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"Carmilla" by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu — Book Review #3

My stars: 4/5⭐️ Gothic appetite, women loving women, vampires and great atmosphere. What more could you want? And is "Carmilla" really that queer?

I remember a classmate of mine, back in high school, constantly talked about how amazing "Carmilla" was, and how there was a lot of lesbian undertones, despite it being a 19th century vampire classic. It sparked my interest then but I only got around to reading it after quite some time. Let me tell you... Even if you're not a gothic lover, you will like it! "Carmilla" is a short novel, yet the author managed to build the eerie, dark atmosphere brilliantly. Laura, a young girl living in an old castle with her father, is the narrator — and I love, love, love when characters speak to the readers through letters and monologues. It definitely gave a lot to the story, as we saw all of the events unfold through the eyes of the victim. The missed signs, confusion, fear...

Although I loved the portrayal of Carmilla/Millarca/Mircalla, and the fact she was actually not sexualized as a woman-vampire, but had a rather mysterious, alluring aura, I had some problems with the novel. Up to the culmination point, everything was fine. The story had layers, developed evenly and was interesting despite its quite simple plot. However, when it was revealed who the beautiful friend of Laura really was, the narration was sped up and the book ended before we got to truly see everyone's emotions or understand the whole killing ritual. It all just seemed too easy, and that's why I gave 4 starts instead of 5. Furthermore, I have a problem with the interpretation of "Carmilla" as a queer novel. I interpret all of Mircalla's behavior — the outbursts, hugging Laura, not letting her go — as a sign of her appetite as a vampire (a very gothic theme), and not a real feeling. She wasn't also seducing Laura; Carmilla had an aura that brought Laura closer to her because she was something interesting, mysterious, but ultimately didn't do much to spark any romanic interest in Laura. And Laura's emotions consisted mostly of confusion and sometimes even disgust in Carmilla's emotional, dramatic exclamations. All of this seems just too little for me to declare it "gay" or even having gay undertones, especially also because it was revealed at the end that its a typical way for a vampire to get closer to its victim. Mircalla, a monster not fully aware of her curse, couldn't intentionally act — and therefore couldn't act on any romantic feeling, she couldn't have one. Therefore, she also couldn't feel love or sexual interest in Laura, too (at least the way vampires were described in this particular novel). But this is just my interpretation that could be closely tied also to what I previously mentioned — the length of the novel and ultimately lack to properly develop, show certain aspects.

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Dead Poets Society 1989 | dir. Peter Weir ↳ @pscentral event 27: scenery

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feeling very haunted by the lives i'm not living. time for coffee

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The Vampire Happening (1971)

Dir. Freddie Francis

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I really really wish I was a cat, I’m not built for this capatalist society but I am built for sleeping 19 hours a day and knocking things over

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I wish I could just be there and sit in the snow. I think it actually would heal me.

Some snow scenes in Claude Monet’s paintings.

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love and affection should be constant!! remember

You deserve someone who never stops trying to show you how much you mean to them, even after they have you.

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date sweet men. men who can articulate themselves. men who are soft spoken. men who are patient with you. men who respect their own bodies. men who are kind to your soul. men that are gentle. men who have self control.

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Robert Eggers you must make a Carmilla movie next

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Cemeteries and Snow 🪦❄️

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— María Negroni, ‘The Exemplary Theater of Sadness’ Dark Museum (translated by Michelle Gil-Montero)

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The Courier-News, Bridgewater, Pennsylvania, January 19, 1933

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No YOU'RE cooked. I'm caramelized

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Putting a bloody lace handkerchief in my back pocket to indicate that I'm into Victorian tuberculosis roleplay.