curious, self-possessed, and sympathetic. It's a classic coming of age story about a girl trying to understand who is she and where she comes from. There is a small sub-...more

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Feb 11, 2011 Iamthez rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen

My roommate loves teenage vampire books, and I'm usually wary of them because they're just so formulaic: girl is fantastic and underappreciated, untimely death in the family, new relatives step in, sudden sekrit amazing magic powers, crazy adventures ensue, girl happy with new powerz and lives happily ever after.

This time, I decided to try when she described it as 'slow with nothing really happening but still good'. I have to say, it's an apt description. It's a basic coming-of-age story, that j...more

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Jan 09, 2011 Cynthia Cene rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In The Society of S Ariella Montero is a young girl who has had a sheltered life. She doesn't know who here mother is and has no friends. Then one day things start to change for her. She makes a friend, has her first kiss, and finds out a secret about her father. Things start to take a turn for the worst for Ariella. Her best friend is murdered, she takes off to find her mother, and someone is watching her.

The Year of Disappearance Ariella Montero is now with her mother. She starts to see a weir...more

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Oct 24, 2010 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. All three books from this series were great it was an interesting new point of view for vampires and I've read a ton of vampire books and series so I know the difference the idea the author presents in this series of them co-existing with humans in a way of being able to use substitutions for blood is amazing I think it's brillant and you need to be patient and an open minded to enjoy these books other wise don't bother reading them. From the comments I read the negative comments were so incorre...more

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Jun 18, 2010 Rachael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ariella Montero isn’t like other thirteen-year-old girls. She’s spent most of her life sheltered in a large Victorian mansion in Saratoga Springs, and the only people she has regular interaction with include her father, a family friend named Dennis, and the housekeeper Mrs. McGarritt. While Ari can clearly understand great works of literature thanks to her classical education, she’s not in touch with the real world until she makes her first friend. But just as Ari is getting used to her new life...more Ariella Montero isn’t like other thirteen-year-old girls. She’s spent most of her life sheltered in a large Victorian mansion in Saratoga Springs, and the only people she has regular interaction with include her father, a family friend named Dennis, and the housekeeper Mrs. McGarritt. While Ari can clearly understand great works of literature thanks to her classical education, she’s not in touch with the real world until she makes her first friend. But just as Ari is getting used to her new life, a series of secrets and revelations send it spinning out of control once more. When Ari’s best friend is murdered, Ari no longer knows what to do, so she runs away to find her mother who disappeared the day Ari was born. What Ari finds is adventure, danger, and possibly the truth.

The Society of S is certainly one of the most singular and complex vampire stories I’ve ever read. The young age of protagonist Ari makes it seem like this is a YA novel; however, Hubbard’s detailed writing, Ari’s precocity and maturity, and the many layers to this story will appeal to the adult audient as well. If you asked me what stood out to me in this novel, I probably couldn’t tell you. All the elements of this story by themselves are rather ordinary: the characters are mysterious but realistic enough, the plot isn’t boring but all major action is downplayed, and the vampire angle is present throughout most of the book but isn’t overdone. When all of these pieces are put together, however, the effect is great and you get such a unique story like The Society of S. I was really drawn into Ari’s story due to a combination of all these aforementioned details and can’t wait to read the rest of the trilogy.

Readers who enjoyed Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer, Firespell by Chloe Neill, and Twilight by Stephenie Meyer will enjoy The Society of S even if it’s not completely action packed. I look forward to reading this novel’s sequels, The Year of Disappearances and The Season of Risks.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com (less)

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Mar 29, 2010 Hind rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: vampires-and-other-creepies

Creepy, psychological, turning-of-age mystery – could not put it down
Mythology: Beautiful, immortal vamps; mind-reading; no fangs and do not need to subsist on blood since science has found the minerals/ingredients elsewhere; invisibility.

Bella Scale: -10 Bellas. Ariella is smart, proactive and intuitive. When things start to fall apart, she takes action.

This is the first vamp book that creeped me out when I read it at night. In parts, the first half of the book is very dark and gothic: lots of...more

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Jan 13, 2010 Fiendishly Bookish rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: y-a-paranormal, vampiregeneral

In a surprising deviation from conventional vampire lore, Susan Hubbard has created a coming of age novel that is elegantly written and lingers long after the last page has turned. But if readers are expecting the typical tale of lusty vampires mired in melancholia, then the unraveling journey of young Ariella Montero might prove a bit tame.

