Dracula

Rating:
Summary: Good but not the best.
Review: As a whole, "Dracula" is a solid book, but not a great one. It is cursed with an overbearing patriarchal tone, a clear lack of character development, and apart from the initial chapters fails to explore the most ineresting of its character--Dracula. All the same, I did enjoy the overall story, and would recommend it. Its flaws are, for the most part, born of the era in which it was written, and are therefore excusable; yet, Shelley's "Frankenstein" is a far superior read for those interested in early supernatural fiction.

Rating:
Summary: a definite classic
Review: I was blown away by this book and highly recommend it to anyone mature enough to appreciate the superiority of literature over Hollywood kitsch. Long after all the movies have lost their sophistication and have become corny, this book will still be disturbing. When you read it, keep in mind that it was written over a century ago when society was rigidly moralistic and consider how shocking it would have been to a Victorian audience. Another suggestion is to consider reading it from the point of view that it could be the fear of the spread of syphilis that Bram Stoker was tapping into with the sexual-like contamination of the blood and the insanity. Then take it a step further and consider what impact the book would have if it were written today, only about AIDS.

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read Classic
Review: This book is long but it is a good book to read to pass the time and it chills you to the bone. And the book itself is not expensive.

Rating:
Summary: Definitely not good
Review: I have read many horror novels. This was not a good at all. It started out very interesting, and certain parts were not bad at all. But all the other things that seemingly had nothing to do with the novel was distracting and caused me to stop after 100 pages. I was to do a book report on this, and ended up doing my report on Gaston Leroux's Phantom of the Opera, which is a wonderful story. I would advise many to not read Dracula. Maybe I have missed something completely in this story, that does happen sometimes, but I thought it was awful.

Rating:
Summary: Superb fiction
Review: This book was amazingly revolutionary, very sexual, very violent, very controversial, and very spiritual. Some of the other readers must have been expecting to read something like Anne Rice, but you have to understand when this was written. Bram Stoker was taking a big risk with this book and that's strongly evident in the way this book is worded. The style was also new to the time; no one would have really thought of writing a book this way. This book was very exciting, contrary to what other readers may have said. Dracula may be hard to read but is a book you'll be glad you'd read when you're done.

Rating:
Summary: Dracula
Review: Dracula was not one of the first horror novels i'v e read and not even the first vampire story but it was definatly the best.

Rating:
Summary: Most Definetely a Classic
Review: After reading all the negative reviews of this novel, I was so apalled that I knew I had to speak up. This book is magnificent. I see no reason why these high school kids have to put it down (unless of course, the hardest novels they've read are Goosebumps and Sweetvalley High). This novel is very cleverly written, and can be taken in two different ways: either as a christian allegory or a gothic adventure. I think the main problem people have with this book is they expect it to be like some cheap Dean Koontz or Stephen King novel, but this is definetely not one of those. What we have here is a very controversial and innovative book for its time. Not only does it use a clever narration format, but it also uses much dark and sexual imagery, which was not as common for that time as it is today. The greatest thing about this book is that it is timeless. It doesn't matter what century you live in. So ignore the lazy and ignorant students: if you want an intelligent, insightful and gripping read, i could not suggest any other book before Bram Stoker's Dracula!

Rating:
Summary: FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
Review: I SERIOUSLY HATE EVERY BOOK I HAVE TO READ FOR SCHOOL. I THOUGHT THIS BOOK WOULD ALSO SUCK BUT SO FAR THIS IS THE AWSOMEST BOOK EVER. IT IS LIKE NON STOP ACTION

Rating:
Summary: Kinda gave me a craving for necks
Review: Dracula is one of the best horror novels ever written. Back when it was first published in 1897, it must have been truly terrifying to it's first readers. I was shocked, to say the least, that I was somewhat disturbed in reading it's pages. The first fifty or so pages define what is true classic horror. After that it slows down for a while, but when the Count lands in England, the story just takes off. While it me a while to get used to the journal and diary style of writing, Stoker made it a focus that this element was crucial in the later part of the novel. I hear most people say that Francis Ford Coppola's film version is the most accurate in following the novel. If that is true, then I must say that all Dracula films made so far are very pathetic attempts to capture the essence of Stoker's novel. I saw Coppola's film the same day of finishing the novel, and I felt like breaking the TV. It was blasphemy. However, the only part of the novel that I didn't like was the final showdown, and that's the main reason I didn't give five stars. I'll leave it to readers and see if they agree with me or not. I can't of many literary figures that have had such an impact on popular culture as Dracula. The horrible movies of him, other vampire movies, scary movies in general, the Castlevania series, halloween, Buffy, and countless other things I can't think of right now; all own at least some thanks to him. I'm sure professional writers everywhere will just die with ectasy if one their own characters reach the status that Dracula has. Dracula earned his position with just cause; it's to bad that Stoker did not live to see the full influence that his brainchild has. I heard that he died a miserable man. If you really want to know why Dracula is so popular, turn off your TV, sit down somewhere, and fire up your imagination with this masterpiece. Dracula is truly someone who will remain undead for a long time to come. Happy Horrors! =)

Rating:
Summary: Not all it's cracked up to be...
Review: A good book? Yes. An excellent book? No. Whether or not this book is a classic is undebatable, but I disagree with the high esteem in which it is usually held. The character's in the book are too one dimensional. They don't really express the wide range of emotions we would expect in real people; they are entirely too predictable. The story, too, while containing some admirable elements, is not as exciting as, say, "Frankenstein" or "Great Expectations". The plot tends to plod along while you wait for something to happen. In short, as a foundation of modern horror, this book is a must. But as a satisfying literary experience in and of itself, this book falls short of it's potential.