I've decided there's just no way I can handle the discussion of Chapter 7, due to dubcon [symbolism]. The interpretation I would be forced to use, by the Internet canon, is that Laura may be enjoying it but of course she doesn't want it, heavens no, and she's so very violated... And, well, the text does not support that interpretation. Therefore we will be discussing The Appeal of the Supernatural Dubcon Fantasy instead.

( I'm sorry for skipping the discussion of Chapter 7. However, this discussion is intended to cover somewhat of what I would have said. )

...I don't care if that doesn't reflect Random Person #349's experiences. It's an observation. And it's not something that necessarily always appeals. Only if it hits the right cues, obviously.

At any rate, I think the Carmilla Let's Read will continue with Chapter 8. See you whenever that is!

We resume our tale with Laura explaining why Carmilla cannot be a man and, therefore, why this is not a romance. Keep telling yourself that, Laura dear.
( In which Carmilla is to hymns as the average person is to fingernails down a chalkboard. Recorded, played, and turned up to about 100 times the original volume. Through speakers placed right next to the listener's ear. )

 

I now have to go off, so I'll stop here for now (though I probably should say more). Sorry that this is in so many parts, but this is a very interesting chapter. :D;;

Well, this is really going to be more a for-the-heck-of-it commentary than a serious Let's Read, but the book's short enough that I figure I could manage it. Everyone's probably read it already, so I'm not going to be skipping over any important content.

Carmilla is a vampire (short) novel that came out over two decades before Dracula, but never achieved the same level of notoriety. In all harshness, this is probably because it's less of a horror-novel than a protracted excuse to write femmeslash via a vampirism-metaphor before hastily wrapping it up with a condemnatory message. It's really rather Twilight-ish, if Edward had been a lesbian, Bella had been a tsundere, and he really had intended to nosh on her all along.

That said, at least it's fun. So let's dive in, shall we?

Prologue
Blahblahblah narrative device blahblahblah setting blahblahblah this occurred many years in the past and Our Hero is now dead, that's really the only thing this says in several paragraphs. Let me guess, Sheridan Le Fanu was paid by the word, wasn't he?

Chapter 1: An Early Fright
Alternatively: The story's ACTUAL prologue

( This is NOT how you're supposed to meet your future Ambiguous Girlfriend. )

Chapter 2: A Guest
Alternatively: Well, Ain't That CONVENIENT?
( Girlfriends delivered fresh to your doorstep! And you thought this only happened in anime. )

Chapter 3: We Compare Notes
Alternatively: I can't believe that pickup line worked
( In which Laura reveals herself to be a tsundere, Carmilla starts putting the make on her, and we learn that modern-era shipfics are actually moderately ///subtle///. )