Review: How To Kill A Vampire
Posted by Kate on Monday, September 23, 2013. Filed under: history, non-fiction, published in 2013, review, reviewed in 2013
How to Kill a Vampire: Fangs in Folklore, Film and Fictionby Liisa Ladouceur
Published by: ECW Press
Our source: ARC from the publisher
Our source: ARC from the publisher
What it’s about (from Goodreads):
Citing examples from folklore, as well as horror films, TV shows, and works of fiction, this book details all known ways to prevent vampirism, including how to protect oneself against attacks and how to destroy vampires. While offering explanations on the origins and uses of most commonly known tactics in fending off vampirism, the book also delves much deeper by collecting historical accounts of unusual burial rites and shocking superstitions from European history, from the “real” Serbian vampire Arnold Paole to the unique Bulgarian Djadadjii, a professional vampire “bottler.”
It traces the evolution of how to kill the fictional vampire—from Bram Stoker’s Dracula and the Hammer horror films beginning in the 1950s to Anne Rice’s Lestat and the dreamy vamps of Twilight, True Blood, and The Vampire Diaries—and also celebrates the most important slayers, including Van Helsing, Buffy, and Blade. In exploring how and why these monsters have been created and the increasingly complex ways in which they are destroyed, the book not only serves as a handy guide to the history and modern role of the vampire, it reveals much about the changing nature of human fears.
Our thoughts:
I need to start by saying that I had an advanced reader copy so I don't know if any of these issues will be fixed in editing. I was really excited about this book, but it was kind of a mess. I really don't feel like the concept was captured well on paper.
Her tone also bounced between academic and snarky/conversational which just didn't flow. She also bounced between over-explaining some books/movies/tv shows and completely breezing over others with no context.
Additionally, if you're not already familiar with most vampire movies and books, be warned that this includes a ton of spoilers. As a cultural study of these, I did expect there to be some, but there were several times I was surprised how much she revealed of plots when it didn't seem necessary.
Ladouceur often referenced stories that were both books and movies/tv - and she'd switch between them without specifying, or just say "The Vampire Diaries" without saying which medium she was talking about. I had enough of a background in both to follow, but it was really aggravating at times.
Her tone also bounced between academic and snarky/conversational which just didn't flow. She also bounced between over-explaining some books/movies/tv shows and completely breezing over others with no context.
Additionally, if you're not already familiar with most vampire movies and books, be warned that this includes a ton of spoilers. As a cultural study of these, I did expect there to be some, but there were several times I was surprised how much she revealed of plots when it didn't seem necessary.
We would recommend this to:
Fans of vampire movies and books (but only AFTER you've watched/read a vast majority!)
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