Excellent book... I'm reading it right now. And incidentally, anyone here going to the Slayer Conference at the end of this month?

Haunt | May 18, 15:33 CET

Hubby and I just bought this book! It's really good, and I usually don't like the 'let's explore the 8 million themes of Buffy' because half the time it's crap. But this is actually a very decent read.

Rogue Slayer | May 18, 18:22 CET

Wow, that's really cool. I'm always glad when other Christians manage not to sound like idiots in person, print or other media. I thought this was interesting:

"She writes as a fan, first and foremost, although an uncommonly knowledgable and perceptive fan, and she reads Buffy the Vampire Slayer on its own terms as a show about growing and searching, loving and supporting, making mistakes and finding redemption."

The funny thing is that MOST Buffy fans are knowledgeable and perceptive and read the show on these terms, so I don't know how uncommon it is. Even my lady, who just got on board with Angel halfway through this year, and my 9-year-old cousin, who watched from time to time, never watch or talk about the show only in terms of that week for example. It is always deeper than that.

brother_grady | May 18, 18:29 CET

Whoa, that was an insightful review. I particularly liked this: Nor does she make the common mistake of theologically minded pop-culture analysts, who explain how this or that movie or series or graphic novel or hip-hop group is really Christian, despite appearances to the contrary. She readily and often acknowledges the show's mish-mash of Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, and Wiccan influences. Not what I was expecting when I clicked on "ChristianityToday.com". Hmmm, showed me!

Sounds like a great book. I scrutinize these things pretty carefully as I tend to agree with Rogue Slayer--I will definitely pick this one up though.

marmoset | May 18, 18:30 CET

There are some other cool articles about Buffy on the site, too, I remember from the past.

brother_grady | May 18, 20:40 CET

Yeah I'm always worried books like this will have an agenda to push a specific religion, ususally christianity, but as I'm reading it, it's all pretty much on the mark ad very eclectic. And most references and discussed themes are not christian, but Buddhist. (Still without becoming a pamphlet for that religion mind you)

So far the best philosophical/spiritual analysis of the show I've come across.

EdDantes | May 18, 20:56 CET

I can see how the author would compare Buffy's themes to Buddhist principles as you say she does, EdDantes. The first of the four noble truths acknowledges that suffering and dissatisfaction permeate our existence. Or as Buffy would say, "The hardest thing in this world is to live in it."
This one definitely deserves a look.

bloodflowers | May 18, 21:44 CET