Short 2nd Life of Bree Tanner

Stephanie Meyer wrote in this book’s prologue that “no two writers go about things in exactly the same way. We all are inspired and motivated in different ways; we have our own reasons why some characters stay with us while others disappear into a backlog of neglected files.” 
Now, if you have read Eclipse, 3rd book in her bestselling Twilight Saga, you would wonder why did she even bother to write about Bree as we all know her fate in the books. But as Meyer says, some characters just take on a life of its own; and vie for attention. I guess this is what happened to Bree. 

One would have to have read and be familiar with the saga in order to appreciate the novella. Lucky for me, National Glorietta had a major sale and I saw this novella on hardbound and scooped it up. 
Basically this is a short retelling of Bree Tanner and how as part of the newly born vampires who fought the Cullens in Eclipse, she had to learn the hard way about truth, vampire politics and burgeoning attraction, if not love, by way of Diego. 

Both Bree and Diego were part of a coven that Riley, another Vampire made by Cullen nemesis, Victoria, was breeding and training to be part of the group that is to attack Edward and his family. Victoria has an axe to grind with Edward as he killed her Vampire Boyfriend James in Twilight. 

Now, creating and deceiving Riley at the same time to breed an army for her to distract & dispose of the Cullens while focusing all her efforts on Edward and Bella was her plan all along. So, no need to tell Riley the truth and no need for Riley to give details about their “mission” for “her” to these newly born/made vampires and let them wait at her beckon call. Lucky for Diego and Bree, they found each other in all this, but sadly for these two, circumstances kept them apart and they found out about the lies a little too late. 

Oh and which lies were these? 

That Vampires like them will burn in direct exposure to sunlight. Wrong. They won’t for they will only be sparkling like, “disco balls”. That their Coven in Seattle is being threatened by the arrival of the Cullens who were originally from Seattle and they have come back to lay claim and ownership of their turf. Wrong. The Cullens are living a peaceful existence in Forks and have no knowledge of these newborns and have firsthand historical experience how unpredictable and untamed newborns are. That Victoria, who is unnamed to these newborns and only referred to as “her” or “Maker”, is devoted to the newborns welfare. Wrong, of course. She only wants revenge on Edward and on Bella. A eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. In this case, a mate for a mate; Bella for James. 

I’m giving this a meager 3 stars. I liked it but felt Meyer could have done more with it. But perhaps, knowing how Bree’s life fared in the books, why give it your all? Why even bother to tell her tale when according to her it would be just in one of those hidden folders in her hard drive. Had she created another Vampire that lived to tell the tale with the Cullen skirmish and currently is going through their own Vampiric life, then perhaps that would have prompted her to dig a little deeper and paint a more fully envisioned tale; if not spun another one with a darker edge. But since she is writing for the young adult market, I suppose Meyer felt she should adhere to the parameters of that readership as well. 

So, it’s a good thing I am an Anne Rice loyalist and that I am typing this review from my flat in Rue Royale close to Louis and Lestat’s while hearing Violetta’s waltz from La Traviata blaring from Julien Mayfair’s Victrolla as it is turned and wound up by Mona and Lasher up until the wee hours of the morning. 

Viva Lestat!

New Anne Rice Book - October 7, 2008

 

 

I guess it was bound to happen...She needed closure from her Vampire Chronicles & The Lives of the Mayfair Witches as well as  "proper explanation" to her return to the Faith.

My Muse & Goddess of the written word, Anne Rice, is releasing her new memoir, called CALLED OUT OF DARKNESS: A Spiritual Confession. :)

Of course, this Vampire can't wait to get his hands on this one. :)

Happy 2nd Year Anniversary - Anne Rice Philippines

 

Greetings fellow Vamps, Witches, Taltoses, Rowans, Julien and Mona Mayfairs....

 

It's our 2nd year anniversary today and I cannot help but be happy, thankful not to mention grateful for all the love and support that I have received from our group. I remember thinking back then why there seems to be no local representation for Anne and her works here in the country as I was sure that most of us were in hiding.

 

The thought lingered until the 3rd Fantasy/Sci-Fi Convention which was a 2-day event held at the Glorietta activity area. Coming into contact with fellow lovers of the genre and other members (including leaders) of fan based groups, brought out the epiphany and propelled me to start the group via yahoo groups as most of the other organizations have done so.

 

With my fingers pulsing with excitement and enthusiasm I quickly set up the yahoo account for the group and started texting people I knew and also some of my trainees about the group and how my love for Anne led me to what I did.

 

Some would respond and said it they would join, others quickly snatched up the opportunity to be one of the first to sign up while others hovered indecisively and wanted to know more about Anne before doing so. But regardless of the journey and although some would protest that its much more important that the intended destination, our 2 year anniversary is a testament to how much Anne's works are loved, cherished, thought-of, studied and talked about.

