Finished The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

OK, I just finished this book. It’s super gruesome and way different than the things I’ve been reading recently with the exception of How to Survive a Horror Story (which I read a few months ago.) I did not like the writing in this book, I did not like the way the author portrayed his female characters, and I really believe that he hasn’t deep rooted hate for women in general. However, this book made me realize something: I think reading dark, twisty, messed up literature is good for my mental health. That seems counterintuitive, right? But I think when I read things that are too close to real life situations that I can easily put myself in, I do just that: I put myself in the situations. I wake up at night pissed off at my husband because I have a feeling he’s cheating on me. When I unpack those feelings, it’s really that the character in the book I’m reading is being cheated on. The character in my book is being gaslit? So am I. The character feels loved and cared for? Same! But with dark and twisty books, I just don’t feel as connected emotionally. Don’t get me wrong, I still care about a well-written character. I still cry and cringe and mourn with the characters but I don’t internalize those feelings.

So is this book great? I don’t know. I’m not a huge fan. Am I glad I read it? Yes. Was there any vampire slaying happening in the book? Umm, not that I could tell. Wtf we’re they actually fighting? No idea. But I think I’m going to read another Grady Hendrix book just to see if he continues to hate women in that one too.