The world knows him as Johnny DayWalker, the vampire whose willingness to challenge the status quo fundamentally changed the dynamic between our two species worldwide. But if you ask him, he’s just a guy who fell in love with a human.
Interview with the Vampire meets Warm Bodies in this memoir of an isolated vampire who longed for a different kind of life. His story urges us not to take for granted the things that make us human, and to appreciate the beauty in our mortality.
Fantasy creatures serve as metaphors for people. Zombies: the buried memories of those we left behind, only to have them rise again. Fairies: childhood friends we ran with in circles, laughing. Giants: our dim memory of tree-tall creatures that stomped and shouted. Wicked witches: all the sly teachers, poisonous parents. Wizards? the weird guy who fixed our bike, the silly uncle who pulled quarters from our ears.
But vampires are the swiss-army knife of fantasy metaphor. Serving multiple roles depending on the author's intent. In the original Dracula they are Old Money moving into the neighborhood, taking over the social scene with style. In 'Buffy' they are the bullies of high school hallways; in 'Twilight' they are the cool kids who never sweat and never eat.
In Meghan Davis's 'Memoir of Johnny Daywalker', vampires are all the people locked into their existence. I don't say their 'lives'; for it is a key theme of the book that life is change. Love, wrinkles, learning new things, trying new flavors, just getting a new couch. Change=life.
Meghan gives us vampires that live in empty windowless houses enduring empty windowless existences. They have little interest in other vampires, and no interest in humanity excepting as menu items. Immortal; but it is a pointless immortality. They are changeless; thus, dead.
Except Johnny the misfit. Fascinated by humans, by their wrinkles, their fondness for cupcakes and trivialities, he keeps comparing their mayfly life of change with his endless, immortal stasis. And at some point he begins making changes. Tasting human food, getting a job, going out in the sunlight...
There's a girl behind it, of course. 'Memoir' is a romance. Not a tacky bodice ripper nor breathless fated-to-be-mated silliness. This is a thoughtful person telling us chapter by chapter what moved him to live, to love. To embrace change; even the final change of death.
in 'Memoir of Johnny Daywalker' Davis gives us a sweet, engaging and humorous story, and that suffices. But: in the fun story remains a moral. A simple one we often hear, and roll our eyes at. 'Life=change'. Said straight, it's like broccoli. Good for you, but not fun.
For which reason, clever fantasy writers hide messages behind monsters. I can't complain; 'Johnny Daywalker' is too much fun. Twenty years ago I'd have complained bitterly; but, well, I've changed.
Well well well, me again - being truly enraptured by one of Meghan’s books. I went in skeptical because a.) I was in a TERRIBLE reading slump and b.) I’m not a huge vampire/paranormal girlie… so while I knew the writing would be incredible, I was worried about plot and my attention span. Aaaaaand I’m happy to report that I had absolutely nothing to worry about. Genuinely from page one I was hooked and into this story. Meghan does so much with under 200 pages that it blows my mind — the world building and the relationship dynamics are top tier.
I think one of the things I appreciated the most about this was that it was not trope-y or predictable. It is so unique in its content.
I am, as always, blown away by Meghan’s writing and ability to capture my attention so quickly and am forever honored any time I’m able to beta read one of her works of art 🤌🏼
The Memoir of Johnny DayWalker follows Johnny, a vampire longing to understand humankind. It follows the titular Johnny as he begins a taboo relationship with Mara, a human. In this way, Meghan's tale discusses the social taboos of marriage and love, Romeo and Juliet in their forbidden relationship. With this take on the vampire, Meghan breaks down social conventions regarding marriage and love, and the story is a deeply human one. Problems of immortality and eternity so often devolve into a simple conversion story, where the vampire bites the human and changes them in a life-changing but rather superficial way. Here, however, the greater ramifications of such an act are considered and Davis inverts the progression of such a story: here we are offered something different and again, so very human. Merging influences from Asimov's Bicentennial Man as well as homages to Dracula and vampiric lore, Meghan creates something wholly fresh, original and human. I am amazed by Meghan's ability to make a reader feel so deeply for characters in a short space of time. Meghan has a way of crafting characters that are immediately recognisable: flawed, relatable, full of quirks and failings. But deep down these characters are inherently good people who you can't help but root for. By the time the book ends, you feel as though you truly know these people, inside and out. I have alluded to the humanity of this tale several times, and Davis' embrace of humanity in storytelling with all its loveable flaws and endearing failings is one of her greatest skills. she understands what makes people tick on such a deep level that you can't help but love her characters; she did similar things in You I Lie With—one of the most moving and heartbreaking stories I have ever read. Davis' skills also lay in the short form, where her words and emotions are distilled with such potency that they grip your heart and guide you. Davis' work is always such a moving and heartwarming experience, full of depth and humanity. It will remain with me for some time. Most likely eternity.
