Perhaps oddly, vampires are a recurring motif in the story...What do you make of the references to vampires?

Perhaps oddly, vampires are a recurring motif in the story: for example, when A.J.'s wife throws the vampire prom and when A.J. watches True Blood to court Amelia. What do you make of the references to vampires?

I think they were a commentary on modern literature and modern times just like the recurring references to E-Readers. I, for one, am so sick of Vampire books. Twilight, True Blood, I could go on and on......... It's so repetive and formulaic. No imagination or individuality

I thought that maybe the author was commenting on how the publishing industry (and everything else) is filled with vampires. In my former life as a teen librarian, I had one of my teens hold up yet another vampire book and say to me "Are there any authors who have an original idea in their head?" So even young people are aware of how they are being marketed to.

Or maybe Zevin feels that e-books are lifeless and undead, threatening to "real" books? (Donna Chavez)

I think vampires are the current hot topic if you want to write a best seller -- maybe now taking a second place to the proliferation of bondage sex books after the "50 Shades.." phenomenon. I think maybe they are speculating that "real" writers of "good" literature don't usually fall under the spell of hot topics … only hacks.

Zevin has written several YA books, and it seems they all have to contain references to vampires and/or zombies. So I think the vampire references are a carry-over from her YA books. I will be so happy when that fad passes

Vampires have been in literature ever since Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) so it's not new. They are an interesting element, I think, because while they seem all-powerful, they do not have a central power of their own aside from their ability to take it from external sources by force and instilling fear: stealing power from another by drinking their life force, weakness in the setting a strong collective belief symbol like a cross, etc. They also introduce neatly to a story an antagonist who dominates selfishly, victimizes and scars, and exploits another character for their own gain. That's why we feel so satisfied when they are done in!

I thought this was completely gratuitous, an attempt to capture readers who may have gone elsewhere.

I didn't even remember the vampire references until this question. Actually, it's not surprising because I think of Zevin as a YA author. Vampires are still very popular with the YA crowd.

Some of my kids are in the teens to young adult group and they LOVE vampires. Somehow, this one went right over my head. Zevin is in sync with current times.