3. Angela Carter (1979), The Bloody Chamber

[strange_complex]

This is the second book I read for the now-unlikely-to-happen DracSoc trip to Bath, again because its author lived there in the early to mid '70s. On one level it is a series of ten 'takes' on traditional fairy-tales, but even to say that rather over-simplifies and understates what Carter does with them. Most are entirely recast, reset, reframed -

Comments

[rosamicula]

I taught The Bloody Chamber for A Level for a few years and the students were always deliciously shocked by it. It stimulated the sort of cultural and intellectual awakenings that lead one to being confidently woke.

It had a bit of a bad rep when I was doing my MA, as it - and the author - were a bit of a feminist/pomo cliche, so often did people want to write theses about them. The film is very good. If you haven't watched it already, perhaps we could have a simulataneous viewing with Siobhan and some of your Draculards???

[rosamicula]

Actually, 'Draculard' sounds like one is fat-shaming a blood-sucker. Draculords and Draculadies?

[strange_complex]

Oh, that would be an excellent idea! No, I haven't watched it yet, but I'd definitely be up for that and I will suggest it to Siobhan too. We are just in the process of setting up a trial run simultaneous watch over this coming weekend, which definitely won't be Company of Wolves this time as she wants to watch something we both already know well for our first go. But I will suggest it to her for a future viewing, and will let her know you're interested in joining us.