My Rating: 
“I read that every known every known superstition in the world is gathered into the horseshoe of the Carpathians, as if it were the centre of some sort of imaginative whirlpool; if so my stay may be very interesting.” (Johnathan Harker)
What begins as a business trip for Johnathan Harker in Transylvania turns into a horrifying stay. Meeting with the Count Dracula, he is mystified and grows increasingly nervous the longer his stay in the large estate. He discovers the Dark secret of the Count being a vampire and seeks, more than ever, an escape.
Johnathan’s return home to his darling, Mina Murray, is troublesome. The Count has followed him, leaving a trail of blood, despair, and un-death. The professor, Van Helsing, comes to the aid of the couple as well as his friend, Dr. Seward, Austin Godalming, and Lucy Westenra who also begin suffering at the hand of the Count Dracula. Desperate, the professor goes to superstitious lengths to protect all of those the Count has in his cold, deathly clutches.
A gothic masterpiece, Dracula, truly works the horror genre with style. I can’t say that I’m terrified after reading the book, but completely fascinated. This is, in part, where the story of vampires began. Their fiction. Their fame. And it’s completely delightful to get swept up by something that’s so abnormal. It’s completely out of this world to think of such creatures to be real, yet Stoker did a great job of doing that.
The writing style of this novel was magnificent. Each chapter follows segments of newspaper articles, letters, diary entries and more. There was no true POV. It was all done in fragments and in the order of occurrence. I found that to be very unique and intriguing. It brought me in deeper, closer, to what occurred. You get to explore the various characters of Johnathan, Mina, Lucy and even Dracula. There’s several more of whom have entries and major parts to play
The story itself had major depth. During the timeline, the characters’ entries don’t leave out a single tidbit whether in how they are feeling or what they see around them. At times it was a bit repetitive feeling, but in keeping with the characters it was still really nice. When it came to the blood and death, Stoker was very light on it. When people were killed, it was masked in disappearances or beauty, which is odd since death is usually neither. I am that person who hopes for a little gore with my horror. That just seemed to be lacking a bit here, but then again, this was the 1800s, so it’s understandable. Don’t want to scare readers to death.
Personally, and on a bit of a spoilery note if you’ve never read Dracula, Dracula is a skank. Then again if you’ve paid attention to the films you know this already. The man…vampire…vampire-man has three wives. And then, he comes in and seduces Miss Lucy Westenra, who is already engaged to be married, until he can get the attention of Mina Murray, sweeping her up with his irresistible charms. He just can’t get no (say it with me) satisfaction, apparently. Even though this is the second time I’ve read Dracula, I still get into a giggle fit over the ridiculousness of it. It’s funny to me.
Would I recommend this book? YES! While I find my own personal giggles in the book, it is a fantastic horror. I love what a beautiful piece of literature this is. It certainly explores the darker side of it. So yes, I think everyone should give this a read at least…along with some H.P. Lovecraft, which I have on the side waiting for me. Plus, if you can handle Twilight, you can handle the Count.
Quotables:
“It is the eve of St. George’s Day. Do you not know that to-night, when the clock strikes midnight, all the evil things in the world will have full sway? Do you know where you are going, and what you are going to?” (Old Lady to Johnathan Harker, p. 9)
“Denn die Todien reiten schnell—(For the dead travel fast)” (travelling companion, p. 15)
“I began to fear as I wrote in this book that I was getting too diffuse; but now I am glad that I went into detail from the first, for there is something so strange about this place and all in it that I cannot but feel uneasy.” (Johnathan Harker, p. 31)
“I am here to do Your bidding, Master. I am Your slave, and You will reward me, for I shall be faithful.” (Renfield, p. 116)
More to come soon…
-K.
P.S. Song today? In The Shadows by The Rasmus.
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