Dracula a Mystery Story by Bram Stoker
1897/404pgs

The book that started the tales of Vampires in the imaginations of films directors and authors for over 100 years.

This classic book was a very fascinating read because it is the first novel that I’ve read that was written as if the author gathered a bunch of diary’s or journal entries and letters written by the key characters and bound them into one book to tell the tale of the nightmare that Dracula brought to London.

Also, how six people finally discovered what was happening and then set out to destroy Dracula and stop his blood reign forever.

Many of the myths that have followed in the many movie adaptations come from this novel. Holy objects harm Vampires. A wooden stake through the heart and cutting off the head kills them. Garlic is a Vampires Kryptonite. They can shape shift into bats (and wolves, owls, and a few other animals). They get their power at night after sunset and end at sunrise.

Although, there are some few differences in the book then “traditional” Vampires as we know it, for one, they can walk around in the daytime. The sun doesn’t kill them. They just don’t have their powers during the day.

This novel, like many classics, is a little tough to get into…however when it does start to pick up it’s very hard to put down. Although the long dialog does drag at many places in the book. I guess it was how they talked back in the 1800’s, five sentences for what we today would say in five words. Other then the long dialog at many places, the story is still a great read.

Would I recommend it, yes, oh dear yes. Just get ready for some long dragged out chats that make you wonder “What did you just say?!?!”

Happy Reading,

Lopaka