Dracula

Rating:
Summary: Of course, the movies do no justice
Review: Despite seeing countless vampire movies and shows, Bram Stoker's book (the original) is still fresh after all this time. The author really creates an environment and feeling of cold and darkness. The telling of the story from multiple points of view gives an interesting edge to the story, as you see that not all the characters know what is going on at the same time. Stoker is also able to keep Count Dracula's character as a dark and frightful, yet very mysterious antagonist. There is nothing romantic about Dracula in this version. No matter what movies you have seen, this version is sure to be new and exciting to the reader. Stoker keeps the reader on the edge of their seat the whole time. I highly recomment this classic to anyone.

Rating:
Summary: Movies Just Don't Cut It!
Review: Prior to reading this novel, I envisioned the famous Count as being a pale, uncanny, middle-aged, quite rustic, and socially deprived individual, with that oh-so-annoying dialect. Unfortunately, Hollywood has left its mark on the poor man. In Transylvania, Count Dracula is seen as a type of authority figure, for he has witnessed many historical battles and has lived many centuries through the fall and rise of his history and country; which has made his family considerably wealthy and noble. Apart from being the villain, Dracula is well-read, clean shaven (although he despises vanity), and civil-well, for a while at least.

Dracula's Castle is marvelous, built of enormous dark thick stone, which keeps a steady chill and feeling of suspense in the air at all times. The endless hallways and corridors with hundreds of locked doors seem to blend with the vast staircases, giving you a choking sensation. The peculiar and most striking antique furnishings seem to have taken a drink from the fountain of youth; for they are flawless--almost too flawless. There are no mirrors to be found anywhere and the library, well one of them at least, is filled with books written in many languages and on various subjects. The bureaus there are littered with old newspapers, maps, and magazines. Why, the only soul living in the Castle is Dracula who for some reason doesn't seem to be among the living at all. For Dracula is sly and sinister. When you are first introduced, you notice that his canine teeth are remarkably large and protrude over his cherry red lips, while his presence gives you a malicious chill, along with a whiff of his rank breath. Vampires always appeared to me cold and collected, swift, smooth, and clean, not so messy like vicious hounds, and disgusting sea monsters, but don't get me wrong, there are very gory moments in the novel.

Don't let the title "classic" cause your insides to rumble and make you want to run away and scream. Dracula is filled with those action-packed fighting scenes and the timeless heroic drama, which we all love, along with a side of being addictively scary. Bram Stoker's clever historical and psychological babble; is what makes Dracula seem so realistic. The novel takes its time to get you fully interested and alert, but once you get going you will find yourself being held prisoner in many interesting and grim predicaments. This novel, or collection rather, is composed of notes, journal entries, letters, telegrams, and newspaper scraps, written by some main characters in the story: Jonathan Harker, Wilhemina (Mina) Harker, Quincey Morris, Lord Goldalming, Dr. Van Helsing, Dr. John Seward, and Lucy Westenra. The five men try to save Lucy Westenra before Dracula embezzles her soul, but Dracula, uses Mina against the men. If they don't bring an end to Dracula the lives of both women are jeopardized. Let's just say that Dracula gives you something to dream about, but be warned, this book is under the category of horror for a reason.

Rating:
Summary: Intense
Review: Stoker's Dracula is in the unusual narrative form of the journal entries, news clippings, telegrams and letters between the unfortunate band of people drawn up in Dracula's wake as he attempts to trade in his life in the old country for the teeming streets of London. With its unusual presentation, this novel must have been the Blair Witch of its day and has thoroughly withstood the test of time. The journals blend seamlessly into short narratives and dialogues and, with the many voices and perspectives, build an undeniable tension throughout the book. The end lacks no potency just because you think you know who is going to win in the end.

The movie form of Stoker's Dracula is close but no cigar. Though I sort of like the Hollywood added Dracula/Mina romance angle, it is not present in the book. Jonathon Harker, a solicitor from London and the fiancée of Wilhemina (Mina), is trapped in Dracula's castle after delivering the papers involved in the purchase of Carfax Abbey by the Count. Whiling away the time until Jonathon's return, Mina spends time with Lucy Westenra, who is not quite the coquette she is made out to be in the movies though she does have three suitors: John Seward who runs the sanitarium that abuts Carfax Abbey, Quincey Morris (an American adventurer), and Lord Goldalming (Arthur) whose proposal she has accepted. When she falls mysteriously ill, Seward is called in who calls for his old mentor and professor, Van Helsing. Jonathon finally surfaces again in a foreign city requiring Mina's nursing, leaving the three former suitors and Van Helsing to battle for Lucy's soul against the Count. When Jonathon's journal from the castle is eventually integrated into the experiences of the four men, an alarming picture becomes clear and they are vowed to pursue and destroy the monster. Stakes rise when Dracula attempts to use Mina against the tribe and their failure would ultimately mean the forfeiture of Mina's soul. Pardon the pun but blood runs high as the men pursue Dracula even back to his own castle while Mina struggles to maintain her gentler nature.

I was very impressed with how compelling a read this was given the narrative form and the differing conceptions of horror over the centuries. The eroticism has since paled, I think, as other authors have pushed that envelope a great deal farther since then but it seems an excellent snapshot of Victorian struggles against the baser natures of mankind.

