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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
4.5 stars.
Great fun to read! I would highly reccomend.
Great fun to read! I would highly reccomend.
a lark with more name dropping than the latest celebrity memoir.
I wanted so much to like this, since I really enjoyed the first book, but all of the meetings with different folks from history seemed so forced that it took me out of the story every time.
I was initially torn between what my final rating for The Last American Vampire should be, but after having read my own review I've settled on a pretty solid three.
While it was a 'fun' read, and, I think, fairly well written, it had almost too much of a journal feeling to it; there are some things (such as what the reason for Virgina's abandoning of Henry was, and the final meeting with Crowley ), that seem as they would - perhaps - have been obvious to the writer of the journal, but not for the uninitiated reader and as such not as explored as I would've liked it to be.
[The Last American Vampire isn't written in the style of a journal, rather as a biography by someone who's had access to the journal of the subject of the biography.]
There were times when the story could've kept a quicker pace and other times where it felt almost rushed. The ending was a bit of a disappointment.
While it was a 'fun' read, and, I think, fairly well written, it had almost too much of a journal feeling to it; there are some things (
[The Last American Vampire isn't written in the style of a journal, rather as a biography by someone who's had access to the journal of the subject of the biography.]
There were times when the story could've kept a quicker pace and other times where it felt almost rushed. The ending was a bit of a disappointment.
I was looking for a historical nonfiction book and stumbled on this one instead and thought, why not? But I think most history lovers would be bored by it - it only ever recounts the surface level narrative of historical events. You know, the kind of stuff we already know. Quick, name what you can remember about the lost colony of Roanoke! Rasputin's assassination! The Hindenberg! JFK's assassination! Now, all of those things you recalled just off the top of your head? That's the level of detail this book is dealing in. In other words, not much. It wasn't enough for me.
And the addition of vampires makes those events somehow LESS interesting. Think about the events mentioned above. Now add vampires. The end.
So if the history is light, maybe this book is for younger readers? Oh my heavens, no. I had to skip over lots of bloody gore (my fault: I knew what this vampire book was when I picked it up).
Which leaves me with the other possible audience this book is for: people who want a slice of the macabre with their history. In this regard, the book might actually work. Just don't expect to learn anything new.
Oh, and what's with the plot device of people not actually being dead being used literally FOUR times? I mean, Crowley, Abe, Virginia, and then Virginia AGAIN ?? Seriously?
One more thing: the narrative conceit of this book really bothered me. I wish the author (the one in the book, not Grahame-Smith) had just streamlined it as third-person omniscient instead of scrabbling about with notes and excerpts and quotes from Henry. I think it's silly when people get persnickety about found-footage movies containing footage that could not have actually been found, but...they've got a point. This is kind of a found-footage book but it knows stuff that it shouldn't. And I couldn't un-notice that.
And the addition of vampires makes those events somehow LESS interesting. Think about the events mentioned above. Now add vampires. The end.
So if the history is light, maybe this book is for younger readers? Oh my heavens, no. I had to skip over lots of bloody gore (my fault: I knew what this vampire book was when I picked it up).
Which leaves me with the other possible audience this book is for: people who want a slice of the macabre with their history. In this regard, the book might actually work. Just don't expect to learn anything new.
Oh, and what's with the plot device of
One more thing: the narrative conceit of this book really bothered me. I wish the author (the one in the book, not Grahame-Smith) had just streamlined it as third-person omniscient instead of scrabbling about with notes and excerpts and quotes from Henry. I think it's silly when people get persnickety about found-footage movies containing footage that could not have actually been found, but...they've got a point. This is kind of a found-footage book but it knows stuff that it shouldn't. And I couldn't un-notice that.
Awesome book...I love how Seth Grahame-Smith made Henry present for well-known historical events! I also appreciated the more thorough explanation of what happened to Henry and Virginia after the failed colony at Roanoke and after his brief explanation of it in Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter.
Seth Grahame-Smith has an amazing ability to take pre-existing stories and historical events and craft them into something new, unique, and exciting.
Grahame-Smith takes us through hundreds of years of American history - the way that vampire Henry Sturges lived it. And the best part is is that it's weirdly historically accurate - for being interwoven with vampire lore at every turn.
I loved this book. I know it's early in the year but I already know this is going to be one of my favorites of 2015. I thought this book was fantastic and can't recommend it highly enough. If you liked Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter don't hesitate to pick this up.
Grahame-Smith takes us through hundreds of years of American history - the way that vampire Henry Sturges lived it. And the best part is is that it's weirdly historically accurate - for being interwoven with vampire lore at every turn.
I loved this book. I know it's early in the year but I already know this is going to be one of my favorites of 2015. I thought this book was fantastic and can't recommend it highly enough. If you liked Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter don't hesitate to pick this up.
My rating: 4.5 stars
Audiobook narrator [a:MacLeod Andrews|7711592|MacLeod Andrews|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] rating: 5 stars
This was a fun follow up to [b:Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter|7108001|Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter|Seth Grahame-Smith|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1291165397s/7108001.jpg|6596168]. I did not think it was as good as the first but it was still interesting. I liked learning about all of the historical characters, especially Tesla, Rasputin, and Virginia Dare. Seth GS did a good job of explaining his take on the Roanoke colony and it was very interesting.
I plan to read more books of his and wonder what he has coming out next. The narrator was terrific and hope to listen to more books of his as well.
Audiobook narrator [a:MacLeod Andrews|7711592|MacLeod Andrews|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] rating: 5 stars
This was a fun follow up to [b:Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter|7108001|Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter|Seth Grahame-Smith|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1291165397s/7108001.jpg|6596168]. I did not think it was as good as the first but it was still interesting. I liked learning about all of the historical characters, especially Tesla, Rasputin, and Virginia Dare. Seth GS did a good job of explaining his take on the Roanoke colony and it was very interesting.
I plan to read more books of his and wonder what he has coming out next. The narrator was terrific and hope to listen to more books of his as well.
Enjoyable read, but gory. Very fast paced - I wanted more detail about the various historical periods.
The Last American Vampire (audio) I listened to this on audio.
It was a fun historical fiction story punctuated by gory vampire fights and famous characters of the times like Mark Twain, Sir Conan Doyle and Nikola Tesla. Fast paced and fun.
Recommended!
It was a fun historical fiction story punctuated by gory vampire fights and famous characters of the times like Mark Twain, Sir Conan Doyle and Nikola Tesla. Fast paced and fun.
Recommended!