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Dracula - October BOTM
Austin wrote: "Savita wrote: "Austin wrote: "Savita wrote: "Luffy wrote: "Austin wrote: "Read it only after completing chapter 12.The 'mishaps' of the book are verily cruel, and the latter deserves its reputati..."
I know these 2. What I don't know is how good these are, haven't read them yet.
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper --> Nonfiction
Stalking Jack the Ripper --> Fiction
Bookworm wrote: "Austin wrote: "Savita wrote: "Austin wrote: "Savita wrote: "Luffy wrote: "Austin wrote: "Read it only after completing chapter 12.The 'mishaps' of the book are verily cruel, and the latter deserv..."
Thank you for the book recommendations BW.
Welcome! :)Do let know if you find them any good. I'll add to my Santa list. lol
Bookworm wrote: "Austin wrote: "Savita wrote: "Austin wrote: "Savita wrote: "Luffy wrote: "Austin wrote: "Read it only after completing chapter 12.The 'mishaps' of the book are verily cruel, and the latter deserv..."
I have read Stalking Jack the Ripper, in a buddy read with a former friend with whom I no longer communicate. Anyway I solved the case of who Jack was in the book. It was much easier than trying that in real Victorian times, I'm sure.
Bookworm wrote: "Welcome! :)Do let know if you find them any good. I'll add to my Santa list. lol"
ok :-)
I will soon to have create a Secret Santa shelf and slowly add the books.
Austin wrote: "Savita wrote: "Austin wrote: "Savita wrote: "Luffy wrote: "Austin wrote: "Read it only after completing chapter 12.The 'mishaps' of the book are verily cruel, and the latter deserves its reputati..."
I had read a book on Jack the Ripper , but it was a long time back , and I don't remember the exact title of the book . The first recommendation by BW is non fiction and sounds good . Actually , in the book that I had read , ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)> ☆☆
I was astonished at the way Jonathan ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler) ☆☆
Where have you reached , Austin ?
Even non fiction is ok. Sounds good. It's an interesting piece of snippet that the police asked the help of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I mentioned the scaling down the wall part as it's mentioned a few times in the middle chapters. Very early on in the book I immensely liked the scene where Count Dracula creeps out of the wall in the middle of the night and starts crawling down the wall like a lizard and Jonathan was watching everything from above. That was a very eerie scene which I failed to mention before.
I have finished chapter 17, Savita. I am taking it 1 chapter a day. The language is challenging at times and I have to read real slow. I don't think I would have understood much of this book had I read it during my school days. So anyway, I am looking to wrap up this book on 31st October, on Halloween.
Dr Helsing 's conversations are difficult to follow because he's a foreigner and speaks broken English. I am reading chapter 16 . Chapters 15 and 16 are wildly exciting . Dr Helsing wants to ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler) ☆☆
I think my reading will spill a bit into November . I am also reading Lighthouse island , but it has turned out to be a disappointment . Still , I will finish that book as well . I am really enjoying Dracula immensely .
I liked chapter 16 a lot. The nickname for (view spoiler) is a clever and an effective touch by the author.
@ Luffy : I haven't finished chapter 16 and will open the spoiler when I have finished this chapter .
Luffy wrote: "I liked chapter 16 a lot. The nickname for [spoilers removed] is a clever and an effective touch by the author."It's been some years since I have read Dracula, but I am unable to recollect nicknames for any of the vampires. Care to refresh my memory? Within spoiler tags, of course.
Shriti wrote: "Luffy wrote: "I liked chapter 16 a lot. The nickname for [spoilers removed] is a clever and an effective touch by the author."It's been some years since I have read Dracula, but I am unable to re..."
Nothing brilliant, just (view spoiler). I find it a nice detail.
@ Shriti and Luffy : I have finished chapter 16 .
Tremendous
chapter ! ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler) ☆☆
Luffy wrote: "Shriti wrote: "Luffy wrote: "I liked chapter 16 a lot. The nickname for [spoilers removed] is a clever and an effective touch by the author."It's been some years since I have read Dracula, but I ..."
Oh , yes , that too !
