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Library Bookclubs: October 27 (Carmilla)

About the Book

How to access the book

Marist does not currently own a copy of Carmilla, but it can still be ordered via SUNY Resource Sharing or Interlibrary Loan. Please allow a couple days for the book to arrive. 

As a Marist College student, you have access to multiple public libraries. Both physical books, audiobooks, and ebooks are available through the Poughkeepsie Public Library. Ebooks and Audiobooks are available through the New York Public Library, Queens Public Library, and Brooklyn Public Library. By creating these cards, you will gain access to thousands of books! There are links to create these cards on the homepage of this guide. 

Carmilla was published in 1872 which means that it is in the public domain! We recommend using Project Gutenberg to access the book. 

Questions to ponder before the meeting

  • What were your overall thoughts of the book? Did you like it or dislike it? Would you recommend it?
  • What do you think about Carmilla's intense love for Laura? What does this say about the times that the author, Joseph Sheridan le Fanu, lived in? 
  • How do you think Carmilla feels about being a vampire? 
  • How do you think Carmilla views her victims? Are they prey or something more?
  • Carmilla was written before Dracula, but Dracula is viewed as the first vampire novel and the one that is remembered today. Why do you think this is?
  • What does this novel say about female sexuality? 
  • What does this novel have to say about religion and the idea of God?
  • This novel is deemed one of the earliest LGBT novels. What do you think of that? How does this novel compare to more current LGBT novels?
  • How does the author's idea of what a vampire looks like compare or differ from other vampires you've read about or seen in films/tv? 

 

More resources

a bat!

Contact

James A. Cannavino Library

3399 North Road
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
(845) 575-3106