Dracula

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Summary: Quirky book blurb
Review: Tired of your day job? Want to just kick back and play dead when the sun is shining? Everyone (but three-year-olds) knows that mornings always come too early.

Here is your chance to completely change your lifestyle! Be free of the constraints that suck the blood out of you when you are just doing your job.

Unlike the "get rich quick" schemes, this costs you no cash, but it is guaranteed to save your dollars as you accrue extra flight mileage bonuses and stop paying for your food. Imagine never having to buy a new pair of shoes or settle for an outfit because it is available and you are out of time. Ladies and Gents, cut your costs on make-up and hairdressers, suits and sports clothes. Remember, you do not ever have to spend a night alone again. If you are not out feasting the night away, it is by your choice.

What is the catch to this life transforming ideology? You will never have to count new wrinkles or study your face in a mirror. Sound good? There is more. You know that expensive restaurant that is the talk of the town. The one that will not give you a better table than the one beside the swinging kitchen door after making you wait two hours. You can pay them a call whenever you want; just a sink your teeth in.

How do you fulfill this lifelong dream of freedom? In the darkness of midnight, open your windows and doors. Whisper, "Come on in and have a bite."

...

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Summary: BRAM STOKERS DRACULA
Review: THIS IS A TRULY A WONDERFUL BOOK. IT HAS ALL THE BITE YOU WOULD EXPECT!BRAM STOKER IS A GENIUS WRITER THAT TRULY KEEPS YOUR MIND WORKING.THE BOOK DELIVERS AND UNFOLDS REALLY WELL...REALLY ,REALLY WELL.THE IMAGES COME ALIVE BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES,AS IF YOU WERE REALLY THERE. I MEAN ,IT REALLY WILL GRAB YOU..THE MIST REALLY WILL ROLL UNDER YOUR DOOR AND AROUND YOU INVELOPEING YOUR VERY SOUL.TOTALLY HYPNOTIC !

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Summary: The Greatest
Review: Through this novel Bram Stoker gave us the greatest vampire story ever told. Other have done well writing different versions, and deserve credit, but I say, as always, that after everything is said and done, that Stoker's character, Count Dracula, is STILL THE BOSS.

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Summary: A classic that still holds it own
Review: Unlike several other classic novels I have read, I actaully enjoyed this book just for it's own merits. A well thought out book of Dracula's quest for new lands and those who oppose him (though not for humanity but for their own wants). Stoker was well ahead of his time in the telling of this story. The use of journals, memos, etc. not only tells the story but is a great way to develop characters, their perceptions, thinking, personal views, etc. Just an amazing simple but powerful idea that is hard to follow even to this day. A different way to read something, but still enjoyable. And unlike most horror books, Stoker shows Dracula's power by implying, not really showing. Dracula creates fogs, changes forms, climbs spider-like down walls, etc, but does little in confrontations, he runs, showing his fears dispite his power. Some of the concepts were well thought out too, like the weak minded (insane) being throlls to evil powers and the taking of innocence/blood leading to damnation. Cool. I also liked that even though it an older book, it doesn't suffer (much) from over dramatization that is normally associated with older stuff, it's fairly fast paced and enjoyable and well worth reading.

It's a shame to see such a great book turned into so many bad movies.

Rating:
Summary: Beware of These Tapes: They Don't Work
Review: These tapes employ a technology that may not work in your machines. They require a balance dial on your tape player. None of my recently-bought machines have this dial and so the tapes are just junk to me.

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Summary: Great Gothic fun
Review: This novel has a special charm to it, due to the legendary character of Dracula, and its claim to "originality" in the interpretation of the myth. Of course, this novel has had an enormous influence in subsequent reinterpretations, in literature and cinema. The first part is the creepiest, the story of Jonathan Harker's tribulations at the mysterious castle of Dracula, in Transylvania. That was really great. The rest of the story, which happens in England (except the finale) is also creepy and enigmatic, with a different flavor: the Victorian idiosyncracy and the tightening plot are very good, even though I understand those who complain about Lucy's story being long and somewhat repetitive.

Of course, the best thing about the book is the literary technique: the fragments of diaries, the letters and newspaper clippings add much to the mystery. Also, this narrative techinque allows for variety of points of view and sources of information, which round it up pretty well. The tone and athmospheres are successively creepy and hysterical, creating a tense and dark environment.

