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Anne's Reviews > Carmilla
Carmilla
by
by
Anne's review
bookshelves: audio, classics, hoopla, horror, read-in-2022, spooktober-reads
Oct 29, 2022
bookshelves: audio, classics, hoopla, horror, read-in-2022, spooktober-reads
Before Stoker's DRACULA.
But after Polidori's Vampyre.
There was Le Fanu's Carmilla!
So. Kind of like the middle child of vampire tales.
This one was much shorter and much creepier than Dracula, in my opinion. Carmilla was a scary bitch. And part of that was because she was this ethereally beautiful creature that charmed her way into the family's hearts, not some zombie dirt-muncher that was mindlessly roaming the moors looking for the odd sleepwalker.
Although she did like a bit of light snacking in between the main meal, as a lot of peasants in the area surrounding Laura's home fell ill and died from some unknown wasting sickness.
Oh, and little Carmilla has a bit of a crush on the naive Laura.
“I have never been in love with no one, and never shall," she whispered, "unless it should be with you.”
That was interesting.
Apparently, Stephanie Meyer wasn't the first author to write a creepy watching you sleep scene, either. Only Carmilla liked to stab a fang in Laura's tit every now and then. So. Unbelievably, the point goes to Edward for being a gentleman and keeping his canines to himself whilst he sat in the corner of Bella's room.
There were actually a lot of creepy scenes in this.
Starting with the opening scene where Laura describes meeting Carmilla for the first time when she was just a little child. She just pops out from under her bed like the boogeyman and proceeds to do her vampiric worst, then slithers back under there and disappears until Laura is a young woman.
Talk about the long-term stalking game.
When they find an old portrait of someone who looks a helluva lot like Carmilla in the attic...
Whaaaaaat?!
I swear to god, I've read so many books like this that if I find a hundred year old painting that resembles someone I know, I'm 100% going to just stake them on the spot.
They are definitely a vampire.
You know it, I know it, and there's no court of law that will convict me because everyone in that jury box will have read some shit like this before and be nodding along with me.
They were undead. Nothing to be done but run a bitch through.
NOT GUILTY.
Ok, I can feel myself going off the rails a bit, so let me just end this by saying that this is my top old-timey vampire story.
Highly Recommended!
But after Polidori's Vampyre.
There was Le Fanu's Carmilla!
So. Kind of like the middle child of vampire tales.
This one was much shorter and much creepier than Dracula, in my opinion. Carmilla was a scary bitch. And part of that was because she was this ethereally beautiful creature that charmed her way into the family's hearts, not some zombie dirt-muncher that was mindlessly roaming the moors looking for the odd sleepwalker.
Although she did like a bit of light snacking in between the main meal, as a lot of peasants in the area surrounding Laura's home fell ill and died from some unknown wasting sickness.
Oh, and little Carmilla has a bit of a crush on the naive Laura.
“I have never been in love with no one, and never shall," she whispered, "unless it should be with you.”
That was interesting.
Apparently, Stephanie Meyer wasn't the first author to write a creepy watching you sleep scene, either. Only Carmilla liked to stab a fang in Laura's tit every now and then. So. Unbelievably, the point goes to Edward for being a gentleman and keeping his canines to himself whilst he sat in the corner of Bella's room.
There were actually a lot of creepy scenes in this.
Starting with the opening scene where Laura describes meeting Carmilla for the first time when she was just a little child. She just pops out from under her bed like the boogeyman and proceeds to do her vampiric worst, then slithers back under there and disappears until Laura is a young woman.
Talk about the long-term stalking game.
When they find an old portrait of someone who looks a helluva lot like Carmilla in the attic...
Whaaaaaat?!
I swear to god, I've read so many books like this that if I find a hundred year old painting that resembles someone I know, I'm 100% going to just stake them on the spot.
They are definitely a vampire.
You know it, I know it, and there's no court of law that will convict me because everyone in that jury box will have read some shit like this before and be nodding along with me.
They were undead. Nothing to be done but run a bitch through.
