Should have read classics discussion

During our last poll, this book tied for second and was very close to winning so it seemed like a good one to add for May's group read. Thanks to everyone that voted and happy reading!

I read Dracula every so often and often recommend it to others. It's one of my favorites. I read it with our two oldest last year & we posted a review. Just in case any of you might be interested in a Christian Homeschool perspective: http://foglemanforerunner.com/2013/02...

Your two oldest what?

Children. lol. I homeschool our children...

I homeschooled my two boys. They would never have read it on the their own or sat through me reading it. Did your kids enjoy it?

Yes. Of course my older girls are in their 20's now... The 13yo boy wanted to listen too, but I didn't think he was quite ready. It IS scarry. :-) In a good way, I think. Some boys just aren't as avid readers, but boys who read, in my opinion, should read Dracula... I'll probably read it with my boys when they are in their later teens...

My youngest is a genius and only reads technical magazine articles--no fiction and very little non-fiction. The non-fiction has to have something related to the technical stuff mentioned earlier.

I am really enjoying this so far, only about a third in but really like the style of writing. I happened to really love Whitby, (it was a favourite for school day trips)this reminds me of the beautiful Abbey. Might I suggest google images for Whitby Abbey - it will add to your reading experience hopefully.

☯Emily has reviews on Booklikes wrote: "My youngest is a genius and only reads technical magazine articles--no fiction and very little non-fiction. The non-fiction has to have something related to the technical stuff mentioned earlier."
LOL Emily, I have one of those too. Biographies... We have lots of Biographies. :-)

'Dracula' startled me --on my first read--for how thoroughly 'modern-voiced' Stoker sounds. He articulates his thoughts as sprightly as any contemporary writer. There's no doldrums or sluggish spots. He sounds like a peer of our own era who is simply relating a moody and atmospheric tale. The nimbleness and deftness of the epistolary technique--yes, that adds to his air of professionalism. Its as confidently-handled and audacious as any modern author might pull-off. But overall, just the unerring rhythm and pacing of his narrative impresses me. He never falters or stumbles. He never wanders off down detours to "beat dead-horses" like say, Herman Melville, Victor Hugo, or Charles Dickens frequently did.

Feliks wrote: "'Dracula' startled me --on my first read--for how thoroughly 'modern-voiced' Stoker sounds. He articulates his thoughts as sprightly as any contemporary writer. There's no doldrums or sluggish spot..."
Never thought of it that way. He did stay on track. His plot was specific and he followed through. Probably why it comes off as so intense.

Is there a reading schedule somewhere that I've missed? I tend to need the discipline when have a few books on the go.

Hilary wrote: "Is there a reading schedule somewhere that I've missed? I tend to need the discipline when have a few books on the go."

There is no reading schedule in this group. These are monthly reads, so reading the book during the month is fine. The discussions stay open, so you can still make comments and discuss the book when the month is over.

Hilary wrote: "Is there a reading schedule somewhere that I've missed? I tend to need the discipline when have a few books on the go."

The only time that we do a schedule is when the book is really long.
Feliks-Excellent point. It is nice to have fluid classics every now and then.

Oh ok, that's fine. I just wondered about comments that may be construed as spoilers for some. Perhaps then it is better to hold back on comments until the book is read. Or maybe generalised comments are fine all the way through. Spoilers are a huge issue in the other groups I'm in, but yes, this makes a nice change.

I read this book a while ago. My feelings about it are mixed. The story of Dracula is ubiquitous and this ruined it for me. Tension was supposed to be built as he made his way to the castle of Dracula. The odd behavior of the locals suggesting that danger could be lurking ahead.
So I'm reading it and thinking "of course you're in danger. It's Dracula's castle! Duh.
But I was impressed at other times. Despite a plot that couldn't possibly suprise me, there were some very creepy moments.

Isobel, I guess maybe you have to put yourself in a time when Dracula wasn't well known... I read it like I had never heard of him. I had been fascinated with vampires when I was young and by the time I read Dracula it was nothing like I had imagined. I remember the old black and white movies depicting the creepy meeting, but the journals and letters really impressed me.