The Society of S evolves meticulously to chronicle the quest of 13-year-old Ariella who endeavors to solve the mystery surrounding the disappearance of her...more In a surprising deviation from conventional vampire lore, Susan Hubbard has created a coming of age novel that is elegantly written and lingers long after the last page has turned. But if readers are expecting the typical tale of lusty vampires mired in melancholia, then the unraveling journey of young Ariella Montero might prove a bit tame.

The Society of S evolves meticulously to chronicle the quest of 13-year-old Ariella who endeavors to solve the mystery surrounding the disappearance of her mother. But every clue brings her closer to discovering her own true nature-an identity that her father has strangely suppressed.

Issues begin to plague her beyond normal teenage angst-why is her mirror image always skewed? Why can't her father be photographed? Why is she always anemic? Who is watching her in the shadows? What is going on in the basement with her father's research with Seradrone? Something is churning in the depths of her that she doesn't recognize-something not entirely human. And it wants out.

As these permutations unveil in their gloomy Saratoga Springs manse, her research scientist father observes the ultimate experiment in his daughter, with a curious detached fascination-determined that nature take its course without interference. Has he begat a predator, a distinctive "other", or an ordinary mortal?

Hubbard cautiously skirts around the issue, as if not ready to let go of the secret of Ariella and her father. There is no exclamatory "a ha!" once the secret is revealed. Strangely devoid of the passion that makes vampire mythology so enticing, Hubbard engages in subtlety. There are no vampires morphing into bats, or lashing out in dramatic fights with antique Valenciennes lace at their necks.

While it may not be a "Hollywood" or "Bram Stoker" vision, or even resemble anything closely to Anne Rice, the Society of S begs to challenge the reader by analyzing what it means to be immortal through the eyes of literature. Clearly the pursuit of knowledge is the theme throughout the book and a worthy occupation for the undead.

Readers will be strangely riveted by Hubbard's take on the modern vampire, despite the apparent mundane suburban feel within the fabric of the plot. But the novel captures an indefinable something that makes it appealing as well. Worth the read to discover that the journey is just as important as the destination.Copyright(c)Nicola Mattos
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Dec 06, 2009 Donna rated it 1 of 5 stars

Environmentalist vampires. That sounded, well, interesting to say the least. The real selling point, though? The hardcover was $5 on the Barnes and Noble bargain rack. Can’t beat that! And I have to say, thank whatever god may exist that that’s all I paid for it. I would have been peeved if it cost any more.

I must have missed the “literary” note in the jacket flap (I skim, it’s highly likely) but, even then, I don’t think the writing in this was good enough to be deemed literary. Not that I thin...more Environmentalist vampires. That sounded, well, interesting to say the least. The real selling point, though? The hardcover was $5 on the Barnes and Noble bargain rack. Can’t beat that! And I have to say, thank whatever god may exist that that’s all I paid for it. I would have been peeved if it cost any more.

I must have missed the “literary” note in the jacket flap (I skim, it’s highly likely) but, even then, I don’t think the writing in this was good enough to be deemed literary. Not that I think literary is bad, but I would have expected something other than the hype the jacket flap was offering if I had seen that note. This is the second book where I was swayed by the flap and it thoroughly let me down (regardless of my missing the “literary” point).
First off, that very first line in the blurb completely bugs me even as I type this because it’s entirely backwards. Considering that statement is coming from a girl who’s been sheltered her entire life, it’s fitting that she doesn’t know what she’s talking about but since it’s a running motif, it’s bugging me even more. Anonymity doesn’t come in anything small, small cities, small towns, nothing where people can be a little too close. Anonymity comes in major cities because no one gives a damn.

Ariella’s journey (and this is not YA, despite the age of the MC) doesn’t start until a little more than halfway into the book (that would be around page 150). Seriously. Everything up until that point is backstory and a pretty pointless lead-up to get her out of the house. It really bothers me when authors use their writing to display just how smart they know they are and this is a prime example of that. The absolutely needless knowledge (not to mention stilted dialogue and inner thoughts) this child has is obviously just a means to express to the reader just how much the author knows, thinly disguised by Ariella’s sheltered and “formal” upbringing by a father with a very prominent stick up his butt.

