Welcome to Litsy!

Mexico. Slow burn start. The fairly tame beginnings veered into brutality and depravity around the midway point. The ending felt like careening off a cliff. Shocked. Disturbed. Repulsed. And yet....the story failed to thrill me.

Perhaps reading so slowly left me too much time to ponder what I wished I knew rather than focus on what was laid out before me? The characters never felt more than pieces being moved through a preordained plot. #40for40

I nodded to indicate that I was happy to be of service.
"Can I get you something to drink?" he added right away.
"Perhaps a little red wine," I accepted out of politeness, "if you'll be joining me."
"I never drink," said the Count, with a theatrical pause, "wine."

☠️

Trying a new book and a new coffee shop tonight 📖 ☕

Not too good. The language and ironic look at Mexican society is great but the ghoulish images and sexualization of little girls at the end is disturbing and seems to have no purpose but to shock. The end is not convincing and the portrayal of the wife in the story is shallow and follows the stereotype of “women can‘t be fathomed “ also, according to the wife, Mexican ladies prefer men that can hurt them. Disappointing

My next audio book after finishing the return of the king. I got the Spanish audio version so I will be even more scared!!! Also I figured the swearing will be more satisfying 😏.
The English version is available in the USA

Vlad the Impaler is still "alive" & well & moving into modern-day Mexico City. We meet lawyer Yves & his real estate agent wife Asuncion, who are exactly what Vlad needs to settle into his new hometown. It isn't totally fresh, but it's interesting how Fuentes sees Vlad today. This was a short but good addition to the myth of Vlad/Dracula.

#FoodAndLit #Mexico @Butterfinger @Texreader @CatsAndBooks November #Bookspinbingo Free box @TheAromaofBooks

I never liked Dracula. Why would I like a Dracula re-telling?

More importantly why do I keep doing this to myself?

Carlos Fuentes is obviously a good writer but this one was not for me.

#Scarathlon2020 #teamharkness @StayCurious

#TBRtemptation post 2! This is a short novel, I'm surprised it's not called a novella. Where is a modern-day vampire to roost? Why not Mexico City, populated by 10 million blood sausages where the cops won't notice or mind a few of them disappearing? Vlad ("the Impaler") must find new turf after a life--err, afterlife--long spent in Eastern Europe. He needs a lawyer & a real estate agent, & he's found a perfect family. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook ?