I have recently begun to read the beginning of Dracula, by Bram Stoker. This novel is another that I have not read (or watched the film version) before, so I am interested to see if it strays from my "popular culture" understanding of the plot as far as Frankenstein did. So far I have actually been fairly impressed by the book. The writing can seem more easily understandable than in Frankenstein, and I was surprised by how naturally the "written letter" format of the novel seems to flow. Getting multiple one sided accounts of each character's lives opens up more areas for the reader to puzzle the facts together, which makes it feel more interactive. This seems to add to the theme of mystery that surrounds Count Dracula and his Eastern European home.
I have also found the story to be generally more engaging and entertaining than any of the books we have read so far. Comparatively, Dracula seems to jump right into the action a little faster and features more frequent climaxes. I like how the reader gets a break from different characters all once in a while too (something that got a little tiring with Victor). This has been the first novel that I have had difficulty putting down when it is in a dramatic section. Some of the small details have surprised me, though. Dracula's hairiness (as the book points out) seems very different from the immaculately groomed monster I have always associated with the name. Similarly to this, I had never heard that he moved around barefoot, or even that he had three sisters! I am curious if these facts will have significance later in the novel.
Wow! Dracula does sound interesting. Especially more so after reading Morella and Carmilla, since those got pretty tedious (although I think it had a lot to do with the page and the font type. Those actually have a lot of subliminal influence over readers and their interests.) Again with the patchwork plot line that our teacher has been harking about in Gothic literature, but Stoker apparently has done a pretty good job of it.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I loved reading Dracula. Its fast pace and continuous drama and shock really peak my interest. It all makes me want to read more. I especially like all of the different journal entries and letters from different characters because you get a sense of who they are and how they feel. I particularly like Dracula because we are finally getting a look into a woman's mind when in most of the gothic literature that we have read their voice is muted and overlooked.
ReplyDeleteI definitely liked reading Dracula as well (though I had to read it a bit faster than I would have on my own). I got sucked in with the first few chapters of Johnathan in Dracula's castle, but the next part -- the letters between Mina and Lucy were boooooooooring. After that though, it really sped up and I didn't ever feel the need to put the book down like I did at times with Frankenstein.
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