The whole notion of the Society of S is first mentioned even further into the book and is nothing more than a passing note. I’ll admit, the notion of environmentalist vampires, as explained by the story, makes sense. They’re going to be around for a while so of course they’d want a stake (har har) in the caring for the planet. Really, it does make perfect sense. Too bad, unlike the flap makes it out to be, it’s really just a speck in this rambling smart dump of literature, science and all things unimportant.

The author skims over action in favor of telling. She’s way too concerned with showing the enormously stilted voice of this girl by pumping her own mind into the book and leaving plot and relevance by the wayside. This novel is a prime example of what too much telling can do to a work. I never really got into Ariella’s head, not really. I was told her reactions to things like killing her would-be rapist or to the death of her friend but I wasn’t shown any of it. I felt like I was just kind of hovering over a scene being played out by a bunch of mechanical actors going through the motions until they got to the end.

Being able to see words and letters in colors (using a word that I just can’t get my tongue around) is also a pointless running motif in the story. I have no idea why it’s in there. The notion that the letter S carries weight and allows Ariella to find her mother carries much greater weight but is overshadowed by being able to see colors. I’m still failing to see the point in that other than yet another means for the author to show how much she knows about this rare aspect of humans. Really, it’s pointless. If the concept were removed entirely it would do nothing to the skeleton plot.

The voices of this novel blend into one lump of combined characters. Ariella sounds like her father who sounds like her mother who sounds like every other person present in the story. All of the dialogue was just as stilted, all the information was just as meaningless, all the action was just as flat and emotionless which just made the story as a whole completely empty and devoid of life. I found the actions of this young girl completely unrealistic and she acted the robot the author portrayed her as although I have a strong feeling that wasn’t intentional.

In terms of mystery, there is none. I don’t think there's a single suspenseful sentence let alone an entire novel here filled with mystery, if this book is anything to go by. Suspense and mystery involves something other than brain dumping. It involves character, emotion, life; everything this book is lacking. Unless it's been redefined and I didn't get the memo.

This is a lifeless story that’s constantly on the brink of moralizing and teaching the reader the ills of living one way or another. I don’t want to read that when I’m reading a work of fiction. I don’t give a poo about the authors views on things. If she wants to portray her opinion on such things, do it in an essay, not disguised as a work of fiction. The novel is emotionally void, lifeless and lacks character to the extreme. It falls as limp as overcooked asparagus. It reads like eating a rice cake–it doesn’t necessarily taste good but it’s something even though it’s hardly more substantial than eating nothing.

I’ve honestly never read a more lifeless, empty book. Maybe you can chalk it up to the fact that I’m not too big of a fan of literary work (the high stuff, anyway), or that I’m not this book’s target demographic. Fair enough. But I do know enough about what I’m reading to see the gaping void this book is causing and the limp writing involved between the two covers. It’s almost like the author didn’t want people to get sucked into the story (contrary to what the flap says) but just to have them sit there while they’re talked at. That’s not how I like to spend my time reading.(less)

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Sep 25, 2009 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Peringatan awal : mestipun buku ini dibalut dengan karakter vampir, kekentalan suasana daerah selatan USA, dan keberadaan review literature sastra Inggris, namun pada dasarnya buku ini hanyalah buku cerita "cinta" biasa.

Hal yang cukup "menjengkelkan" dari buku ini hanyalah banyaknya cuplikan isi literature sastra Inggris di dalam buku ini. Bagi mahasiswa atau sarjana sastra Inggris (atau bahkan penggemarnya!), mungkin kondisi ini akan menyenangkan karena mereka memahami karakter karya pengarang-...more Peringatan awal : mestipun buku ini dibalut dengan karakter vampir, kekentalan suasana daerah selatan USA, dan keberadaan review literature sastra Inggris, namun pada dasarnya buku ini hanyalah buku cerita "cinta" biasa.

