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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It's a fast read and enjoyable all around. It's hard to appreciate it fully since it has many tropes that feel tired today. I don't want to hold that against the book, as it is a great execution of those tropes. It's creepy and unsettling, and I'm very much so in Laura's headspace. It's interesting that we got such an unsatisfying ending, because Laura is left without closure. She had a loved one who is suddenly called a monster and dies, and she doesn't know what to do with herself anymore. We never learn Carmilla's motivations: was she being manipulative or did she truly love Laura in her own way? These are the same questions Laura will ask herself forever.
“You must come with me, loving me, to death; or else hate me and still come with me, and hating me through death and after.”
I didn't carry a lot of expectations getting into this book, and I'm not carrying much satisfaction finishing it. Beware of spoilers in this review.
It's been advertised a lot as a lesbian vampire story; to be fair, that isn't actually misleading, but, at the same time, I'd just classify it as just a gothic vampire novel. There are queer elements, but the overarching vibe is this ambiguous description of the relationship between Carmilla and Laura (sidenote: unless I'm mistaken, Laura's name is mentioned for the first time when Carmilla's nature starts to be teased, at the end of chapter 8).
Carmilla is a very interesting and inscrutable character to me. What are her motivations? What are her true thoughts? Her rants betray a mentally ill individual, obsessed with Laura.
For her, it looks like to love means to die; but it is unclear if she considers herself dead, and so wants to take Laura with her to this state of not life, or wants to kill Laura, then die herself.
Carmilla seems very intense, in love in a sick way. Throughout it I kept wondering; is it just for Laura? Does she always go through the same emotions with her other victims? Laura seems to be special.
Overall, I have to say, this, as well as many other gothic novels, suffer because of time. Their shock value has diminished to almost nothing. That isn't to say that the rest of the book feels old or outdated; in fact, despite its age it reads very easily. I finished it in one sitting and not once did I feel like putting it down. I don't regret purchasing it, but, at the same time, I'm not sure I would read it again. In the jacket, it says "The Cult Classic that inspired Dracula". In my opinion, Dracula is, in many aspects, a better novel. If you read and enjoyed Carmilla, do yourself a favour and try out Dracula.
I wish, also, the ending was longer. I'd appreciate further exploration of the lore behind Countess Mircalla and also of Laura's feelings about the betrayal she faced, as well as the fact that she was left without closure. Suddenly, her companion is proclaimed a monster and beheaded. Of course she appears terrified of her, and sees her as the monster she is, but, at the same time, it feels as if a wall is raised. What are her true emotions? During the recounting of the story of Carmilla killing the other girl, there isn't really a point where we see Laura's thoughts in detail. And the ending comes abruptly, in melancholy.
It's been advertised a lot as a lesbian vampire story; to be fair, that isn't actually misleading, but, at the same time, I'd just classify it as just a gothic vampire novel. There are queer elements, but the overarching vibe is this ambiguous description of the relationship between Carmilla and Laura (sidenote: unless I'm mistaken, Laura's name is mentioned for the first time when Carmilla's nature starts to be teased, at the end of chapter 8).
Now the truth is, I felt quite unaccountably towards the beautiful stranger. I did feel, as she said,"drawn towards her", but there was also something of repulsion. In this ambiguous feeling, however, the sense of attraction immensely prevailed. She interested and won me; she was so beautiful and so indescribably engaging.
I experienced a strange tumultuous excitement that was pleasurable, ever and anon, mingled with a vague sense of fear and disgust. I had no distinct thoughts about her while such scenes lasted, but I was conscious of a love growing into adoration, and also of abhorrence.
Carmilla is a very interesting and inscrutable character to me. What are her motivations? What are her true thoughts? Her rants betray a mentally ill individual, obsessed with Laura.
In the rapture of my enormous humiliation I live in your warm life, and you shall die-die, sweetly die-into mine. I cannot help it; as I draw near to you, you, in your turn, will draw near to others, and learn the rapture of that cruelty, which yet is love.
For her, it looks like to love means to die; but it is unclear if she considers herself dead, and so wants to take Laura with her to this state of not life, or wants to kill Laura, then die herself.
But to die as lovers may-to die together so they may live together.
You must come with me, loving me, to death; or else hate me and still come with me, and hating me through death and after.
Carmilla seems very intense, in love in a sick way. Throughout it I kept wondering; is it just for Laura? Does she always go through the same emotions with her other victims? Laura seems to be special.
"I have been in love with no one, and never shall", she whispered, " unless it should be with you."
"Darling, darling," she murmured, "I live in you; and you would die for me, I love you so."
Overall, I have to say, this, as well as many other gothic novels, suffer because of time. Their shock value has diminished to almost nothing. That isn't to say that the rest of the book feels old or outdated; in fact, despite its age it reads very easily. I finished it in one sitting and not once did I feel like putting it down. I don't regret purchasing it, but, at the same time, I'm not sure I would read it again. In the jacket, it says "The Cult Classic that inspired Dracula". In my opinion, Dracula is, in many aspects, a better novel. If you read and enjoyed Carmilla, do yourself a favour and try out Dracula.
I wish, also, the ending was longer. I'd appreciate further exploration of the lore behind Countess Mircalla and also of Laura's feelings about the betrayal she faced, as well as the fact that she was left without closure. Suddenly, her companion is proclaimed a monster and beheaded. Of course she appears terrified of her, and sees her as the monster she is, but, at the same time, it feels as if a wall is raised. What are her true emotions? During the recounting of the story of Carmilla killing the other girl, there isn't really a point where we see Laura's thoughts in detail. And the ending comes abruptly, in melancholy.
[...] and often from a reverie I have started, fancying I heard the light step of Carmilla at the drawing room door.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I kind of enjoyed reading it but finished feeling very unsatisfied. I don't want to give spoilers but there are certain aspects of the story (and particularly the conclusion) that didn't make much sense to me.
I'm conscious of the period it was written in and need to bear that in mind, but I found the dialogue in particular very difficult to engage with, as well as how drawn out some of the revelations were, when as a reader it was obvious where it was going (though of course this is because of the hundreds of years of literature that came after this story was originally published).
I would have liked more of an emotional response from Laura, it feels like everything just happens around her and she doesn't really react to it. We don't get to see her come to the realisation that those awful dreams were real, or grieve the loss of a connection that wasn't what she thought it was.
And finally the proclamation that this is a sapphic story is, to my mind, 100% queerbait. There's nothing in this that isn't exactly like all of the romantic friendships written for women during this time period. Yes, they're affectionate towards each other (unrealistically so right from the start), but there's no grappling with confusing feelings or conflict or questioning. There's no sense of it being different to the norm. It's just an intimate friendship, and would have been seen so at the time.
I'm conscious of the period it was written in and need to bear that in mind, but I found the dialogue in particular very difficult to engage with, as well as how drawn out some of the revelations were, when as a reader it was obvious where it was going (though of course this is because of the hundreds of years of literature that came after this story was originally published).
I would have liked more of an emotional response from Laura, it feels like everything just happens around her and she doesn't really react to it. We don't get to see her come to the realisation that those awful dreams were real, or grieve the loss of a connection that wasn't what she thought it was.
And finally the proclamation that this is a sapphic story is, to my mind, 100% queerbait. There's nothing in this that isn't exactly like all of the romantic friendships written for women during this time period. Yes, they're affectionate towards each other (unrealistically so right from the start), but there's no grappling with confusing feelings or conflict or questioning. There's no sense of it being different to the norm. It's just an intimate friendship, and would have been seen so at the time.