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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Voto: 6,5/10
26 anni prima di Dracula e Van Helsing, c’erano Carmilla e il Dottor Hesselius.
Una sera, proprio davanti alle loro proprietà, Laura e il padre vedono una carrozza uscire di strada e cappottarsi. Di qui ne esce una signora che racconta di avere impegni urgenti, e con questo pretesto affida loro la giovane figlia Carmilla, troppo debole a causa dell’incidente per poter proseguire il viaggio. Il nobiluomo accetta questa incombenza con piacere, felice che la figlia Laura possa avere una compagna per l’estate ora che la nipote di un generale della zona è morta rapidamente e in circostanze non ancora chiarite.
“Carmilla” è sicuramente uno di quei libri da leggere se si è appassionati di letteratura gotica e, più nel particolare, di letteratura vampiresca. La sua pubblicazione anticipa di ben 26 anni la pubblicazione di Dracula di Bram Stoker, e confrontando le due opere è possibile notare come la seconda opera sia derivativa della prima.
Nota importante è come le Fanu abbia sottinteso senza rendere palese (anche a causa delle ovvie censure dell’epoca) una sorta di strascico di desiderio della vampira Carmilla nei confronti delle sue vittime, un’attrazione per la bellezza delle giovani ragazze che designa come sue vittime.
Il problema di “Carmilla”, imho, è la sua brevità e quindi la mancanza di ulteriore approfondimento dei personaggi e del vampiro come creatura. È stata comunque una lettura piacevole e scorrevole
26 anni prima di Dracula e Van Helsing, c’erano Carmilla e il Dottor Hesselius.
Una sera, proprio davanti alle loro proprietà, Laura e il padre vedono una carrozza uscire di strada e cappottarsi. Di qui ne esce una signora che racconta di avere impegni urgenti, e con questo pretesto affida loro la giovane figlia Carmilla, troppo debole a causa dell’incidente per poter proseguire il viaggio. Il nobiluomo accetta questa incombenza con piacere, felice che la figlia Laura possa avere una compagna per l’estate ora che la nipote di un generale della zona è morta rapidamente e in circostanze non ancora chiarite.
“Carmilla” è sicuramente uno di quei libri da leggere se si è appassionati di letteratura gotica e, più nel particolare, di letteratura vampiresca. La sua pubblicazione anticipa di ben 26 anni la pubblicazione di Dracula di Bram Stoker, e confrontando le due opere è possibile notare come la seconda opera sia derivativa della prima.
Nota importante è come le Fanu abbia sottinteso senza rendere palese (anche a causa delle ovvie censure dell’epoca) una sorta di strascico di desiderio della vampira Carmilla nei confronti delle sue vittime, un’attrazione per la bellezza delle giovani ragazze che designa come sue vittime.
Il problema di “Carmilla”, imho, è la sua brevità e quindi la mancanza di ulteriore approfondimento dei personaggi e del vampiro come creatura. È stata comunque una lettura piacevole e scorrevole
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Too short for the story it tells, but I still had a good time. Quick read, and the inspiration for Bram Stoker's "Dracula".
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I first learned of this book from listening to Re: Dracula, and I listened to it as an audio drama first before actually reading it.
Carmilla predates Dracula by about 25 years, and I appreciate that if this story wasn't written, Dracula likely wouldn't exist either. That said, I prefer Dracula, though if you're someone who's looking to dip your toe into horror whole still being able to sleep at night, Carmilla would make for a decent place to start.
I, unfortunately, wasn't scared in the slightest with this book, and I found that it left too many loose ends. The jump to vampire seemed to come out of nowhere, and was cut off as quickly as it arrived. To be fair, this was also within the last 30 pages, so no wonder it disappeared fast. I appreciate that the story is told from the perspective of Laura, a young lady who is befriended by the beautiful Carmilla, and quickly becomes her victim. I also liked that this story set up the tropes we now know are affiliated with vampires: fangs, castles, sucking blood, shape-shifting, and shanks to the heart, to name a few.
I've read arguments as well that the relationship between Laura and Carmilla is sexual in nature. I'm not sure I'd agree with that, especially since Laura didn't strike me as feeling sexually attracted to Carmilla. Carmilla perhaps, but even then I'm not 100% convinced. I would, however, agree that Carmilla is lustful in her nature, but even then it's only for blood.
Overall, I'm glad I read this. Carmilla walked so Dracula can run, and I appreciate that. Anyone interested in the Gothic should have a go with this book. It's a short read, and can be finished in a weekend.
Carmilla predates Dracula by about 25 years, and I appreciate that if this story wasn't written, Dracula likely wouldn't exist either. That said, I prefer Dracula, though if you're someone who's looking to dip your toe into horror whole still being able to sleep at night, Carmilla would make for a decent place to start.
I, unfortunately, wasn't scared in the slightest with this book, and I found that it left too many loose ends. The jump to vampire seemed to come out of nowhere, and was cut off as quickly as it arrived. To be fair, this was also within the last 30 pages, so no wonder it disappeared fast. I appreciate that the story is told from the perspective of Laura, a young lady who is befriended by the beautiful Carmilla, and quickly becomes her victim. I also liked that this story set up the tropes we now know are affiliated with vampires: fangs, castles, sucking blood, shape-shifting, and shanks to the heart, to name a few.
I've read arguments as well that the relationship between Laura and Carmilla is sexual in nature. I'm not sure I'd agree with that, especially since Laura didn't strike me as feeling sexually attracted to Carmilla. Carmilla perhaps, but even then I'm not 100% convinced. I would, however, agree that Carmilla is lustful in her nature, but even then it's only for blood.
Overall, I'm glad I read this. Carmilla walked so Dracula can run, and I appreciate that. Anyone interested in the Gothic should have a go with this book. It's a short read, and can be finished in a weekend.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Carmilla was a beautiful birthday present and I thoroughly enjoyed it. As old as it is it is a fast read and the only thing I thought was missing was more Carmilla herself at the end
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No