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Luffy Sempai's Reviews > Dracula
Dracula
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** spoiler alert **
Dracula, the book, struck a chord with me. In it was a fight between good and evil. Modern vampires have great seduction powers. I never liked that. I also didn't like vampires in many Urban Fantasy books. The Hollows series spring to mind. The greatest change in the villainous vampires arises in Anne Rice's books. It was a perfect case study of an idea done to the death.
In Dracula, several people record their impressions. I 'pretend' to know that the women in the books, Lucy and Mina, have the same voice. Maybe the men are slightly different. They possess greater vocabulary, such as Lord Godalming's, and Jonathan Harker's recollections. Van Helsing, being a foreigner has his mistakes in grammar, and therefore has the most unique voice.
Throughout the book, we don't see the vampire Dracula triumph much. Except maybe when he turns Lucy into an undead. But even then, through the guiding hands and the knowledge of van Helsing, she is freed from her shackles. But Jonathan escapes from his imprisonment. And the vampire cannot settle in London. He was found out by our 'A-team' and had to flee for his life. He expresses baffled malignity.
It is the testament to Bram Stoker's neatness that I could follow most of the story. And I'm in awe of his mind, which chronicles the entire story via journal entries (or phonograph recordings in the case of John Steward), all of which are dated. I don't mean outdated, but dated, day after day. And I mourned the death of Quincy Morris, gallant to the end, dying with a smile on his lips.
The entire book defies what happens in movies and series (of which latter I've watched only True Blood). Most people don't read books regularly. So their idea of the vampire comes from horror movies. And Boris Karloff and especially Bela Lugosi as vampires are etched in the minds of most people. I don't think cinephiles will get any influence from the 1992 movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola. That was a mess. The book still stands proud. As it should. Thus ends my review on 02 Sep 2018.
In Dracula, several people record their impressions. I 'pretend' to know that the women in the books, Lucy and Mina, have the same voice. Maybe the men are slightly different. They possess greater vocabulary, such as Lord Godalming's, and Jonathan Harker's recollections. Van Helsing, being a foreigner has his mistakes in grammar, and therefore has the most unique voice.
Throughout the book, we don't see the vampire Dracula triumph much. Except maybe when he turns Lucy into an undead. But even then, through the guiding hands and the knowledge of van Helsing, she is freed from her shackles. But Jonathan escapes from his imprisonment. And the vampire cannot settle in London. He was found out by our 'A-team' and had to flee for his life. He expresses baffled malignity.
It is the testament to Bram Stoker's neatness that I could follow most of the story. And I'm in awe of his mind, which chronicles the entire story via journal entries (or phonograph recordings in the case of John Steward), all of which are dated. I don't mean outdated, but dated, day after day. And I mourned the death of Quincy Morris, gallant to the end, dying with a smile on his lips.
The entire book defies what happens in movies and series (of which latter I've watched only True Blood). Most people don't read books regularly. So their idea of the vampire comes from horror movies. And Boris Karloff and especially Bela Lugosi as vampires are etched in the minds of most people. I don't think cinephiles will get any influence from the 1992 movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola. That was a mess. The book still stands proud. As it should. Thus ends my review on 02 Sep 2018.
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Reading Progress
August 24, 2018
–
Started Reading
August 24, 2018
– Shelved
September 2, 2018
–
Finished Reading
August 11, 2020
– Shelved as:
5-star
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Bionic Jean
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rated it 5 stars
Sep 02, 2018 01:44AM
Great review, with interesting modern references, thanks Luffy. It's good to hear you enjoyed this book so much :)
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Thank you, Jean! I always think of you as a guide, in that not all the review should consist of what happens in the book. You are about the best reviewer I've come across on this site.
Aw, what a nice thing to read before breakfast! Thank you Luffy :) The personal aspects and reactions you have brought to this review are what make it so interesting, I think, and this is where GR is unique and such a great place to be.
Diane wrote: "Wonderful review, Luffy! :)"Thanks, Diane! :o)
I've never read this classic version. Great review 💖
So glad you enjoyed this book so much, Luffy. Great review!