"And when he had crossed the bridge, the phantoms came to meet him."

..its sad that someone would read 'Dracula' and find all the richness and beauty of the text 'ubiquitous'. This is the sorry result of a over-leisured, media saturated, talent-deprived society. Over-depletion of the 'vampire trope' for millions of TV-gazing airheads surely takes something away from great source literature. Though everyone says there's nothing wrong with more, more, and still more product choices!

Feliks wrote: ""And when he had crossed the bridge, the phantoms came to meet him."

..its sad that someone would read 'Dracula' and find all the richness and beauty of the text 'ubiquitous'. This is the sorry re..."

Not a very nice way to put it Feliks, but you are right.

I apologize. I get riled.

Feliks wrote: "I apologize. I get riled."
I understand. Us paper lovers get that way sometimes. :-)

Mandy, I was in Whitby many years ago and I agree with you about the setting. We attended a reconciliation service in a very old church. I wanted to say Whitby Abbey, but see now that it was razed to the ground. It certainly is a very atmospheric town; a perfect choice on Bram Stoker's part.

Thanks for the discussion everyone, this time of the year is nuts for me. Hilary, generally by about the middle of the month, I figure in depth discussion is fine. If you are reading it, then you should be close to being done at that point and if not, then you can use the spoiler link under the (some html is ok).

Thanks Lisa. Not finished yet...too many distractions, but loving it. I would never have chosen it left to my own devices, so it just proves how worthwhile these book clubs are.

I read this book a few years ago, having been A fan of every film version I had seen. But unfortunatly I found it very difficult to get in to. I find this happens alot when I watched the film first, try to avoid doing that whenever possible!

Hilary wrote: "Thanks Lisa. Not finished yet...too many distractions, but loving it. I would never have chosen it left to my own devices, so it just proves how worthwhile these book clubs are."

I reread this one recently for the first time in a long time. I loved the early passages of Jonathan Harker's journey to the castle. And then to read that classic line, "Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make."

And the passages about Renfield, "my homicidal maniac," "zoophagous (life-eating) maniac..." are also wonderful.

Reading this classic I can see where the various movies found their material. It's interesting to look at the Dracula starring Bela Lugosi and compare it to Murnau's 1922 movie or to the Hammer Studio films.

I understand that the courts ordered all copies of Murnau's 1922 film Nosferatu destroyed because they didn't get the rights to the story, but one copy survived somehow. Losing that bit of film creepiness would have been terrible.

That's really interesting, Katy, about the 1922 films being destroyed. Glad that one was saved. I have only ever watched one Dracula movie years ago... Back and white with Vincent Price I think (though I always confuse him with Peter Cushing). Great quotations! Thanks.

Hilary wrote: "That's really interesting, Katy, about the 1922 films being destroyed. Glad that one was saved. I have only ever watched one Dracula movie years ago... Back and white with Vincent Price I think (..."

I love vampire movies. I can watch my favorites over and over.

I love the stories as well, and I was glad for this chance to reread Dracula, and then get to discuss it here! Just wish I had joined in earlier in the month.

Nearing the dénouement. It's been great so far!

Wonderful! Finished!

I have recommended Dracula to my younger daughter. Though she doesn't read a lot and is more of a film buff, she did read Frankenstein recently and enjoyed it. I hope that she gives it a go. Great writing by Bram Stoker.

Dracula is a classic horror story! It is FAR & away THE best vampire book EVER written. Every time I re-read it I am seeing the settings in my mind, & he fleshes everything out so beautifully.

Yay Lisa!

Couldn't agree more, Lisa!

Lisa for county commissioner!

I second that!

Agreed Lisa!

A great novel. I love the epistolary style here.

I read this a couple years ago, and it was written beautifully. The beginning when he firsts comes to the castle is chilling. Can you imagine? Being a "guest" to a vampire, talking to him? Favorite part of the book was that entire first visit. Parts did drag on a while with not enough Dracula, like when they were trying to cure her. But it was an enjoyable read. This is what vampires are! Seductive powerful killers! Not that sorry excuse called Twilight.