REVIEW: Dracula

 Dracula
Author: Bram Stoker

I love classic ghost stories and horror, but it's been a long time since I re-read some of the true classic horror. I decided this fall while I was trying to choose my spooky season reading to re-visit some tales I remember enjoying years ago. I chose Dracula first because the last time I actually read the book I was in college and read it because I had to read it. As a literature major, I read many things not because I wanted to but because I was required to read them. I loved the book, but it's different when you read something by choice and for a grade. 

This time, I delved into this 1897 novel from Bram Stoker because I truly wanted to read it.

In the past, I have read a physical copy of a classic story or novel while listening to an unabridged audio book at the same time. Often it is to compare two different editions of a story, but this time I did it because horror is just more engaging and chilling when it's being read out loud to me. I checked a hardback edition of Dracula out of my local library (illustrated by Edward Gorey) and listened to a full-cast audio version from Audible (cast included Tim Curry, Alan Cumming, Simon Vance and others). The audio was about 15 1/2 hours long. I decided since I truly wanted to enjoy this book that I was only going to read/listen when I had time to sit down with my book and concentrate only on the story. Sometimes I listen to books while driving or doing household chores, and I miss some things. I wanted to savor and enjoy this book, so only jumped in when I had time to give it my entire attention. 

It took me awhile...several weeks...to finish this book. Not because I wasn't enjoying it, but because I am incredibly busy right now at work and kept to my rule to only read this book when I had time to set aside just for reading. It might have been only for a few minutes here and there that I got to sit down and listen, but I thoroughly savored every word of this novel! 

We all know the story. Jonathan Harker travels to Count Dracula's castle on business as the count wishes to buy property in London. He discovers that Dracula is a vampire, but he is held captive in the castle while Dracula ventures to London. Jonathan escapes, joins up with several men and his wife Mina to confront the evil vampire. 

The story is chilling and still scary even after more than 100 years. I prefer the way Bram Stoker created the character, rather than all of the movie adaptations that changed fundamental parts of the story and characters. The horror is relatively tame when looked at with modern eyes, but I can only imagine how the tale was received when it was first published! It was probably viewed as quite graphic and racy! 

The story definitely kept my attention from start to finish. The last two chapters of the book are quite action-packed and gruesome. Stoker doesn't go into graphic detail but provides enough description for readers to envision the confrontation of the vampire and his evil minions. 

Loved it!! I'm going to do the same with Frankenstein next! I already have an annotated copy of Frankenstein and an audio version queued up in my phone! Not sure what I will delve into after Mary Shelley...but I think I will keep doing this for awhile. Very enjoyable!! 

Edward Gorey's illustrations in the physical book are wonderful! He is also the artist that created the old black and white intro to PBS' Masterpiece Mystery.