THIS BOOK GENTLY SLAPPED ME BACK TO REALITY AND REMINDED ME THAT IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO AGE!!
Thank you so much to Meghan Davis for providing me with an ARC, it was truly an honor to read this and talk with you about it. The Memoir of Johnny Daywalker releases February 11th and you should absolutely preorder it now.
Spoiler free!
The Memoir of Johnny Daywalker is a story about a vampire determined to build his own version of a life. A story about the beauty of aging, the resilience of love, and appreciating the mundane. Just like with Meghan’s novella, You I Lie With, TMOJD completely emotionally sucked me in and I did not put the damn thing down until I finished. Sitting at about 200 pages, this book somehow provides you with a series-worth of knowledge (or, makes you feel that way) and an overwhelming desire to see the characters happy. Tbh, still trying to figure out how this book made me feel SO much, so quickly. Ya girl positively BURST into tears TWICE (two times) and I’m already ready to get emotionally wrecked by Meghan again.
There were so many moments in this book that truly gave me chills. The way Meghan writes is astounding to me and I can’t wait to sit back and watch more and more people discover her work. Here are just a few of my favorite quotes (and I have many, many more).
“To be frank, we were two lonely people, and it’s no wonder we glommed onto each other with such desperate fervor.”
“If I were a better man, maybe I would’ve had the strength to walk away, to insist she find someone else who could give her everything she wanted. But I didn’t.”
“You don’t understand the privilege it is to age. To have the physical reminders that you have lived.”
“Though in a literal sense I held her life in my hands, in truth I was completely at her mercy.”
This book was such a joy to read from cover to cover.
We currently live in world where so many of us are entrenched in reading fantasy worlds where humans become immortal, develop special powers or are exceptionally special for some reason *other* than their humanity.
This book is the direct *opposite* of that. A vampire who is so enthralled by humans and humanity, and is ostracized for it, facing his own forms of discrimination as he attempts to become part of the human world.
Reading this story, I could feel the inspiration Davis pulls from real-life people and characters from other books. She weaves together this story so thoughtfully and makes a humanity desirable in such a raw way.
It was an absolute delight when I stumbled upon the character references and author notes at the end of the book that validated my observations throughout.
Big hugs and thanks to Meghan for giving me the privilege to be an ARC reader for this story 🫶🏼
I think I’ve found a new favorite indie author. After falling in love with You I Lie With, I was beyond thrilled to receive an ARC of The Memoir of Johnny Daywalker by Meghan Davis. And let me just say… this book did not disappoint. I already know I’ll read anything Davis writes.
This novel offers such a unique and refreshing take on the vampire genre. It follows Jonathan Martin, a born vampire who dares to challenge societal norms simply by wanting to coexist with humans. The story explores a world where a vampire-human alliance exists, governed by strict rules to maintain harmony. The romance subplot is beautifully woven into the narrative, making me fall head over heels for the characters, something I always long for in a good book. It gave me Warm Bodies vibes (but with vampires) and even reminded me of the movie Loving.