NOT GUILTY.
Ok, I can feel myself going off the rails a bit, so let me just end this by saying that this is my top old-timey vampire story.
Highly Recommended!
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Reading Progress
October 7, 2022
–
Started Reading
October 7, 2022
– Shelved
October 29, 2022
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 65 (65 new)
message 1:
by
Quenby
(new)
Oct 29, 2022 05:05PM
I’ll pass. But your review is hilarious.
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This was definitely a really good read! Oh my goodness, you actually had me saying “good job, Edward” with your review. You’re brilliant and too funny Anne.
I read this for a fairy tales class! It's so good! I didn't know it existed before then and I absolutely loved it!
Nice review and use of gifs. The portrait is so simple yet disturbing. It reminds me of Bilbo Baggins when Frodo won't let him hold the ring again.
Quenby wrote: "I’ll pass. But your review is hilarious."Thanks! lol
Rachel wrote: "This was definitely a really good read! Oh my goodness, you actually had me saying “good job, Edward” with your review. You’re brilliant and too funny Anne."Right? Anytime you Edward was the better choice in a "watching you sleep unaware" scenario, you feel like you've entered into weird waters.
Dani wrote: "I read this for a fairy tales class! It's so good! I didn't know it existed before then and I absolutely loved it!"You NEVER hear about it! Dracula, Dracula, Dracula.
Carmilla is the winner for me, hands down.
Terence wrote: "Nice review and use of gifs. The portrait is so simple yet disturbing. It reminds me of Bilbo Baggins when Frodo won't let him hold the ring again."
YES! Stop it, Bilbo!
Fun and awesome review Anne. You sold me. I need to get this :)
I really think you'll like it, Luna!
I’m too chicken 🐓 to read stuff like this but your review is hysterically fantastic. 😂
Sophie wrote: "I’m too chicken 🐓 to read stuff like this but your review is hysterically fantastic. 😂"Most of the time I don't think these are all that spooky, but this time around there was a definite 'atmosphere'! If it sounds scary to you, then it probably would be. But thank you!
Kris wrote: ""zombie dirt-muncher""That was my whole takeaway from Dracula. lol
Anne wrote: "I really think you'll like it, Luna!"ordered today :)
I've always considered Le Fanu's Carmilla superior to Dracula. Don't really get why Stoker's novel became much more famous.
Luna wrote: "Anne wrote: "I really think you'll like it, Luna!"ordered today :)"
Seriously?! Now I'm nervous! But not really because this one is pretty good.
José wrote: "I've always considered Le Fanu's Carmilla superior to Dracula. Don't really get why Stoker's novel became much more famous."YES. How did Dracula beat this one out as the most famous vampire novel?! Dracula was kind of a non-entity for the majority of the book and he wasn't even smart or sinister. Just kind of gross.
Carmilla was freaky! And she did all the shapeshifting and disappearing and...yeah.
One of the best classic vampire tales ever!
So agree, Ravsta! How I only JUST NOW got around to it is a shame.
Were the three novels released originally in english or different languages? these guys names look like they are 3 different nationalities
I think your review lacks context or do you write intended towards people who already read the piece you are reviewing?
توفيق wrote: "Were the three novels released originally in english or different languages? these guys names look like they are 3 different nationalities"I believe they were all English-language novels first. Le Fanu & Stoker were both Irish, I believe. Polidori, I think, was born and raised in England but had an Italian father.
Rayhan wrote: "I think your review lacks context or do you write intended towards people who already read the piece you are reviewing?"Explain. What do you think I should have added to give it context?
A small description introducing the characters and their role maybe? And giving a synopsis of the plot beforehand makes it more enjoyable to read a review. Never mind me, though. It may only be a "Me problem".
Anne wrote: "Rayhan wrote: "I think your review lacks context or do you write intended towards people who already read the piece you are reviewing?"Explain. What do you think I should have added to give it co..."
don't fix what is not broken :D
Rayhan wrote: "A small description introducing the characters and their role maybe? And giving a synopsis of the plot beforehand makes it more enjoyable to read a review. Never mind me, though. It may only be a "..."A teenager who lives in Styria (Laura) gets nibbled on by a lesbian vampire (Carmilla). There's not much beyond that.