Savita wrote: "@ Shriti and Luffy : I have finished chapter 16 . Tremendous chapter !..."Ah! Now I understand what is being referred to. Actually,(view spoiler)
Shriti wrote: "Savita wrote: "@ Shriti and Luffy : I have finished chapter 16 . Tremendous chapter !..."Ah! Now I understand what is being referred to. Actually,[spoilers removed]"
I agree of course. The upbringing of Victorian women, making them react disgustingly to sex (so that there is less chance of them being adulterers), and forcing corsets upon them and restricting their freedom and wellbeing, are all exploitative.
Men sadly, have been treating throughout history, their female relatives almost as bad as their livestock. This is true of a few societies to this day.
Shriti wrote: "Savita wrote: "@ Shriti and Luffy : I have finished chapter 16 . Tremendous chapter !..."Ah! Now I understand what is being referred to. Actually,[spoilers removed]"
Yes , it's mentioned that ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler) ☆☆
Shriti wrote: "Savita wrote: "@ Shriti and Luffy : I have finished chapter 16 . Tremendous chapter !..."Ah! Now I understand what is being referred to. Actually,[spoilers removed]"
I didn't come across any amorous content in the book so far especially one associated with Lucy. (view spoiler)
Austin wrote: "Shriti wrote: "Savita wrote: "@ Shriti and Luffy : I have finished chapter 16 . Tremendous chapter !..."Ah! Now I understand what is being referred to. Actually,[spoilers removed]"
I didn't come..."
I don't recollect the exact instances but there's a theme throughout the book where in comparison to each other, Mina is more pious / lady-like than Lucy. Also, Lucy had multiple suitors and expressed some kind of interest in polygamy or multiple marriages at some point, which is inclined to make the reader think that Lucy was responsible for her ill-fate because for her wanton desires.
Again, a disclaimer that I can't recollect anything in particular other than multiple suitors from the book. I recently saw the movie though and Lucy did have an illustrated book of sexual acts in her study.
I didn't come across any such illustrated book in the book version of Dracula. I am starting to wonder whether I am reading a censored version of Dracula! I am reading the publication by the Fingerprint book company. At no point did I feel like Lucy was a risqué character. In fact I was quite surprised when you mentioned that the author had condemned Lucy early on in the book. Early on in the book I came across no such thing. In fact Lucy came across as an innocent girl. There was nothing suggestive of her wanton desires. The proposal from 3 suitors is there in my book but it never seemed to me as if Lucy was lusting after polygamy. Maybe because of the censoring it felt like that to me. For the record, I am still unsure whether I am a censored version of the book or not. Mina has been extolled by Van Helsing as a model woman. But that kiss with Arthur was inappropriate on her part. I am sure Jonathan, her husband, wouldn't at all be too happy about it. Let me see how the character of Mina pans out in the rest of the book. I sometimes wonder why some 'very' religious folks frown upon anything sexual, be it in print or movies, but expect us to bear children. It's as if it's an unavoidable thing to keep alive and propagate the human race. In other words we have to be like machines without feelings, not think about it at all and curiosity is a big no no. More so especially if you are a woman. I am glad I wasn't born in the prudish 19th century :-) Or maybe I was but don't remember my past life. Haha
Well, we wouldn't be making babies for the rich for the latter to exploit the former in factories, mines, and so on. Doesn't it feel odd that you need to pass an exam to drive a car, to get a degree, to practise your trade, yet there is no exam for the permission to beget children.Children are all different from each other and none of them come in with a manual. Yet people are given the responsibility to rear children. The entire human civilisation is geared towards making babies and educating them.
In schools, students wear uniforms. The major reason given for that is that the poor and the rich kids wouldn't be differently dressed. Funny how that goes out the window when adults are concerned. Kids are clothed in uniforms to strip them of their prickliness, their imagination, and their autonomy. The way they are educated is significant too. They are being primed for working 9 to 5 jobs.
The most advanced countries in the world, e.g. Japan, S Korea, the Scandinavians, England, France and Germany all have low population growth. Families in those countries rarely give birth to 2 or more kids. Why? They are more aware and are more educated, and have a rough idea of why they are where they are in society. Just my 2 cents.
Austin wrote: "I didn't come across any such illustrated book in the book version of Dracula. I am starting to wonder whether I am reading a censored version of Dracula! I am reading the publication by the Finger..."Yes , I agree with you , Austin . Lucy only becomes horrible after ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler) ☆☆ .
@ Shriti : the movie must be different from the book .
