Book Review: Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter

Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter- by Seth Grahame-Smith - I had this book recommended to me before the movie came out.  The plot as I was told was something like "This is the biography of Abraham Lincoln, and they have taken the parts of his life that aren't "busy" and filled it in with him being a vampire hunter."  I had more than one person recommend it to me, so I thought I would give it a thought.

I really enjoyed.  In many ways, I will compare it to World War Z in this aspect, it's an idea anyone could have had (Graham-Smith credits seeing Twilight and Team of Rivals side by side on the best seller list) but this guy got to it first, and really did it well.

I have read reviews and there are some people who won't like this book no matter what.  I don't get it, but I know that is how some people are.  There is also a contingent who are mad that Grahame-Smith claims the only research he did was on Wikipedia.  Which I think is dumb.  This is not Team of Rivals nor should it be.  The truth is actually there's a lot here if people are reading about Abe for the first time from Joshua Speed to George Atzerodt, and even some bigger history buffs might not get the Battle of Fort Stevens or Stand Watie references.

I will try to be only minor spoilerish, though this has been out awhile, so no one probably cares at this point.
I will be minor



I really loved the way this book unfolded.  The set up of "lost secret personal journal" is a trope that has been used a million times but I thought SGS was very creative in using it.

I liked a lot of the idea of the plot, and it went down a lot of roads that most people (myself included) wouldn't have expected.  At the end of the day, it's a vampire story, and I thought it was a (may be an unintentional pun) fresh breath of air.

SGS just told a good story in a 'it's all been done before' world, and really found an unique take.  I don't have much to say in the negative, but it's always easy to second guess.  For me, it loses steam in the third and final section- the Presidency.

There's some great ideas here and I like a couple of them a lot- there's an obvious reason for slavery when vampires are involved- also it explains some of the ghastly encounters of the Civil War.

At the same time, Grahame-Smith does what most writers probably would have done and gone big with his vampire thoughts.  He did not need to do that.  Sometimes, less is more.  SGS uses vampires to explain some motivations for the likes of William Seward and Jefferson Davis.  The book's weakest moments are when he tries to intertwine vampires into the big picture.

The truth is he did not need to do that.  He could have even stuck with the young Lincoln and not moved further past.  This may have served the book better.  I think SGS probably realized that as the Civil War section goes by fairly quick, and to tie in John Wilkes Booth at the end is too much of a temptation just to leave it out.

I have also seen a great deal discussion of the ending, but I think it generally works for a grand finale, and some of the explanation helped sell that to me better than most.

I really liked this book in a lot of ways.  It is very readable and it goes back to the idea that really anyone could have written this book but it is a success because of the author.  It also knows not to overstay its welcome.  It strikes a tone that works- that is not comic and not entirely exaggerated, but still, light.

The last thing worth mentioning has to be those photographs in the book.  I know a lot of people don't like the obviously photoshopped (MAYBE!?!?!) pictures, but I thought they generally worked.  It was a gamble on the author's part but I felt added more to this certain Southern Gothic tone he was trying to imply than it distracted.

On the Shelf 174: Mudcrutch

One of my favorite records of the last 10 years is an odd one- the 2008 self titled album from Mudcrutch.

I say odd, because it is Tom Petty's band and Petty is not usually revered in indie circles and places like Pitchfork. I, of course, don't have to justify Petty. "American Girl" is a fantastic single that is as good as any thing REM or the Smiths ever recorded. Also, the new generation does seem to love Petty, and you see that influence felt in bands like The Gaslight Anthem or The War on Drugs.

There can only be little argument that Petty isn't a great singles artist. I don't know that I can say he has had a definitive album, but some will make the argument he has- and Damn The Torpedos, Full Moon Fever and Wildflowers (and maybe a couple of others) do come up in those arguments as strong contenders. But regardless, his string of singles is amazing and is still strong way late in his career- "It's Good to Be King", "The Last DJ" and "Saving Grace".

Mudcrutch does it for me though. i am not sure why. The debut featured a band Petty had before the Heartbreakers riffing on the songs they played in the early 70s. On paper, it's much of the same band- Petty, Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench, with the addition of Tom Leadon (brother of Eagles guitarist Bernie Leadon).

But there has always been something about a band that is hungry and this time coupled with the chance for Petty to get loose; so it's back to basics and those obvious Petty influences like Dylan and the Byrds paly a significant role.

What ended up was a fantastic album by the band that I consider as strong as an album statement as Petty has ever recorded.

I was really excited in a sequel, though, we know lightning rarely strikes twice.

I think Mudcrutch 2 does a really good job of recapturing that spark. Is there a significant single? I would say "Trailer" provides that. But the rest of the album is no slouch either, with most songs capable of standing up for themselves and apart from each other.

If you like Petty, it's a must.

"Mudcrutch - Trailer (Official Audio)" (Watch on YouTube)

"Mudcrutch - Other Side Of The Mountain" (Watch on YouTube)