“What manner of man is this, or what manner of creature is in the semblance of man? I feel the dread of this horrible place overpowering me; I am in fear — in awful fear — and there is no escape for me; I am encompassed about with terrors that I dare not think of…”
Dracula
By Bram Stoker
I don’t need to tell you what the story is about because I think we all know it right? So I’ll just tell you more about my reading expectations and experience.
I have always loved the story of Dracula from what I saw on film and via other writers’ imaginings. I’ve read many stories that featured vampires like the Anne Rice books and the Twilight series. I’ve read graphic novels, romance novels, and horror novels, but something always made me stay away from this classic book.
Why? I think my expectations were very high and I was a bit hesitant to read it and feel letdown. What if I hated it? So, with this R.I.P. Challenge I thought that’s it I’m going for and friends, I loved it. This will definitely go on my list of favorites for the year and here are just some observations:
I love stories that are in told via letters or journal entries. I’d heard before that both of these were used in Dracula but I don’t think I realized that the whole story was narrated that way. And, I especially loved this quote from Mina’s journal entry: “I am anxious, and it soothes me to express myself here; it is like whispering to one’s self and listening at the same time.” As an avid journal keeper myself I totally get this.
I was surprised that even though I knew the story it still managed to be creepy and suspenseful. Yes, sometimes the description went on a bit too long but it served to create a rich atmosphere filled with suspense. Â I can only imagine how scary this story must have been back when it first came out in the 1897.
Finally, my favorite part of the story was the beginning when Jonathan Harker has arrived at the castle and meets Dracula. Jonathan’s growing sense of alarm at what he is witnessing made this a page-turner for me.
Source: Personal copy
My daughter actually had to read this for her Honors English class over the summer, which I thought was pretty cool. But I’ve never read it! Have to get to this one…I love storytelling through letters too.
I loved teaching this one! It always surprised students and provided such good topics for research papers.
I have GOT TO finish this!
I’ve owned this book since childhood, and it’s sad that I have yet to read it! My daughter tried reading it last year but got bogged down in all that description. Glad to see you liked it.
So glad you finally read it and enjoyed it so much! I read it a few years a go for the first time and was surprised at how much I liked it.
Sandy – I hope you get a chance to read it one day. Did your daughter like it?
Jenclair – That’s is great to hear. I wish we had read this in school but it seems like all we read was Shakespeare – not a bad choice by any means but I think we didn’t branch out much.
Andi @ Estella’s Revenge – Well especially since you’ve read The Historian I can imagine it would probably be a great book to follow that up with!
Anna – Towards the middle the descriptions seem to go on longer and longer so I understand. At times I thought I wasn’t making any progress. Hope you’ll get to it one day!
Stefanie – I was surprised too. I kept thinking I was going to be disappointed! I can’t believe how much I loved it.
Glad you loved it so much and enjoyed the journal aspect of it.
I read this one a while ago, and I enjoyed it but found it a bit too long for my tastes. Like you say though, the atmosphere is created nicely.
Have you seen the film version with Keanu Reeves as Harker? I thought it was pretty good.
I read Dracula after reading Kostova’s The Historian years ago. Like you, I had veered away from the classic, but after Elizabeth’s novel I wanted to go straight to the source for more information. As I read your post, I didn’t recall the journal entries Stroker included in his novel, but I’m surprised I don’t. Journaling is very important to me, too. I journal less once I began blogging, but now that I’m blogging less, I may return to my journals. There’s only the question of what to do with them when we’re gone…do I really want people reading all my innermost thoughts?
I am so glad you enjoyed this one, Iliana. I was surprised at how much I ended up loving it. I really liked the way the story unfolded and the subtleness of the horror, if that makes sense.