Shared read of Dracula by Bram Stoker

Shared read of Dracula for Fuzzi and Lisa. Anyone is welcome to join in!!

Dracula was Bram Stoker's fifth and by far his most famous novel. It was first published in the UK in May 1897 by Archibald Constable and Company, Westminster. It was republished in 1901 as an abridged version, in addition to appearing as a serialized series in some US newpapers. Although usually considered to be a gothic horror novel, Dracula has been assigned to other literary genres including vampire literature and invasion literature.

Characters:

Jonathan Harker: A solicitor sent to do business with Count Dracula; Mina's fiancé and prisoner in Dracula's castle.

Count Dracula: A Transylvanian noble who has purchased a house in London.

Wilhelmina "Mina" Harker (née Murray): A schoolteacher and Jonathan Harker's fiancée.

Lucy Westenra: A 19-year-old aristocrat; Mina's best friend; Arthur's fiancée and Dracula's first victim.

Arthur Holmwood: Lucy's suitor and later fiancé.

John Seward: A doctor; one of Lucy's suitors and a former student of Van Helsing.

Abraham Van Helsing: A Dutch doctor, lawyer and professor; John Seward's teacher.

Quincey Morris: An American cowboy and explorer; and one of Lucy's suitors.

Renfield: A patient at Seward's insane asylum who has come under the influence of Dracula.

"Weird Sisters": Three siren-like vampire women who serve Dracula. In some of the plays, films etc. that came after the novel they are referred to as the Brides of Dracula.

(Character list source: Wikipedia)

I recently started reading Dracula but had to set it aside for a few days. Hoping to get back to the story later this week and post an update.

I listened to it earlier in the year, which was essentially a reread, although I had last read it as a child or teen. The audiobook was a cast recording and was generally excellent, with Tim Curry as Van Helsing, although he wasn't in it enough.

Since you're posting covers, here is my Penguin edition, which I'm rather fond of:

>4 sturlington: That is a really cool cover. I was looking online and was surprised how many editions and varying bookcovers there are for Dracula. That could make up an entire book collection for a Bram Stoker fan.

I'm here, thread is starred! I may not get to Dracula until later in the month, but I do intend to read it!

>6 fuzzi: Great! Glad you will be able to join in at some point. :) My reading progress has been slow so far.

I am past the 50% mark and found the beginning chapters involving Jonathan Harker to be the most absorbing. Somehow, I was expecting to be more creeped out by the story but maybe I have watched too many horror movies, so I am not as easily shocked now.

If anyone is interested, Turner Classic Movies is showing the 1931 version of Dracula on Friday, October 28th.

Every time I think of Dracula I think of these comics, particularly the "Horror of the New Woman" one: http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=285.

>9 christina_reads: Aw yiss! ;)
My favourite line is "This is probably OK."

>10 rabbitprincess: The panel where Dracula hisses at the turnips planted in his native earth makes me laugh every time!

My thoughts about Dracula:

The epistolary format was fine and the different points of views often enhanced the story. Overall, I enjoyed the beginning chapters that focused on Jonathan Harker's visit to Count Dracula's castle in the Carpathian Mountains. Later on, the focus of the story shifted to other characters in England and the narrative within some of the chapters beyond that point, seemed too melodramatic for my liking.

I should mention that I listened to part of Dracula through an Audible version narrated by Alan Cumming, Tim Curry, etc. The narration was excellent and actually made the story more interesting. For readers who primarily listen to books, I would highly recommend this version of Dracula.

Finally, I am not a huge fan of horror fiction and but usually read at least one book in the genre during autumn. So, I am glad to have read Dracula once but likely wouldn't tackle a reread in the future.