Rating:
Summary: Fun late night reading!
Review: Dracula was fantastic and that is even with the knowledge that the good Count was going to be a vampire...Imagine how fun it would have been to read this book NOT knowing what a monster he truely was...Anyhow...this book is still worth the read...the slow build up and torment that Jonathan Harker faces as he is trapped in Draculas castle... the resilient fight Van Helsing and "the gang" put up to save poor Lucy from the mysterious blood loss she faces nightly...the frantic chance that is the climax of this masterpeice... Anyone who loves to be terrified and entertained should save this one for a dark and stormy night...light a candle and take the very gory trip to Transylvania...

Rating:
Summary: An All Time Favorite
Review: I usually don't do reviews but simply had to in this case. I read this book the first time when I was 8 or 9 and it scared me so badly I piled all my stuffed animals over me in case Dracula came after me in the night. I absolutely loved it and to this day I enjoy it every time I re-read it. One reviewer complained about Stoker's "overwhelming message of women + sex = way too scary for any decent man to handle" being pretty annoying. The interesting thing about her complaint this is exactly what got the book written during the time of Queen Victoria and society was very repressed. Women were getting out of the house and beginning to be independent -- some of them actually took jobs. The concept of women and sex being scary today may seem outdated but when this book was written, it was a very real fear in Victorian society. Instead of finding this concept annoying it should be realized that it's very educational of a particular time in history. People really thought like this and this is some of what gives the book its power.

Further, is this any different from the current batch of horror movies that always has the girl who has sex killed by the monster? Or clad only in a flimsy negligee? At any rate, Dracula is a truly terrific book and one of my all time favorites.

Rating:
Summary: The Terror that will Live on
Review: Excellent! This book has captivated readers for 107 years. There is not a dull moment. This book has religious significance, action, and a classic battle between good and evil. There is not a single person, young or old, who would not enjoy this book.

Rating:
Summary: boring, but important
Review: Is 'Dracula,' a classic because it's really that great of a book? Or is it because of the mass influence it's had on culture? I'm going with the latter.

I found it, overall, to be a pretty boring book, our glimpses of Dracula are slim, the only interesting narratives are those of Lucy & Mina, & Stoker's overwhelming message of women + sex = way too scary for any decent man to handle, is pretty annoying.

So read it because it's a classic, & because without it legions of great movies & books may have never been written, but if you're looking for excitement, stop at go.

Rating:
Summary: Very good starter
Review: This is a great book to get adolesent kids started with reading. For those kids who are not interested in reading this is a good choice to help them get interested. This is a classic to which most kids and people for that matter already know the general story. So for kids who are unsure about reading, or feel that they don't always understand what they are reading (for lack of attention) this would be a great book to start them off. This version is complete and unabridged giving the reader the full detail of Bran Stoker's original classic. Cover to cover this is one of the best and most known horror stories ever printed. And i would fully recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Dracula, one of the best books that I have ever read
Review: Dracula is one of the best horror books that I have ever read. I highly reccomend this anyone who enjoys a good horror book. The book takes place in the late ninteenth century in Transylvania. with Jonathon Harker going to finalize a real estate sale. Then from there the fun ensues from people getting their blood sucked by Count Dracula to Dracula getting killed.This book shows what a genius that Bram Stoker really is. Stoker portrays pure horror like no other writer I have ever read and can convey raw emotions of sheer terror. So if you enjoy blood and gore then you will love this book

Rating:
Summary: Dracula-Sweetheart of Darkness
Review: If you are looking for a great book to read, Bram Stoker's Dracula could be your perfect choice.
The plot alone gives enough good reason to read this book. To start with, it's a classic. You can never go wrong with a classic. It's books like this that enrich your literary reading. Along with being a classic, Dracula demands that you take time to sit and read. It requires thought. By doing this it doesn't make the book seem too easy and a waste of time and effort. At the same time it's not too hard to understand. Dracula is great for all you out there who enjoy the supernatural. This is one that lets you escape and experience some of the creepy yet exciting events that do not occur in our everyday life, or world for that matter.
Bram Stoker offers some intersesting characters in his book. It is hard to become bored with with a particular character throughout the entire book. Plus, if a madman that eats flies doesn't intrest you, then I don't think that anything will. Such charateristics really give the characters of Dracula stand out personalities. A madman, a prisoner, two doctors, a woman being turned into a vampire, the list goes on and on. These are merely labels compared to how the book presents them. It is easy to get to know a certain character so well that you can relate to them, or somewhat of their experience. This really helps to get into the book.
The theme of Dracula really fits nicely with the plot and characters. First off I must give my satisfaction with the writing style. Not many authors use letters, diary entries, logs, and newspaper clippings to tell their story. This writing style really explores every character's point of view. It really helps the reader to know what is going on throughout the book. If that doesn't get the reader involed in the book, then the setting will. It goes from creepy castles to ships with dead men to civilization and so on. Without the setting it just wouldn't be the same. The setting really helps to establish a good basis for the plot and the characters. The genre of this book is considered to be gothic. When reading the book I noticed that it fits the five characteristics of a gothic piece of literature. It has a creepy setting, a damsel in distress, the supernatural, and gore. The wonderful gothic setting of old victorian England is the perfect environment for this delightfully dark book.