Summer Reading #1
Joann Sfar's recent graphic novel, Vampire Loves, introduces readers to the life and loves of Ferdinand the vampire, a rather unlikely bloodsucker, sucker of blood, he that thirsteth after blood. While true that Ferdinand shares a resemblance to Nosferatu (he, too, is greyish-purple, bald, and sports pointy ears), he is something of an awkward and aloof vampire, content to watch the bull ride by, rather than to take it by the horns. It's not that he's inactive or dull at all. In fact, life and lifeforms of all kinds (phantoms, ents, humans, etc.) find him, fall in love with him, and compel him to battle mummies, capture murderers, appease crying golems, go dancing*--and--kiss kiss kiss kiss. KISSSSSS.
We could easily tsk Ferdinand's flighty approach to life and love, but we never do. Ferdinand does have a conscience (a little green blob that occasionally floats around his head) ... and so we might be tempted to think that he has moral fiber, soul, good sense, discretion. Yet that's not what keeps us from passing judgment on him. Indeed, Ferdinand never poses as one of those bleeding heart vampires whose foolish behavior we can pity or forgive; and, more to the point, he loses his conscience about three-quarters of the way through the book to a lisping monster determined to make a meal out of him--and he's still the same Ferdinand, stumbling playfully through life. And that's the thing: What makes Ferdinand so irresistable is that he's so incredibly ... human. We've probably been him ... and, at one point or another, we've also probably been those phantoms, ents, and humans that choose to love him ... or leave him. Rather than serving as a metaphor for some vague aspect of humanity as many vampires do, Ferdinand plays out his humanity. Day by day, come what may. Unlucky in love, perhaps. Some hurt feeling, certainly. But he moves forward, without regret, or lessons learned, or tra la la la now what? even.
He does miss his mommy. There IS that ...
In any case, you should read this book because it's sweet, charming, funny, and incredibly smart. It's one of those books that you read when you feel like you need something that might untangle the jumble of feelings you have inside ... and one of those books that, upon reading, makes you feel just a little annoyed, but mostly overjoyed and relieved, because you realize that the jumble of feelings inside you makes perfect sense, just as it is.
*Yes, of COURSE, going dancing is as weird a thing as battling mummies!
