The thing about vampires...

I can't say I'm crazy about vampires, afterall they're blood sucking monsters. But, I do like vampire stories (movies, TV or book). A current character I'm working on, (Sydney McMacken) and I have a similar view on the subject: We dig the movies, but the thought of the ACTUAL vampire coming in the house through a window, scares the pants off us.
I watch True Blood and The Vampire Diaries, and I've read the first couple of Twilight books. Here's the thing I have trouble with: If Vampires are old, like really old, why do they want to be in high school? I mean, if I was 110 ten years old and independently wealthy (ever notice how they have access to large sums of money?), I think the last thing I'd choose to do would be to go to high school. Maybe I'd hit a few good high school parties, but enroll in school, no way. Don't you think they'd be smarter and perhaps more mature than the average teen? Apparently not.
I'm only half-heartedly picking on teen vampire flicks, because while I didn't think New Moon was very good, I've seen it three times. I guess that says something. An added benefit is that each time I see it, it inspires me to write thinking of Stephanie Meyer and all of her wonderful success.

Pirate Latitudes

I just finished a real winner. Pirate Latitudes by the late great Michael Crichton.

You've heard me profess my love for Michael Connelly, but there's another Michael, and I don't mean Jackson. I'm talking Crichton. Disclosure and Congo are two of my all time favs. The fact that Pirate Latitudes was published posthumously fascinates me and drew this pick to the top of my nightstand's pile.

The story behind the story: The novel was discovered on one of Crichton's computers by his assistant after the author's death, along with another unfinished novel which was slated to be published in the fall of 2009, although I don't know what novel this is referring to. It is believed that the book was written concurrently with NEXT.
Other sources revealed that the manuscript for Pirate Latitudes was first written back in the mid/late-1990's when he referenced traveling to Jamaica for insight into an unnamed novel.
The Movie: It is believed that Steven Spielberg plans to adapt the novel to film, reportedly having wanted to make a pirate film and being an admirer of Crichton's work. (He previously adapted the Jurassic Park movies.)
The 411: (From Shvoong.com) The year is 1665. The story starts in the Caribbean where a remote colony of the English Crown, the island of Jamaica holds out against the vast preeminence of the Spanish empire. Its capital, Port Royal, is an aggressive town of taverns, grog shops, and lewd houses. In this sweltering climate there's a living to be made that can end quickly by disease or by switchblade. Captain Charles Hunter believes that gold in Spanish hands is gold for the taking... And thus a treasure hunt in the Caribbean begins.
The recommendation: It's a must-read pirate adventure...rated R.
Personal note: The reading and writing community lost a hero with Crichton's untimely and very sad death. We are lucky to have this last work from him.