With its engaging storytelling, emotional depth, and distinctive perspective, this book moved me in ways I didn’t expect. It’s an easy 5 stars for me, and I can’t wait to see what Davis writes next. 💙
i loved every second this book. it was such a unique take on the vampire fantasy subgenre. in meghan's first book, You I Lie With, she looked at the apocalyptic fiction genre and thought "what if this book was about a random couple in the background instead of a Main Character?" and in this one she took vampire fantasy and thought "what if instead of a human that joins their vampire bf in immortality at the end, this is about a vampire who thinks being immortal really blows?" dear meghan: i really hope this genre twisting is something you keep doing in future books because it's fascinating and refreshing and brilliant.
my one little issue is that at times some of the dialogue felt a little clunky or unnatural, but that was such a minor concern that doesn't take away from the well earned 5 stars. i also do wish i got more time with some of these characters, because i loved them so much. i would've loved to see more of the friend group and livy, but i know that's just me being a sucker for found family lol
omg i also LOOOVEDDDDDDD that there was a list of references in the back of this book. all authors everywhere please take note: DO THIS PLS THANK YOU.
overall i highly recommend. the story is unique and captivating. the writing is eloquent and beautiful (as i knew it would be). the characters have joined my ever growing cast of beloved fictional friends.
this book will be out on February 11th, and ebooks/signed copies are available for preorder now ♥️
I always find it hard to write reviews of my 5-star reads—probably because I feel like I can't do them justice. If there's one thing you take away from this review, let it be that Meghan has written an absolutely incredible book that made me laugh and cry and wish it had been longer.
The "memoir" is written in a narrative, conversational tone, with funny lines and insightful observations interspersed perfectly throughout. The worldbuilding is woven in so naturally, and I honestly felt like I was in every setting, even Johnny's suburban Texas home.
I love the way Meghan has taken the vampire genre and made it her own. There's intriguing lore, but Meghan left some things open to interpretation in a way that drew me fully into Johnny's world.
The book deals with important themes, including discrimination, how women are treated as they age, and what it really means to live and to love. So it only makes sense that the book is filled with emotion—grief and sorrow, but also joy and hope. Meghan's writing brings out these emotions beautifully, and I couldn't help but highlight pages and pages of quotes.
The book comes out on February 11, and you should definitely read it!
Thank you to Meghan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fresh take on a vampire story that handles some heavy topics (aging, mortality, racism) in an uplifting way. The fictional memoir style may not be for everyone. You can tell the author is a fan of Twilight and other vampire classics (in a good way!).
The Memoir of Johnny DayWalker: Meghan Davis Description: The world knows him as Johnny DayWalker, the vampire whose willingness to challenge the status quo fundamentally changed the dynamic between our two species worldwide. But if you ask him, he’s just a guy who fell in love with a human. Interview with the Vampire meets Warm Bodies in this memoir of an isolated vampire who longed for a different kind of life. His story urges us not to take for granted the things that make us human, and to appreciate the beauty in our mortality. Plot: 4.5/5 Character depth: 4.5/5 World building: 4/5 Thought provoking: 5/5 Ease of reading: 5/5 Writing style: 5/5 Length appropriation: 5/5 Total points: 4.7⭐️s Spoiler free comments: Meghan is a master of writing a romance in alternative reality where in this case Vampires do exist among us and it’s a common understanding. She attempted readers to look back in our lives, and appreciate the impact we create professionally as well as on our families, friends and our loved ones. Her romance writing is poetic and mesmerising. I enjoyed both the initial madness when the passion was it’s peak and later when they settled down to just relax and enjoy living ‘alone together’. I am looking forward to read more from Meghan in future. I request you all to give this Novella a try to read.
I loved "You I Lie With" by Meghan and appreciate the opportunity to read an eARC of her next published work, “The Memoir of Johnny DayWalker."
The storytelling didn't disappoint, once again! I loved the character journey and conclusion.. so perfectly delivered, a real punch to the heart.
Highly recommend if you want a lighthearted short story about love and what it means to enjoy the precious time of our finite existence. I’m seeing a theme of that in the author’s writing, and I’m HERE FOR IT!!!!❣️
From page one I was drawn to Johnny: his tone, his vulnerability, and genuine approach to the reader was so endearing. I was immediately invested in his story and curious to discover why he was writing a memoir. I loved that the implication was that I, as the reader, was reading this memoir to find out answers about this reclusive and intriguing vampire because I had heard of him before. Sometimes that makes me nervous because it feels like the book is leading to something and I want to to be worth the build up…and it lived up to my expectations! I LOVE when that happens!