Hal yang cukup "menjengkelkan" dari buku ini hanyalah banyaknya cuplikan isi literature sastra Inggris di dalam buku ini. Bagi mahasiswa atau sarjana sastra Inggris (atau bahkan penggemarnya!), mungkin kondisi ini akan menyenangkan karena mereka memahami karakter karya pengarang-pengarang yang disebutkan dalam buku ini, seperti Poe dan lain-lainnya. Namun bagi saya yang pengetahuan tentang sastra Inggris hanya terbatas pada karangan Agatha Christie atau Shakespeare (terutama hanya edisi populernya saja.. hehehehe..), tentu saja cuplikan-cuplikan tersebut cukup "mengganggu" terutama karena tidak begitu mempengaruhi alur ceritanya.

Jadinya secara kualitas cerita, buku ini agak "nanggung". Cerita cintanya tidak dikupas dengan baik. Bahkan vampir dalam buku ini juga "nanggung". Tidak sama dengan ciri-ciri vampir "tradisional" lain yg kita kenal, mestipun harus diakui sejak adanya "Twilight" karakter vampir telah dimodernisasi sedemikian rupa sehingga mempunyai kemampuan-kemampuan yg lebih bila dibandingkan, misalnya, dengan Lestat dalam "Interview with the Vampire"-nya Anne Rice. Namun, hei.. inilah keuntungannya jadi pengarang.. bisa bertindak "sesuka hati" menciptakan karakter-karakter mereka. Jadi terima ajalah...

Nah.... Diatas adalah segala "kekurangan" buku ini. Namun, di balik itu semua, entah mengapa gaya bercerita Susan Hubbard mampu menghipnotis saya sehingga tidak mudah bagi saya untuk meletakkan buku ini bila belum selesai membacanya. Memang tidak ada nilai lebih yang bisa saya dapat (kecuali anjuran untuk selalu memakai tabir surya, baik bagi vampir maupun manusia! Hehehehe...), namun entah mengapa caranya bercerita enak untuk diikuti. Entahlah. Paling tidak, inilah salah satu "keahlian" si pengarang sehingga mampu "menyihir" para pembacanya untuk terus menerus membaca. Harus diakui, tidak semua pengarang mempunyai keahlian ini. Untuk itu, Susan Hubbard perlu mendapat acungan jempol. (less)

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Jul 05, 2009 Thomas rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror, literary

Every so often, I’ll have a book come in to the library, and I’ll have no idea why I put it on hold. I know my own tastes, though, and I figure there must have been a good reason I put it on hold, so I just start reading it. I don’t refer to the dust jacket to refresh my memory; I want to be wowed by the story, without having to wait for certain elements of the story to arrive, since I know they’re going to happen. Eventually.

With The Society of S, this was a great idea, since the details that t...more Every so often, I’ll have a book come in to the library, and I’ll have no idea why I put it on hold. I know my own tastes, though, and I figure there must have been a good reason I put it on hold, so I just start reading it. I don’t refer to the dust jacket to refresh my memory; I want to be wowed by the story, without having to wait for certain elements of the story to arrive, since I know they’re going to happen. Eventually.

With The Society of S, this was a great idea, since the details that the dust jacket reveals don’t become apparent in the story until about a third of the way through the novel. Oh, it’s suggested and emphasized within the story, which is, at its core, a coming-of-age story about a lonely, isolated girl, but there’s always that lingering doubt that makes you wonder exactly where the author is taking you, and it’s a nice surprise too figure out that you were right. I like being surprised by stories, which is part of the reason that I tend to ignore any information about movies I want to see (including trailers). I’ve had stories spoiled for me too many times to want to know anything more than “I want to see (or read) that.”

So, that begs the question: Do I tell you, or let you figure it out for yourself? You could easily read the dust jacket yourself, when you have the book in your hands, so I’ll let you decide. Needless to say, though, the first half of this novel is a fine example of a Gothic novel, since the atmosphere of the story becomes a character by itself. It reminded me a little of The Thirteenth Tale, because the story is set in modern times, but the style and setting of the novel is anachronistic enough to make you forget this until something modern intrudes. Where The Thirteenth Tale, though, maintains the atmosphere, Hubbard lets it go after the first half of the novel and takes the story in a totally different direction. It gets too strange, and too coincidental, and devolves into a standard suspense tale with little direction.

