From the Bookshelf of Never too Late to Read Classics…

Carmilla

J. Sheridan Le Fanu

Start date: October 1, 2020

Finish date: October 31, 2020

Discussion: Lesser Know Classics

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Lesser Know Classics

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What Members Thought

Mar 26, 2018 Allison boozy bookworm rated it it was ok

Shelves: women, horror-suspense, drama, fantasy-supernatural, classics, fiction, novels, literature

DNF

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Sep 29, 2022 Mike rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, horror, horror-pub-domain, 2022

There's something I really like about classic novels. Maybe it's the classic. Typically, I'm not one to search for and read vampire stories. But I really enjoyed Le Fanu's Carmilla. This French work predates Dracula and is written in a way that is almost poetic. I could almost hear a rhythm within Le Fanu's writing that I think 19th century classics propose. Whether you like vampire stories or not, this is definitely one you should check out. And public domain now? Come on! ...more

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Oct 15, 2019 Ashleigh rated it really liked it

I just listened to the new Audible version of this French vampire novella said to be an inspiration for Dracula. The narration and various characters are well done, and I felt like I was listening to a creepy Gothic play for adults. There is more going on here than female vampires...! A good quick and atmospheric listen for October.

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Nov 28, 2020 Lynn rated it liked it · review of another edition

After finishing Chronicle Books' Ghostly Tales: Spine-Chilling Stories of the Victorian Age, I was in the mood for more spine-chilling Victorian stories and downloaded this Gothic novella, which features a female vampire that predates Stoker's Dracula by 25 years. It was exactly what I expected. With the exception of its lesbian undertones, which are notable for the era, Carmilla is a solid entry into the annals of Victorian horror...meaning, it wasn't shocking or scary to this modern-day reader ...more

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