Dracula - October BOTM

[Austin]

Also a person from a non Christian background wouldn't have made sense of certain things in the book. Early on in the book, the old man from Whitby talks about the dead rising from their graves as revenants and taking their headstones on their shoulders to meet God on Judgement Day. Then there was an incident in which Dracula appeared out of a mist. The mist was compared to a pillar of cloud and his red eyes were compared to fire. Those who have read about the Exodus in the Bible would have seen the connection between the two. Then there's mention of things like sacred wafer and sacred host, which may have puzzled many. And a few more things...

[Austin]

Luffy wrote: "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...."

I will type the line here when I go home from work.

[Savita]

Austin wrote: "Also a person from a non Christian background wouldn't have made sense of certain things in the book. Early on in the book, the old man from Whitby talks about the dead rising from their graves as ..."

Yes , that's true .

[Austin]

Finished chapter 25. I agree with you Luffy. The best parts of the book are already over :( The last many pages weren't that exciting as the earlier portion, except for occasional flashes of brilliance.

[Luffy Sempai]

Austin wrote: "Finished chapter 25. I agree with you Luffy. The best parts of the book are already over :( The last many pages weren't that exciting as the earlier portion, except for occasional flashes of brilli..."

First time around I didn't mind the ending. On rereads, things change though. This read was fun, and I keep everyone in mind for having contributed. Hope you rate the book, Austin.

[Austin]

Luffy wrote: "Austin wrote: "Finished chapter 25. I agree with you Luffy. The best parts of the book are already over :( The last many pages weren't that exciting as the earlier portion, except for occasional fl..."

I have still got 2 more chapters left, so I don't know the ending yet. The last 3 chapters or so were not that up to the mark. Some passages were good to read though. I will be definitely rating the book, Luffy.

[Savita]

I am reading chapter 26 . I definitely agree with you , Luffy and Austin : the last few chapters are dragging . I am tending to skip a little as I read . 😒

[Austin]

Savita wrote: "I am reading chapter 26 . I definitely agree with you , Luffy and Austin : the last few chapters are dragging . I am tending to skip a little as I read . 😒"

(view spoiler)[ After Lucy's death, the mysterious lunatic, Mr. Renfield, kept the story moving. After his demise, the story was good only in parts. The confabulation between the various characters which was engrossing before, slowly started to get dull. (hide spoiler)]

[Savita]

Austin wrote: "Savita wrote: "I am reading chapter 26 . I definitely agree with you , Luffy and Austin : the last few chapters are dragging . I am tending to skip a little as I read . 😒"

[spoilers removed]"

Yes , exactly , Austin !
Still , I am curious to know how the story will end .

[Austin]

It's our duty to read the book till it's end. After all we enjoyed the book for most parts.

[Savita]

Austin wrote: "It's our duty to read the book till it's end. After all we enjoyed the book for most parts."

Yes , I fully agree 👍

[Savita]

I have finished this book. The book was a very enjoyable read except for the last 1/5 th , which dragged a bit . The ending was ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ good , except that Quincey Morris died . But , the others fared well. The Harkers have a baby boy whom they name Quincey ..... nice touch ! Then , Lord Godalming and Seward both get happily married . (hide spoiler)] ☆☆
The story was a real nasty fight between good and evil , between God and the Devil . The author 's language is beautiful and I enjoyed the writing style ( except for the last one fifth ) . I have rated it 4 stars 🌟 🌟🌟🌟
Austin , which chapter are you on ?

I enjoyed reading the book even more so because of the interesting comments and interaction with the group read members 😊

[Austin]

I have finished the book as well Savita. Though the ending dragged a bit, I liked the last 2 chapters. The journey by the river was exciting. The incidents in the castle albeit brief were spooky as before. Those ladies in the tomb part was great.

I will also give this book 4 stars. 3 stars never crossed my mind. It was either going to be a 4 or 5 star book for me.

I will be writing some more here about the book tomorrow.

[Savita]

Austin wrote: "I have finished the book as well Savita. Though the ending dragged a bit, I liked the last 2 chapters. The journey by the river was exciting. The incidents in the castle albeit brief were spooky as..."


Yes , I agree with all your points , Austin . And , for me , too , this book was a 5 star or 4 star read .

[Austin]

My most favourite parts in the novel were as follows :-

(view spoiler)[

1. Count Dracula scaling down at night from his castle window and moving down like a lizard while Jonathan is secretly watching.
2. Jonathan venturing into the Count's room, leading to his daytime resting place.
3. The old man from Whitby interacting with Lucy and Mina.
4. The mysterious happenings and disappearances in the ship.
5. I liked all the parts involving the lunatic Mr. Renfield
6. The use of garlic flowers and garlic necklaces by Van Helsing to save Lucy.
7. The nightly adventures in the graveyard involving the undead Lucy.
8. The journey by river undertaken by Lord Godalming and Jonathan. (hide spoiler)]

[Austin]

Savita wrote: "I have finished this book. The book was a very enjoyable read except for the last 1/5 th , which dragged a bit . The ending was ☆☆Beware Spoilers [spoilers removed] ☆☆
The story was a real nasty f..."

one of the best group reads I have ever had. I will cherish this for a long time.

[Shriti]

Austin wrote: "My most favourite parts in the novel were as follows :- ..."

I love all those points, Austin.

Might I add that Dracula was my intro to epistolary novels, so as the 1st it holds a special place in my heart/bookshelf.

[Austin]

Shriti wrote: "Austin wrote: "My most favourite parts in the novel were as follows :- ..."

I love all those points, Austin.

Might I add that Dracula was my intro to epistolary novels, so as the 1st it holds a s..."

This was my first epistolary novel and it was a good experience to try something different. Are there any other such epistolary novels that you can think of?

[Savita]

Austin wrote: "My most favourite parts in the novel were as follows :-

Great points , Austin ! I, too , loved the use of the ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ garlic flowers, and also the use of the golden
crucifix. (hide spoiler)] ☆☆

[Savita]

Austin wrote: "Savita wrote: "I have finished this book. The book was a very enjoyable read except for the last 1/5 th , which dragged a bit . The ending was ☆☆Beware Spoilers [spoilers removed] ☆☆
The story was..."

I do hope we'll have many more of such excellent group reads to come 👌💫

[Savita]

Shriti wrote: "Austin wrote: "My most favourite parts in the novel were as follows :- ..."

I love all those points, Austin.

Might I add that Dracula was my intro to epistolary novels, so as the 1st it holds a s..."

This was my first epistolary novel , Shriti. It was a new experience and I loved it !

[Shriti]

Savita wrote: "Shriti wrote: "Austin wrote: "My most favourite parts in the novel were as follows :- ..."

Well, combining this BOTM and one from the previous month, may I recommend you The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society ?! It may just turn into one of your favorite reads of the year.

[Savita]

Shriti , thank you so much for the recommendation . The blurb sounds interesting . I will add the book to my tbr list .

[Austin]

Shriti wrote: "Savita wrote: "Shriti wrote: "Austin wrote: "My most favourite parts in the novel were as follows :- ..."

Well, combining this BOTM and one from the previous month, may I recommend you [book:The G..."

Not this year, Shriti. Will consider reading it during February 2023 as it looks like a historical romance book.