 

In time, we became the living embodiment of her words, her characters and how each and every one of them has touched upon our psyche and allowed us to respond and even identify with their quirks and fancies. 2 years after...I wouldn't have thought to sustain it thus far and I have each and ever one of you to thank for it.

 

From listening to my rants...my ideas...my site designs....to how a lot of you came to our defense when we were attacked and then moved on knowing that we are far better than most who choose to detract rather than to contribute. So much and still more will happen in the next year or even next set of 2 years as we mark our anniversary with the accomplishments that we have done and the friends and brethren groups that we have aligned with and come to consider family, like the New Worlds Alliance, Powerbooks.

 

For that and more, I thank you for fuelling my dream and yours.

 

Here's to our 2nd year and more to come....

 

Raise thy glasses in celebration and in recognition....

 

Vamps and Witches, WE rule this day and this night.....

 

 

Love, Blood & Blessings,

 

CAZ

aka. David Talbot

Scribe of the Coven

Thoughts on ROD-Con 2007

            When I heard last year that there would be a reader’s convention this year, I was ecstatic. I was told that it was going to be the first and therefore for bibliophiles like me it was going to be an “event”. Together with that, I was also in the midst of getting “accreditation” with my own book club, “Anne Rice Philippines”. I didn’t think much of it and so these two situations were moving simultaneously as the 2006 was nearing its end.

 

            Fast forward to now, my group has finally gotten the accreditation that I was working on with its recent induction into the New World Alliance and the Reader’s conference was scheduled on the same day as my vampiric gathering at Powerbooks. I was torn between rescheduling the gathering in order to be there. But crestfallen as I was, I was quickly relieved to know that the Read or Die Convention was a two-day event. This meant that I get to my have my cake and eat it two; which is more than most we at times get to have in this life.

 

            Going with 3 members of my Coven on the 2^nd day, the function room of the Intercon in Makati became a room of readers, publishers, enthusiasts and hopefuls. Some were there to rake on possible discounted finds. Some were there to attend and listen to the insightful words of wisdom if not inspiration and harsh realism from several keynote speakers. Some like me just felt they had to be there regardless what the day’s stay would yield and be present for what the event is. Lucky for me, that worked because I got to listen to Filipino author, F.Sionil Jose talk about the value of Literature, as its presence must once more be felt in the educational system and in local society. I got to boost the presence of my group, by setting up Anne’s books in the Alliance table and had two 2 newbies interested to sign-up. Along with that I got some vindication for my group, just the day after our successful gathering, by answering a question about Anne and her works during a Q& A portion and win a free book as well. And when the host announced over the PA system, “Oh, the Anne Rice people are here”, all fatigue and exhaustion from the day before simply evaporated from my system and I was dazed all day long.

 

            Immediately I forgot my earlier complaint of not having enough sleep the week before (then again, when did I ever) but being in the room with like-minded people whose own level of interest, devotion and fanaticism equals your own just made everything complete for me that Sunday and made me care less about what I was whining about earlier and what would non-enthusiasts say about the time I spend in events like these. (I get my share of those as well)

 

 

But for what its worth, I’m glad that I was there. Not just for the group but also for the purpose I have in creating my group in the first place. That is to foster awareness for the benefits of reading. If you had known me growing up, I was never the person who couldn’t leave the house or go out without a book in tow. Heck, I couldn’t even finish a chapter then. When I would carry one back then it was for show. I knew that I liked having a book in my hands but that’s just about it. It was only after being a given a book on my birthday and committing myself to it, did I find it a surprising and rewarding venture.

 

So is this a mission that I have now; a quest to silence the crying of lambs in the cold winter’s night like detective Clarice Starling as each cry of a lamb represents the unsatisfied hunger of a literature-deprived individual? Or is it also because of being a Trainer, I saw and heard with own eyes and ears the startling result of a compromised education compounded with a lack of confidence and surety?

 

I know that there are equally many out there who feels the same way as I do. That if children these days were given the opportunities that our parents gave us, perhaps the next generation of thinkers would become do-ers. That the principles that they espouse be that which both defines and exemplifies their lives which in turn helps and spurns on others to do the same. Henceforth, a ripple effect is thus established.

 

And being thus characterized, who is to say where it begins and where it ends and in what form does it come and go?

 

And so having come to terms with that and with this event having ended, I’m bracing myself for another whirlwind of focused devotion and attention as the Alliance works its butt off for the upcoming 5^th Annual Sci-Fi & Fantasy Convention this coming July.

 

            The cycle has been finished only to yield another one to complete and take its place, pretty much like the ripples in the water.

 

            In short, the work has not ended as it has only begun.

 

            To the CON, my brothers and sisters…