Felicia wrote: "I've never read this classic version. Great review 💖"Thanks Felicia. I too have never read this extended version. Most of the book was known to me a decade ago.
Paula wrote: "So glad you enjoyed this book so much, Luffy. Great review!"Thanks, Paula! It was formulated in a very modern way.
Great review for this great classic.
Wayne wrote: "Great review for this great classic."Thanks, Wayne! Your comments are thrice welcome!
Fabulous review, Luffy! You have me wanting b.c. to read this book again after reading your perspective.
Debra wrote: "Fabulous review, Luffy! You have me wanting b.c. to read this book again after reading your perspective."Thank you, Debra! I'm happy for you, and, whatever the book, happy reading to you.
Rita wrote: "Wonderful review, Luffy! I read this many years ago and I am still fascinated by vampires."Thank you, Rita! I suppose I should be fascinated by female vampires, but they never seem to be the big boss of their respected books, occasional book aside.
Lata wrote: "Great review, Luffy!"Thank you, Lata!:o)
Fantastic review Luffy! I agree with you wholeheartedly, movies and plays don't tell the real story and making Lucy into a vampire is not a seduction scene, it is a violation and a murder to her spirit.
Beverly wrote: "Fantastic review Luffy! I agree with you wholeheartedly, movies and plays don't tell the real story and making Lucy into a vampire is not a seduction scene, it is a violation and a murder to her sp..."Thank you, Beverly! Glad that you see it that manner. You put it in a way of your own too. I think the quality of the book that inspired me to write this review.
Luffy wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Fantastic review Luffy! I agree with you wholeheartedly, movies and plays don't tell the real story and making Lucy into a vampire is not a seduction scene, it is a violation and a ..."Yes, it is a great book and I am glad you wrote your review, Luffy. I like new perspectives on books, especially ones I love.
Terrific, Luffy! If you have a chance read the “prequel” Dracul. One of the co-authors is Dacre Stoker
Tammy wrote: "Terrific, Luffy! If you have a chance read the “prequel” Dracul. One of the co-authors is Dacre Stoker"Thanks, Tammy! I didn't know that! I'll look into this recommendation soon.
You should read The Dracula Tape by Fred Saberhagen. It gives Vlad's side of the story & is really good. He started before Anne Rice in making vampires 'human', rather than fiends. Saberhagen did 8 or 9 books following him into the modern age. Thorn is my favorite.
I'll apply the knowledge you gave me and act accordingly, Jim. Thank you.
LOVE (!) your review. This is one of my all-time favorite books. I'm reading Dracul now, written by Stoker's nephew and J.D. Barker. So far it is terrific!
Mackey wrote: "LOVE (!) your review. This is one of my all-time favorite books. I'm reading Dracul now, written by Stoker's nephew and J.D. Barker. So far it is terrific!"Thank you, Mackey! I can't write every review with the same level of quality but anyway, I appreciate your quasi recommendation.
Luffy Great Review! It's a nice comparison between the books and movies. How they differ and which one is good or not so good.
Gina wrote: "Luffy Great Review! It's a nice comparison between the books and movies. How they differ and which one is good or not so good."Thank you, Gina! I read Dracula a lot when I had no computer and no internet. I still can read the book. The 1992 movie, forget it.
Read this a while back and all I can remember now is thinking how cute of Drac it was to make dinner for Jonathan Harker XD Glad to hear you enjoyed!
Wilted wrote: "Read this a while back and all I can remember now is thinking how cute of Drac it was to make dinner for Jonathan Harker XD Glad to hear you enjoyed!"
This is a quaint insight of yours. Nobody else has seen it this way. I read this for a book club read recently. Thanks for the contribution to my review!
Loved your review and cherish this book!
Kimber wrote: "Loved your review and cherish this book!"Thanks, Kimber, love to hear from you! The book is indeed praiseworthy.
'Dracula, the book, struck a chord with me. In it was a fight between good and evil. Modern vampires have great seduction powers." - This. Totally agree with everything you said.
