14 May 2012
Title: Bitten by Twilight: youth culture, media, & the vampire franchise (New York: Peter Lang, 2010)
Author: Melissa A. Click, Jennifer Stevens Aubrey & Elizabeth Behm-Morawitz (eds)
Date ordered: 6 May 2012
Price: £10.19 + £8.04 postage
Why'd I buy it? As I've mentioned before, I'm not a Twi-Hard, but I am fascinated by the impact Stephenie Meyers' books have had on the public. They've arguably mainstreamed vampires more than any other vampire work, and in such a short space of time, too. What is it about these works that makes them so popular? Why did they catch on more than the hundreds—even thousands, maybe—other vampire works out there? So it's really the 'franchise' bit of the title that catches my attention. Vampire fandom also intrigues me greatly, i.e. what gets people into vampires? I think the fact that this book's got an essay titled 'A Twilight fan community in Norway' sold me.
15 May 2012
Title: Bram Stoker: Dracula (Basingstoke, U.K.: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009)
Author: William Hughes
Date ordered: 6 May 2012
Price: £14.45
Why'd I buy it? Another book that's been on my Amazon wish list for a while. It's essentially an overview of Dracula studies from a variety of disciplines. In this case, psychoanalysis, physiology, politics and gender studies. I enjoy works that provide these overviews. Makes my job that much easier. However, there are some confusing matters in association with this book. The book's copyright page says it was first published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2008, but the copyright date is 2009. Also, this book is part of a series—'Reader's guide to essential criticism'—which initially made me think Hughes' Bram Stoker's Dracula: a reader's guide (Continuum, 2009) was one-and-the-same book under a different title. But it doesn't seem to be.
Title: La stirpe di Dracula: Indagine sul vampirismo dall'antichità ai nostri giorni (Milano: Oscar Mondadori, 1997)
Author: Massimo Introvigne
Date ordered: 6 May 2012
Price: £16.67 + £12.14 postage + £4.02 extra due to 'Shpping costs for Australia'
Why'd I buy it? Though I can't read Italian—I should've paid more attention in class!—I'm a fan of Introvigne's English writings, namely 'Antoine Faivre: father of contemporary vampire studies' (2001) and 'Satanism scares and vampirism from the 18th century to the contemporary anti-cult movement' (1997). Simply put, the guy knows his shit. He also heads the Italian branch of the Transylvanian Society of Dracula and the Centro Studi sulle Nuove Religioni, 'Center for Studies on New Religions'—an organisation that's attracted controversy. Nonetheless, CENSUR's website features an excellent section on vampires.
16 May 2012
Title: Vampires through the ages: lore & legends of the world's most notorious blood drinkers (Woodbury, Minn.: Llewellyn Publications, 2012)
Author: Brian Righi
Date ordered: 6 May 2012
Price: £8.03
Why'd I buy it? It was cheap, to be honest. Also, I thought it might provide a nice little stroll down vampire lane. I also dig the 'lore' angle. We'll see if it bears fruit. However, on a brief flick through the book, I was pleased to see some in-text citations. You don't often see those with mainstream books of this type, which suggests a scholarly bent. Bring it on.
Title: Theorizing Twilight: critical essays on what's at stake in a post-vampire world (Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2011)
Author: Maggie Parke & Natalie Wilson (eds)
Date ordered: 6 May 2012
Price: £26.32
Why'd I buy it? Same reason as Bitten by Twilight: what's the deal with these books? Also, McFarland consistently turns out quality contributions to the vampire genre. Couldn't resist. Once again, it explores the impact of the franchise and fandom—and entwines them. One notable paper's titled, 'Fanpires: utilizing fan culture in event film adaptations'. Sidenote: it turns out the book's co-editor, Natalie Wilson, has ventured into Twilight before. Her 2011 book, Seduced by Twilight: the allure and contradictory messages of the popular saga is on my to-get list.
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In the meantime, if readers have other recommendations for my trolley (dramatisation, left), feel free to make suggestions. I've already been eyeing off a few yet-to-be-published works, which'll be featured in an 'Upcoming books' segment.
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