Romance is a big theme here but it doesn’t feel like a Romance Book™️ to me. It’s the touch of romance that I love, it’s the ✨feelings✨ and the wondering that happens when you first meet someone you might be falling for. And then it matures to the kind of long term love that everyone craves. I LOVED how the romantic subplot was woven through this story!
The writing is immaculate and just the kind I like to read: it’s elevated and intelligent without being stuffy or pretentious. It’s clever, sharp, and direct. There are no moments dragging by or no filler scenes to build the characters up. Everything is written with a purpose and the plot moves along at the perfect pace.
This is a wholehearted, enthusiastic recommendation from me!! I think this will appeal to almost any reader: it’s somehow taken niche vampire content and made it modern, fresh, and universally interesting. I would give this to my husband, my book club, my mother in law, and of course to you, too!
Thank you, Meghan, for letting me be an early reader! I love this book and can’t wait to have it on my shelf!
REVIEW: The stories that Meghan writes cause such profound emotions within my being. I felt this book to my core, through my own time with grief and death to seeing the beauty of aging. Her stories may be short, but they express so much for the characters to be real. Reading about Johnny’s life and the people within it, both good and bad, is such a human experience! I absolutely binged this in one sitting. I loved it.
First, I want to say that I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book and devoured it. Meghan has an amazing gift for how to tell a story, and even when you think you know where it's going - she will surprise you.
I highlighted many quotes, and I know this story will stay with me for a long time. It is about a vampire trying to live his own "life" closer to humans. It is written as a memoir, and I loved how it was put together. Without spoiling it, it is a unique take on vampire lore while also dealing with important themes and is filled with emotion.
I found myself choked up a few times while reading, and I loved how it made me think about my mortality and growing old.
Anyway, I can't recommend this book enough! Thank you again, Meghan - as always, I can't wait to read what you write next :)
"But don't you see, Mara? Those years won't mean anything if you aren't in them"
"There's beauty in impermanence. Everything means more when you know it won't always be there"
This is an adorable vampire 'slice of life.' I literally just finished. I COULD talk about the whole book and how good it was...... EXCEPT THAT I CAN'T GET OVER THE LAST 7 WORDS. I COULD also talk about the cute funny moments that made me laugh except that I can't after that ENDING. WTF Meghan. That ending hit so hard.
The whole book is good, yea, but like....I just got emotionally sucker punched by 7 words, and it's gonna take me a second to get over that.
A simply told romance - between a vampire and a human, in our modern era! Not something I’d normally seek but it’s well rated by those I trust and I’ve enjoyed the author previously, so why not?
It’s quite an intriguing story, contrasting the immortality of a vampire with the finite lifespan of his friend who eventually becomes more, despite them both being aware of the problems. Even though immortal the vampires here lead quiet isolated lives on the fringes of society. They’re tolerated by human society and even have ways to ‘feed’ that are legitimate but there’s no real mixing. Not feeling the need to socialise, travel, let alone party. They’ve often lived already for centuries with many more to come, so why get excited about existence?! It seems dull as a vampire, but the lead character, Johnny, develops a different outlook.
There’s clearly a link between the way racial segregation was legally enforced in the US to the difficulties of this ‘cross-species’ romance. But I was also reminded how ostracised AIDS sufferers were here in the 80’s and 90’s, with people not wanting such people in the same room or vicinity despite the clear evidence that the horrible illness wasn’t infectious. I recall the vicious bigotry clearly. Now gone, as far as I see nowadays! That such prejudices can largely disappear is inspiring.
But the story doesn’t come across as an ‘in your face’ moralising tale. It mainly reads as a straightforward romance sometimes enduring difficult circumstances. A quick engaging well written read. Another self-published gem, 5*.
I almost feel obliged to wheel out the standard statement about not being into vampire fantasy, never having watched recent YA TV dramas of that ilk, despairing at too many gothic horror films, and believing that Bram Stoker’s novel is sufficient. But it shows I’m probably being too blinkered with my criteria.
