History

So I am not a history person- it has never excited me much and it was always my worst subject in school.  So I find it interesting that the history in A Discovery of Witches is one of the biggest draws for me.  A historian hooking up with a centuries old vampire who has lived everything she has studied- priceless.  Very good reading; very interesting.  I've heard this book compared to Twilight, but I don't really see it.  The similarities are a woman, although not totally "human", falling for a vampire and people telling them they shouldn't be together.  Other than that the storyline is completely different, the characters are completely different, and the writing style is completely different. 

A Discovery of Witches- Chapters 1-17
   Summary:
Dr. Diana Bishop is a historian and a witch.  She is studying alchemical manuscripts at Oxford's Bodleian Library.  Diana runs into Gillian Chamberlain, another witch, who encourages her to spend time with other witches in England.  Diana requests a manuscript, Ashmole 782, and realizes it has some magical properties.  She debates whether or not she should use her magical powers to read the manuscript; she doesn't want to.  She discusses her mother Rebecca and her Aunt Sarah, both skilled witches.  We learn about her parents meeting, two powerful witches, and how her mother's magic sometimes scared her it was so strong.  Diana's parents died in Africa when she was 7.  Diana has resisted the use of her magic since her parents' death; at which time she heard people saying her parents shouldn't have gotten married and had children because their magics were too strong.  Diana opens 782 and sees at least 3 missing pages and realizes the book has a spell on it.  She decides to return the manuscript and return to it later.  Diana uses simple magic to retrieve a book that is out of reach and someone sees her; it is a vampire.  He approaches her and introduces himself as Professor Matthew Clairmont and invites her to dinner; she declines.  Diana talks to her aunts Sarah and Emily; they warn her of the dangers of vampires and tell her to stay away from Matthew.  Matthew follows Diana home and sneaks into her apartment looking for Ashmole 782.  The next day Diana discovers Matthew at the library working; throughout the day many other creatures show up to watch Diana.  Diana heads out for some exercise to help with her "adrenaline poisoning,"  she sees Matthew.  Matthew questions why demons, vampires, and witches are following her around; she denies knowing why.  Matthew tells Diana why creatures are following her; it has to do with 782.  Diana tries to find out more information about Matthew.  Diana meets Matthew's colleague, Miriam.  Diana is visited by Agatha Wilson, a demon, who is excited Diana called Ashmole 782; Diana doesn't understand why.  Agatha shows Diana a disturbing newspaper article and gives her some cryptic information.  Matthew and Diana get to know each other a little better; they attend yoga together and she sees one of his houses.  Diana tells Matthew about her hesitation to use magic.  Matthew goes to visit his friend Hamish Osborne and tells him about Diana and 782.  Hamish warns Matthew to be careful.  Matthew tells Hamish he is not the great person people think he is.  Sarah and Em caution Diana about spending time with vampires and demons and chide her for returning 782.  Diana meets Peter Knox, a witch who warns her about Matthew; she feels threatened by him.  Gillian shares some surprising information with Diana; she feels threatened.  Diana agrees to dinner with Matthew; she asks him  a lot of questions about vampires.  Matthew takes Diana to his laboratory and introduces her to his genetic work and his colleague Marcus.  Matthew shares some of his control issues with Diana; she is not worried.  Diana decides she is going to call Ashmole 782 again.  Matthew warns Diana of the overprotective nature of vampires; she has a magical reaction to her anger.  Diana gets another disturbing threat; Marcus shares some shocking test results with Matthew.  Diana and Matthew head to France; they continue to try to figure out Ashmole 782.  Em and Sarah give Diana a little bit of information about Peter Knox.