I hesitate to label this as a vampire book. I could just as easily describe it as a tale of suburban disaffection and disappointment. In fact, I was frequently reminded of "Little Children" by Tom Perotta when reading this book. Middle class family, parents trying desperately to give their children a normal life in a small town, by erasing all their own passions and idiosyncracies and focusing on fitting in. And yet... the Radleys are a family of abstaining vampires, existing without drinking blood, following the code set forth in the Abstainer's Handbook, which emphasizes above all else the imperative of ignoring one's instincts, squashing one's imagination, and keeping a tight lid on all emotion. The parents raise their children with no knowledge of the family secret, and as always happens, secrets have a way of coming out. The Radleys is well-written, funny and tragic, and quite enjoyable to read. Whether you choose to read it as a black-and-white vampire story or as a metaphor for the dull-edged pressures of life in today's society, either way, The Radleys is well worth the time.