A piece of classic literature, with timeless characters, an epic plot, and bad-ass fights galore! Yet why does it only get four stars? Why not more?
On...moreA piece of classic literature, with timeless characters, an epic plot, and bad-ass fights galore! Yet why does it only get four stars? Why not more?
One thing Dracula has going for it is just how massive it is. Most people assume Dracula takes place in England, but this book really only spends the middle of its plot in London. The first and last acts all take place somewhere in the middle of Europe, either in Dracula's castle, over the sea, or on a cross-country chase for mankind's souls. Many people just think Dracula is any old vampire on the lookout for blood, but really he has a militaristic strategy to turn London into vampires and conquer the world from the shadows. The quest to kill the evil vampire ends up dealing with a matter where science and magic cross paths.
For a book riddled with horror cliches, the novel is shockingly fresh in spite of it all. This is due to how fascinating the characters are, which is odder still considering how none of the characters are particularly original. You have the evil villain, the innocent virginal heroines, the common man dragged into evil, the bad-ass, the crazies, and the wise mentor. Perhaps what gives the story its charm is the heart put behind it all, the heart of the characters visible and clear through every description. It's epic, yet on a smaller scale, focusing on humanity trying to break free of the dark powers attempting to enslave the world.
However, it's a very simple story. There is no hidden depth to it like with the other classic Gothic horror stories at the time. It exploits few adult fears, save for the fears and anxieties of human sexuality. However, perversion has been explored more provocatively and powerfully in Gothic literature in novels such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame. This novel is an adventure, albeit a well-written one, and should not be taken for anything more than sheer fun.
When dealing with most modern vampire books, the same cliches come up again and again. Very few vampire novels are truly subversive like I Am Legend a...moreWhen dealing with most modern vampire books, the same cliches come up again and again. Very few vampire novels are truly subversive like I Am Legend anymore. It's a novel so subversive that, years later, even the movie adaptations fail to truly relay how powerful this story is. It turns vampires into a virus, turns the extinction of humanity into the birth of a new world order, and turns the surviving human into the ancient nightmare.
The writing style is simple, but that's all to relay the powerful point and message of the story. More than that, it also tries to make us sympathize with the main character. We are forced to endure the apocalypse, to experience loss, hope, and then more loss. The story is about suffering. The emotional gravity leaves a great impact on the reader even years after finishing the story.
The only problems occur because of the nature of the story being told. In many ways, for most of the book, the main character is the only character with any depth. Sure, there are the reoccurring vampires and such, but they lack personalities, and most of the characters who exist in the past aren't necessarily memorable at all outside of how they impact the main hero.
Not only that, but never is there any tension until the end. There is never a doubt that the main character will lose against the vampires because, until the organized vampires appear, the guys pose as much of a threat as Team Rocket. This later adds to the subversive tone of the story, as the vampires end up seeing the main character as a Godlike figure, but until the vampires become like humans, they never come across as truly dangerous. Then again, it can be argued that the vampires represent a perversion of the past, how the old society is decayed and needs to be replaced by a new, stronger one.
Another saving grace and issue is its length. It's more the length of a novella than a novel, and this is both good and bad. While it makes the story easy to digest and quick to read, it also makes the global apocalypse feel oddly small and constrained. While it's clear that the world has ended, only the sights the main character encounters are shown. More time could've been spent showing the world decaying before settling into the apocalypse and rhythm of day-to-day life, but then it can be again be argued that maybe the brevity of the book is needed to make sure the quick pace delivers the story to the reader without any bullshit.
Most of this review is unfocused and uncertain, but that's part of this story's power. It can be viewed in many ways, and discussed long after completion. A great story can survive, can be discussed years after being finished, and leave a lasting impact on the reader. In many ways, this book is a strong inspiration to me as a writer, showing me just how one can subvert a work of fiction quickly and powerfully.(less)
William Peter Blatty claimed he saw The Exorcist less as a horror film, and more as a mystery film. In a way, he's right, but don't all mysteries have...moreWilliam Peter Blatty claimed he saw The Exorcist less as a horror film, and more as a mystery film. In a way, he's right, but don't all mysteries have an element of horror to them, and don't all horror films need mystery to be strong stories?
The beauty of The Exorcist is not simply in its spectacle, but in its ideas. While the story of a little girl being possessed by the devil isn't spectacular in this day and age, the idea of it being treated so realistically is odd. Most modern exorcism fiction has the possessed girl getting proper help right away, and feels no need to introduce the idea of exorcism gradually like this novel does. Most stories don't take the time to demonstrate the might of the demonic forces at work like this story does. From the very beginning, there is a great sense of evil lurking just outside the window, and, as the story goes on, the idea of evil is the most palpable force. Pazuzu may sound like a silly name for an all-powerful demon, but the sense of evil is so great, you don't even realize that.
What helps is how the story is written. It reads like a fast paced thriller, a page turner. This book can be read in a single night, and you never once feel like you're forcing yourself to read just another paragraph more. You are glued, you will not stop reading until you see the end. It hits the right balance of introspection on the characters' thoughts and the moving action, so that you never linger too long on a single moment.
Not only that, but you grow to honestly love these characters. The problem with some books, especially in horror, is that you don't care about what happens to them. This is never the case in The Exorcist. Reagan is an innocent girl who has done nothing to deserve the suffering inflicted upon her. The mother is tragic, truly lovable woman struggling to compromise her modern believes with ancient superstition. Damien Karras is a tragic figure, losing his faith while having to combat a demon who longs to consume reality in dread and disbelief. Father Merrin is a man who long ago confronted evil, and now fights the same force again, well aware that the demon might just be out to get revenge on him, using the girl as a means to hurt him. Hell, I even love that investigator guy! I dunno why, but I just wanna hug him! >___<
Either way, the theme of religion's place in modern society is a strong theme. Where does faith exist in a world where people are too consumed in their day-to-day lives to even know about the supernatural forces at work? However, what separates this work from other modern religious works is that it never comes across as heavy handed. It's subtle, yet blatant enough to be seen. It can be enjoyed by those who don't care about religion at all. It never isolates its audience, but rather appeals to everyone. The religious can feel their believes confirmed in the text, while the nonreligious can just enjoy a scary story.
And it is a scary story...unless you're like me and nothing scares you. In that case, you can truly enjoy the deeper layers to the story, how it manages to enrich the reader with every word. Also, the movie is superb. It's one of the few times the movie does justice to the book.(less)
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