Book 24: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Book 24, another audio book.  I loved Seth Grahame-Smith's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Part of the reason I liked that one was that I was so familiar with the story of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice that it was a neat experience to see how Zombies were woven into the story.  I was a little apprehensive on Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter because I wasn't sure how on earth the story of President Lincoln would translate into some Vampire story.  Would it be too much like Buffy?


Still, I downloaded it from audible.com and have been listening to it over the last few weeks during my commute.  I really enjoyed the listen.  I like the historical perspective. There was so much to Abe Lincoln's life that is glossed over or completely eliminated from school books,and  I've never read a standalone biography.  But really, he had quite a remarkable life.


But how on earth would vampires fit into the story of a young Abe Lincoln, and eventually into the White House?  I don't want to give too much away, but what if the Civil War had been about more than slavery and states' rights? What if the South had really been led by vampires intent on enslaving the entire country?  And what other historical events might have been perpetrated by Vampires?  I think you get the gist of the  novel's plot at this point.


That being said, I want to focus a bit now on the listening experience.  Scott Holst is a great narrator. His voice commands the ear the same way a respected orator would.  Clocking in at just over eleven hours to listen, this is perfect for a commute or a good road trip. The story moves quickly, from Lincoln's early childhood, through his presidency and assassination, and then his legacy.  A nice addition to the end of the novel is a brief interview with the author.


So, Seth Grahame-Smith is two for two in  my book. I can't wait to find out what he is writing next!


http://www.audible.com/adbl/site/products/ProductDetail.jsp?productID=BK_HACH_000409&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes