2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Dracula by Bram Stoker.

Pages: 488 pages

Length: 1 Month (October)

Participants: Sunshine, Books and peloton, Fiona, Helene, Nova, Library Queen, Kaila-Marie, Joan

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.


Happy Buddy Reading!

I can't wait to finally read this. It has been on my list to read forever. I think I will be reading it more in the middle of the month but I may start it while reading my other buddy reads. I have put it off for so long because I have a feeling it won't be a quick read but it will be worth it.

Joan wrote: "I can't wait to finally read this. It has been on my list to read forever. I think I will be reading it more in the middle of the month but I may start it while reading my other buddy reads. I have..."

I read this as an angsty teen because I thought it made me more ~cultured~ than my fellow Twilight reading teens. I was a bit of a book snob back then.


Now I'll read anything! Hope you enjoy. I remember finding the older style of writing a little difficult to get through but the overall story engaging and creepy. It's a classic.

I read this last year and didn’t seem to like it as much as I thought I would! (view spoiler)[It would’ve been a great story when it came out, but now that we have read so much about Vampires, the plot and the detailing seemed to be so outdated! (hide spoiler)]

Hope you all like it!

I'm still planning on it! This thread is very quiet though.

I’m planning on reading it still! I haven’t been in a reading mood though, unfortunately.

I’m reading it this weekend!! Can’t wait!!

I'm about halfway through!

It is at times very creepy, and then occasionally boring. I'm liking this a whole lot more than Frankenstein, which I read earlier this year.

Library wrote: "It is at times very creepy, and then occasionally boring. I'm liking this a whole lot more than Frankenstein, which I read earlier this year."

Yes! I’m only about 25 pages in but so far it’s a vastly different reading experience for me than Frankenstein was.

Allie wrote: "Library wrote: "It is at times very creepy, and then occasionally boring. I'm liking this a whole lot more than Frankenstein, which I read earlier this year."

Yes! I’m only about 25 pages in but s..."

Frankenstein seemed to be Victor Frankenstein running around being a drama queen, and little else. This book is actually interesting.

I read the first chapter so far and I can't believe how creepy it is right from the start. I'm pleased that it is not hard to read and flows easily.
I hate long chapters and not much dialog though. It seems like the chapters are medium length though so not too bad. I get stressed when I see words cover the whole page and not much break. I know I'm weird I guess for an avid reader.
I kind of looked ahead and it seems like there are more breaks and dialog ahead. Now that I've read the first chapter I'm looking forward to the creepiness. I hope it continues.

I've read the first four chapters and it is going slowly but it is a well written creepy book so far. It is living up to my expectations.

How is everyone else doing with it?

Thought it was going great until we switched viewpoints and now I’m friggin’ bored.

Allie wrote: "Thought it was going great until we switched viewpoints and now I’m friggin’ bored."

I see what you mean. I just completed chapter 6. I hope it picks back up soon.

I got through chapter 7. I do prefer the viewpoint of Jonathan Harker's more than the others but it is starting to get a little interesting again.

I'm wondering (view spoiler)[ I feel like Lucy is getting bitten by a vampire or something. I think I half remember from Dracula stories something about a Lucy being affected somehow. (hide spoiler)]

Yeah, I plowed through a little more and it did pick up slightly (Yes to your thoughts on Lucy), but I still wish the book was letting us know how Jonathan Harker was getting on all this time instead.

I finished it! :) It got kinda boring there for a bit, but it was decent.

I'm still reading it and 40 pages to go. It isn't a book you can read fast. I have been more busy than I thought I'd be though so that is another reason why it is taking me so long. I'll write more thoughts when I finish it - hopefully tonight if not first thing in the morning.

I finally can say I read Dracula! It took me at least 3 weeks. In my defense though work was horribly busy and my co-worker was out due to Covid. Her sons got it but they are fine and they didn't have bad cases.

Here are some of my thoughts. (view spoiler)[ It was wordy. That is for sure. There were plenty of times where the creepiness of the book came through and that did not disappoint.

The part that drove me nuts was near then end where at least 10 pages were spent on waiting for the boat. Maybe there was something else in there that I missed that was important but that sure bored me. The ending wasn't very exciting for me except for maybe the last 4 pages. I think it could have been shorter. I'm not sure I was in love with it being told through journals but it was pretty amazing for being written so long ago. I felt the story also held up through the tests of time. I would say I rounded up from a 3.5.

Another point that annoyed me was how all of the men seemed to be in love with Lucy and Mina. They were such great women (insert eye roll here). It drove me a little nuts that the women were so amazing and angelic.

The beginning of the book was probably my favorite. I felt it was the creepiest. All in all a good read that was worth reading. (hide spoiler)]

Yay!
I’m still reading...probably only half way. But I haven’t read ANYTHING for a week now :/

Sorry to hear about your coworker and her son. Glad they had mild cases!

I did read your spoiler since everyone really knows the story anyway without having to read it. I’m not looking forward to certain parts you mentioned since this book is already dragging for me.

I agree with the women. I mean, what exactly did Lucy do besides look pretty?!?!

I also agree about the beginning of the book being the creepiest. It could have expanded with that and I’d have flown through it a bit faster. Now I’ve been reading this friggin book for a month 🙄

Allie wrote: "Yay!
I’m still reading...probably only half way. But I haven’t read ANYTHING for a week now :/

Sorry to hear about your coworker and her son. Glad they had mild cases!

I did read your spoiler s..."

Maybe if it kept with Jonathan's view it would have stayed creepy. I don't know.

Chapter 22 - (view spoiler)[How does not even one person out of that whole group know that Mina is being fed upon?! Are you kidding me?! Have you all not read all the letters and journal entries and SEEN what happened to Lucy to know that that’s what’s now happening to Mina?! And there are two doctors there! One of which gives her a sleeping draught! Dracula is going to win if this is the team going up against him, oy vey! (hide spoiler)]

I’ve finished!!! Ah, thank goodness. This one took a loooonnngggg time to commit to!

Allie wrote: "I’ve finished!!! Ah, thank goodness. This one took a loooonnngggg time to commit to!"

It does feel like an accomplishment, doesn't it???

I thought your spoiler was funny and I was thinking the same thing.

I'm glad I read it. The book definitely could have been shorter.

I feel like if the story ended with Jonathan Harker's bit, and it was just a short story, it would've been stronger storywise, and I would've given it 5 stars.

Joan wrote: "Allie wrote: "I’ve finished!!! Ah, thank goodness. This one took a loooonnngggg time to commit to!"

It does feel like an accomplishment, doesn't it???

I thought your spoiler was funny and I was t..."


Yes!!

Thanks lol.
Those same thoughts are applied to Renfield....I mean he was eating bugs for their blood and calling someone MASTER.....helloooooo?! Entry into the house, maybe? You think? Nope, those doctors didn’t think!!!!

Heyy! This thread is due to be archived tomorrow. If any of you want this to be extended for another month, let me know here!

Library wrote: "I feel like if the story ended with Jonathan Harker's bit, and it was just a short story, it would've been stronger storywise, and I would've given it 5 stars."

I agree

Allie wrote: "Joan wrote: "Allie wrote: "I’ve finished!!! Ah, thank goodness. This one took a loooonnngggg time to commit to!"

It does feel like an accomplishment, doesn't it???

I thought your spoiler was funn..."

That's funny

Trisha wrote: "Heyy! This thread is due to be archived tomorrow. If any of you want this to be extended for another month, let me know here!"

I'm not sure if everyone read it but I think the bulk of us did.

Thank you for your response, Joan! If no one requests for an extension by the 25th, we will archive this!