Dracula - Pre-Read

[Joanna Loves Reading]

Welcome everyone to our October 2020 Classics Group Read; this month we'll be reading through Dracula by Bram Stoker.

Friendly reminder that this is our spoiler-free thread. If you're ready to talk spoilers, feel free to head on over to the spoilers thread.

Who is joining in this read? Will it be your first time reading or is this a reread? How long have you been meaning to read this book?

[Britt]

I'll be joining! Have never read this even in high school, and haven't read a classic in a while so I'm definitely due for one. Excited that its around halloween, perfect time!

[Chloe]

I will be joining in on this read, it will be the first time I’ve read Dracula. I agree it’s the perfect read for the season. I’ve been meaning to read this book for years, so I’m pretty excited!

[Helene]

I wil be joining this read too if I have a chance. I have wanted to read it for a long time, and its perfect for October 🎃

[Nikita]

I'm very excited to read this, I have slowly been working my way through my clothbounds and had this scheduled for October - it will be interesting to discuss with everyone whilst reading it :)

[adele]

I’m so excited to read this one, but for some reason this book is pretty daunting to me lol

[Shaina]

I had planned to read this in October. I'm so glad I found this group to read it with. Looking forward to reading Dracula for the first time.

[Samuel]

I'll be joining as well. October is a perfect time for it.

[Ashley]

I’ve been wanting to reread this since my trip to the UK (and the kind of silly Bram Stocker Dracula Experience/“museum”) almost 15 years ago! Excited! I’m really in the mood for some theme reads this holiday season! It should be a good end to a very strange year!

[Mandy]

I've had a copy of Dracula on my shelf since "reading" it in high school. I couldn't find it when prepping my stack for October, so I took it out at the library. HOLY moly...we clearly read an abridged version as students, because I was taken by surprise when I saw the length of the novel I just picked up! At any rate, I'm looking forward to finally, actually reading this great classic.

[Lisa]

This has been on my shelf forever - looking forward to reading with you all.

[Samantha]

I remember reading this actually in the 6th grade haha! But being as that was about 17 years ago... I don't really remember anything other than I liked it so I am putting this on my list for the month. We'll see if I can get through it because I want to read all of them and am a bit busy this month.

[Maria Hill]

I read this about 20 years ago and so I am due a reread. I have a few editions of the novel including an illustrated one that might be just the thing :).

[Cynthia]

I'm excited to read this :) I've never read it before but it's been on my list since August of 2014. I kept putting it off because of the length of the book but I think October will be the perfect time to read it.

[Storm]

I started reading this a long time ago but never finished it. So I am ready to try again! I'd like to get the full story and October will be the perfect time. And reading with others is always nice to help motivate during that hard middle slog.

[Candice]

I just joined! I have never read Dracula. It should be exciting! I agree, great time to read during the fall and Halloween season

[Ashley]

The intro in my book (Norton Critical Edition) is interesting. At the time women were gaining more rights and freedoms, which threatened the men of England. Haha. Also, people leaving and coming to London or England in general were seen as a threat. Race mixing was “dangerous”. All these things play in to how characters are portrayed, especially in times when they leave or enter cities.

I remember studying this in college and there being a lot of social context to consider. Very fascinating!

[Maria Hill]

Ashley wrote: "The intro in my book (Norton Critical Edition) is interesting. At the time women were gaining more rights and freedoms, which threatened the men of England. Haha. Also, people leaving and coming to..."

That's interesting - I may bear it in mind as I read. I have already started as October is jam-packed and the rest of the books are on the way.

[Tr1sha]

I’ve never read this, so I’m looking forward to reading it with the group.

[Alex]

I’ve never read this before but had a copy on my shelf for ages, so I’ll be joining in!

[Emily]

Hello all! This is the first time I’ve attempted to keep up with the group with regard to reading one of the books! I just downloaded this book to my kindle and I’ll be starting with everyone here!

I have never read “Dracula,” nor did I read it in high school (as I’ve seen some of you mention, as well). Anyway, I hope you all have an awesome October! Very excited to read along with all of you!


Sincerely,
Emily

[Annie - Magpie]

I'm planning to read Dracula this month, maybe start it next week. First time reading this. October 2020 is setting up to be a very spooky month. :)

[Andy]

This will be a reread for me. I've been debating which of my Gothic classics to re-read for spooky season and this just pushed me into a decision so yay! I haven't read it in probably 7 years or so. So excited!