Another twist in the tale! So I am reading an untruncated version of Dracula after all? If so, I am glad. I prefer to read the unabridged original versions of books. It seems they added new things to the movie. I watched the movie 10-11 years ago, so I don't remember it well enough. Completed the 19th chapter today. At this rate I will complete the book only on 2nd November, All Soul's Day, when people visit the graveyard to honour and remember the dead. So it's apt that the book goes on till then.
I am sure we all have read/are reading the same book (albeit the movie may have been different). Abridged works are only condensed by using fewer words and eliminating long descriptions whilst still keeping the “sense” of the book 😆. Perhaps, I came on a little strong too about her 'wanton desires'.I had to go look this up on Google, so don't shoot me, but the quote “Why can’t they let a girl marry three men, or as many as want her, and save all this trouble?” implied to me that Lucy had some interest in polygamy and the benefits it ensues. I think that in those times that's the most subtle way a well-bred lady could be expected to reveal her sexual proclivity.
Lucy is also quick to fall under Dracula's spell, so we know she's going to be just as (if not more) recklessly seductive as Dracula's brides back home. Some reviewers also pointed out that the undead ladies were everything anonymous to the Victorian values of virtue, sweet disposition, and maternal instinct. The last one especially horrific because they were taking their nourishment from babies/children against the very order of nature.
I have no qualms against your interpretations of that line Lucy said. Literature is all about interpretations.The pedant, correct word for Lucy's amorousness is polyandry. One female and more than one mate.
Austin wrote: "Another twist in the tale! So I am reading an untruncated version of Dracula after all? If so, I am glad. I prefer to read the unabridged original versions of books. It seems they added new things ..."Oh , so you will be finishing the book on All Soul's Day ! How appropriate !
Shriti wrote: "I am sure we all have read/are reading the same book (albeit the movie may have been different). Abridged works are only condensed by using fewer words and eliminating long descriptions whilst stil..."Shriti , I don't remember coming across that sentence , maybe I missed it . Rather crude statement !
Luffy wrote: "I have no qualms against your interpretations of that line Lucy said. Literature is all about interpretations.The pedant, correct word for Lucy's amorousness is polyandry. One female and more than..."
Oh , I see ... polyandry .
@Luffy Yup, that's the word I was going for and I 100% agree with you about interpretations in literature. Discussing the interpretation, symbolism, and more is why I primarily joined book clubs. 😊@Savita: The internet says the line can be found in chapter 5. Are you close to finishing this book?
Savita wrote: "Austin wrote: "Another twist in the tale! So I am reading an untruncated version of Dracula after all? If so, I am glad. I prefer to read the unabridged original versions of books. It seems they ad..."Originally I was scheduled to finish on 27th along with a read along group I am part of. Now it has got postponed till 2nd Nov.
Shriti wrote: "@Luffy Yup, that's the word I was going for and I 100% agree with you about interpretations in literature. Discussing the interpretation, symbolism, and more is why I primarily joined book clubs. 😊..."Okay , thanks , Shriti , I'll try to find the line , but it'll be a little difficult because I am reading from an ebook .
I am reading chapter 17 ( there are 27 chapters ) . My reading will spill over to November because I am reading Lighthouse island as well . I am enjoying Dracula so much , I am feeling sad it's coming to an end ! 😢
polygamy is applicable to both genders. So there's no harm in using it. But when I come across the word polygamy, it's usually multiple wives that comes to my mind. While polyandry is only for women, a woman having multiple husbandsI do recollect reading the 3 husbands line, albeit vaguely now. My interpretation of it is different. I am of the impression that Lucy said that line in a jocular manner. Though she liked all 3 suitors, it was Arthur whom she loved. And oh, I remember Lucy kissing one of the suitors other than Arthur, after rejecting his proposal. It was just on the cheeks I think if I am not wrong. So it isn't as scandalous as what Mina did. Btw, I am not trying to prove that your interpretation is wrong, Shriti. As you said there can be multiple interpretations.
I will be sad as well once this is over, Savita. I haven't enjoyed a BOTM discussion group like this before. I am glad you are enjoying Dracula.
Austin wrote: "I will be sad as well once this is over, Savita. I haven't enjoyed a BOTM discussion group like this before. I am glad you are enjoying Dracula."Keeping my fingers crossed that the tome selected turns out to be an enjoyable book 🤞
I don't know about you guys, but I find this lunatic, Mr. Renfield, very interesting.
