Film vs Novel: Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter

I tend to not watch the movies of the books that I really like (Hunger Games is my exception to the rule), but this time was different. I was struggling to get through the book Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. It's written in a journal sort of way. At times it was boring and daunting. But honestly what can you expect from a journal? Not every day is action packed. I didn't make it through to the end, instead I decided to watch the movie thinking Hollywood would make it more exciting. I was wrong. Watching the movie made me appreciate the novel.

The differences were too much. Young Abe learns of the vampires from his father in the book. His father cannot repay a debt and as punishment the vampire bites Abe's mother which is the cause of her agonizing death. This a traumatic for Abe. In the movie... not so much. Abe doesn't even learn about the vampires from his father at all. He's told about them by a vampire who saves him from being killed and nurses him back to health. Good ole Henry. I actually like him in the novel and the movie. A good vampire? I guess so.

In the movie Abe wants to end slavery because of his childhood friend (who is black). In the novel he wants to end slavery because the slaves are the food/blood source for the vampires. The Emancipation Proclamation frees the slaves, begins to starve the vampires and turns the Civil War. Now what sounds better here? The novel!

Edgar Allen Poe is Abe's friend in the novel. He teaches Abe a thing or two about vampires. In the novel a vampire kills Poe and that is cause of Poe's suspicious death that many ponder (a real life mystery!). How cool is that? I thought it was awesome, but there's no mention of Poe in the movie at all. Boo!

The end is 100% different. Novel: John Wilkes Booth thinks he kills Abe. Henry (Abe's vampire friend savior) turns Abe into a vampire. Abe kills Booth in a barn before he can be arrested by Union troops. The last scene is of Abe attending MLK's I Have A Dream speech at the Lincoln Memorial. That was pretty awesome! The movie: none of that happens.

So a few days later I find myself back at the local library hunting for the book once again.

Enjoy! Read often!