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rorikae's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
'Dead Collections' by Isaac Fellman is a relatively slow and contemplative novel about death, life, identity, and belonging.
The story centers on Sol, an archivist who also happens to be a vampire. Since he can't go out in the sun, he lives and works in the basement archives of his job. When a woman donates the collection of her recently deceased wife, who just so happens to also be the writer of one of Sol's favorite sci-fi television series, the two hit it off and begin a slow but caring relationship. But Sol's collections appear to be decaying faster than they should be and Sol has to determine what is happening while also considering his own role as an archivist and a vampire.
There are so many things that I really liked about Dead Collections. I do think it is important going in to know that this story is much slower and more contemplative than the jacket copy suggests. It is much more Sol's musing on being an archivist, Sol's life as a trans man who is also a vampire, and exploring identity. The first half in particular is quite slow and I found that there wasn't any great stakes or intense plot moments. There is a light mystery, some romance, and many deep questions considered.
There are great discussions on identity between Sol and Elsie, who is considering her own gender and identity. There are also great discussions on archives and the work of an archivist. As someone who is fascinated by archives, I found this interesting but it may be a bit boring for someone who has less interest in it.
One of my favorite aspects of the book is the way the story is told. Most of the story is told through prose but there are also letter and email correspondences, forum discussions, and text messages included as well. This was a great compliment to the discussions of archives and the different pieces that Sol is sorting, which are also highlighted in spots throughout the narrative.
I did find myself highlighting quite a few quotes as Fellman does so much great work with his characters on identity, archives, and belonging. Utilizing Sol's vampirism, Fellman is able to dive further into these themes.
Even though I don't think that this book is for everyone, I do think that it will find a number of people who will love it fiercely. If you are interested in slow, contemplative novels that focus more on the characters and their discussions, like the idea of different formats used throughout the book, and have an interest in archives, I would recommend picking up 'Dead Collections.'
The story centers on Sol, an archivist who also happens to be a vampire. Since he can't go out in the sun, he lives and works in the basement archives of his job. When a woman donates the collection of her recently deceased wife, who just so happens to also be the writer of one of Sol's favorite sci-fi television series, the two hit it off and begin a slow but caring relationship. But Sol's collections appear to be decaying faster than they should be and Sol has to determine what is happening while also considering his own role as an archivist and a vampire.
There are so many things that I really liked about Dead Collections. I do think it is important going in to know that this story is much slower and more contemplative than the jacket copy suggests. It is much more Sol's musing on being an archivist, Sol's life as a trans man who is also a vampire, and exploring identity. The first half in particular is quite slow and I found that there wasn't any great stakes or intense plot moments. There is a light mystery, some romance, and many deep questions considered.
There are great discussions on identity between Sol and Elsie, who is considering her own gender and identity. There are also great discussions on archives and the work of an archivist. As someone who is fascinated by archives, I found this interesting but it may be a bit boring for someone who has less interest in it.
One of my favorite aspects of the book is the way the story is told. Most of the story is told through prose but there are also letter and email correspondences, forum discussions, and text messages included as well. This was a great compliment to the discussions of archives and the different pieces that Sol is sorting, which are also highlighted in spots throughout the narrative.
I did find myself highlighting quite a few quotes as Fellman does so much great work with his characters on identity, archives, and belonging. Utilizing Sol's vampirism, Fellman is able to dive further into these themes.
Even though I don't think that this book is for everyone, I do think that it will find a number of people who will love it fiercely. If you are interested in slow, contemplative novels that focus more on the characters and their discussions, like the idea of different formats used throughout the book, and have an interest in archives, I would recommend picking up 'Dead Collections.'
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content and Transphobia
Minor: Infidelity and Medical content
dizzymissliz's review
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
uhhhhhhm......
from the perspective of a cis woman i think that this was an excellent recreation of the trans experience that really helped me to understand the fluidity and development of gender. there was also some truly beautiful prose that made me go "wow." and the ending was very beautifully written.
that being said.
the characters were barely fleshed out and felt like cardboard cutouts or characters in an educational video serving no purpose except to make Sol 3-dimensional. Else was super cute but I did not like Sol that much. Honestly I was kind of neutral about both of them but leaning negative, like, I would not like them in real life.
The main thing that made me have a sour outlook on this book was the author's treatment of lesbians, and women in general.
for one thing, the author (a MAN) continually uses the d- slur to describe characters, which is a slur he can't reclaim. also, lesbians are just treated very poorly and women are continually described in a way that kind of made me uncomfortable? Sol himself seems to love women sexually but doesn't like them very much otherwise which made me dislike him. I know that as a trans person there is some discomfort with your AGAB but DAYUM the author didn't have to be weird about it.
from the perspective of a cis woman i think that this was an excellent recreation of the trans experience that really helped me to understand the fluidity and development of gender. there was also some truly beautiful prose that made me go "wow." and the ending was very beautifully written.
that being said.
the characters were barely fleshed out and felt like cardboard cutouts or characters in an educational video serving no purpose except to make Sol 3-dimensional. Else was super cute but I did not like Sol that much. Honestly I was kind of neutral about both of them but leaning negative, like, I would not like them in real life.
