Dracula: Untold

The book is NOT like the movie from the ‘90s just to give that expectation away! IS really an enjoyable read! Parts of it are funny, parts are sweet, some have beautiful descriptions of the landscape. Mina is one of the best characters you can find! For example, Jonathan is so pivotal to the reading of the book, but I continually forget his name and just call him Mina’s husband :) The relationships between all the characters are well done. The suspense is masterful of course or the story would have been lost long ago! This is quite a long read, so be advised it will take time. The only reason I took off a star, is because anytime I think of the end I think of all the ways I want to rewrite it! That said, it is actually a great way to end the story as is! If you’ve ... MoreThe book is NOT like the movie from the ‘90s just to give that expectation away! IS really an enjoyable read! Parts of it are funny, parts are sweet, some have beautiful descriptions of the landscape. Mina is one of the best characters you can find! For example, Jonathan is so pivotal to the reading of the book, but I continually forget his name and just call him Mina’s husband :) The relationships between all the characters are well done. The suspense is masterful of course or the story would have been lost long ago! This is quite a long read, so be advised it will take time. The only reason I took off a star, is because anytime I think of the end I think of all the ways I want to rewrite it! That said, it is actually a great way to end the story as is! If you’ve the chance, I recommend. But remember, if you get mad at me at the end, I was ambivalent about it!!! ;)

This was so very close to 4 stars, but the meandering plotting held it back. I realize that I am imposing my own modern expectations of pace and style, so that said, Dracula is a fantastically energized novel once it kicks into gear. Bram Stoker really does a great job of synthesizing and building on the existing vampire mythology of his era, making his famed vampire extremely familiar to a modern audience (although he has way more animal control powers than I previously recalled). Stoker makes some great choices, primary of which is Dracula remains mysterious and elusive for the entire novel's length. I believe his only dialogue is in the beginning when Jonathan Harker visits Castle Dracula. This is great, it keeps the character far spookier and unknowable than he ... MoreThis was so very close to 4 stars, but the meandering plotting held it back. I realize that I am imposing my own modern expectations of pace and style, so that said, Dracula is a fantastically energized novel once it kicks into gear. Bram Stoker really does a great job of synthesizing and building on the existing vampire mythology of his era, making his famed vampire extremely familiar to a modern audience (although he has way more animal control powers than I previously recalled). Stoker makes some great choices, primary of which is Dracula remains mysterious and elusive for the entire novel's length. I believe his only dialogue is in the beginning when Jonathan Harker visits Castle Dracula. This is great, it keeps the character far spookier and unknowable than he usually is in most film adaptations (although Christopher Lee gets pretty dang close with his silent ferocious characterization of the novel quite well). I also thought the choice to make the novel entirely composed of found documents extremely interesting, especially when we got the occasional overlapping accounts. Very nifty.My beef with the book is it is way too repetitive, especially in the various scenes with Lucy & Mina getting bit by Dracula, as well as all of the business with Renfield in the asylum. It feels like we see carbon copy scenes over and over with next to no progression. Again, this might be more of my own preference, but I am suspecting that I really prefer 19th Century short form writing (think Doyle's Sherlock Holmes tales), which have less time for this glacial pacing. Also, I was a bit let down by the finale; the chase was exciting, but the actual defeat of Drac was a bit underwhelming.Misgivings aside, I really do recommend this to anyone wanting to get a taste of formative vampire literature. I think it is pretty accessible for folks who usually don't read literature this old as well.

This book is perfect! The paper quality, as well as that this book has a fabric bookmark. It has good information about Brom Stoker and details about how Dracula was received by those around the world when it was published. my October read for Halloween!

This is such an insanely beautiful and atmospheric story. I read it years ago and hated it but was assigned it again in college and instantly fell in love.The writing is nothing short of beautiful. The details of the environmental, the language the characters use when speaking or writing to each other. We don't have writers like this anymore, and it's a shame because the contrast of the beautiful writing and the horrible things that are happening makes for a compelling read.The story is, of course, iconic as well. It changed the history of the vampire in film and literature. Most vampire stories prior to Dracula made them out to be horrid monsters, but Stoker (along with a few short story writers before him) helped create the romanticized monster most of us are ... MoreThis is such an insanely beautiful and atmospheric story. I read it years ago and hated it but was assigned it again in college and instantly fell in love.The writing is nothing short of beautiful. The details of the environmental, the language the characters use when speaking or writing to each other. We don't have writers like this anymore, and it's a shame because the contrast of the beautiful writing and the horrible things that are happening makes for a compelling read.The story is, of course, iconic as well. It changed the history of the vampire in film and literature. Most vampire stories prior to Dracula made them out to be horrid monsters, but Stoker (along with a few short story writers before him) helped create the romanticized monster most of us are familiar withWhether you're a fan of classic literature or are a horror buff, this is a must read novel. It quickly became a favorite of mine, and the attention it has received over the years is well deserved.

A story that will never die

After having read my last copy of Dracula to shreds, I decided to go for this one. I was very happy and surprised by it. While the book is smaller than a standard paperback, it is nicer than a common paperback. Pages are quality white paper and not the pulpy sort of a paperback. The edges have beautiful real gold edges and there is a sewn in satin bookmark. The binding is high quality and sewn in rather than cheaply glued, the latter being subject to falling apart quite easily. The story itself is quite different from all the books and movies about Dracula and it is amazing to read this novel where everything began. One drawback is that having been written over 100 years ago, I suspect that only a very well read lover of fine literature will understand half of ... MoreAfter having read my last copy of Dracula to shreds, I decided to go for this one. I was very happy and surprised by it. While the book is smaller than a standard paperback, it is nicer than a common paperback. Pages are quality white paper and not the pulpy sort of a paperback. The edges have beautiful real gold edges and there is a sewn in satin bookmark. The binding is high quality and sewn in rather than cheaply glued, the latter being subject to falling apart quite easily. The story itself is quite different from all the books and movies about Dracula and it is amazing to read this novel where everything began. One drawback is that having been written over 100 years ago, I suspect that only a very well read lover of fine literature will understand half of what's going on. It is written by an Irishman using different British accents and broken English spoken by a Dutchman. Having said all that, this is certain to be a delightfully compact book to enjoy over and over as well as a fine archival edition.

Arrived early. Good quality, barely used. Excellent book!

Arrived early. Good quality, barely used. Excellent book!

Beautiful

What a beautiful edition of an already timeless novel. The clothbound book really brings a new atmosphere to Dracula, and you can feel it seep into the pages as you read. The book itself is intriguing and keeps you engaged.

Dracula - Signet Classic? (or is it?)

I love the book and lost my Signet Classic print from 1979 in moves and never replaced it. I was itching to replace it for years and never did because I couldn't find the right cover and press. This press was supposed to be that Signet but is a Penguin with a different color. This company is great if you are looking to fill out your collection for reasonable prices, but beware; you may not get the exact item featured. Otherwise, it's a great buy.

Great classic!

Very good condition. Just started reading for my book club. Always buy secondhand. Descriptions accurate.