Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897)
Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Bram Stoker by no means invented vampires (nor was he the first to write about them), as they appeared in old myths and stories across many cultures for centuries. However, his famous gothic horror Dracula is the basis for much of the vampire folklore popular in our society today. In fact, the book and its title character have inspired almost 100 film adaptations of the tale, not to mention the endless list of other books and movies influenced indirectly by Dracula.
The Analysis:
The book begins with Englishman soliticer (lawyer) Jonathan Harker traveling to the home of Count Dracula in the mountains of Transylvania in order to facilitate a real estate transaction. There is an early sense of impending darkness despite the initially pleasant surroundings. On Harker’s journey, many people seem weary or even frightened once they know where he is heading. Everyone seems to know what he is getting into except for Harker himself. After a frightful ride to the foreboding castle, the solicitor is pleasantly surprised by the welcoming warmth of the Count. However, he soon notices a “vague feeling of uneasiness” whenever his host is around and realizes that the Count is perhaps more sinister than he first expected. What follows is an entanglement of events that throw two young women, their suitors, and a renaissance man into a battle for their lives.
I would be lying if I said that this book was amazing and terrifying. While incredibly influential, the novel itself is not exactly the 418 pages of sheer terror that I expected. In fact, Count Dracula himself does not even appear in many of the chapters. For me, the one thing that really takes away from the feeling of suspense is the format and style of the writing. The book is composed of journal and diary entries, letters, and memos from various main characters. Due to the nature of such writings, the events are told upon later reflection of the narrator. This past tense detachment creates a passive sort of voice, distancing the reader from the actual events. While there are still some creepy scenes and even a few horror filled moments, the book did not quite keep me on the edge of my seat.
I also found the assortment of characters to be a bit confusing at times with two main characters being named Jonathan and John and another being known as “Arthur Holmwood” until suddenly he is “Lord Godalming” upon his father’s death. Despite these flaws, the bonds between the characters feel genuine and paint a picture of intense loyalty. The book should serve as an inspiration to remain loyal and brave, even in the most trying of times. Dracula also excels at balancing many genres: action, horror, adventure, and even a bit of romance. I was surprised to sometimes find myself reading a love letter or a note between friends gushing about charming suitors. Yet, it is the spine-chilling details of Dracula that remain the most impactful. The scenes detailing the vampiric curse paint pictures of these blood sucking creatures that we still think of today. Despite not being quite as enthralling as I had hoped, Dracula is still a must read for fans of classic horror.
Be sure to check out the official reading guide for Dracula!!
Download the guide here:
For the online version, follow this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-ed2XV_kzxvR2SXIBSAN0-wcabHhDNQuFuUNrgA2wtI/edit
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