The antagonist doesn’t really reveal himself until the final third of the chapter, and the resulting conflict with the protagonists seems forced and hurried. The resolution seems too easy, though I have to say, the author avoids cliches with her ending. There are also some truly strange aspects of the story that threw me right out of the story from time to time, and I think the reader is supposed to accept those oddities as normal, based on what we learn about the main characters. For me, though, it was too “out there” for me to accept.

Hubbard seems to be a fine enough writer, especially in the way that she captures the atmosphere of the story. Her plotting seems to leave a bit to be desired, but then again, I expect a lot out of my fiction. I read too much and have too many other books I want to read, to waste time on stories that are unsatisfying. If you like Gothic novels, then you should check it out; if you’re more interested in the story because of what the dustjacket tells you, though, you might be better off finding another novel of that type instead.(less)

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Sep 18, 2011 Patrick Neylan rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, supernatural

A girl is brought up alone by her mysterious, intellectual, over-protective father. Gradually she discovers more about his vampire past and the strange fate of her mother, who disappeared soon after she was born. Eventually she sets off in search of both her parents, coming face to face with her own vampire heritage on the way. Yes, this is the plot of Elizabeth Kostova's 2005 novel The Historian. It is also the plot of The Society Of S, a light, easy-reading version for teenage girls.

Hubbard ha...more A girl is brought up alone by her mysterious, intellectual, over-protective father. Gradually she discovers more about his vampire past and the strange fate of her mother, who disappeared soon after she was born. Eventually she sets off in search of both her parents, coming face to face with her own vampire heritage on the way. Yes, this is the plot of Elizabeth Kostova's 2005 novel The Historian. It is also the plot of The Society Of S, a light, easy-reading version for teenage girls.

Hubbard has won awards for short stories, so coming up with a plot of her own shouldn't have been a problem. But the very obvious parallels with a recent bestseller which she surely had read do cast a shadow over what is otherwise a reasonably enjoyable bit of fluff.

Unlike The Historian, there is no intellectual depth to this book and it should not be too taxing for its teenage readership. However, Hubbard does follow the present literary fashion for intellectual show-boating, including reams of arcane facts that have no relevance to the plot and can be rather irritating at times. None of it seems to serve any purpose, except as a contrast to the New Age nonsense spouted by the mother later on. Umberto Eco and Donna Tartt, who carried off the same trick with a lot more panache, have got a lot to answer for.

Take this example: "I had read selected chapters of the Bible, Quran, Kabbalah, Tao Te Ching, Bhagavad Gita, the writings of Lao-Tse - but I had read all of them as literature or philosophy, and my father and I discussed them as such... Every Friday, my father asked me to summarize the various lessons of the week: history, philosophy, mathematics, literature, the sciences, art. Then he would synthesize my summaries, finding patterns an parallels and symmetries that often dazzled me. Sadly, few minds are capable of such thinking and such articulation. ...Yes, I'll get back to my story now." Oddly, the word "pretentious" does not appear anywhere in the book.

Yet despite its many flaws and its laughable intellectual pretensions, the book rattles along at an easy pace, even if very little happens in the first half. It will please teenagers (mostly girls) who are looking to graduate to grown-up books, though it lacks the gravitas to satisfy adults (unless you are the sort of adult who reads Harry Potter, and that need not be an insult).

It ends rather messily - I thought it was building up to a delicious plot twist that never materialised, and the characters just seem to drift away. I got the feeling that Hubbard was hedging her bets, leaving the door open for a sequel and thereby compromising the work in hand. (less)

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About Susan Hubbard

Susan Hubbard, born in upstate New York, is the author of two collections of short fiction, both winners of national prizes, and four novels. The Society of S was published in May 2007 by Simon & Schuster, and The Year of Disappearances, a sequel, was released in May 2008. The U.S. paperback edition of The Year of Disappearances was published in 2009.
The third volume in the Ethical Vampire ser...more

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The Year of Disappearances (Ethical Vampire, #2)

The Season of Risks (Ethical Vampire #3)

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“My father was right: people are always leaving. They fall in and out of your life like shadows.” — 4 people liked it

“In practicing the art of confusion, there is no better weapon than poetry.” — 2 people liked it

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