This book was short but packed an insane punch! What the hell!! lol had me sobbing several times. I think what draws me (and most fans) to the vampire genre is the general theme of otherness and what it means to be human — The Memoir of Johnny DayWalker takes those ideas and runs happily away with them, along with my heart 🫠 Thank you, Meghan Davis, for chewing me up and spitting me out. She is a phenomenal writer. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book when you can.
The Memoir of Johnny DayWalker is an original and intriguing take on vampires. Set in a modern world where vampires are known and begrudgingly accepted in society, Johnny must navigate unexpectedly relatable family and friend relationships. I appreciated the author's note which highlighted some historical inspiration. This is a quick read at under 200 pages, but Meghan Davis can really pack a punch in not many words! I loved the relationship between the two MCs. Their romance was adorably dorky but still poignant as they struggled with the inevitability of death. This book was beautifully and thoughtfully written, and Meghan has cemented her place in my must-read author list!
Available on KU Feb 11 or preorder now! Huge thanks to the author the review copy; all opinions are my own.
Allow me to do my best to communicate the journey this book guided me through, without discussing the plot.
As a 25 year old woman, I am perhaps not the target audience for The Memoir of Johnny DayWalker by Meghan Davis.
Or maybe I am.
Growing up in a culture where young girls now wear sunscreen to protect against future wrinkles… (instead of, I don’t know, skin cancer?) where the concepts of “beauty” and “youth” have become synonymous for women…where death is this horrible, final thief who robs us of the remainder of our stories…where modern literature so often uses characters with immortal or extremely lengthened lifespans to illustrate the point further that the problem with humans is that we age and die.
What does that say about our worth?
I believe I very much am the target audience for this book:
At 25, noticing for the first time that the creases in my cheeks where I smile don’t fade away completely when my face returns to normal–facing the blaring societal fanfare to purchase some product or try some service to stop those laughter lines in their tracks.
Or perhaps I should simply stop smiling. Would that do the trick?
Ridiculous, right? She’s only 25, she’s too young to be worrying about these things, you are probably thinking. I ask you a slightly different question–why are we worrying about them at all?
Johnny DayWalker felt like one of the only people on the planet who understood the sheer ludicrousness of our culture, where we are so immune to the gift of life that its longevity is taken for granted. So ungrateful that we seek to hide the fact that we have lived at all.
While Johnny had his own struggles, sure, his narrative was raw and real, full of life in the way that only someone who does not fear death can be. It’s only natural, beautiful even, that in the same way the rings of a tree tell the story of the life it’s lived, so should the lines on one’s face. His questions and his longing not only brought such a fresh take to a familiar character (I love a vampire as much as the next PNR girl), but such insight and understanding to me. I am so glad I got to walk in his shoes for a bit and read through the pages of his life.
Perhaps he couldn’t understand all sides of my story, or that of his wife: as a male character, there is simply no way he can completely understand the female experience. But there is value in simplifying things, in stripping away all of the voices that don’t matter and listening to the only one that does.
I have long been afraid to age, to “lose my beauty.” Judge me, if you must. I’m being vulnerable, and if you want to judge a vulnerable person in a book review then go off, I guess. But it’s true. I can only filter out so much nonsense and social pressure at a time, and as much as it pains me to admit, a subliminal message about my worth and youth and beauty has remained, quiet and insidious. This novel convicted me of that feeling again and again. It was cathartic, it was uncomfortable, it was healing. Johnny and Mara showed me reflections of myself and my own marriage throughout their story. There was a level of vulnerability required of me to read this book, and I haven’t felt quite this seen by a piece of fiction in a long time.
Occasionally, the tragedy of a too-short life might cause us to wake up and appreciate the treasure of aging. I’ve experienced that pain in my own life, and read many different stories about it.
So, how did Davis manage to accomplish a similar sentiment in a story about a too long life?
I challenge you to come with an open heart and open mind to find out for yourself.
Five glowing stars.
Book playlist recommendation: The Story by Brandi Carlile
(I received this pre-release ARC from the author. All reviews and opinions are my own)
I previously read Meghan Davis' shorter novella, You I Lie With, earlier in 2024 and it was one of my favorite books released that year. In it you get Meghan's undeniable talent for crafting realistic and believable characters but only a shorter taste of her talent as a storyteller. The Memoir of Johnny DayWalker puts her storytelling chops right in the forefront and boy she does not miss.
