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A review by writemare31
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I have seen some reviews of this book that say 1) this book is about white feminism and 2) it shouldn't have been set in the 90s, because the presence of racism and sexism is so strong. I'd like to respond to these claims.
First, this book addresses white feminism, it does not support white feminism. White feminists are directly confronted with the problematic (and extremely damaging) nature of their actions in this book. While there isn't a lot of representation, the effect of systemic racism as well as the effect of apathetic and/or racist white people are clearly represented as not only negative but fatal.
Second, as someone from the South, I didn't see a big problem with the timeline. Even if the housewives seem a little old-fashioned for the 90s, I think Charleston housewives fit into the book pretty well. Either way, whether the timeline is right or not, sexism was a huge point of this book. It played out in person relationships and in the plot really strongly. This made the novel stronger, in my opinion. It humanized the trope of the housewife.
As with a lot of horror, the bad guy turns out to something bigger than just a monster. Here, the true antagonist is the sexist, racist, capitalist structure of Southern society. I think that's awesome. Paired with a great cast of characters, high tension and some comedic moments, I sped through this book.
First, this book addresses white feminism, it does not support white feminism. White feminists are directly confronted with the problematic (and extremely damaging) nature of their actions in this book. While there isn't a lot of representation, the effect of systemic racism as well as the effect of apathetic and/or racist white people are clearly represented as not only negative but fatal.
Second, as someone from the South, I didn't see a big problem with the timeline. Even if the housewives seem a little old-fashioned for the 90s, I think Charleston housewives fit into the book pretty well. Either way, whether the timeline is right or not, sexism was a huge point of this book. It played out in person relationships and in the plot really strongly. This made the novel stronger, in my opinion. It humanized the trope of the housewife.
As with a lot of horror, the bad guy turns out to something bigger than just a monster. Here, the true antagonist is the sexist, racist, capitalist structure of Southern society. I think that's awesome. Paired with a great cast of characters, high tension and some comedic moments, I sped through this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Misogyny, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness
It is a horror book, so expect some gore. Some scenes were intensely scary, but most of the book was character driven rather than suspense driven. The biggest trigger warning I would note is sexual assault.