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Grady Hendrix's Reviews > The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires
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Grady Hendrix's review
(Review from the author)
bookshelves: southern-book-club-s-guide-research
Apr 21, 2020
(Review from the author)
bookshelves: southern-book-club-s-guide-research
I really think that Grady Hendrix has written his best book yet, and he did it all while dressed as a penguin. Not a lot of people know this, but in the two years it took him to write SOUTHERN BOOK CLUB he wore the exact same penguin costume every day while he wrote. By the time this book was finished that costume was a rancid, disgusting mess and he had to have it pulled from his body by hooks and burned because it was a biohazard.
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Reading Progress
April 6, 2020
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Started Reading
Finished Reading
April 21, 2020
– Shelved
April 23, 2020
– Shelved as:
southern-book-club-s-guide-research
Comments Showing 1-50 of 51 (51 new)
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Grant
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rated it 5 stars
Apr 21, 2020 11:31AM
I've heard that's how Hemingway wrote too.
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You're weird.
Pics or it didn’t happen! 😉
I can definitely see how that would help stimulate the creative juices.
That 🐧 costume is my spirit animal.
Author goals
I’ve got it on hold at my library. I can’t wait to read it!
Just got through the Author’s note and am already hooked. As a soon-to-be parent, I’m really digging the theme. Thank you for bringing us another great piece of literature to read Grady!
The next book should be written naked.
I dunno man. You’re such a fan of this Hendrix guy, I’m pretty sure you’d have given him 5 stars even if he wrote in jeans and a t-shirt.
LoL What a concept Anna! But I just finished reading this book (April 23, 2020) and I was forced to read it non-stop from start to finish... until, gasping and fainting, I crawled off to bed at 2 in the morning last night, right before reading the last chapter. I finished that this morning. "Great story!" does not do it justice. It's funny, gripping, occasionally scary, and just a wee bit disgusting near the end.
I absolutely devoured this book! All the stars! The penguin costume really worked for you.
And when it was set aflame, the penguin suit began to writhe and inch its way back to Hendrix before being crushed by Stephen Graham Jones’s 50-foot Indian.
The more I think about Grady Hendrix' new paranormal suspense novel, the more impressed I've become. It's truly a novel vampire concept... it's taken awhile for me to begin considering whether the protagonist (James Harris) is actually a former human being. Or is he, perhaps, something truly alien, masquerading as a (dead) human? Or is he, perhaps, so totally evil that he has evolved into a more specialized and truly unique form of vampire? 
James Harris' method for exsanguinating his victims seems to be truly alien. That leads me to speculate that he might not even be the controlling entity here. He might be simply a host for what lives inside him. His corpse has a remarkable grip on "unlife" as well. There is vampire lore that mentions disembodied vampire spirits--a dark soul that can be either totally ethereal or manifest itself as a semi-corporeal entity. But this vampire is more resilient, and more "undead" than other vampires.
I think there's real potential for this story to have sequels. I hope the author will consider writing a sequel. I bought the hardcover version of Hendrix' book. I'd do the same for a sequel!
It’s 12:30am. I’m 3/4 through and can’t stop for sleep. Michael McDowell is smiling from his grave. Southern Gothic Horror rises from its grave! Brilliant!
You're amazing! What a perfectly brilliant book and this from a reader who doesn't even read books about vampires. But you know how this book is far deeper than that. I'm almost done and I feel sad that the book is ending! LOVED EVERY WORD OF IT. Thank you!
I like how well he discusses domestic life of women during the 90’s, very well done
OMG I'm totally gobsmacked. This is maybe the best book I've read this year. It makes me laugh, it makes me cringe, it makes me scream, it makes me throw things. I'm only at about 80% and I'm already worried about how the next book I read will follow this act!
I read it and loved it so much that I’m fangirling out and binging his work. Reading Horrorstor now.
Marc wrote: "You're weird."The best kind of weird.
Pictures or it never happened. lol
Amazing. Keep writing more books. We will buy you a new penguin suit.
Loved, loved this book!! Liked best friends exorcism alright. I have horrorstor already, and looking forward to more of your books!!
After reading King and Barker over the years I love Hill, Cutter, and your work equally. Keep up the good work. I wish your work was more frequent being that I am very impatient
At first I thought “what the hell is this person talking about???” And then I saw your name. I suppose you are the best authority on yourself, Mr. Hendrix. Thank you for your sacrifices writing this book, God bless. 😔🙏
Great book, and you're wonderful. If you can spare a few minutes. Could you explain it to Kai?
I read this book 100% because of this review. So glad I did. I can not remember the last time a book made me audibly gasp. Additionally the laugh out loud moments were very welcome as well.
Penguin or not, that part in the book where the plot jumps ahead years really fucked me up lol. It was unbelievably believable with the subservience southern women experienced with their husbands back then, and it really had me shook. I was NOT expecting it. This novel is by far your greatest, penguin suit be damned!
Hi grady, yesterday I saw a recommendation for a book apparently the best in 2020, saw I took the bait and got it on audiobook, I'm so glad I did, up to now its been real and hilarious and I can't wait for the next chapter, I read constantly in the hope that I bump into something like this. Thank you
Please excuse my spelling
Congratulations Grady for coming in third in the 2020 Goodreads Reader's Choice awards for Horror! You were not very far behind Stephen King, which given the name-recognition nature of this award is quite an accomplishment.
Loving this book! Three chapters in and I'm hooked.
Best book I’ve read in a while! Love your writing! Please never stop. I’m over here dying for your next novel to devour.
I was so pleased to see one of my favorite sayings in this book!! “If ifs and buts were candy and nuts...” 😁😂
In the two years it took you to write SOUTHERN BOOK CLUB you wore the exact same penguin costume every day...?
I thought you meant a tuxedo lol. I guess the penguin costume would be more comfortable though. I definitely would’ve washed it though ; although , that may have taken away this magic.
So a monkey suit for the next book?? Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.
I bet your penguin costume smelled as foul as the black ooze that squished out from between…wait a minute…
It is soooo gooood! The most horrific thing is the way the men treat the women and the quiet racism that people don’t identify as racism both from racial and economic disparities. Did I mention how frigging good this book is?
I thought Grady Hendrix was a woman, married with kids and a housewife in her mid thirties. He understands every hiccup, evet tear and laugh and the solidarity amongst women. Unless you have experienced motherhood, divorce and trying to be heard as a mother then will you really know how Patrica and her friends felt? and the great lengths they go to to protect their children.? A mothers love is fierce.
