The Gothic Novel Book Club <Hiatus> discussion

Discuss.

I read this! What did you think?

I have before but I'm doing it again.

")

Can you read again with us, Skye?

I can't wait to re-read this! I am a huge Dracula fan! Vlad has always fascinated me. This story is one of my all-time favorites.

I just have to find my not collectible version... It's around here somewhere...

Ok. Then you have to check out this book I just added to my tbr today. The Historian

Shaina wrote: "Can you read again with us, Skye?"

From memory; I don't think I have the book any longer, but keep in mind, my maternal Grandmother came from Carpathy----close to Vlad's castle and burial place.

I love watching Bela Lugosi as him. Btw. Those old movies are great. I want to see the Christopher Lee one.
But since I was a kid I was always fascinated with him especially, and other spooky things.
What about Skye??

I grew up playing Dracula.

Wow, Skye. That is so interesting!
You can, if you want, get a free copy ofDracula off projectgutenburg.org any classics like that.

I don't read e-books. I did study this in school, though, and I could try to search for it.

Yeah. I didn't go many actual girly things. Lol. But I had fangs and I would fashion a cape until I got one.
Now I have grown up clothes tailor made I can put on ... a hooded, satin-lined velvet cape (made for special occasions). And some dresses .. but I wander. The adult hadn't changed much from the kid.

Shaina wrote: "I love watching Bela Lugosi as him. Btw. Those old movies are great. I want to see the Christopher Lee one.
But since I was a kid I was always fascinated with him especially, and other spooky thin..."
Yes, Bela Lugosi, and I also adored Christopher Lee; he brought a different dynamic to the tale ( he was good looking, for one).

Shaina wrote: "Yeah. I didn't go many actual girly things. Lol. But I had fangs and I would fashion a cape until I got one.
Now I have grown up clothes tailor made I can put on ... a hooded, satin-lined velvet c..."

That's a good thing, though.

Oh I love Sir Christopher. Amazing actor.

Yes, indeed.

Sent that recommendation to you Trinity.
Oh. Skye go check the Rachel thread.

I just did and answered. Great observations.

Aww, thanks Skye.

Seriously, dead ringer, Shaina.

You only make me think harder, Skye. Thanks.

Trinity, tell me about this collector's edition of Dracula .....

That's what these discussions should reflect, I think.

I have read it. I am honestly unsure if there is a book published about vampirea that I haven't read LOL. I am a true addict.

Ugh... Fat fingers... vampires...

Wow. You and I are similar then. It's a wonder I have not read this one.
I tried to stop. Or find other things to read. Bc twilight scared me.
Tell me if your collector's edition.

I am fascinated with vampires; what are fat fingers?

My mom bought it for me for Christmas one year. It has a black almost fabric like cover, embossed in silver and red. Has the story of Vlad as an opening to the novel.

Fat fingers just means my finger slipped while typing on my phone and I didn't catch it.

I was able to enjoy Twilight for what it was... A young adult romance, but beyond that... I am a firm believer that you MUST unsderstand the rules before you break them.

That sounds cool. So cool. Especially that they added his history first.
Haha about Trinity & Skye and the fat fingers. It's not like the buttons are so huge. That was a funny exchange to read second hand. Pfft. Fat fingers.

Yeah it was okay. For what it was. I guess. Glitter and all. The end was awesome.

I wonder what the early reception was for Dracula. Hardly the sort of book for respectable Victorians.

I agree with you.

But we had wax works and all manner of bizarre things coming out. Mummy unwrappings. Would it really be that strange?

These same victorians, the more wealthy were launching their own expeditions to distant land and funding their own or even other's expeditions. And they would grind up parts of the mummy for all kinds of ailments, and non-ailments. No. I think they had great fun with such things. It might have caused a small scandal and then everyone couldn't wait to go.

Interesting, Shaina; where are you finding this? I am very curious.

In my brain. I know it. I've had Egyptology, and I grew up around a father who did everything but live there. Also, BA in Art, minor in history, the MA working on a thesis in Art History, started on a degree for anthropology w emphasis in archaeology. These ppl ground up mummy hands and other parts for all kinds of ailments.
So those ppl that did get to read the book, I bet they loved it. I think Stoker had a publishing issue. Not sure what it was, but it caused a delay. I remember that from grade school. Other adventure writers were around at that time too. Wasn't Shelley? Arthur Conan Doyle ? And I love Madame Tussaud so I had read about her wax works so that is something I just knew about. Jack of all trades? I guess?
But so many mummies were lost to "antiquarians" who just took them and wanted the trinkets. Then threw them out. So sad.

I am very impressed, Shaina, and I think you have degrees in some wonderful areas, too. Mary Shelley was known for Frankenstein, and that was borne of a very odd summer, she and Percy Byshhe and Lord Byron, and his doctor, et al spent at Lord Byron's getting high and switching partners and telling ghost stories.

Oh, Mary was a pistol, alright. I just wonder how long she had her tumor.

I didn't know, but I do know she outlived everyone and died at a ripe age for that time frame.

Yeah, brain tumor I think. But yeah, I remember reading how she came up with the story. I get my best ideas talkingin passing like that to David . Since we are both artistic it can be fun.
But anyway I digress, back to the matter at hand... good ole Drac...
I wonder if this region still holds to superstition.

Ok I checked. 53. I know Percy went sooner in an accident but not about Lord Byron.

He was a mercenary and got killed fighting.

Byron?
Cause Percy drowned.

I thought he got killed fighting. I never look things up, but I believe you.

Haha! I knew this would spawn a Shelley, Byron, Percy conversation.

I am really interested in his grandson's book as well, Dracula the Un-Dead.

Dracula, for me, has always been about human nature being quite animalistic. Vampires, as well as Werewolves are controlled by base desires (id) and it intrigues me to no end. What would humanity be without a conscience? I think we are seeing a lot of that in our world today. We want to look at the world and say there are monsters out there, but these books make us see the true monsters lie within humanity.

This is another theme of my own novel. ;)

I am not sure whether or not I agree with you, Trinity. Vampyrism is complex and filled with cunning and anti socialistic behavior.
Animals have a code they abide by, so let me contemplate this a bit.

Oooo interesting.

It takes the humanity out. It takes out the soul. The vampire left does act like an animal without a code. Though dracula is going by something. He's motivated and he's cunning.