Even if it has some flaws, "Dracula" should be considered a great novel. The entertainment it provides is exciting, and its influence makes it transcendental. Besides, it's always cool to go to the "original" source of a myth.

Rating:
Summary: Oh, brilliant--but flawed
Review: Oh...my...God. This book is BRILLIANT. I can't put it into words. i'm only about 13, but it really was easy to understand. I just love renfeilds speech in his cell. "Rats...Rats...RATS! Thousands....MILLIONS OF RATS!!!" it was creepy. The only thing I don't like is the whole "Lucy" Shinanigan. I took almost half the novel. I got really bored here, but i still needed to know what happened next--! The beggining of the book (First four chapters) is my favorite part. I Love DRACULA (The Book, not the charecter :-))!!!!

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Summary: I'm not sure how I felt about this novel.
Review: The one thing that I really liked about this novel was the format it was written in. The story is told through the characters journals, memos, letters, etc. I also think this novel was ahead of its time, but the novel was lacking something that I can't quite put my finger on. I would like to say the novel dragged, but I'm not sure that it did. I think the whole story of Lucy, and what happened to her lasted too long. It was more than half of the novel, and she was the only focus, and I did not find it rather exciting. Everything seemed too long and drawn out, and Stoker's attempt to keep me guessing left me bored and uninspired. I kept turning the pages because I wanted to finish the book. I also felt the love story between Mina and Jonathan was boring. Jonathan was overly sensitive, and Mina seemed to wear the pants between the both of them. During the novel, not much was said about Dracula. He was just the villian who appeared out of nowhere to hunt Jonathan, and the gang. If history on Dracula was provided, the novel would have had a better feel. Overall this is a book you should read because it is the basis for most vampire themes. While watching the movie the Lost Boys last week, I found the history through that movie was centered on this book. Dracula is not a page turner, but more of a history lesson on the beginning of our obsession with Vampires, and creatures of the night. Do not look to read this book with the thought that you will not be able to put it down.

Rating:
Summary: Suspenseful
Review: I enjoyed reading this book. This was such a different take on the character of Dracula himself. I really did not know much about this version of Dracula. I guess I was accustomed to the Dracula we see represented in movies, but this book presented a different light of him. Positives include the great description of how Dracula "influenced" his victims. How people were affected by what was happening to their friends and family. I enjoyed reading how the Professor and the Doctor tried to analyze Dracula and all the incidents.

Two things I thought were minor negatives: One is that it was written in a journal format - several characters wrote journal entries to present the story and it was exciting to read them. But how can you expect people, after they've been through harrowing experiences and seeing their loved ones harmed, write every darn detail of that day into a journal? Maybe they were all very sharp and had great memories, but I could not expect them to capture every minute detail. I think Stoker should have included bits of story from a narrative perspective or at least makes these entries a bit more realistic. Also, this story is very very dramatic - maybe too dramatic. Obviously when it involves people and their loved ones, it is expected. The language is beautiful and deeply personal - I just thought it was overdone in spots.

But I recommend this to anyone who wants to read a suspenseful tale. This is not a horror story, but it's an overall fun book to read.

Rating:
Summary: Bram's greatest book
Review: Bram Stoker has created a wonderful epistolory novel. Dracula is perhaps the greatest book ever written. Bram has a talent for writing stories that send chills down your spine. Dracula is the only book that actually made me close the TV to read. I couldn't put the book down for a moment. I would recommend everyone to read this book. It has a wonderful storyline that doesn't bore you for a minute and always keeps in suspense. I can guarantee that readers of this book will not even skip over one word. This is a very long book, yet I wish it were longer.

The story is about a man named Jonathan Harker, who meets with Dracula, but soon realizes Dracula's devilish ways. Later on, Jonathan and a cast of friends go on a quest to kill Dracula before he can get away. The entire book is written as the journal entries and letters of Jonathan, Mina Harker, Dr. Seward, and others. This style of writing gives a new way of reading that is sure to please you. This book is a must buy. If there was any higher than 5 stars, I would have given Dracula that. Don't miss out on this one of a kind book.