Dracula in 101 Books to Read Before You Die

Mar 06, 2012 Alana rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-to-film, historical-fiction, thriller-horror, fantasy, classics, foreign-culture, boxall-s-1001-books

Not being into the vampire genre in the slightest, I was nonetheless curious to read this classic that started it all. I wondered how different the story was, how much of the traditional means of vanquishing the demons showed up in this original work, what storytelling was used for the plot, etc.

On the methods of vanquishing vampires, I feel much more enlightened, although some of them I'd heard of through scattered episodes of Buffy and other sources, but knowing how long ago some of these supe Not being into the vampire genre in the slightest, I was nonetheless curious to read this classic that started it all. I wondered how different the story was, how much of the traditional means of vanquishing the demons showed up in this original work, what storytelling was used for the plot, etc.

On the methods of vanquishing vampires, I feel much more enlightened, although some of them I'd heard of through scattered episodes of Buffy and other sources, but knowing how long ago some of these superstitions existed was interesting. I found it especially compelling in the way Stoker pointed out that Jonathan tended to scorn the religious relics such as the crucifix, because as a Protestant, these objects of traditional Catholicism are nearly idolatrous in nature. There are all the traditions of crucifixes, garlic, stakes and beheading, plus the ability to change shape and other characteristics of which I had previously been unaware.

As for the storytelling itself, some of the thriller nature was diminished in the epistletory and diary format. After all, if the author is writing about the events, they must certainly have made it through alright. The most frustrating aspect was when very obvious symptoms began appearing and the characters, though thoroughly involved in the hunt, somehow don't manage to notice. The constant referring to women as weak creatures who couldn't possibly handle the strain of the fear that the men were dashing off into, while normally something to overlook in older literature, was so repetitive that it became quite annoying, and I wanted to bash the men over the head and remind them that it was the women half the time who came up with all the best plans and solutions! Women are often taken as literally the weaker sex in classic literature, which is not usually done in a disrespectful manner, but it was quite overdone in this story.

The story was interesting, though, and for the most part moved along at a fairly good pace. The "good" characters were all far TOO good to be believable and the bad characters were all completely evil, so there were no scruples about how to deal with each situation. There was little room for gray. The most poignant moment in the novel, in fact, was when (SPOILER) Mina reminds Jonathan that the man that they are trying to destroy was once a good man with a soul and they are truly seeking his salvation as well, so they would be wrong to wish ill upon his eternal soul.

From a Protestant Christian perspective there are so many theological elements wrong with the story that I won't even begin to go into them. That is a topic for a book discussion. Suffice it to say that if there's one thing as proof for the nonexistence of such creatures as vampires, it is that God has not made a salvation provision for anything of the kind, therefore it would not fall under his creation.

For an entertaining tale, four stars. For theology, 1 star. For drama, three stars. Worth reading? Certainly. Overall, three stars. ...more

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Jan 15, 2016 Megan (ReadingRover) rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: x-goodreads-challenge-16, x-hot-listens-audio-challenge-2016, x-classics-challenge-2016

I listened to the audio version of this book. Really 2.5 stars. I don't think I would have gotten through this book at all if I wasn't able to listen to it. This particular audio version was extremely well done. The narrator performed the accents and voices for each of the characters wonderfully. If it wasn't so excellently produced I never would have finished the book.
There's not much I can say that others before me haven't said already. I tried reading this book a month ago and couldn't get th ...more

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Dec 12, 2010 Kressel Housman rated it it was ok

Shelves: unfinished, victorian, fiction, classics, horror, fantasy

Like most Americans born in the 20th century, I've seen enough B horror flicks and spoofs featuring Count Dracula to know something of the story without having read the novel, so much of the mystery was spoiled. A young man shows up at Count Dracula's castle for a job interview and is kept waiting all day. He wonders why. Well, we already know why. But it was well-written, so I read through Book I and then started Book II, which looked even more promising because it was from the point of view of ...more

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Jan 14, 2014 Cosmic Arcata rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science-fiction, classics, favorites

I really enjoyed reading this book in October this year. It was so fitting when we have a vampire that has caused so many injuries and yet no one seems to know where this bat is coming from.

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