Still reading my last R.I.P. challenge, The Wyvern Mystery, and it has gotten better.
Went to the library Saturday afternoon and got (among other books) A Coldness in the Blood, a modern Dracula version. Lurid cover, don't you think? It was a quick read, but not that great. Saberhagen is a PROLIFIC writer, and this is the 8th in this series (he has 4 different series, as well as some that are classified as "other"). I may look for the first in the series because it was a quick read and the earlier ones sound better.
Lurid cover indeed! I have never heard of these books. I have of course heard of Saberhagen but I have to admit that I've never read any of his books.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that Wyvern is getting better.
I ordered a used copy of the Le Fanu as lots of people seem to be reading her. Glad to hear it has gotten better. I will have to check out the movie, too.
ReplyDeleteThat would be him...not sure why I keep wanting to call Le Fanu a woman....
ReplyDeleteCarl - the first books in the series deal with Dracula's relationship to Mina Harker; that sounded more interesting to me.
ReplyDeleteDanielle - I'm adding the movie to my que as well (which is getting to be about as awkward and the TBR list!)
I'm going to wait on Saberhagen until you read the first in the Dracula series. If you like it, I may give it a try. Since reading Stoker's Dracula I find I've developed an interest in Dracula-related stories. I started The Historian today, which has me in its grip.
ReplyDeleteHave you read anything else by Le Fanu?
Hope you like The Historian! I really did...especially considering the similarities and differences to/from the original Dracula. It will all be fresh for you. When I reviewed The Historian, it had been years since my last reading of Dracula.
ReplyDeleteI hesitate to read The Historian only because I have such a love for Stoker's Dracula and don't like the idea of anyone mucking about with it.
ReplyDeleteCarl, I never had the feeling Kostova was mucking about with Dracula. I hated Frances Ford Coppola's film verion of Dracula because he did muck with and at the same time billed the movie as Bram Stoker's Dracula.
ReplyDeleteKostova's novel is a different stripe, but she echoes the original in style, tone, and description. The story in different, however; it is a modern search for an explanation of events. I think you'd like it.
I think you are right about the Kosova novel. I had read Dracula the year before and read The Historian after. You could see where she had gotten her inspiration, but she didn't mess with the story. I wholeheartedly agree with you on the Coppola version of the movie. I saw it when it came out, and really liked it. Then much later read the book and thought I would watch it again and hated it--I couldn't even finish watching it, it was so bad!!
ReplyDeleteCoppola made so many changes based on 20th century culture then just assumed that that big names and costuming would carry the movie...but it didn't work for me either. Funny 'though, I enjoyed all the Hammer films because they didn't claim to be presenting "Bram Stoker's" Dracula.
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