Reviews with content warning for Misogyny - Dracula

The book's main fault is that it's a classic; as such you know the entire time what is going to happen, the majority of Dracula's powers, and are not surprised at any turn. The story also absolutely drags as the author discusses train schedules, characters' availability, and travel more than actual action that drives the plot forward. I could not finish this in text and needed to listen to it on audiobook to move forward. I enjoyed the story while actually reading it, but was not compelled to pick it up again the following day(s) to finish the book.

The acts of killing are also strangely sudden (being a few paragraphs at most) compared to the human deaths that take place over multiple chapters. Between that and the sections of nothing but planning travel - the pacing some of the worst I've ever read as the author focuses on mundane information of the world rather than plot.

However, that all being said, I still enjoyed the main story beats. I would recommend an abridged version.

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rochelleisreading's review against another edition

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adventurous dark sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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wowsmeows's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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vaguelyredhead's review against another edition

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dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

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dylanhenning's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

I had put off reading this book for years and I’m kicking myself for doing so.

I thought I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it because it’s an older story obviously written in a different time and for the fact that it was Dracula! This book is one of the foundational pillars of horror and I was so worried it wouldn’t hold up in my mind but rest assured that this book still holds up 127 years later! Don’t be afraid to read this book, just dive in and have fun!

A fascinating part of reading this book for me is that so much of vampire lore and rules for how to write and characterize vampires in literature come from this book and Bram Stoker’s brilliance.

This story is an epistolary gothic horror novel that some may be surprised doesn’t even have Dracula in it very much at all. It’s a story mostly of how various people are connected through their experiences with Dracula and ultimately their plans to vanquish him. It’s told through a series of letters, diary entries, newspaper articles, and the occasional telegraph. If you think that doesn’t sound scary, think again! Bram Stoker writes in such a beautiful and haunting way that it did genuinely feel creepy at times. His writing is so descriptive you can’t help but visualize the terrifying scenes our characters are experiencing.

Having different perspectives also keeps things interesting because our cast of characters have their own distinct personalities that sine through in Stoker’s writing. They have different perspectives and motivations in why they feel compelled to go down this dark and dangerous path to defeat this dangerous ancient vampire.

Because this book was published in 1897 it obviously has some elements that don’t hold up super well in modern times, however I feel these elements are far fewer that you might expect. There’s a bit of misogyny towards the end when the men insist that the woman in their company Mina Harker stay behind simply because they feel it’s too dangerous of a situation for her to be in (even though she’s been an integral part of their company up to that point). I won’t give any spoilers but we do move past that part of it fairly quickly.

It’s also interesting how queer coded this book is. There’s been some speculation that Stoker himself was gay or bi and that may be but I don’t like to speculate much on the sexuality of people who are no longer around to define themselves. However there is quite a bit of queer allusions and subtext through the actions, conversations, and internal musings of our characters. That’s interesting to see in a book from so many years ago.

I read this during October and I must say this is an excellent read for Autumn or spooky season or really just any time of the year. If you’re thinking of picking up Dracula I say just do it! You won’t regret it and you’ll be left wanting more of this world and these characters.

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waytoomanybooks's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

When I read one of "the classics," I pause and remind myself that I'm about to step into a different time with different people who held different and sometimes/often offensive beliefs. A "classic" may not be a good story with good characters, but instead may be a good window into the time and place it was written and set in. And "classics" are also saddled with the moniker of being "over-hyped." With this in mind, I can firmly say that I thoroughly enjoyed Dracula! I didn't feel like I was stepping into a totally unfamiliar world because Stoker is descriptive without making the reader feel bogged down with details or flowery descriptions. I think the characters, while quite overwrought, were fully fleshed out *rim shot* people, and I'm pleased to say that this includes the women! Dracula is very much worth the hype. I can see why it's maintained cultural relevance and why its tropes and themes remain popular after 127 years. I was waiting for the mythical "right" time to read this book, and I'm glad I got to enjoy it during spooky season!

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