Do You Prefer Blood or Chocolate?

It had to have been a few years ago, 2007 I believe that the movie Blood and Chocolate came out. It stared Hugh Dancy and Oliver Martinez - one played human love interest, the other werewolf. At the time, I found myself enjoying the movie. It wasn't Oscar worthy by any means and it was not as a good as Underworld; mind you the story lines are completely different. Anyways, the movie was fun and it look the werewolf legend to yet again another place, bringing folklore to life. I found out after viewing the movie that it is actually based on the book Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause. I thought nothing of it and lit this piece of literature slip through my fingers until recently. 


I purchased the novel around a year ago but due to school, and the whole major of English, I had limited time to read for myself. It took me no time to drive through it; the book is rather short but ends up being a perfect length. Aside from the character names and the potential love interest plot, the movie has nothing to do with the novel on any level. Actually, they are almost polar opposite in many respects. Yes, the character names stayed the same, but like any novel turned movie, hollywood added in her own twists. These twists created an entirely different story/plot line based on the premise of Klause's novel. The novel in itself was amazing. The protagonist, Vivian is a young werewolf who is trying to deal with matters that are much beyond her years. She is in high school placing her at the same age level as young adult; the section you can find the novel placed in. 


Vivian is not only dealing with "family" problems within her pack circle, she is also dealing with being a teenage girl. Added to that, the fact that she is a werewolf with hormones, the poor girl is going through a lot. She perseveres through everything thrown at her and comes out fighting. The book is geared toward a young adult audience, but it deals with issues that women can related to at any age. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone under the age of 16 though, simply because there is some sexually suggestive material. Klause is actually able to convey a strong message of acceptance and the importance of accepting people for who they are. 


If you are going to watch the movie first, please remember the book is nothing like it. The characters in the movie are older, the setting is off, the love triangle is different and the ending is completely fabricated to a typical hollywood ending. I think it's one of the worst novel to movie adaptations I've ever seen. Now separate the two and like I already said, the movie is enjoyable and how can you not fall in love with Hugh Dancy? 


I would suggest reading this book for anyone who enjoys the lives of the paranormal and wants to escape into folklore and myth. 


P.S. I enjoy blood over chocolate