[Frances]

I was planning on reading a different Halloween book to celebrate this month. But I've always wanted to know what Dracula the classic was really all about.

[Kathy]

I read this in high school, looking forward to reading now as an adult

[Kim]

To everyone: Just wondering how many pages in your copy? Mine is only 200+ pages from this addition:
Dracula and Other Horror Classics

Hope I'm not going to miss anything.

[[deleted user]]

I have the Barnes and Noble Classic Edition and its 399 pages and my friend has the Everyman’s Library edition which is 386 pages. The font size is not listed but it looks as though it is 10 point...easy to read.

[France-Andrée]

I hadn’t planned to join, but found an audio that intrigued me with narration from Tim Curry and Alan Cumming (to name a few). I really don’t know if I read it before or if I have the impression because of all the movies.

[Andy]

Mine is at 450 pages. I don't mind though, because the print wont give me eyestrain!

Kim: I didn't find anything that says its abridged or anything so I'm betting its similar to how B&N does some of their author bind ups. Bible thin pages with tiny print. (I have soooo many of these) Hope you enjoy!

[Joanna Loves Reading]

France-Andrée wrote: "I hadn’t planned to join, but found an audio that intrigued me with narration from Tim Curry and Alan Cumming (to name a few). I really don’t know if I read it before or if I have the impression be..."

Oh very tempting... I may have to seek this out.

[Ashley]

The Norton Critical Edition is 488 pages plus a 14 page preface, but the actual novel only encompasses pages 9-326

[Kari]

I haven't read a book with you yet, but I thought this would be a good time to kick my butt in gear as I only have 2 books left for my reading goal of 2020!! I will be reading this one digitally borrowed from my library! ❤️ Can't wait!

[Kim]

Andy wrote: "Mine is at 450 pages. I don't mind though, because the print wont give me eyestrain!

Kim: I didn't find anything that says its abridged or anything so I'm betting its s..."

Yes, mine is a leather bound B&N edition. And print is a decent size. It also contains other horror tales of Stoker's.

[lethe]

I am reading the B&N edition with illustrations by Edward Gorey:

[Lisa]

lethe wrote: "I am reading the B&N edition with illustrations by Edward Gorey: "

Me too!

[lethe]

Lisa wrote: "lethe wrote: "I am reading the B&N edition with illustrations by Edward Gorey: "

Me too!"

*high-fives* :)

[Stasinka]

Hello!
I have just joined the group a couple of days ago and started reading Dracula. Enjoying it so far. I knew about this classic ever since I have been in the UK but never really thought of reading it. Strangely, it wasn't covered at school for me 😁

[Frances]

I just remembered reading this on the news. We have these 🦇 in our country:

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/meg...


https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-n...

The person who posted the photo online exaggerated what he saw when he described it, and angled the camera to make the bat look larger, but the species is still impressive.

[Betsy]

Adele wrote: "I’m so excited to read this one, but for some reason this book is pretty daunting to me lol"

I get you Adele...!

Kari, good luck on finishing your 2 more books to reach your reading goal (already!). Have you started Dracula yet?

[Emily]

How’s everybody doing with the book? I am about halfway through now and it’s a lot more “sophisticated” of a read than I thought it would be (if that even makes sense). I am enjoying it; I can definitely see how so many archetypes in literature originate in this book!

What do you guys think? How far along are you all? Didn’t want to post in the other thread because I don’t want any spoilers!

[Ashley]

There is a lot more to the book than it seems there would be! I agree!

I actually liked the ending. It might have seemed to come fast since the set up was so drawn out with all the planning and such. But the last section, which tells us what Mina is up to later, really brought it all together and made it great. This seems like the type of book you could dive into and learn about the time in which it was written.

[Darcy]

This will be a re-reading for me. I still have my old Dell paperback which I dusted off. I'm enjoying it so far, better than I remembered.

[Jaclyn~she lives! catching up on reviews~]

I am super behind but starting Dracula tonight! I have the penguin cloth bound edition. I have never read Dracula and I don’t remember ever watching the movie. I know the story (or think I do, as this could easily be a Frankenstein type of situation) so I’m super excited. Everything I’ve read this month has been great, so I’m hoping Dracula continues my good reading streak