The main thing that made me have a sour outlook on this book was the author's treatment of lesbians, and women in general.
for one thing, the author (a MAN) continually uses the d- slur to describe characters, which is a slur he can't reclaim. also, lesbians are just treated very poorly and women are continually described in a way that kind of made me uncomfortable? Sol himself seems to love women sexually but doesn't like them very much otherwise which made me dislike him. I know that as a trans person there is some discomfort with your AGAB but DAYUM the author didn't have to be weird about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Transphobia and Homophobia
Minor: Car accident and Lesbophobia
lunacurlypaws's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A beautiful book! I'm very glad I read it, even if it made me cry for many reasons.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria
Moderate: Blood, Transphobia, Deadnaming, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, and Medical content
lipstickitotheman's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Genuine addition to the vampire canon. I really really liked reading this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Dysphoria, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, and Transphobia
Moderate: Deadnaming, Homophobia, Outing, Car accident, Blood, and Infidelity
toopunkrockforshul's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
As a vampire fan I loved it, the lore was really interesting, and as an archivist I loved it, it was like a love letter to the job. And as a transmasc Jew in fandom I loved it because it felt like being seen.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Outing, Deadnaming, Car accident, Body horror, Blood, Death, Transphobia, Medical content, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Sexual content, and Confinement
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Incest
e_flah's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The writing and themes of Dead Collections were really moving. I absolutely loved how matter of factly queer this story was. There are characters whose queer identity is simply an element about them and then another character who explores their queerness in a way that was great to see on the page.
"We love a body slipping through time, and we cherish it as time strips parts of it away, and we feel good until it slips away from us entirely. You can give up some things that give you pleasure, if it means the ones you love can have joy."
I do wish the pacing had been a bit more consistent in Dead Collections. For such a short book, I was surprised to find that parts really dragged. The story seemed more character-driven to me than the synopsis led me to expect.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Transphobia
Minor: Car accident
booksthatburn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
DEAD COLLECTIONS is an exploration of memories and identity via a Jewish trans vampire living in his office as an archivist, falling in love with a widow who drops off a collection for the archive.
I love this book. The explorations of gender and identity follow a general template that feels meant to open the door for the reader to ask themselves questions, while also being deeply specific to the characters (a trans man who’s also Jewish and a vampire, a person who begins the story identifying as a bisexual woman) and the setting (USA, circa 2018). The romance is intimate and erotic, with an intensity which comes from two people exploring themselves as much as they're getting closer to each other.
This feels so wonderfully believable and specific in every little detail, from the attempt at safety which led to Sol living at work, to the messiness of Elsie exploring new love as she deals with the stuff left behind after her wife’s passing. Sol and Else talking, laughing, and fucking, with the background issue of Sol dealing with things at work.
The worldbuilding is subtle and minimalistic, basically modern times but where vampires exist and are known to medical science. It grounds itself in a time and a place (but with vampires) and then doesn't try to explain what the place means, but lets itself just exist.
The audiobook narrator is great. There’s a bit a little past halfway through involving several people’s emails back and forth, and it’s a pretty serious moment, but there’s a memetic quality to the way the narrator reads it. If you like audiobooks then definitely give this one a shot, as their performance works so well with the story and the characters.
I love this so much, it's a fantastic premise, well executed, and the whole thing is just so perfect.
I love this book. The explorations of gender and identity follow a general template that feels meant to open the door for the reader to ask themselves questions, while also being deeply specific to the characters (a trans man who’s also Jewish and a vampire, a person who begins the story identifying as a bisexual woman) and the setting (USA, circa 2018). The romance is intimate and erotic, with an intensity which comes from two people exploring themselves as much as they're getting closer to each other.
This feels so wonderfully believable and specific in every little detail, from the attempt at safety which led to Sol living at work, to the messiness of Elsie exploring new love as she deals with the stuff left behind after her wife’s passing. Sol and Else talking, laughing, and fucking, with the background issue of Sol dealing with things at work.
The worldbuilding is subtle and minimalistic, basically modern times but where vampires exist and are known to medical science. It grounds itself in a time and a place (but with vampires) and then doesn't try to explain what the place means, but lets itself just exist.
The audiobook narrator is great. There’s a bit a little past halfway through involving several people’s emails back and forth, and it’s a pretty serious moment, but there’s a memetic quality to the way the narrator reads it. If you like audiobooks then definitely give this one a shot, as their performance works so well with the story and the characters.
I love this so much, it's a fantastic premise, well executed, and the whole thing is just so perfect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Blood, Sexual content, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Cursing, Transphobia, Death, Dysphoria, Violence, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Murder
prynne31's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Well-written and interesting, just not my particular cuppa.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Transphobia, Outing, and Deadnaming
katiewhocanread's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Dysphoria, Outing, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, and Deadnaming
reviewsandreadathons's review
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Transphobia
Moderate: Medical content