Book Review: CARMILLA by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

[@KyleMaxwell]

I just read this for a book club and greatly enjoyed it. Not sure what to make of the introduction by Machado that the book was based on an actual series of letters detailing a romance between two women that ended in tragedy, but as somebody who enjoys tabletop RPGs, I can see this as the template for so many tropes that are common now.

[@jeremycremer9265]

Just finished reading it too recently, I loved it. Mine didn't have the footnotes but I totally understand how that could be annoying to see spoilers in the notes omg.

[@jordanelizabethborchert]

Glad to hear you loved it too 😊

[@fellownerd1138]

Where did you get the edition without the footnotes?

[@jeremycremer9265]

@@fellownerd1138 I found it at my local bookstore in SF (Green Apple Books) :)

[@M-J]

I am reading this right now! Actually, listening to the audiobook. Holding off on your full review until I’ve finished it. 😊

[@jordanelizabethborchert]

I hope you enjoy it!

[@M-J]

@@jordanelizabethborchert So far so good! Half way done. Beautifully written.

[@DavidMacDowellBlue]

05:31 Head's up--despite the movies, Dracula also comes out in daylight. 06:52 This was actually the first vampire story to portray being bitten by a vampire in any sense erotic. And at one point Laura pretty clearly describes having an orgasm. 08:14 I speak now as someone who has adapted CARMILLA into a play. We can see Laura as dumb and/or very naive. Or, we can see her as lying. She is writing all this to someone, someone specific even if we don't know precisely who she is (Laura refers to her as an older woman). Thus we can see Laura as an unreliable narrator who was a lot more aware than she tries to appear. I personally find this the more interesting choice. 09:29 This story is full of ambiguity, deliberately so. IMHO. Even the destruction of Carmilla happens "off screen" and so can we be sure she is in fact dead?

[@jordanelizabethborchert]

Thanks for your insights, I’ve never read Dracula, only seen movie adaptations, and yes I definitely agree about Laura having an orgasm in that one scene, it is interesting to think of her as an unreliable narrator

[@faithrosebrair3611]

Is this book for adults or can teens read this to?

[@MadameVillinsky]

@@faithrosebrair3611 I would say ‘Carmilla’ is more for older teenagers/young adults (maybe around the age of 15/16+). Then again, it may also depend on the readers maturity.

[@adamrenfrow]

Read the Vampyre by Palidori if you havent yet. 😊

[@jordanelizabethborchert]

@@adamrenfrow thanks for the recommendation 😊

[@richarde1294]

14 minutes without showing a single page to show that it is an illustrated edition...

[@jordanelizabethborchert]

@@richarde1294 thank you for this comment, I’ll be honest I didn’t even think to show the illustrations, but I will keep that in mind for future videos!