This longer novella (just under 200 pages) focuses on John, a vampire, and Mara, a human, and the development of their relationship. I don't want to spoil much because this book is so easy to read (I consumed it in an evening) and I think it's worth it. What I will reveal is it's a different kind of vampire story with some unique changes to the lore and its focus on mortality and the beauty of impermanence.
The prose, as with Meghan's previous book, is wonderful and fits the subject matter perfectly. The dialogue and the characterization are both pitch perfect, and definitely show her empathy and abilities to capture the essence of a character in a few lines of dialogue. Even the secondary characters, who we only encounter in a few scenes, are written with care that you genuinely feel for them and understand their motivations. For example, a lesser writer might have taken John's vampire parents as characters we aren't meant to empathize with, but in this we start to understand their perspectives even if we don't agree with their actions.
Overall, everything in this book was beautiful. It's a book that I will think about for a long time to come. I am ordering a copy as a trophy (and to support the author) and I think you should too if you have the means.
I loved this book right from the first page. Johnny's voice and character just immediately sucked me in. He was SUCH an easy character to root for, without being too perfect, if that makes sense. The entire story felt like a love letter to life itself, the beautiful and the "ugly" parts, through the eyes of Johnny. He was a completely unique voice and perspective. I loved Mara and Livy too. There was just enough world-building and vampire lore to be super interesting without getting bogged down in any of it. I started to foresee the ending partway along but I wasn't sure that was where it was headed, and when it ended the way it did, I was so glad. I truly loved the ending. This was such a quick read, tugged all the right heartstrings, and was like nothing I've ever read before. I highly recommend reading this when it comes out. Thank you so much to Meghan Davis for the eARC!
This book had such a strong narrative voice. I really enjoyed following Johnny on his journey. And while I may have a few minor notes, it doesn’t detract from this just being such an enjoyable read. I appreciated the touch on deeper themes and the relationship between our two MCs. Davis has a lovely way of showcasing relationships that feel real, struggles and triumphs and all.
Sweet and funny and thought provoking 💕
Thanks to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Literally read this book in one sitting. Like her first book, You I Lie With, this new book grabs your interest from the start and doesn’t let go. I had NO idea where this story would go - but I loved the journey. Mind you, I am not a paranormal or vampire fan - I read this because I love Meghan’s writing style - and I was not disappointed. Well written, interesting and touching all at once. Keep them coming, Meghan!!
YOU NEED TO PREORDER AND READ THIS BOOK THE SECOND IT COMES OUT.
The writing *chef's kiss* The character *chef's kiss* The format *chef's kiss* The plot *chef's kiss*
THE ENDING??? *tears*
This is my second Meghan Davis book and she is an absolute auto-buy author. The humanity she injects into a story about a vampire is something only she can do
This beautiful novella hits on a lot of ideas that I’ve always held dear. As a teenager I read a little-known novella by former Anberlin frontman Stephen Christian, a book called The Orphaned Anythings. That book, also a fictional memoir, contains a passage wherein the narrator speaks of finding beauty in aging. That aging is natural and beautiful and the modern desire to escape it is deeply wrong. That stayed with me and is something I hold as true.
That same idea is at the heart of The Memoir of Johnny Daywalker. A vampire who hates his own immortality. The way it separates him from humans and the meaning they find in being mortally finite.
In this book this idea is shown beautifully through narrative, not simply in the statements of our main character. It’s something he himself strives for.
He meets Mara, a beautiful human woman, but instead of the well-trodden trope of the human who wants to join her vampire lover in immortality, he himself desires the opposite. He wants to die. Not because he hates life but because he loves it so much. This is only heightened when he falls for a woman who will one day die. What good is it to live forever if every person you grow to love will one day leave? What’s the use in appreciating the beauty of a singular moment if moments themselves are conceptually meaningless?
This book takes obvious inspiration from Asimov’s short story Bicentennial Man. The film adaptation starring Robin Williams has always been a favorite. The story follows a sentient robot who desires to become human, both in a legal and an ontological sense. Which obviously begs the question “what makes you human?”
