From the Bookshelf of Should have read classics…

Dracula

Bram Stoker

Start date: May 1, 2014

Finish date: May 31, 2014

Discussion: Group Book Discussions

Why we're reading this: This is the group read for May. Please remember spoiler alerts if the discussion is in the early stages. …more
[close] This is the group read for May. Please remember spoiler alerts if the discussion is in the early stages. Thanks for voting!

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 89 topics — 2,128 comments total

Group Book Discussions

Canterbury Tales
By Lisa , the usurper · 32 posts · 66 views

last updated Jul 09, 2017 11:45PM

Alice in Wonderland
By Lisa , the usurper · 7 posts · 21 views

last updated May 04, 2017 10:28PM

showing 3 of 3 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Nov 09, 2024 Nina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, 2024-aty

When I rate books, I try to compare them to other works within the same genre and I also try to compare older books with those that were written around the same time period rather than with more recent books. 19th century literary works often get criticized for moving too slowly and many of the more negative reviews here for this book fall into that category. I get it. The pacing in this book is glacial. There is a whole section dedicated to Mina typing up and distributing copies of the journal When I rate books, I try to compare them to other works within the same genre and I also try to compare older books with those that were written around the same time period rather than with more recent books. 19th century literary works often get criticized for moving too slowly and many of the more negative reviews here for this book fall into that category. I get it. The pacing in this book is glacial. There is a whole section dedicated to Mina typing up and distributing copies of the journal entries of most of the main characters, who then commence to discuss, at length, the contents whereof, which the reader has already read. However, I would argue that books like this one benefit from reading them in smaller sections over a longer period of time rather than trying to devour them all in one gulp. I started out with it doing the latter. I began reading the kindle version in late October and was determined to have the whole thing read by Halloween. If I had completed the ebook as rapidly as I was attempting to do, I probably would be giving this a lower rating, as my reaction was similar to that of some other reviewers here who found it all a bit tedious.

My experience was greatly improved when my husband and I started listening to an audiobook version together on a long car ride. The slower pacing works very well in an audiobook and the repetitiveness feels less…repetitive. To finish it off, I found myself a deluxe hardcover edition with illustrations by Edward Gorey and read it in shorter installments rather than plowing my way through at full speed. I highly recommend taking that kind of approach to it. Find yourself an audiobook or a nice printed edition with some heft to it and some good illustrations. Pour yourself a glass of red wine and nibble on some premium dark chocolate with spooky music playing softly in the background.

As to the story itself, what can I say that hasn’t been said many times before? There are very good reasons why it is considered to be a classic, why there are so many adaptations, and why there are so many imitators. Is it perfect? No. Is it a good scary story? Yes. ...more

Like · see review