Dracula by Bram Stoker

MrShorty · #1 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 12:42 PM

Interestingly, I have never read Bram Stoker's Dracula. Saw it at the library a few weeks ago and decided it was time to read the "original" vampire story.

Basic plot summary: Count Dracula, an old vampire from eastern Europe has decided to infiltrate London and calls in Johnathon Harker, a lawyer, to help him obtain property and other legal matters. Harker nearly falls prey to the vampires but escapes. His fiancee's friend comes down with a strange malady. Over the course of treatment, the "head physician" studies the legends about vampires deciphers the clues that she is under a vampires influence. In spite of their best efforts, the young woman dies and becomes a vampire herself, and it is necessary to kill her with the traditional stake through the heart. At this point, the group decides they must find and destroy Dracula to prevent him from taking over London.

LiterateParakeet · #2 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 01:39 PM

Funny you should mention that. I just read it recently...my second time. I have a friend that reads it every October, LOL!

I love it because the suspense is so thick from the first page! It scared the beejeebees out of me the first time I read it. (A fun scare). My husband can't imagine why I would enjoy rading about vampires, but then he doesn't read for entertainment either.

MrShorty · #3 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 10:47 PM

Quote:

I love it because the suspense is so thick from the first page!

I would agree. Part of me wishes I could go back 100 years and read it before everyone knew it was about a vampire. Even though I had never read it, I knew before I started that Dracula was a vampire, but Stoker only gave little hints/clues as to his nature. I don't think he even used the word "vampire" for a good one-third to one-half of the book.

LiterateParakeet · #4 (**permalink**) 08-10-2011, 12:42 AM

Yes! I thought the same thing. Sigh...

Blackmarch · #5 (**permalink**) 08-31-2011, 09:54 AM

neeed to find a rickety old cabin out in the woods to read it at :P

JudoMinja · #6 (**permalink**) 08-31-2011, 01:56 PM

I've greatly enjoyed the book myself and am thinking about giving it another read.

When I was in high school, I was part of a play based on the Stoker's Dracula. My part was minor and I mostly helped behind the scenes. I got to do a "scream" from off stage because the teacher thought I did the best at making it sound blood-curdlingly terrifying, lol. It was a LOT of fun.

My older brother was in it too (we were two years apart) and he played the part of Jonathan Harker. I'm still friends with the guy who played Count Dracula, and he's actually making a career out of acting right now. He's been in a few small films and tends toward the scary/suspense type films.

girlygirl · #7 (**permalink**) 08-31-2011, 02:31 PM

I read it a few years ago, I found it extreemly gripping and I was surprised at how good it was!

Dr T · #8 (**permalink**) 08-31-2011, 10:02 PM

Wait so Dracula is a vampire?

zaporah · #9 (**permalink**) 09-01-2011, 05:53 AM

My VERY favorite book!

Captain_Curmudgeon · #10 (**permalink**) 09-01-2011, 03:02 PM

ONLY vampire novel I'm ever going to read and the first.

Interesting that in this very first vampire novel the sexual overtones are there and that you have to believe considerable orthodox (non-Mormon) religious mumbo-jumbo for the novel to work. Gimme zombies every day.