Neither story answers that question definitively, but both focus on one specific aspect: death. And this idea is beautifully explored in TMOJD. Death is so often viewed as purely tragic, that’s far from the whole picture.
If we were immortal, what would drive us to make a leap of faith? As mortal beings we understand that life is not forever, and thus when a remarkable person comes along, we understand such a person may never cross paths with us again. So we put ourselves in vulnerable positions with the hope that we might share our precious time with someone who loves and understands us. We view this as being worth the risk of rejection.
This book is beautifully written, and in contrast to someone like Asimov who writes to explore ideas in a more dry and scientific sense, this book explores these ideas through rich character and beautiful prose. There are so many moments and characters to love in this book. The eternally acerbic Walter, the sweet and caring Mara. The witty and good-humored MC of Johnny. And the people that cross their paths.
I especially loved the moments we get with Johnny’s biological father (in this story, vampire children are only conceived through a human father). This relationship is moving and it’s easy to see how Johnny reflects his father in how he interacts with others and views life itself.
I won’t go into any other story moments, but rest assured this short book is packed full of profound insights, and will leave you with characters that you will remember long after the book is finished.
If you like books that make you think and elicit deep emotional responses. This is one you can’t miss.
Meghan Davis has done it again, making unsuspecting victims of her readers, fooling us with a campy vampire cover and description, and punching us in the gut with the full spectrum of human emotion. At least that’s what I guess anyone who reads The Memoir of Johnny DayWalker will experience. It’s the same thing that happened to me when reading her previous work, the novella You I Lie With, a love story hidden in the pages of an apocalypse.
John Martin is a vampire who has always been a little uncomfortable with his nature. In this memoir he accounts for his life, hoping that he can be known more for his family than for the actions which made him famous in the media. The assumption is made that the audience knows his fame; what an interesting way to frame the story. Over time, we are given insight into his originally Irish parents living in remote Texas, his vampire and human friends made along the way, and most importantly his wife, Mara.
The story is full of humor. The influences and references to pop-culture, classic literature, and more are clear, and if they weren’t, the author provides a short guide at the end.
The issue of inter-species marriage in this imagined world has undertones of racial tension, but it isn’t in your face about it; because of that, the love between John and Mara is all the more sweet. They aren’t making a statement. They are enjoying quiet nights in and living their lives together. Theirs is a lived-in type of love.
The best part of this book was its exploration of immortality, aging, and death. Mara’s work as a hospice aid and her acknowledgment that even short relationships hold meaning was a stark contrast to John’s family’s outlook that loving a human who is here today and gone tomorrow isn’t worth it. The conversations about John living forever and Mara growing old and dying someday really make the reader think about what it means to be human, what a privilege it is to bear the scars and signs of having lived, and what we do with, as Mary Oliver once wrote, our “one wild and precious life.”
Johnny will outlive his too-short 185 pages in my memory and will, indeed, be known more for his love and family than for anything else, at least for this reader.
Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book. The above represents my genuine reading reaction and honest thoughts.
I've struggled putting to words what this book means to me, but I'm going to try.
When I was young, adults would call me an old soul. I didn't want to be an old soul. I just wanted to be seen. I wanted to be seen wholly and without restraint by someone who saw my strengths and shortcomings and saw the 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 of it all. The value of it. The strength in weakness.
Johnny is searching for something beyond his reach. A way of living that he wishes he could be more participant and less observer. His family doesn't understand. His friends, what little there are for a being like him, certainly don't either. But he's there, seeking for it regardless.
And then.
𝘚𝘩𝘦 walks into his life.
He learns. He adapts. He grows. He loves.
And so does she.
In the midst of their attempts to fly under the radar, the public begins their fascination with him, a man just trying to exist in a world where he can be with the one he loves even if society at large isn't quite ready for them.
He doesn't care.
He just. wants. 𝘩𝘦𝘳.
And she just wants him. And they build a life together more beautiful than anything they could have ever imagined for themselves on their own, a reality they hoped for but never quite believed possible, a hope in a future they could mold with their own two hands.