Book Rec: Bareback/Benighted by Kit Whitfield

[wonderbink.livejournal.com]

Who knew that my guilty pleasure for fandom wank would lead me to such a great book?

So, I was reading some literary wankness and came across the blog of one Kit Whitfield, Ms. Whitfield being one of the voices of sanity.

Her debut novel is subject to US/UK quirkiness in title, much like the first Harry Potter book. In the UK, the novel is called Bareback; in the US, it's called Benighted.

The book is, much like LKH, set in a universe Slightly Different From Ours. In this case, not only do werewolves exist, they are the majority of the population. Each full moon, most folks lock themselves up for the night, while the 'barebacks' who are not subject to lycanthropy have to watch the streets and bring in those who break curfew.

The execution is a breath of fresh air after enduring LKHs plotless sexfest crap. I could wax rhapsodic for days about how much this book rocks and how many ways this is unlike what the Anita Blake series has become, but I just stayed up way past my bedtime getting to the end and I really need to go to bed now.

Just . . . buy this book. You will not regret it if you are a fan of great writing, actual plotting and worlds where things are not always pretty in a genuinely grown-up way.

Comments

[fizzylizard.livejournal.com]

I've read that book, and heartily second the recommendation.

[justacrazygirl.livejournal.com]

I picked this book up at the library and was honestly glad I hadn't paid money for it. I thought it dragged horribly, the language was stilted, and overall it was just a very odd, not very interesting read.

[wonderbink.livejournal.com]

YMMV, obviously. Some people might find the protagonist a little difficult to spend time with, for example, because she goes through the whole book with a chip on her shoulder the size of Manhattan. But, in a way, that's one of the things I liked about it--that she was decidedly imperfect.

It's more of a murder mystery (in a loose sense) with werewolves in it than a werewolf book with a murder mystery in it, if that makes any sense.

[justacrazygirl.livejournal.com]

I did think the overall story of the book had potential, I just couldn't really get past the style of the writing. And yeah, the protagonist kind of irritated me. :)

[tsubaki-ny.livejournal.com]

That's what being stigmatized will do to a person's mind. ^___^ I actually found it profoundly upsetting for that very reason. But I liked that. It was honest and real, for me.

[mad-troll.livejournal.com]

Read it(in Italian). Liked it. Already pimped it out.

[kathrynthegr8.livejournal.com]

Does she talk about LKH in her blog?

[tsubaki-ny.livejournal.com]

Indirectly.

http://www.kitwhitfield.com/2006/09/mary-sue-gets-mean.html

[wonderbink.livejournal.com]

Oh, my freakin' word. That is BRILLIANT. I have to send her cookies.

That's one of the things I love about her book--her heroine gets bitchy and she gets called on it. She makes mistakes and gets in trouble for them. She's like the anti-Anita.

[tsubaki-ny.livejournal.com]

Yes! There are people who don't like Lola, and they have a point. BUT, so does she.

This is because Kit Whitfield is a grown-up. Nunaces. Complexities. Real Life.

[tsubaki-ny.livejournal.com]

That was the best werewolf book I have ever read, ever. Not to mention stunning, in that it is probably one of my top five for portrayals of what kind of damage being a demonized minority does to a person's psyche, what with the anger, suspicion and the self-hate. Really difficult at times, but really, really brilliant and really worth it. I've already bought it for three people.

The title "Bareback" makes more sense. Naughty though. I had fun reading it on the trains... ^______^

[tsubaki-ny.livejournal.com]

Nobody's really loveable. It's not the type of book that would work as a series for that reason, I think (luckily KW is not interested in doing series). But I did like Lola intensely in the moment where she decided her nephew was the best baby in the world. ^_______^ (And I liked many things about The Love Interest.)

[shadowbloodwing.livejournal.com]

I'll have to see if they've got a copy when I pick up my reserves. Maybe the UK copy, because the title's likely to get some attention.

[tsubaki-ny.livejournal.com]

Hee. It makes me giggle. Which is exactly why they changed the US/Canada title, I guess: no giggling! I think it actually got a mention in a mag geared towards gay men. But "Bareback" really does work better with the content and context of the book -- it's a "racial" slur and thus has more ouch-power than "Benighted," I think.

http://kitwhitfield.com/thebook.html

[longtail.livejournal.com]

Oooo, haven't heard of it but I'll definately check it out! I've been sitting here thinking that after I finish "The Master" by Jean Johnson I have nothing else to read after it (I like to line up my books to read in advance). Thanks for the rec, time to order it at the library!