توفيق wrote: "Anne wrote: "Rayhan wrote: "I think your review lacks context or do you write intended towards people who already read the piece you are reviewing?"Explain. What do you think I should have added?
don't fix what is not broken :D..."
Yeah, I'm not sure I do reviews all that well by those standards. ;)
I knew you would like this one, Anne. I thought this was better than Dracula, too.
It's crazy how everyone who has read both is like Yeah, this is better - 100%, but nobody knows Carmilla outside of a small community. It's all Dracula, Dracula, Dracula.
Anne wrote: "It's crazy how everyone who has read both is like Yeah, this is better - 100%, but nobody knows Carmilla outside of a small community. It's all Dracula, Dracula, Dracula."what is weird for me is why is everyone suddenly reading carmilla and talking about it, even arabian readers in my friendlist are talking about it these days lol
THAT'S SPOOKY!I don't know why I read it. I'd seen it over the years but thought it came after Dracula. I honestly thought it would be complete crap because Dracula was pretty boring AND it's so much more famous. Man, this just blows it out of the water.
Anne wrote: "THAT'S SPOOKY!I don't know why I read it. I'd seen it over the years but thought it came after Dracula. I honestly thought it would be complete crap because Dracula was pretty boring AND it's so m..."
what sold it for me when you said its more scary i will try to read it soon xD
Good! Please let me know what you end up thinking of it. I hope I didn't oversell it because it is a classic. So. You know, lower your expectations a tad.
I read doctor jekyll and mr hyde b4 they are around the same period, but i enjoy the classics, its fun to see where we have been to appreciate where we got to sometimes
I feel the same way, توفيق !
It's Nosferatu and the subsequent adaptation that made it famous, otherwise it wasn't that well known during Stoker's days even. And I'm not sure about this but I think Stoker wrote Dracula only after getting inspired by reading carmilla.
I believe I read this as a teenager but none of these details seem to spark any memories for me. I guess I should read it again.I vote against putting your reviews in context. If you want to know what the story is about, that's what the synopsis is for.
Also, in light of all this Dracula-bashing going on, I'd to say I really enjoyed it when I read it, lol.
Dracula was quite interesting indeed, I must say, but up untill the friend's death, after that not so much as far as I remember. Also the beginning, the parts in the castle,him coming on the ferry I quite loved those :^)
I actually gave Dracula 3 stars. For an older novel, it wasn't the worst thing ever. I'm only saying that I thought THIS was vastly superior as far as pace and mood.
Rory wrote: "I vote against putting your reviews in context. If you want to know what the story is about, that's what the synopsis is for."LOL! Yes, you get what you pay for, so...haha!
It is indeed far more interesting than Dracula.But all this reminds me I still need to pick up King's Salem's Lot.
You make me glad that I have a copy of this 😅
FutureCorpse wrote: "It is indeed far more interesting than Dracula.But all this reminds me I still need to pick up King's Salem's Lot."
Me too! I've heard that one is a slog, though. I'm torn...
Jaidee wrote: "You make me glad that I have a copy of this 😅"Have you read it?!
I'm so glad you liked this one! I love Dracula, but agree that Carmilla is much creepier and a way cooler vamp. Also, keep doing what you're doing with your reviews. We don't need another review retelling what is printed on the back cover.
Jaidee wrote: "'No but I will will will !"
Tell me when you do!!!!!!
Jessica wrote: "I'm so glad you liked this one! I love Dracula, but agree that Carmilla is much creepier and a way cooler vamp. Also, keep doing what you're doing with your reviews. We don't need another review re..."Thanks! I appreciate that, Jessica.
I agree with Kris on "zombie dirt-muncher." But I will raise him "Carmilla liked to stab a fang in Laura's tit every now and then."I love your reviews!