@ Austin: I have reached chapter 20 . Mr Renfield is definitely an interesting character . ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler) ☆☆
Savita wrote: "@ Austin: I have reached chapter 20 . Mr Renfield is definitely an interesting character . ☆☆Beware Spoilers [spoilers removed] ☆☆"This observation of yours is worth praising. Well spotted.
Savita wrote: "Keeping my fingers crossed that the tome selected turns out to be an enjoyable book 🤞"Hope so too.
Luffy wrote: "Savita wrote: "@ Austin: I have reached chapter 20 . Mr Renfield is definitely an interesting character . ☆☆Beware Spoilers [spoilers removed] ☆☆"This observation of yours is worth praising. Well..."
Thanks , Luffy !
Austin wrote: "I am reading chapter 24. [spoilers removed]"My favourite segments are all previous to this chapter, but for a problematic ending Stoker did well enough.
Austin wrote: "I am reading chapter 24. [spoilers removed]"I am reading chapter 24 too . Helsing 's speeches are a bit difficult to follow because he speaks broken English 😕.
Savita, I couldn't discern any difference between Van Helsing and the other men's speeches. It wasn't so difficult to follow as long as I read it slowly. But occasionally I came across lines that flummoxed me. On the other hand I was clueless many times when the old man from Whitby, the zookeeper and the stevedore were speaking. Overall, this is a tough book to read with somewhat difficult English. It was like I was doing mental gymnastics while reading the book. An enjoyable book but needs immense patience.
Austin wrote: "Savita, I couldn't discern any difference between Van Helsing and the other men's speeches. It wasn't so difficult to follow as long as I read it slowly. But occasionally I came across lines that f..."Those bits you mentioned are tough, but the difficulty needs to be glossed over. Some stuff cannot be understood, because language has evolved and references are lost. An advice I got from a BookTuber about Victorian literature is not to worry about the things I don't understand.
Luffy wrote: "Some stuff cannot be understood, because language has evolved and references are lost. An advice I got from a BookTuber about Victorian literature is not to worry about the things I don't understand."Sound advice, not limited to just Victorian era literature.
I read my fair share of YA Lit and lot of authors use slang and sprinkle pop culture references, assuming that is how young adults talk. Sometimes they are way off-mark, sometimes the reference is very US geography-specific so it goes over my head. Over the years, I have learnt to now enjoy the story rather than try to understand the nitty-gritty aspects of it.
Shriti wrote: "Luffy wrote: "Some stuff cannot be understood, because language has evolved and references are lost. An advice I got from a BookTuber about Victorian literature is not to worry about the things I d..."Well said!
Luffy wrote: "Austin wrote: "Savita, I couldn't discern any difference between Van Helsing and the other men's speeches. It wasn't so difficult to follow as long as I read it slowly. But occasionally I came acro..."Only yesterday I read a line by Van Helsing which was so notoriously hard that I couldn't fully understand it even after reading for three times. I gave up and moved on as it was inconsequential to the story :-(
Austin wrote: "Luffy wrote: "Austin wrote: "Savita, I couldn't discern any difference between Van Helsing and the other men's speeches. It wasn't so difficult to follow as long as I read it slowly. But occasional..."Not trying to be a smartass, but if you realised it was inconsequential to the story, you understood its context. Books like Dracula and even books like the Christmassy one you nominated are full of tweaks that are immaterial to the contents' enjoyment.
Indian Readers
Books mentioned in this topic
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (other topics)Stalking Jack the Ripper (other topics)
Stalking Jack the Ripper (other topics)
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper (other topics)
The Historian (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
James A. Michener (other topics)Jawaharlal Nehru (other topics)
Jawaharlal Nehru (other topics)
James A. Michener (other topics)
Jawaharlal Nehru (other topics)
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The 'mishaps' of the book are verily cruel, and the latter deserves its reputation as a horror ..."
Yes, I know anesthesia wasn't used in the past.
Are there any good novels based on Jack the Ripper?
(view spoiler)[ What do you think about Jonathan's bravery while scaling down from his room's window to Count Dracula's room? Had he slipped he would have fallen into the abyss. Not once but twice he did it. (hide spoiler)]