Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Dracula by Bram Stoker


  • Paperback: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Bantam Classics (November 1, 1983)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0553212710
  • ISBN-13: 978-0553212716
  • List Price: $4.95
  • I finished this book on August 21
Okay my lovelies. Here's the thing, I have mentioned about a billion times that I love vampires, but the truth is: I had never read this before. The place where it all started. For shame. Also, I have seen the 1992 film version so many times that I could not stop picturing those actors as the characters. Boo!
Anywho: I'm sure everyone knows the story of this one. However, if you haven't read it and you are going on popular perception of it, you've probably got it wrong. First, there is no love affair between Mina and Sirius Black, I mean Gary Oldman, I mean Count Dracula. The 1992 movie led us to believe that Mina was all "Blood? Yes, please!" But that's not the case. Also, Neo's portrayal of Jonathan Harker in that movie may lead you to believe that Harker is, in fact, a tool. This is not so. In fact, one thing I was continually struck by is how good the people in this book are. They are almost unrealistically kind and understanding. I wanted to hug them. Also, Dracula is not killed by a stake to the heart. I'm just saying...
The book is written in journal entries and newspaper clippings which is very cool. You get to see all the different characters points of view and it's not as cheesy as the switch off chapter narration of some books. I have to say that even though I knew what was going to happen I was still very invested in the melodrama of it all. I can see why this book spawned such an empire. From crazy fan sites, to movies, to being studied in school to delicious breakfast cereal. Mmmm, marshmallow bats...
Though in my head I am definitely cooking up a sexier version of vampires (1/2 Edward from Twilight and 1/2 my boyfriend Trent Reznor perhaps?) I feel a much better vamp enthusiast having read this. And I promise: I will certainly be picking up more classic gothic horror in the near future.

1 comment:

Carl V. Anderson said...

You should be in the R.I.P. Challenge, reading this! :)

For years I have proclaimed Dracula as my favorite book of all time. I fell in love with it at age 12 and have read it many, many times since then. There was a time in my life where I read it every October.

I have hated every movie version of Dracula simply because none of them have the strength of story that the novel does.

I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Although more drawn out, I recommend Stoker's book The Mystery of the Sea. I stumbled across it years ago and it is also a favorite.