Dracula

"Again basied review I'm not a fan of classic. With respect of course just in today's age it's not scary anymore. This story is pulled together from a group of characters dairies and notes. I wasn't a fan because you wasn't in the here and now. Also I just don't believe everyone would have had a dairy its just too coincidental. The story just plained out the entire time no highs no lows. There was no character building, no world building just a bunch of notes put together."

"There’s a reason this is a classic. Haunting and filled with dread. Stoker knows how to pack a punch in the horror department."

"Reading 'Dracula' for the first time, I was struck by how it has shaped modern vampire lore. Despite the challenges of translating some effects into earlier films, the novel's descriptions, like Dracula crawling down a wall, are chillingly effective. I appreciated the portrayal of Dracula as a true monster, a refreshing deviation from the more sympathetic depictions of vampires in recent media, which often undermine their representation as symbols of lost humanity.<br/><br/>Dracula's character is astutely crafted – intelligent, cunning, and manipulative. The way he ensnares Jonathan Harker and preys silently on his victims exemplifies the predatory nature of a vampire, often missed in contemporary interpretations.<br/><br/>The novel’s narrative style, presented through journal entries and letters, gives it a 'found footage' feel reminiscent of films like 'Paranormal Activity' and 'The Blair Witch Project', which I thoroughly enjoy. Stoker's ability to shift tone and language between characters is testament to his skill as a writer.<br/><br/>However, the novel does betray a classist attitude, with lower-class characters often portrayed with stereotypical accents and mannerisms. In contrast, the upper-class characters are depicted as willfully ignorant, a critique that Stoker seems more intent on making. Dracula’s choice to prey on the wealthy, exploiting their arrogance and skepticism, is a clever plot device.<br/><br/>Dracula’s success in terrorizing London, using societal biases to his advantage, adds a layer of depth to the story. The transition from a vampire-aware Transylvania to an ignorant London provides a perfect hunting ground for Dracula.<br/><br/>Dracula, as a character, has become one of my favorites. He brilliantly exploits the flaws of his victims, making the characters relatable and realistically flawed.<br/><br/>The novel, however, is not without its shortcomings. Its pacing is inconsistent, with the narrative often interrupted by excessive exposition, making parts of the book a slog to get through. This issue is particularly noticeable as the story picks up speed, only to be hampered again by lengthy exposition.<br/><br/>In conclusion, 'Dracula' is a seminal work that has significantly influenced the portrayal of vampires in media. Its vivid descriptions and unique narrative style are compelling, although the Victorian prose might challenge modern readers. For those interested in exploring this classic, some familiarity with Victorian literature might enhance the reading experience. Overall, 'Dracula' is a worthwhile read that has rightly earned its place in the canon of iconic literature."

"glorified travel diary 80% of the time. loved the chapter on the demeter! very scary and ominous. also loved reinfield. other than that kinda boring and difficult to follow."

"Slower to read than most modern books, but a classic gothic horror."

"Great book ."

"An altogether fantastic classic. It was engaging, compelling, and scary in all the right ways."

"My favorite classic horror novel of all time! "

"I started reading this because of the Dracula Daily emails, since it was free to sign up and hey, why not? But I Never expected to actually LOVE Dracula this much!!!!!!! I owe a lot of my affection for it to the emails, since they got sent to me in actual chronological order, and I know I wouldn't have liked it as much if I didn't read it in chronological order!!!!!!!!!! Either way, absolutely LOVED it!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"A little longer than needed (especially if you know what happens), but it does have it's merits and the style is not bad. I really liked that the audio version used a different narrator for each character."