J. Fanu

Advantages: Suspenseful tale with a shocking climax
Disadvantages: Can seem slow at times

...Irish author J Sheridan le Fanu builds a gripping web of suspense in this story of a young woman who gradually becomes convinced she is being held prisoner by her mysterious uncle Silas. But why? And what does he have planned for her? In his gloomy house surrounded by misty marshes, Uncle Silas sets about isolating his young ward... Le Fanu goes for a long slow build up in this novel, but this serves only to make the climax more shocking by contrast. In fact the climactic scene jars the senses as if it has been dropped in from a different novel entirely. I actually had to read it twice as I could not quite beleive what I was reading! One thing is certain - you won't forget it in a hurry!... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: slightly erotic
Disadvantages: shallow, cliched, boring story, weak characters

..., there was no depth what so ever, it took me all of an evening to read it and you cant even get a feel for the characters! Vampire fiction can be written so much better than this, I suggest F.Paul Wilson, esp the Keep, Freda Warringtons 'A Taste of Blood Red Wine' and the classic Carmilla by J Sheridan Le Fanu. In short dont go out of your way to buy it unless you also find it for 50p in a charity shop. Failing that e-mail me your address and I'll give it to you!! Poppy Z Brite. Lost Souls. Penguin Books 1992... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: See Review
Disadvantages: See Review

...many people on Halloween night to dress up as a Vampire. This book has changed history in a way. But what intrigues me is, that Bram Stoker steps away from the normal pointy-teeth-and-black-hair scenario for his Vampire. His is much more disturbing and frightening. With his white hair and small moustache this description of a Vampire is scarier than usual! ♣ Where Did Dracula Originate? ♣ Many people to this day say that Bram Stoker got his idea of the Vampire Dracula from J.S.Le Fanu’s novel Carmilla written twenty-five years before Dracula in 1872, about a female Vampire. Whether this is true or not I’m not sure, but there are certainly some devastatingly scary things that are associated with the novel. As I said, I will do what must do, and compare Dracula to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein! I must admit... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Suspenseful tale with a shocking climax
Disadvantages: Can seem slow at times

...Irish author J Sheridan le Fanu builds a gripping web of suspense in this story of a young woman who gradually becomes convinced she is being held prisoner by her mysterious uncle Silas. But why? And what does he have planned for her? In his gloomy house surrounded by misty marshes, Uncle Silas sets about isolating his young ward... Le Fanu goes for a long slow build up in this novel, but this serves only to make the climax more shocking by contrast. In fact the climactic scene jars the senses as if it has been dropped in from a different novel entirely. I actually had to read it twice as I could not quite beleive what I was reading! One thing is certain - you won't forget it in a hurry!... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: slightly erotic
Disadvantages: shallow, cliched, boring story, weak characters

..., there was no depth what so ever, it took me all of an evening to read it and you cant even get a feel for the characters! Vampire fiction can be written so much better than this, I suggest F.Paul Wilson, esp the Keep, Freda Warringtons 'A Taste of Blood Red Wine' and the classic Carmilla by J Sheridan Le Fanu. In short dont go out of your way to buy it unless you also find it for 50p in a charity shop. Failing that e-mail me your address and I'll give it to you!! Poppy Z Brite. Lost Souls. Penguin Books 1992... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Full of information and practical advice
Disadvantages: Not all information is updated in new editions

...The Ciao illustration here shows the 2003 edition of the Writers' and Artists' Handbook, whereas this is a review of the 2006 edition which includes a foreword by Terry Pratchett as well as advice from J.K. Rowling, Mark Billingham, G.P. Taylor, Isabel Losada, Joanna Trollope, Simon Winchester and Maggie Gee. Terry Pratchett tells us that he bought his first copy of the book secondhand at the age of 13 or 14; he gives advice on how to be a professional boxer, ending by saying that becoming a writer is very similar except that it is not about boxing. New articles in the 2006 edition include 'How to get ahead in cartooning' by Martin Rowson, 'I think I need an agent' by Mark Le Fanu of the Society of Authors, 'Year-in-view of the publishing industry' by Joel Rickett, 'How to attract the attention of a literary agent' by Alison Baverstock... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful